Respected industry leader, Juergens, leaves Guaranteed Rate for NEO to align with future-forward leadership and culture.

NEO Home Loans powered by Better, a mortgage lender combining elite loan advisors with industry-leading technology to redefine the home financing experience, proudly announces the addition of Jim Juergens as Branch Leader, Distributed Retail.

With nearly two decades of lending expertise, closing $43 million in production, and 91 closed loans last year, Juergens brings both high performance and a leadership philosophy deeply aligned with NEO's mission: helping clients build wealth, not just secure loans.

Juergens’ decision to join NEO Home Loans powered by Better stems from a desire to align with a company that prioritizes long-term value over short-term transactions. After witnessing leadership shifts and cultural changes in his previous organization, he realized he needed a platform that matched his belief: the true way forward is not by cutting back, it’s by becoming more valuable.

“At NEO, there’s a different mindset,” said Juergens. “It’s not about racing to the bottom. It's about elevating the client experience, being empowered to grow personally and professionally, and surrounding yourself with people who think long-term. After getting to know NEO’s leadership through programs like L360 and Loan Atlas, it became clear: NEO was the right move for my business, my team, and my future.”

The alignment between Juergens' philosophy and NEO Home Loans, powered by Better’s unique model, which offers full P&L transparency, entrepreneurial freedom, and a true advisory approach to mortgage lending, made the decision a natural one.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Jim to NEO,” said Ryan Grant, President of NEO Home Loans. “His leadership style, growth mindset, and client-first approach perfectly embody the future of our industry. At NEO, we don’t just close loans, we create long-term value, and Jim is an outstanding example of that.”

Operating out of the northwest Dallas-Fort Worth area, Juergens will play a key role in expanding NEO’s presence in Texas while mentoring the next generation of mortgage advisors in building businesses that prioritize education, wealth strategies, and client trust.

Reflecting on the transition, Juergens added, "For the first time in a long time, it feels like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. NEO’s culture, mindset, and systems provide everything I need to keep growing and helping clients achieve much more than just homeownership.”

For top-producing loan officers seeking more than just a new company, NEO Home Loans powered by Better offers a future-ready platform built to scale your impact, streamline your operations, and align your business with purpose-driven growth. Find out more at NEOHomeLoans.com/Join-Us.

About NEO Home Loans powered by Better

NEO Home Loans powered by Better is a tech-forward mortgage company committed to reshaping the lending experience through education, transparency, and personalized strategy. NEO blends cutting-edge technology with expert human guidance to help clients make smarter financial decisions. With a national footprint and a local advisor model, NEO empowers mortgage professionals to scale their businesses with greater autonomy, efficiency, and impact. NEO powered by Better is setting a new standard in lending. Learn more at neohomeloans.com.

About Better.com

Better Home & Finance Holding Company (NASDAQ: BETR; BETRW) is the first AI-powered mortgage lender and first fintech to fund more than $100 billion in mortgage volume. Since 2016, Better has leveraged its industry-leading AI platform, Tinman™, to achieve a singular mission of making homeownership cheaper, faster, and easier for Americans. Tinman™ allows customers to see their rate options in seconds, get pre-approved in minutes, lock in rates, and close their loan in as little as three weeks. In addition, Betsy™, the first voice-based AI loan assistant built exclusively for the mortgage industry, revolutionizes the homebuying journey by delivering timely application status updates to consumers, answering questions, and moving their loan application along 24/7/365. Better’s mortgage offerings include GSE-conforming mortgage loans, FHA and VA loans, and jumbo mortgage loans. In January 2023, Better launched "One Day Mortgage,” allowing eligible customers to go from click to Commitment Letter within 24 hours. Better won the 2025 Fintech Breakthrough Awards for Digital Mortgage Innovation, and was named Best Online Mortgage Lender by Forbes and Best Mortgage Lender for Affordability by WSJ in 2023, ranked #1 on LinkedIn’s Top Startups List for 2021 and 2020, #1 on Fortune’s Best Small and Medium Workplaces in New York, #15 on CNBC’s Disruptor 50 2020 list, and was listed on Forbes FinTech 50 for 2020. Better serves customers in all 50 US states and the United Kingdom.

For more information, follow @betterdotcom on Instagram and TikTok.

For more information, follow@betterdotcom.

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