Episode 88: A Journey in Finance, to at Mission Fixing Homeownership with Frank Rhode

Written By Greg Martin

Synopsis

Episode 88. How do you put yourself in the position as a founder to solve a really big and complex problem—while building a great company along the way?

In this episode of the Lifetime at Work podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Frank Rohde, founder and CEO of Ownify, about his diverse career in financial services and his mission to make homeownership more accessible for first-time buyers.

Frank discusses his early life in Germany, his transition from banking and consulting to launching financial startups, and the challenges he faced during the .com bust. He explains the impetus behind Ownify and how the company aims to reduce barriers to homeownership through innovative financing solutions.

The conversation also covers the broader economic factors affecting housing affordability and the balance of creating impactful work that also yields financial returns.

  • 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

  • 00:23 Meet Frank Rohde: From Wharton to Ownify

  • 01:06 Frank's Early Life and Career Beginnings

  • 02:51 Consulting at Oliver Wyman

  • 07:29 The Dot-Com Boom and Bust

  • 15:25 Joining FICO and Leveraging Data

  • 17:23 Nomis Solutions: Price Optimization in Financial Services

  • 21:34 Navigating the Financial Crisis

  • 23:13 Reflecting on Career and Future Goals

  • 26:15 Identifying the Housing Crisis

  • 27:12 The Genesis of Ownify

  • 28:07 Economic Factors Affecting Home Ownership

  • 30:30 Challenges for First-Time Home Buyers

  • 37:45 Ownify’s Innovative Solution

  • 46:39 Balancing Financial Return and Impact

  • 50:12 Conclusion and Call to Action

Background and Key Links

  • Frank Rhode is a seasoned fintech executive and the CEO of Ownify, a company on a mission to make homeownership more accessible for the next generation. With a career that spans leadership roles in banking, financial technology, and consumer finance, Frank has helped shape the evolution of digital financial services across North America.

  • He’s been a driving force behind innovative financial products at companies like Fiserv and Nomis Solutions, and now with Ownify, he’s tackling the affordability crisis in housing—rethinking how ownership can work in today’s market.

  • Frank holds a BS from the Wharton School

  • Connect with Frank Rhode on LinkedIn and learn more at ownify.com.

Greg Martin
Next

Episode 87: Building and Buying E-Commerce Businesses with Neil Twa