The 13th edition of the National Settlement Services Summit (NS3) will bring something old, along with something new, for attendees. Some information may be borrowed, but no one will go home blue.
For the third year in a row, and the fourth time in five years, October Research, LLC, brings representatives from the top underwriters in the country to share the same stage and discuss issues affecting the industry.
For the first time in seven years – and only the second time in NS3 history – October Research brings a panel of state regulators to discuss key events affecting the title industry at the state and national level.
The underwriter panel this year features a mix of Big Four companies – First American Title Insurance Co. and Old Republic National Title Insurance Co. – along with Westcor and Williston Financial Group (WFG).
Jeff Bluhm, Old Republic’s executive vice president manager, agency services and administration, returns to the NS3 stage after participating in last year’s Big Four panel, as does First American Executive Vice President John Hollenbeck. Mary O’Donnell, the president and CEO of Westcor, returns to the stage where she participated in 2015.
Although WFG Chairman and CEO Patrick Stone is no stranger to NS3, he will make WFG’s first appearance at an underwriter panel in NS3 history when he joins the underwriters on the stage to begin the final day of the conference June 9.
Last year, the Big Four underwriter panel was joined by a mid-cap underwriter that included representatives of Agents National Title, Alliant National Title, Connecticut Attorneys Title Insurance Co. and North American Title Insurance Co.
This year, speakers are expected to discuss the relationships between agents and underwriters, the responsibility the title industry plays in the mortgage and real estate transaction, standards of conduct for agents, technology and security practices, and much more.
A quartet of state regulators also will take the stage this year, the first time since 2010 that NS3 has hosted a state regulator panel. Given the issues affecting the title industry, federal regulators are not the only ones whom agents are keeping an eye on, as states step in to create guidelines for agents.
Utah Department of Insurance Deputy Commissioner Brett Barratt, Illinois Division of Financial Institutions Deputy Director John Lartz, Florida Office of Insurance Assistant General Counsel Jeffrey Joseph and Virginia Bureau of Insurance Supervisor, RESA Investigations Section, Chuck Myers will have plenty to share with attendees.
Issues such as cybersecurity, unlawful inducements and marketing services agreements might have different standards in different states, but the importance of each crosses state borders. Data calls and procedures for eNotarizations and eClosings are other issues the regulators will discuss with NS3 attendees.
For more information on the 2017 NS3, including the agenda and a list of speakers, click here. You can register for NS3 online or click here to get information on how to register via mail, fax or phone. For sponsorship opportunities, email [email protected]