Last year, we announced plans for 做厙勛圖 to join Dream Finders Homes, one of the nation’s fastest-growing homebuilders. I’m pleased to report that we recently received regulatory approval, and the transaction has officially closed. We’re thrilled to be part of the Dream Finders Homes family! .

In recognition of this important moment for our company, I’m also proud to announce that today, we’re launching our new public-facing 做厙勛圖 website.

We’ve thoughtfully designed the site to offer easier access to tools and important information for agents and lenders. From the new public site, you can quickly reach our Agent Resource Center whenever you need it. We’ve also included information to help residential and commercial buyers and sellers better understand the benefits of working with independent title agents.

Over the last few years, The 做厙勛圖 Advantage blog has become a go-to source for insights on everything from cybersecurity to marketing strategy. We���ve made the blog even more accessible and user-friendly, helping you quickly find useful information. 

2025 marks 做厙勛圖���s 20th anniversary, and as we enter this new chapter with Dream Finders Homes and launch our redesigned website, I���m both proud of what we���ve accomplished and optimistic about what���s ahead. I���m excited to see this new relationship go to work for the benefit of independent title agents.

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership as we build the future together.

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Thanks in large part to your help and support, I am proud to share two significant updates regarding SecureMyTransaction.

First, the American Land Title Association (ALTA) has announced today that . As part of that process, SMT was rigorously vetted as a provider and received recommendations from ALTA members. This designation is an important milestone and affirms SMT���s effectiveness in helping agents respond to increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes.

Second, we���re excited to announce that this week, SMT is being updated to include new features allowing you to customize the user experience with your branding, the branding of your real estate partners, and even lenders. This includes incorporating your logos, contact information, and messaging for a seamless, integrated ID verification experience that reflects your unique business style. With this added ability to customize the platform, SMT not only offers protection but also supports brand visibility and business growth.

We remain committed to growing and enhancing SecureMyTransaction, and your feedback will guide our efforts. You can also follow updates at SecureMyTransaction.com.

If you have thoughts or questions about SecureMyTransaction, please reach out to me or any member of our team.

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The 做厙勛圖 team includes people from all walks of life who are united by a shared commitment to independent agents. Another commonality is a dedication to the broader title community that goes beyond the nine-to-five. At every level of the company, you���ll find individuals who have made a commitment to leadership in various title insurance, real estate, legal, and similar professional organizations. It is a commitment that has a broad impact.

A more informed and inclusive community

One of the benefits of association involvement is the opportunity to build community and share valuable information. ���I served with an amazing group of volunteers,��� said Margaret Cook, EVP, General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer and Past President and Board Member of the Land Title Association of Colorado (LTAC). ���It gave me a chance to give back and expand my knowledge and network.���

Micah Owen, South Carolina and Georgia Agency Manager, recently became a Director of the Palmetto Land Title Association (PLTA) and noted that she appreciates the opportunity to contribute fresh ideas and help the association grow. She also relishes bringing more of the community into the conversation by calling ���upon people that have great ideas but may be too shy to share.��� Owen added that associations are a wonderful mechanism for disseminating crucial information, such as PLTA���s ���Case Law Update.���

���Dawn Watkins is our current legal liaison,��� said Owen. ���She does a great job keeping the board and members current on all judicial updates. Attorneys are so busy as it is, so we try our best to help them.���

KC West, Sr. Vice President and Southwest Regional Manager, echoed Owen���s sentiments, noting how associations foster a more connected and inclusive industry. Having recently taken up the mantle of President of the Oklahoma Land Title Association (OLTA), West said that it is an ���honor to serve the title professionals of Oklahoma and to be the voice in the room for those that aren���t always available to attend.��� Being involved in leadership, he added, ���gives you a chance to act as the voice for the collective��� and ensure the ���views of title professionals [are reflected] in the decisions being made.���

Collaborating to drive critical improvements

The value of joining associations goes beyond the opportunity to build an informed and inclusive community, however. Associations also provide a framework for professionals to collaborate on important operational and industry initiatives and drive substantive improvements.

做厙勛圖���s TJ Johnson, Assistant Vice President and State Agency Manager for Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah, recently held leadership roles in two industry organizations. He sat on the Colorado ���Good Funds��� committee and served as PAC Chairman for the Land Title Association of Arizona (LTAA), where he collaborated with like-minded professionals to improve industry processes and bolster organizational finances.

In working with the ���Good Funds��� committee, for example, Johnson ���discussed best practices for disbursing insured payoff and proceed funds while mitigating risks to title agents and the general public.���

���Part of the committee���s fact-finding process involved polling other states to compare and, in some cases, better our own standards,��� he said. ���We eventually sent our findings to the state���s department of insurance to influence their protocols.���

During his time as LTAA PAC Chairman, Johnson worked on equally important initiatives. One of the organization���s goals was to ���develop strategies on how to best target our campaign contribution funds,��� Johnson said. In addition, the committee launched the ���Past Presidents Classic Golf Tournament��� and a silent auction to strengthen the association���s finances and deliver more benefits for the Arizona title community.

Rodney Anderson, EVP and National Agency Manager of 做厙勛圖, also had the chance to make a dynamic impact on the industry by serving as President of the Texas Land Title Association (TLTA) from 2023-2024. Assuming this role was the culmination of a long-held goal for Anderson. During his tenure, he worked with others to strengthen the association���s educational programs, ensure access to the latest information and training, assist with navigating legislative and legal changes, and advocate for policies beneficial to the industry and consumers.

Creating a favorable legislative environment

Industry-related legislation is one area where the value of associations can perhaps be most vividly seen and felt. Title associations, said Anderson, help ���industry professionals collaborate [��因 and stay informed about regulatory changes and market trends,��� which ���vary significantly by state and frequently face attacks at a state and federal level.��� Individuals who join industry organizations, he said, contribute their ���expertise, leadership and commitment��� to ���shape standards and practices��� and ���ensure the integrity of the industry.���   

During her time in leadership, Cook found herself immersed in similar responsibilities. ���While I was with the association, Colorado revised its title insurance regulations and market conduct examination procedures. It was a very busy time,��� she said. ���It���s fascinating how many bills and regulations could negatively impact real property records and the ability to securely close and insure transactions. It takes countless volunteer hours to positively influence the outcome.���

Furthermore, two of 做厙勛圖���s underwriters have spent time working with industry groups to improve the field���s legislative and legal environment. Brianna Dowling, Underwriting Counsel, has been involved with the LTAC board of directors ���for quite a few years now.��� Perhaps the most rewarding for Dowling has been ���working through legislative initiatives.��� The industry must have a ���seat at the table when it comes to real estate and insurance legislation,��� she said.

As the Immediate Past Chair of the Title Issues & Standards Committee for the Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar, Rebecca Wood, 做厙勛圖���s Assistant Regional Counsel Florida and VP, was also positive about becoming involved in leadership. She noted that these positions allow volunteers to shape the industry���s future. ���What I found most rewarding about serving on the committee was coordinating continuing legal education programming,��� she remarked.

Building a stronger, safer and more effective industry

Given the 做厙勛圖 team���s experience, one thing becomes clear: whether it be fostering a more informed, inclusive community or developing better processes, protocols, or legislative outcomes, association work delivers benefits on multiple levels.

Individual title experts, for example, ���gain benefits and career development from this experience,��� said Cook, reflecting on her time. Johnson seconded this: ���Every title and escrow professional,��� he said, ���should serve on a board or committee. It will broaden your knowledge base and increase your influence within our industry.���

Anderson noted that becoming involved can also strengthen by proxy the company that an association member comes from. Taking part in these organizations helps build ���relationships with partners, clients and other stakeholders who value the company���s role in advancing the industry,��� he said. In 做厙勛圖���s case, for instance, the company has been able to have ���its perspectives considered in broader industry conversations,��� which builds its credibility and solidifies its position as an industry thought leader.

Most significant, however, is that when title professionals get involved in association work, the entire industry stands to gain. Anderson probably said it best, remarking: ���In essence, both the organizations and the people who participate in them are vital for maintaining the stability, reliability and growth of the title industry.���

And this fact makes it an entirely worthwhile effort for anyone thinking about throwing their hat into the ring.

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April is ���Stress Awareness Month,��� making it the perfect moment to explore how stress affects both individuals and organizations. While stress is a normal process, it can take a toll when left unchecked. 做厙勛圖 HR Director Stacy Stolen discusses the consequences of runaway stress and shares strategies for creating healthier workplaces.

Stress 101

Everyone experiences stress, but have you ever wondered what exactly it is? Stolen says that while stress typically carries negative connotations, on a basic level, it is simply the body���s response to a demand. Any change in a person���s day-to-day life can be stressful.

Here are a few more important things to know about stress:

• Stress affects everyone.
• Not all stress is bad.
• Long-term stress can harm your health.
• There are ways to manage stress.
• If you feel overwhelmed by stress, it���s important to reach out to a health professional.
  

Where does stress often show up?

Stress can be anywhere, but it frequently pops up in workplaces, where it can do sizable harm. ���Workplace stress has adverse effects on workers��� mental health, with an increased risk of anxiety, burnout, depression and substance use disorders,��� Stolen said. ���Stressed workers are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors, such as drug abuse or poor dietary patterns.���

The negative consequences of stress affect businesses as well. ���It decreases employee productivity,��� said Stolen. ���Interactions with co-workers may also become strained, causing conflict, complaints and grievances; health concerns; and higher absenteeism.���

Reducing stress begins with awareness

Given how serious stress can be, it must be elevated as a topic of concern for businesses. Employees must also feel comfortable talking about their stress levels and seeking help when stress becomes unmanageable. According to Stolen, recent years have brought increased cultural awareness of the consequences of stress ��� which is a welcome change. ���It has become more acceptable to ���talk��� about stress,��� said Stolen. Yet there is still more work to do. ���Companies are still struggling to manage workplace stress,��� said Stolen, ���and perks like onsite gyms and nap rooms are not the answer to our problem. We must go deeper.���

How can workplaces better address stress?

Addressing the root causes of stress meansdigging into the psyches of stressed-out employees. ���If your employees perceive your workplace as a threat, then you cannot build the trust your team needs to collaborate and innovate effectively,��� Stolen said. ���Employers need to shift from individual-level to organization-level approaches for reducing stress, which can foster employee well-being while simultaneously improving business performance.���

How does 做厙勛圖 reduce stress?

做厙勛圖 has developed a plan to reduce workplace stress. Part of this includes the 做厙勛圖 Employee Engagement Team (EET), which helps employees ���feel engaged, fairly compensated, rewarded, and personally committed to and inspired by their work.���

The underwriter also tries to let all employees know that it is not only acceptable to take time off to rest and recharge ��� but encouraged. Additionally, Stolen is working on a mental health ���challenge,��� where she reaches out to managers to determine if their direct reports have large PTO balances. The intention is to determine whether team members are using the time that they have earned, and if not, to understand why.

做厙勛圖 also runs several internal challenges driven by its EET. These focus on stress reduction, fitness and kindness, and mix in other fun challenges such as. Examples include a baby pics challenge, trivia games; and virtual holiday celebrations.

Stolen notes that many of 做厙勛圖���s initiatives revolve around encouraging laughter throughout the day. Now, humor can���t cure all ailments, but data has proven that a good laugh can have short- and long-term benefits, including:

• Short-term benefits ��� Laughing doesn���t just lighten your mental load, it induces physical changes in your body:
  
  • Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
  • A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response, and it can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.
  • Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce the physical symptoms of stress.
    
• Long-term benefits ��� Laughter isn���t just a quick pick-me-up, it���s also good for you over the long term:
  
  • Positive thoughts release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more serious illnesses.
  • Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.
  • Laughter makes it easier to cope with difficult situations. It also helps you connect with other people.
    

There is no magic bullet against stress, but progress is possible!

���I have no secret sauce or silver bullet,��� Stolen said when asked about how she manages her own stress. ���But what I have learned is that I need to unplug and be able to tell my boss when I am stressed and need help ��� not so I feel weak, but so I can be good to myself.��� This is an effective summation of how we can all better manage stress in our lives and particularly in the workplace. Through a combination of honesty and proactivity, individuals can ensure that they keep their stress levels at a reasonable level. Businesses can also follow this approach during Stress Awareness Month and year-round to create happier, healthier and more sustainable workplaces for all.

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