MPA – 5-Star Lender Award
2020 Hot List Recipient
2021 CEO of the Year
Accolades
Media
Keeping one step ahead
For Kim Nichols, Senior Managing Director at Pennymac TPO, the key to an exceptional lending experience is simple: Build trust with broker partners, offer a consistent lending experience, and help business partners achieve their goals (or grow). This lending philosophy has helped set Nichols apart from the competition as she demonstrates these leadership qualities day in and day out.
Pennymac TPO has benefited from her lending wisdom and adheres to the same core lending values by building trust and fostering solid relationships with its valued broker partners.
By garnering a reputation as a reliable and customer-centric lending partner, Pennymac TPO has risen to become a top-10 wholesale lender in the country.
The route to the top of the mortgage industry has not been accidental, but rather the product of a careful and thought-out business plan.
Through Nichol’s leadership, Pennymac TPO has always put the needs of its partners at the forefront by investing heavily in technology and bringing on the skills of a highly trained and experienced team. Pennymac TPO’s people and the support that they offer are what set them apart.
“Pennymac’s culture and balanced business model play a vital role in our success,” Nichols explained. “We follow our core values of being accountable, reliable, and ethical in all that we do to guide and support our partners in the right way.
“It is all about executing for the customer,” she added.
Motivations to succeed
Nichols’ route to the top of her field started in the most unusual of places.
“My mortgage career started in a closet – literally,” Nichols laughed. “I took a part-time temp job while in college and ended up in the shipping department of a mortgage company, where my job was to copy loan files all day long in a closet that had been converted to a copy room.”
Luckily for Nichols, the closet was located in a strategic location – it was on the executive floor, which gave her the opportunity to meet important leaders and ask them questions.
“I continue to build upon and leverage my understanding of capital markets and industry economics. It is this knowledge that serves my team and partners as we navigate the market,” Nichols said.
It is clear that the driving motivation for Nichols was to be in a profession that would allow her the constant opportunity to learn and grow.
“People may be surprised to know that I’m not really an extrovert,” Nichols described. “So early on, while I admired those who were succeeding in sales roles, I could not imagine myself in that type of position.”
“At a certain point I realized, however, that I didn’t have to be an extrovert and instead I could leverage technical knowledge to build relationships, create value, and drive revenue,” she added.
Nichols has also always enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the industry and the overall dynamic at its heart.
“My passion for the industry and all of its various facets has kept me inspired and motivated throughout the years,” Nichols reflected.
“There’s always something new to learn and master.”
Embracing new industry directions
Nichols has been following the changes in the market and sees the opportunity in new products and strategies. Lenders and brokers can no longer bank on historically low mortgage rates, and this has caused a sort of cooling ripple effect throughout the industry.
"The market has changed, yet Pennymac TPO has experienced many industry challenges over the years. We know how to adapt and have proven our strength and resilience."
“The same tools that enabled us to navigate those challenges will help us navigate this one: strength of leadership, solid relationships with clients and business partners, and sophisticated technology.”
Nichols pinpointed the investment that she and Pennymac TPO have put into providing a seamless technology platform to create a smooth lending experience for its broker partners.
“We will be launching POWER+ later this year, a next-generation broker platform that will provide our clients with greater speed, control, and communication,” Nichols noted.
“This is the culmination of extensive work with our partners, vendors, and service providers,” she detailed. “POWER+ will set our brokers up for success so that they can focus on growing their business and enhancing their brand.”
Leading words of wisdom
When asked what Nichols views as the ideal client experience, she reflected before providing her answer.
“It is one that we can deliver with consistency. Brokers can count on us and what to expect throughout the loan process and beyond. Consistency is key,” Nichols answered.
It is this consistency and dedication to both her clients and her team that has led Nichols to the impressive leadership position that she currently enjoys.
“Together we create the client experience,” Nichols said.
“We have to remain in lockstep and make it seamless for the customer,” she concluded.
Spotlight
“The head of secondary marketing and capital markets became a mentor to me. He loved teaching and I loved learning,” Nichols remarked. “This is an important lesson for people early in their careers: Don’t be afraid to ask questions; you never know where it might bring you.”
Captivated by the industry, Nichols absorbed a wealth of knowledge that left her wanting more. In no time at all, she was hooked.
“The business was and is fascinating and dynamic,” Nichols said.
The passion that Nichols developed for her chosen profession led her to keep building on the knowledge that she had already accumulated.
At Pennymac TPO, we are deepening our commitment to the wholesale channel and helping our broker and non-delegated correspondent partners on their journey to greatness. We believe the road to greatness is paved with dedicated support, and so we are investing in the people, technology, products, and services to enable our partners to realize and achieve their own growth. As the #1 correspondent aggregator and the #6 wholesale lender, Pennymac is uniquely positioned to be a long-term partner for our clients.
Company Profile
Top 3
lender in the US*
#6
wholesale lender in the US
Top ten
mortgage servicer in the US
#1
Correspondent Aggregator in the US
$519 billion+
loans serviced**
Bio
Spotlight
Milestones
Media
Accolades
Company Profile
years in the industry
30+ years
Fun fact
She is a mother of triplets
BAsed In
Toronto, Ont.
favourite quote
“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure”
Kim Nichols
Senior Managing Director at Pennymac TPO
Lessons from TPO mortgage leader Kim Nichols on creating an exceptional experience
Read on
“This is an important lesson for people early in their careers: Don’t be afraid to ask questions; you never know where it might bring you”
Kim Nichols,
Pennymac TPO
“The same tools that enabled us to navigate challenges in the past will help us navigate this market: strength of leadership, solid relationships with clients and business partners, and sophisticated technology”
Kim Nichols,
Pennymac TPO
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2009
2011
2014
2016
2019
2021
Recognized by Bank of America as a Top Global Performer in 2009.
2009
Tapped to become part of the core leadership team to build Pennymac’s industry-leading correspondent business.
2011
Cofounder of wEMRG, a business resource group with the purpose of empowering, mentoring, and promoting the success of high-potential women within Pennymac.
Helped engineer and launch Pennymac’s proprietary pricing engine, now used across multiple business channels.
2014
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2016
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2019
Under her leadership, Pennymac funded nearly $17 billion in mortgages, becoming the nation’s #6 wholesale lender.
2021
Milestones
– Colin Powell
4 million+
lifetime customers
*Based on results from Inside Mortgage Finance 12 months ended 3/31/22. Includes PMT loan acquisitions, for which PFSI earns a fulfillment fee upon loan funding. For the first quarter only, Pennymac was ranked #4.
**According to Inside Mortgage Finance ranking of Top 25 Primary Mortgage Servicers by dollar amount for Q1 2022
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