AD Mortgage is starting 2026 strong! For the first time, Max Slyusarchuk joins our monthly Digest. The CEO and founder of AD Mortgage reflects on the industry changes over the last 20 years and what they might mean for the future. Together with AD Sales Trainer Serena Diaco, Max discusses interest rate cycles, the 2008 crisis, digital transformation, and how brokers can adapt to market challenges.
2005 vs. 2026: What Has Changed in 20 Years
Two decades ago, the market environment was completely different. Less technology, few perks that lenders would offer to their partners, and loans took forever to close.
“There were a lot of personal relationships between brokers and account executives, lenders. Regardless of the relationships, you could not close the loan in a week. It was impossible because of a lack of technology and because lenders did not compete as much.”
Brokers are better off today, with a few mortgage lenders leading the way, and technological advancements help them close loans quickly and manage everything online.
Are Mortgage Rates in 2026 High?
Many people now are worried because mortgage rates remain ‘high’ and hoping for a decrease in the near future. Max addresses this common question:
“With 26 years of experience in the mortgage world, I think that the rates today are absolutely normal. They are not high, nor low. If you compare them to post-pandemic rates, they are high, but what happened after the pandemic is not normal – those rates were extremely low.”
Max points out that the main problem is not the interest rate itself, but people’s expectations and their adjustment to reality. Often borrowers, and brokers, are caught wishing for the ‘good ‘ol days’ without paying attention to the historic reality of rates.
Broker’s Bottleneck: Marketing, Product, Technology
How can brokers stay ahead of the game, when borrowers are more educated and reaching new clients becomes more challenging? Aligning with the right lender is key according to Max.
“Borrowers are smarter today, and they demand faster service. Brokers must follow this trend, be more proactive, and choose the right, technologically advanced partner.”
AD Mortgage is positioned well to meet the needs of the modern broker. AD offers a wide range of mortgage programs, helping partners match their clients with tailored solutions.
Max stresses that partnering with a solid lender like AD Mortgage enables brokers to offer borrowers the products they want and need.
Choose among 20+ programs and getLooking for a suitable loan program?
a detailed loan calculation
The Biggest Broker Mistake – and How to Avoid It
During the interview, Max emphasizes that ‘team’ is what really matters. The people that build technologies and support business growth on a daily basis are essential for success. Therefore, creating a team of strong professionals is a crucial step for any business – as well as having the right partners that help your business grow.
“The biggest mistake is having too many lenders. Brokers are trying to shop for every basis point, then send loans to the partners they are not familiar with, and get burnt, and lose those relationships where they get the business. It is important for brokers to have the right group of lenders and stay consistent.”
For more advice on growing your business, check out our informative Digest videos on YouTube.
