Category: Press

Assurance Financial CEO Kenny Hodges Named to Capital Region 500 List of Influential Leaders

BATON ROUGE, LA (June 5, 2025) — Assurance Financial is proud to announce that its Founder and CEO, Kenny Hodges, has been named to Baton Rouge Business Report’s 2025 Capital Region 500, a prestigious list recognizing the most influential leaders shaping the future of the Capital Region across business, government, education, healthcare, and nonprofit sectors.

The Capital Region 500 honors individuals who are not only leaders within their organizations but also active contributors to the broader Baton Rouge community. Selected by the editorial staff of Business Report, honorees were chosen for their vision, integrity, and impact.

About Kenny Hodges

With over 27 years of experience in mortgage lending, Kenny Hodges founded Assurance Financial in 2001 after an early career at Wells Fargo. Under his leadership, the company has grown to more than 20 branch offices supported by two operations centers, serving clients across the country.

A licensed mortgage banker and respected industry leader, Hodges is an active member of the Mortgage Bankers Association and a past Board President of the Louisiana Mortgage Lenders Association. He also serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board for Louisiana Tech University’s College of Business, where he earned his degree in Entrepreneurship Management.

“We are thrilled to see Kenny recognized for his leadership, both within our company and throughout the Capital Region,” said a spokesperson for Assurance Financial. “His vision continues to drive our growth and commitment to helping families achieve their homeownership goals.”

For more about the Capital Region 500, visit: https://try.businessreport.com/capitalregion500

About Assurance Financial
Assurance Financial is a trusted mortgage lender offering a full range of loan products, including conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, and construction loans. Known for exceptional service, competitive rates, and the latest mortgage technology, Assurance Financial’s mission is to make buying or refinancing a home as easy and rewarding as possible, from coast to coast.

For media inquiries, please contact Marketing at marketing@assurancemortgage.com

Jim Clapp, Chief Lending Officer at Assurance Financial, was recently quoted in National Mortgage News discussing the challenges of mortgage recruiting and the importance of ethical hiring practices.

As mortgage recruiters ramp up efforts, many loan officers are tuning them out. Clapp believes the most effective way to recruit talent is through authenticity and long-term relationship-building.

“You can have the best sales guy recruiting for you, and he could do this or say that, but if he doesn’t have [ethics, morals, and genuineness], you’re just not going to be successful,” Clapp explains. He stresses that strong company culture and leadership—not aggressive recruiting tactics—are what truly attract top talent.

Clapp also cautions against relying too heavily on sign-on bonuses. “If a sign-on bonus is the biggest lever you have to pull, you’re going to have a revolving door,” he says. Instead, Assurance Financial rewards loan officers based on production and long-term success.

With recruiter cold calls at an all-time high, Clapp believes the key to attracting great talent is creating an environment where employees want to stay. “The good recruits are very thoughtful, but they take a while to be recruited,” he adds, reinforcing that sustainable hiring is a long game built on trust and value.

Read the full article on National Mortgage News: Mortgage recruiters are calling—but LOs aren’t picking up.

Assurance Financial made the National Mortgage News list of the Best Mortgage Companies to Work For 2025! We value our workplace culture, and it shows.

“While the mortgage industry is known for its customer service focus, prioritizing a seamless borrower experience, those considered for this year’s Best Mortgage Companies to Work For have also focused on enhancing the employee experience.

These companies have invested in innovative technology tools to support loan origination and improved work-life balance for their staff. Such perks could give mortgage shops an edge when the mortgage market heads for recovery. Mortgage lenders are beginning to adapt and stay afloat in a challenging market. Their resilience has led to 36 companies making this year’s ranking, up from 33 in 2024, a year which saw a slew of originators consolidate.

This ranking is a partnership between National Mortgage News and the Best Companies Group, which conducts extensive employee surveys and reviews employer reports on benefits and policies. The employee survey covers eight topics: leadership and planning; corporate culture and communications; role satisfaction; work environment; relationship with supervisor; training, development, and resources; pay and benefits; and overall engagement.”

Read more about our accomplishment here.

Assurance Financial’s Director of Marketing, Lindsi Flynn, shared her insights in National Mortgage News regarding the potential TikTok ban.

“The ones that do [use social media], that’s their main referral source,” Flynn said, highlighting TikTok’s ability to amplify brand awareness. She continued, “I believe TikTok is a special place because the algorithm puts you in front of a network of people you may have never met before.”

Flynn emphasized the importance of an omnichannel approach, advising loan officers to leverage all platforms to maintain their reach.

Read the full article on National Mortgage News here.

Merrell Johnson, a trusted Assurance Financial Loan Officer in Columbia, SC, recently appeared on Soda City Live to offer essential advice for first-time homebuyers in 2025. In his segment, Merrell shared five practical tips to help buyers confidently navigate the homebuying process:

1. Check Your Credit – Understand your score and its impact on loan options.
2. Be Realistic About Your Budget – Know what you can comfortably afford.
3. Research Market Trends – Stay informed about local housing conditions.
4. Understand Loan Options – Explore what works best for your situation.
5. Consider First-Time Buyer Programs – Take advantage of available resources.

Watch the full segment here to learn how Merrell and the Assurance Financial team can guide you to homeownership in 2025!

For Assurance Financial, a Baton Rouge-based mortgage lender, success comes from strategic technology use. Marketing Director Lindsi Flynn shared how the company leverages Total Expert’s CRM and marketing automation to enhance customer engagement.

“Total Expert has become essential for us,” Flynn explained. “It allows our loan officers to centralize client data, personalize outreach, and follow up at just the right moments.”

With seamless integrations and localized strategies, Assurance Financial has seen impressive KPI improvements—from higher web traffic to increased lead conversion. The platform’s flexibility empowers their team to maintain the company’s personal touch while scaling nationwide.

Read the full article here.