The Rise of Fractional Mortgage Ops Support w/ Casey Finn
The missing piece for small broker shops
Welcome back to The Broker Journey. This time, I sat down with someone who’s probably best described as a tech-meets-ops unicorn that more broker shops desperately need but don’t even know it yet. I'm talking about Casey Finn, founder of ELLO or as he jokes, El Loco.
Casey's story? Classic broker-to-builder transformation. But his latest move might be the missing piece for smaller shops trying to scale without the chaos.
From Trial by Fire to Tech-Forward Fixer
Casey started like a lot of loan officers, nose deep in applications, learning the game by doing. Back in 2016, he opened his own broker shop with his wife (also an ops vet), and for the next few years, they were hands-on with every deal, every system, every fire drill. But as the market shifted and burnout crept in, Casey started asking a different question:
“What if I’m better behind the scenes, building, fixing, and optimizing, than chasing leads?”
Turns out, he wasn’t just good at it. He was great at it.
He transitioned out of sales, went into processing, trained dozens of incoming ops staff, and became a subject matter expert in LOS platforms (especially ARIVE) and workflow improvement. That’s when the light bulb really clicked on.
The Ops Gap Most Brokers Don’t Realize They Have
If you’ve been in the trenches, you already know how this plays out:
The loan officer is wearing 17 hats
There's no clearly defined loan process
Tech tools don’t talk to each other
Everyone’s drowning in checklists and miscommunication
Casey saw it firsthand. The disconnect between the front end (sales) and the back end (ops/tech) was killing deals, slowing growth, and leaving customers frustrated.
And the worst part? Most brokers know there’s a problem, but don’t know how to fix it or can’t afford to hire a full-time ops lead.
That’s where Casey stepped in with a new model: fractional mortgage operations support.
What Is Fractional Mortgage Operations Support?
Think of it like hiring a COO, systems architect, and tech integrator, all rolled into one, but without putting someone on payroll full time.
Instead, you bring in someone like Casey on a project or contract basis to:
Clean up your tech stack
Streamline your loan process (cradle to grave)
Train your team on your LOS
Document workflows into repeatable systems
Reduce compliance risk
Remove bottlenecks that kill time and scalability
He doesn’t replace your team. He makes them more effective.
“El Loco”: The Wild Card Brokers Didn’t Know They Needed
Casey jokes about his ADHD and obsession with “getting into the weeds,” but that’s actually his unfair advantage.
He’s not just some corporate ops guy looking at spreadsheets.
He’s:
Originated loans
Processed files
Trained teams
Built systems
Integrated AI into workflow automation
He’s basically what happens when you cross a loan officer, a processor, a tech nerd, and a project manager and give him the mission of helping brokers scale smarter, not harder.
“I’ve seen every stage, from five-loan months to 600+ files. I know where the friction lives, and I know how to remove it,” Casey says
The Real-World Problems He Solves
To break it down, here are some common pain points Casey tackles for broker shops:
1. Overwhelmed LO Teams
Problem: LOs juggling lead gen, file prep, tech tools, and customer calls
Solution: Casey maps out the process and automates/outsources what shouldn’t be on their plate
2. Tech Stack Confusion
Problem: Brokers paying for tools they don’t use (or don’t connect)
Solution: He audits your stack, removes bloat, and shows you what actually fits your workflow
3. Process Bottlenecks
Problem: File flow falls apart after disclosures or processing
Solution: Casey documents the full process and plugs the gaps so files move faster and smoother
4. LOS Underutilization
Problem: You’re paying for Arrive but using 30% of its features
Solution: He trains your team to go deep and unlock efficiency you didn’t know existed
5. Compliance + Quality Issues
Problem: Tolerance cures, loan defects, missing documentation
Solution: Casey designs preventative systems and checklists to catch issues before they happen
Why Brokers Should Care (Even If You’re Small)
Here’s the reality most brokers face: you’re growing faster than your systems can handle.
Maybe you’ve started recruiting LOs. Maybe you’re getting referrals you can barely keep up with. Maybe you’re wondering how to keep things running smooth when you’re on vacation for the first time in 2 years.
Hiring a full-time ops lead might not be feasible yet, but a fractional partner can give you the structure, clarity, and scalability you need right now.
And when it’s someone like Casey, who’s not only seen it but built it? You’re not just getting strategy. You’re getting execution.
Inside LO Services: What You Get
Here’s a snapshot of what Casey’s ELLO services brings to the table:
Fractional operations leadership
LOS training (specializing in Arrive)
Process audits and documentation
Workflow automation suggestions (including AI)
Custom-built internal tools and systems
Tech stack consolidation
Plug-and-play SOPs and playbooks
Compliance process improvements
You don’t need to hire five vendors. You get Casey. And he builds what you actually need.
A Word from Frazier
“What impressed me most is how Casey sees the whole board; sales, systems, and scalability. He’s not some vendor. He’s a partner who helps you win long-term by solving the real problems behind the scenes.
The Wrap: The Future Is Fractional
The mortgage industry is evolving. Tech is accelerating. Brokers are wearing more hats than ever. But the ones who win in this market? They’re the ones who get ahead of the process.
As someone who went all-in on fractional work this year, I can attest to impact it can create for companies who do not need a full-time employee. I believe that fractional support is a competitive edge for those who take advantage. Whether you need a tech translator, an ops optimizer, or a playbook creator, Casey Finn and ELLO are worth a serious look.
Learn More & Connect
👉 Visit: https://www.elloservices.com/
📧 Book a discovery call and find out how fractional operations can change the way you scale.