Rankings FAQ

What is Scotsman Guide’s Top Originators ranking?

Scotsman Guide’s Top Originators is the industry’s most-comprehensive, verified rankings of the nation’s top-producing residential mortgage brokers, originators, loan officers, bankers and more. To ensure that we publish the most-accurate data possible, all submitted data undergoes an extensive verification process prior to being published in Scotsman Guide magazines and online. 

What is Scotsman Guide’s Top Mortgage Lenders ranking?

Scotsman Guide’s Top Mortgage Lenders is the industry’s most-comprehensive, verified rankings of the nation’s top-producing mortgage companies. To ensure that we publish the most-accurate data possible, all submitted data undergoes an extensive verification process prior to being published in Scotsman Guide magazines and online.

Who will be included in Scotsman Guide’s Top Originators and Top Women Originators rankings? 

Any licensed residential mortgage originator who secured $25 million or more in production or closed 75 or more loans within the previous calendar year will be included in the Top Originator rankings online. Throughout the year we will feature many of the Top Originators who made it in the top 500 in the residential magazine.

Who will be included in Scotsman Guide’s Top Veteran Originators rankings? 

Any originator who appeared in the Top Originators or Top Women Originators rankings that identified themself as a veteran of the United States Armed Forces will be published online. The top 100 will be published in July’s edition of the residential magazine.

When is the submission period?

• The entry period for the 2024 Scotsman Guide Top Originators is January 1st, 2024 – January 31st, 2024. 
• The entry period for the 2024 Scotsman Guide Top Women Originators is January 1st, 2024 – January 31st, 2024. 
• The entry period for the 2024 Scotsman Guide Top Mortgage Lenders is March 1st, 2024 – March 31st, 2024.

When will the Top Originators and Top Mortgage Lenders lists be released?

• Top Originators: Top Dollar Volume, Non-QM, Most Loans Closed (April – online and in print)
• Top Women Originators (May – online and in print)
• Top Mortgage Lenders (June – online and in print)
• Top Originators: Top Veteran Originators (April – online, July – print)
• Top Originators: Top Emerging Stars (August – online and in print)
• Top Originators: Top Mortgage Brokers (April – online, September – print)
• Top Jumbo Originators (October – online and in print)
• Top Originators: Top Purchase, Top Refinance (April – online, November – print)
• Top Originators: State Champs (December – print only)

Why is there a processing fee?

Top Originators

Every year we receive thousands of submissions for our Top Originators rankings. To help ensure only serious submissions are made and to cover some of the production and operational expenses to produce the rankings we require a small processing fee. Fees are non-refundable. The processing fee is separate from any licensing and reuse of content cost, which will be handled by Wright’s Media.

Top Mortgage Lenders

To cover some of the production and operational expenses to produce the rankings we require a small processing fee. Fees are non-refundable. The processing fee is separate from any licensing and reuse of content cost which will be handled by Wright’s Media.

Am I guaranteed to make the rankings if I submit?

Only completed submissions that meet the qualification requirements, have paid the processing fee, and can be verified by our Editorial team will be featured in the rankings either online and/or in print. Submission by itself does not guarantee you will make the rankings. 

What information is required to enter Scotsman Guide’s Top Originators?

Individual Submissions

With every Top Originators submission, Scotsman Guide requires a signed verification memo at the time of entry. In addition to contact information and NMLS ID number, we ask for the following data from the previous calendar year:

• Signed Verification Memo
• Total loan dollar volume and number of loans closed
• Purchase loan dollar volume and number of loans closed
• Refinance loan dollar volume and number of loans closed
• Non-QM dollar volume and number of loans closed
• Government loan (FHA/VA/USDA) dollar volume and number of loans closed
• Brokered loan dollar volume and number of loans closed

Bulk Submissions

To enter a bulk submission, you must use our provided template and complete the verification memo. Any submissions that do not use the template or aren’t accompanied by a completed verification memo will not be accepted! 

What information is required to enter Scotsman Guide’s Top Mortgage Lenders?

With every submission, Scotsman Guide requires verification documents. These documents must be included at the time of entry. In addition to contact information, we ask for the following data from the previous calendar year:

• Total loan dollar volume and number of loans closed
• Retail loan dollar volume and number of loans closed
• FHA, VA, and Non-QM loan dollar volume and number of loans closed
• Wholesale loan dollar volume and number of loans closed
• Delegated and non-delegated correspondent loan (loans funded by your correspondent channels) dollar volume and number of loans closed

What if I worked for more than one company last year?

Originators who worked for two companies or more during the previous calendar year, must add their totals from all the companies they worked for and input them as the single year totals on the entry form.

Enter the company name in this format: First Company/Second Company/Third Company/Etc. Upon verification, however, originators are required to provide production reports from all companies, and representatives from all companies must complete and sign the verification forms.  

If we work as a team, can we participate in Top Originators?

Entry is open to individuals only. Team entries will not be accepted. If you work as part of a team, each originator on the team must submit their individual production.

What happens after I submit my information?

After completing the submission process, you will receive an email with a summary of the data submitted. Our customer service and editorial departments will then verify all completed submissions and will contact you should there be any discrepancies with your information. Any entrants who are unresponsive to our efforts to verify their submitted data will not be considered. 

How do I know if you received my entry?

You will receive a confirmation message after you submit your data. You also will receive a confirmation email from Scotsman Guide to the email address you provide on your entry form with a summary of your submitted data. Please keep a copy of your confirmation email for your records.

Can I start the entry form and finish it later?

Once you if you start the submission process you must finish it or you will be required to enter your information again. You cannot start and resume the submission at a later time.

Can I make changes to my submission after it’s been completed?

Once you have completed your submissions you will not be allowed to make edits or changes. It is your responsibility to ensure the information is accurate before submission. If you find an error or have a question with your submission, please contact rankings@scotsmanguide.com immediately. 

When will I find out if and where I ranked on the list?

Those who make the rankings will be notified before they are printed and released online.

Please note: Once the data is printed or published online, we cannot make any changes. Therefore, it is important that you enter everything — your data, your company name, etc. — accurately.  

Do you verify submissions?

We require all individual submissions to be accompanied by a verification memo signed by their company’s CPA, CFO or other authorized verification source. Our editorial team will review each submission and contact you if we find any inaccuracies between the data submitted and the supplied documents. If you are unable to respond in a timely manner to requests for further validation of your data, your submission may be rejected.

If I make the rankings will I get an award, logo or plaque?

Any individual or company who is featured in our rankings will have the opportunity to license official logos, plaques and other awards from our exclusive licensing partner Wright’s Media. Wright’s Media will contact winners around the time the rankings are published with special offers to celebrate their achievement. For information, please visit https://info.wrightsmedia.com/scotsmanguide-licensing.

How do you decide which Top Originator is ranked higher in the Most Loans Closed ranking when their numbers are the same?

We used total dollar volume as a tie-breaker.

Where can I find out about rankings advertising opportunities?

If you are interested in your brand being featuring next to the Scotsman Guide Top Originators, Top Mortgage Lenders or other Scotsman Guide ranking in the print magazine, please contact sales to learn more.

Top Originators Bulk Submissions

Can I enter the same corporate contact information for all of the individuals I am submitting to the rankings?

All of the fields should be unique to the individual, aside from “Company Name.”

Why is it important to include unique information for each individual?

This helps us ensure that the information you enter is accurate and linked to each individual, Additionally, by providing each individual’s contact information, we can make sure they receive email notifications if they make the rankings and provide them with subscription options for both Scotsman Guide print magazines and our email newsletter, The Originator. 

Why do you require us to complete and return the verification memo for a bulk submission?

The verification memo acts as a guarantee from your company’s CPA, CFO or other verification source that the data you submitted to Scotsman Guide is accurate.

Why do you require the specific United States Armed Forces branch for originators that want to be included in the Top Veteran Originators ranking?

To help us verify and ensure the integrity of our rankings we ask that you provide the branch of service for any originator you would like to submit for our Top Veteran Originators. It is your responsibility to ensure all data submitted is accurate since changes will not be made after your submission has been made.

What information do I need about each originator to complete a bulk submission?

Along with each originators contact information you will also need to provide the previous year’s production numbers.