American Legal & Financial Network

SERVING LEGAL/RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE BANKING PROFESSION VIA LEADERSHIP, ADVOCACY, ED & PROF DEV

EVENTS AND EDUCATION:THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS MEMBERS STRIVE TO BE THE RECOGNIZED LEADER OFLEGAL EDUCATION IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY. IN 2021 WE HOSTED 1 LIVE IN-PERSON EVENT, 2 ONLINE CONFERENCES WITH 16 SEPARATE PRESENTATIONS INCLUDING CLE CREDIT, 12 ADDITIONAL WEBINARS, AND SPECIAL ONLINE PRESENTATIONS WTH OUR WOMEN IN LEGAL LEADERSHIP GROUP AND OTHER COMMITTEES. THESE EVENTS WERE CONDUCTED TO CONTINUE REACHING OUR INDUSTRY WITH QUALITY LEGAL EDUCATION AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES WHEN TRAVEL WAS STILL RESTRICTED DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE INFO.PRIMARY EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, HOSTED BY THE ALFN: ANSWERS ALFN'S 19TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE, HELD ONLINE JULY-AUGUST DUE TO COVID-19, WITH 9 INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS AND 1320 ATTENDEES. THIS ANNUAL EVENT IS HELD EACH JULY AT A DIFFERENT RESORT DESTINTATION, WITH 225-400 ATTENDEES. ANSWERS REMAINS THE KEY EVENT FOR ALFN MEMBERS AND THE ASSOCIATION'S SERVICING PARTNERS TO MEET, NETWORK, GROW THEIR BUSINESS, AND DEEPEN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS. ANSWERS IS A MORTGAGE SERVICING AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE EVENT THAT LEADS THE INDUSTRY IN EDUCATIONAL CONTENT AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES. ANSWERS BRINGS TOGETHER ATTENDEES FROM MORTGAGE SERVICERS, GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED ENTERPRISES, NATIONAL BANKING INSTITUTIONS AS WELL AS THE ALFN'S LEADING NETWORK OF ATTORNEYS, TRUSTEES, AND INDUSTRY SERVICE PROVIDERS. 9 HOURS OF CLE CREDIT WAS AVAILABLE FOR ATTORNEYS AT THIS EVENT.FORECLOSURE INTERSECT ALFN'S 10TH ANNUAL FORECLOSURE CONFERENCE, HELD IN-PERSON NOVEMBER 17-18 AT THE MARRIOTT DALLAS LAS COLINAS, WITH 6 INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS AND 100 ATTENDEES. THIS WAS OUR FIRST IN-PERSON EVENT SINCE FEBRUARY 2020 DUE TO COVID RELATED RESTRICTIONS. THIS ANNUAL EVENT IS HELD EACH FALL IN DALLAS, WITH 80-140 ATTENDEES. THIS PROGRAM COVERS THE LATEST UPDATES IN FORECLOSURE, INCLUDING A FORECAST OF TRENDS AND ISSUES TO COME. OUR SCHEDULE INCLUDES DETAILED SESSIONS ON NATIONAL ISSUES AND FORECLOSURE HOT TOPICS, AND SPOTLIGHTS STATE-SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT HAVE A BROAD IMPACT ON OUR INDUSTRY. SESSIONS ARE STRUCTURED FOR BOTH BASIC AND ADVANCED LEVELS. FORECLOSURE INTERSECT REINFORCES POSITIVE COLLABORATION WITH BANKRUPTCY AND FORECLOSURE DEPARTMENTS, LEGAL COUNSEL, SERVICE PROVIDERS, BORROWERS AND INVESTORS. 6 HOURS OF CLE CREDIT WAS AVAILABLE FOR ATTORNEYS AT THIS EVENT.BANKRUPTCY INTERSECT ALFN'S 10TH ANNUAL BANKRUPTCY CONFERENCE, HELD ONLINE MARCH-APRIL DUE TO COVID-19, WITH 7 INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS AND 792 ATTENDEES. THIS ANNUAL EVENT IS HELD EACH SPRING IN DALLAS, WITH 80-120 ATTENDEES. THIS PROGRAM COVERS THE LATEST UPDATES IN BOTH COMMERCIAL AND CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY, INCLUDING A FORECAST OF TRENDS AND ISSUES TO COME. OUR SCHEDULE INCLUDES DETAILED SESSIONS ON THE LATEST IN BANKRUPTCY ISSUES, AND SPOTLIGHTS SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT HAVE A BROAD IMPACT ON OUR INDUSTRY. SESSIONS ARE STRUCTURED FOR BOTH BASIC AND ADVANCED LEVELS. BANKRUPTCY INTERSECT REINFORCES POSITIVE COLLABORATION WITH BANKRUPTCY AND FORECLOSURE DEPARTMENTS, LEGAL COUNSEL, SERVICE PROVIDERS, BANKRUPTCY TRUSTEES, BORROWERS AND INVESTORS. 7 HOURS OF CLE CREDIT WAS AVAILABLE FOR ATTORNEYS AT THIS EVENT.WILLPOWER ALFN'S WOMEN IN LEGAL LEADERSHIP "WILL" SUMMIT WAS CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 AND WE HELD SPECIAL ONLINE PRESENTATIONS WITH THIS GROUP THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THIS ANNUAL WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP SUMMIT, HELD EACH SPRING IN DALLAS WITH 100-150 ATTENDEES, IS HOSTED BY THE ALFN'S LARGEST MEMBER-DRIVEN VOLUNTEER GROUP, WOMEN IN LEGAL LEADERSHIP "WILL". THIS EVENT IS LESS ABOUT YOUR TYPICAL INDUSTRY TOPICS, AND MORE ABOUT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ALONGSIDE SOME OF THE INDUSTRY'S BRIGHTEST THOUGHT LEADERS, CONNECTED BY THE SAME WILL OF EMPOWERING WOMEN TO LEAD. MEN ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND AND BE INVOLVED.ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL EVENTS HOSTED BY THE ALFN:ONLINE WEBINARS - ALFN CONTINUES TO PROVIDE SEVERAL WEBINARS EACH YEAR TO ASSIST OUR MEMBERS AND CLIENTS REGARDING BREAKING NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEGAL ISSUES. SINCE THE WEBINAR PROGRAM STARTED IN JANUARY 2008, ALFN HAS HOSTED OVER 328 WEBINARS ON TOPICS COVERING ECONOMIC OUTLOOK, LITIGATION TRENDS, REGULATORY AND COMPLIANCE UPDATES, LEGISLATIVE UPDATES, BANKRUPTCY BEST PRACTICES, OTHER FORECLOSURE RELATED TOPICS, AND MANY OTHERS. OUR WEBINARS REACH AN AVERAGE AUDIENCE OF 100 200+ FOR EACH PRESENTATION, WITH NEARLY HALF OF THOSE ATTENDEES BEING MORTGAGE SERVICERS & GSE'S. ALFN CONSISTENTLY PLACES GOOD, SOLID, PRACTICAL INFORMATION IN THE HANDS OF OUR MEMBERS AND CLIENTS ON A REGULAR BASIS. OUR REGULAR WEBINAR ATTENDEES ARE MEMBERS OF THE LOAN SERVICING COMMUNITY EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT, IN-HOUSE COUNSEL, INVESTOR GROUPS, AND STATE AND FEDERAL HOUSING AND RATING AGENCY EXECUTIVES. BASED ON THE ATTENDEES' FEEDBACK, THESE BROADCASTS CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF OUR TOP-RATED ONLINE EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS. OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS REGULARLY HOST WEBINARS ON REGULATORY ISSUES AND OTHER LEGAL TOPICS, AS WELL AS PRACTICE BUILDING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TOPICS.ONSITE TRAINING FOR MORTGAGE SERVICERS:WE TYPICALLY HOST ONSITE TRAINING EVENTS AT MORTGAGE SERVICER LOCATIONS TO TRAIN THEIR STAFF ON INDUSTRY HOT TOPICS AND LEGAL ISSUES. WE WERE UNABLE TO HOLD THESE EVENTS IN-PERSON DUE TO COVID-19 IN 2021, BUT WE OFFERED CUSTOMIZED ONLINE TRAINING SESSIONS TO MEET THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF MORTGAGE SERVICERS. ADDITIONAL PRESENTATIONS, EVENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS:YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AWARDS PRESENTATION:ALFN'S JUNIOR PROFESSIONALS & EXECUTIVES GROUP "JPEG" PICTURE THE FUTURE AWARDS IS HELD ANNUALLY AT OUR ANSWERS CONFERENCE EACH JULY. DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS THIS YEAR WITH ANSWERS BEING CANCELLED IN-PERSON, THE GROUP HELD THEIR ANNUAL PICTURE THE FUTURE AWARDS PRESENTATION AT OUR FORECLOSURE INTERSECT CONFERENCE ON NOVEMBER 18, RECOGNIZING 11 YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WITH THE AWARD. ALFN UPDATES BY EMAIL DISTRIBUTION:ALFN ISSUES LEGAL UPDATES TO OUR DATABASE OF NEARLY 5000 INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AS WE BECOME AWARE OF IMPORTANT ISSUES, TO HELP IDENTIFY AND EXPLAIN CASES THAT TAKE NEW OR NOVEL APPROACHES TO STATUTORY CLAIMS AND, IN DOING SO, IDENTIFY IMPORTANT LEGAL TRENDS AS THEY DEVELOP.OTHER INDUSTRY EVENTS ATTENDED BY THE ALFN STAFF AND BOARD:ALFN EXECUTIVES USUALLY ATTEND SEVERAL OTHER KEY INDUSTRY CONFERENCES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR (NOT HOSTED BY THE ALFN), BUT WE WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND THESE EVENTS IN 2021 GIVEN THEY WERE CANCELLED, HELD ONLINE, OR DUE TO OTHER COVID RELATED ISSUES THAT PREVENTED OUR ATTENDANCE. APART FROM COVID, WE TYPICALLY ATTEND THE MBA MORTGAGE SERVICING CONFERENCE HELD EACH FEBRUARY (ALFN EXHIBITS ANNUALLY AT THIS CONFERENCE WITH OUR EXHIBIT BOOTH), FIVE STAR CONFERENCE IN DALLAS HELD EACH SEPTEMBER, AND OTHERS.

ADVOCACY AND INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP:ALFN SUBMITTED AMICUS BRIEFS ON ISSUES THAT IMPACT OUR MEMBERS AND INDUSTRY CLIENTS. THE ALFN CONTINUES TO WORK WITH SERVICERS AND GSE'S TO MAINTAIN STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR CLIENTS AS THEY ASSIST US TO ENSURE THAT THE EFFORTS AND DIRECTION OF ALFN REMAINS CONSISTENT WITH THEIR UNIQUE INDUSTRY NEEDS. ALFN CONTINUES TO GROW AND DEVELOP OUR STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH INFLUENTIAL INDUSTRY LEADERS. WE ALSO SUBMITTED COMMENT LETTERS TO THE CFPB ON SUGGESTED POLICIES AND AMENDMENTS THAT IMPACT OUR INDUSTRY. WE CONTINUED OUR OUTREACH TO FHFA, HUD/FHA, FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC DURING THE PANDEMIC TO ADVOCATE FOR THE NEEDS OF OUR COLLECTIVE MEMBERS. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE INFO.ALFN CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN A DIRECT SOURCE REO CLOSING AND TITLE REFERRAL PROGRAM WITH REO NATIONWIDE THAT CONTINUES TO FUNNEL REO CLOSING AND TITLE BUSINESS TO ATTORNEY MEMBERS OF THE ALFN. MORTGAGE SERVICERS CONTINUE TO SEEK REFERRALS THROUGH THE ALFN MEMBER NETWORK, AND PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK REFERRALS CONTINUE AMONG MEMBERS THROUGH THE ALFN. WE WORKED WITH ISN CORP TO PURSUE POSSIBLE REFERRAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MEMBERS THROUGH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA), RURAL DEVELOPMENT (RD), SERVICING AND ASSET MANAGEMENT OFFICE (SO). THIS OPPORTUNITY COULD PROVIDE FILE REFERRALS TO OUR MEMBERS FOR FORECLOSURE SERVICES, REO, PROPERTY PRESERVATION SERVICES, APPRAISAL SERVICES, EVICTION SERVICES, AND BANKRUPTCY SERVICES THROUGH THE USDA RD'S DEFAULT PORTFOLIO. THESE RELATIONSHIPS HAVE DIRECTLY RESULTED IN NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MEMBERS AND DIRECT COST SAVINGS ON MANY IMPORTANT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES UTILIZED BY ALFN MEMBERS. ALFN CONTINUES TO WORK WITH OTHER ASSOCIATIONS IN OUR INDUSTRY WHERE ITMUTUALLY BENEFITS OUR MEMBERS AND CLIENTS. WE PARTICIPATED WITH THESE OTHER INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS THROUGH JOINT TASK FORCES TO DRAFT COMMENT LETTERS ON REGULATORY ISSUES, FILE HOLD AND OTHER ISSUES CREATED FROM COVID AND MORATORIUMS ON EVICTIONS/FORECLOSURES, AND OTHER ISSUES. WE HAVE DRAFTED INDIVIDUAL AND JOINT COMMENT LETTERS AND WHITE PAPERS, AND HAVE HELD GROUP CALLS/MEETINGS WITH THE CFPB, FHFA, FHA/HUD, FANNIE MAE, FREDDIE MAC AND OTHERS IN THE MORTGAGE SERVICING COMMUNITY. WE CONTINUALLY SEEK OPPORTUNITIES WHERE ARE ADVOCACY EFFORTS CAN RESULT IN POSITIVE RESULTS FOR THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR MEMBERS.

PUBLICATIONS:THE ALFN CREATES AND DISTRIBUTES WEEKLY, MONTHLY AND QUARTERLYELECTRONIC UPDATES TO OUR LIST OF NEARLY 5000 INDUSTRY CONTACTS, KEEPING THEM INFORMED REGARDING THE LATEST INDUSTRY HOT TOPICS, LEGAL UPDATES AND OTHER GROUNDBREAKING INITIATIVES. THESE PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE LEGAL UPDATE EMAILS, LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY UPDATE EMAILS, ANGLE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE (OFFERED IN PRINT AND ONLINE). THE ALFN, THROUGH ITS MEMBERS, IS ROUTINELY RECOGNIZED IN VARIOUS INDUSTRY PUBLICATIONS, ALFN PERIODICALLY SUBMITS PRESS RELEASES REGARDING OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO OTHER INDUSTRY PUBLICATIONS. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE INFO.WE ALSO PROVIDE A MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY IN PRINT AND ONLINE AND OUR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AWARD RECOGNITIONS THROUGH OUR PICTURE THE FUTURE PUBLCATION. THE MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY GUIDE (THE LEGALIST) IS DISTRIBUTED IN BOTHDIGITAL AND PRINT FORMAT TO THE INDUSTRY. ALFN HAS CONTINUED PUBLISHINGTHE "JPEG: PICTURE THE FUTURE" PUBLICATION, WHICH OUTLINES THE TOPYOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN THE INDUSTRY WITH AN AWARDS CEREMONY DURING OUR ANNUAL ANSWERS CONFERENCE EACH JULY. THIS CEREMONY WAS HELD AT OUR FORECLOSURE INTERSECT CONFERENCE IN NOVEMBER THIS YEAR DUE TO OUR ANNUAL ANSWERS CONFERENCE BEING CANCELLED IN-PERSON IN JULY DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS. OUR ANGLE MAGAZINE AND WILLED MAGAZINE ARE BOTH DISTRIBUTED QUARTERLY ONLINE, AND ALSO PRINTED AND MADE AVAILABLE AT ALL ALFN EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND AT OUR EXHIBIT BOOTH AT THE MBA MORTGAGE SERVICING CONFERENCE EACH FEBRUARY.

MEMBERSHIP AND GOVERNANCEALFN ADDED 5 NEW ATTORNEY-TRUSTEE MEMBERS (LAW FIRMS AND FORECLOSETRUSTEES) TO OUR NETWORK, AND 2 NEW ASSOCIATE MEMBERS (INDUSTRY SERVICE PROVIDERS), BRINGING OUR TOTAL NUMBER OF MEMBERS TO 116 (TOTAL MEMBER COUNT BY COMPANY NAME). ALFN WELCOMES THESE NEW MEMBERS AND ARE GLAD TO HAVE THEM AS PART OF THE ORGANIZATION. THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS WILL ONLY HELP TO STRENGTHEN THE ALFN, WHICH CONTINUES TO BE THE LARGEST LEGAL SERVICES BASED PROFESSIONAL TRADE ASSOCIATION IN OUR INDUSTRY SPACE.OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS MET 8 TIMES TELEPHONICALLY FOR OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS, HELD OTHER CALLS AS NEEDED TO DISCUSS PRESSING ISSUES AND AS COVID DEVELOPED, AND MET 2 TIME'S IN PERSON DURING THE YEAR TO CONDUCT ASSOCIATION BUSINESS AND STRATEGIC PLANNING. WE TYPICALLY MEET IN-PERSON 3 TIMES A YEAR WITH OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, BUT COVID RESTRICTED THAT FROM HAPPENING THIS YEAR.FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6:THE ALFN OFFERS FOUR GENERAL MEMBERSHIP TYPES: ATTORNEY/TRUSTEE,VENDOR/ASSOCIATE, MORTGAGE SERVICER AND GOVERNMENT/INVESTOR.ATTORNEY/TRUSTEE MEMBERS ARE CATEGORIZED INTO TWO SEPARATE CLASSES:1) AFFILIATED ATTORNEY/TRUSTEE AND 2) NON-AFFILIATED ATTORNEY/TRUSTEE.ONLY AFFILIATED ATTORNEY/TRUSTEE MEMBERS AND NON-AFFILIATEDATTORNEY/TRUSTEE MEMBERS HAVE VOTING RIGHTS.