FAQS on Professional Industry Educational Consulting

1. What type of Federal Regulatory Compliance support does Karen offer?

Nationally, Karen provides education-based regulatory support on topics including RESPA Sections 8 and 9, the TRID Rule, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. Within RESPA, she provides training on the following RESPA Statements of Policy:

• RESPA SOP 1996-2 – Sham Controlled Business Arrangements
• RESPA SOP 1996-3 – Rental of Office Space, Lock-outs, and Retaliation
• RESPA SOP 1996-4 – Enforcement Standards: Title Insurance Practices in Florida
2. What type of State-level Regulatory Compliance support does Karen offer?

As the author of the Florida Study Manual for Title Insurance on which the Florida Title Agent State Exam is based – Karen provides education-based regulatory support on all Florida state-specific laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to title agents and title insurance agencies. Karen was the first to develop the state-mandated 40 Hour Course for Title Agents in 1992, and has been delivering it via classroom and virtual classroom programs for over 35 years.

3. Regarding Regulatory Compliance matters, why does Karen emphasize ‘education-based’ support?

Although she has taught Regulatory Compliance Programs for most of her 50-year industry career – and worked closely with Federal and multiple State Regulators – Karen does not provide formal legal opinions. Title agencies seeking formal legal opinions should consult with in-house counsel or other regulatory-informed counsel.

4. What type of Jobskills Training does Karen offer?

Karen offers education-based ‘jobskills’ training on industry-wide topics including, but not limited to:

• Title Insurance 101 (History of the Title Insurance Industry)
• Title Insurance Commitment Review
• Title Insurance Policy Review
• Title Insurance Endorsements
• Settlement-Escrow Procedures
• Title Search-Examination Procedures
• Surveys and Legal Descriptions
• Cybersecurity Basics

Karen is the author of the (1988) The Title Trilogy series of textbooks (Closing Concepts; Title Basics; and Liability 101) which sold over 100,000 copies – the best-selling jobskills training books in the country. Karen is currently in the process of fully updating The Title Trilogy textbooks, with an anticipated release date in Summer 2027.

5. Are there topics on which Karen does NOT provide support?

Yes. She does not provide training or support on computer software programs. Agents with questions should reach out to their respective software vendors for this type of support. She also does not provide Insurer-specific underwriting support. While she does explain underwriting guidelines (from an educational perspective), Agents with specific questions (e.g., insurable or not insurable) should contact their Title Insurer (Underwriter) with transaction-specific questions.

6. Does Karen offer Agency process-flow support?

Yes. Karen will analyze process-flow to determine bottlenecks. This includes reviewing existing processes – from Contract through Closing – and interviewing applicable personnel to determine areas where process flow can be streamlined. She will also review existing file control (and quality control) documentation, and suggest areas for improvement.

7. Does Karen offer Agency policies-and-procedures support?

Yes. Karen will review existing policies and procedures, to determine areas for improvement. From a regulatory perspective, she will also review the Agency’s GLBA Privacy Notice to determine ‘promises made’ to Customers and compare that to physical and electronic GLBA Safeguards in place. This type of support may include Karen establishing in-house Compliance Training for Agency staff (those on a Customer-facing, ‘need-to-know’ basis). This may include an on-site visit for which travel-charges apply.

8. Does Karen offer document-specific review?

It depends. YES, if it applies to generic documentation. NO, if it applies to transaction-specific documentation containing nonpublic personal information (NPI). As to the latter, if the client redacts the NPI before transmitting documents, Karen will review same and provide an education-based response.

9. Our Agency needs marketing support. Does Karen offer this service?

Upon request, Karen will develop education-based marketing/promotional programs and products for Title Agencies.

10. Our Agency wants to provide educational seminars to area Realtors. Does Karen offer this service?

Yes. Karen can develop educational programs and products using print media and Audio Lectures that your Title Agency then uses to educate industry-adjacent providers. This type of program is best-suited for fee-based ‘white-label’ distribution between The Koogler Group (content-curriculum provider) and your Agency (delivery and marketing partner).

11. Does Karen offer Agency recruitment and hiring support?

Generally, NO. However, if your Agency is ‘stuck’ between two qualified candidates for the same position, Karen will, upon request, review their resumes, perform final interviews on your behalf, and provide follow-up information so you can make an informed decision.

12. Does Karen provide employment services for those seeking jobs?

NO. However, upon request, she will assist in ‘polishing’ resumes for job applicants. Most employers advertise for ‘employees with experience’ which can be daunting to those new to the title (settlement) industry. Karen helps job applicants discover and highlight proficient skills in prior (non-industry) jobs that best transfer to jobs within the title (settlement) industry.

13. Does Karen recommend specific title and closing software vendors?

Generally NO… but MAYBE. Today, there are multiple vendors offering robust title production software (TPS) that handle everything from title searches and doc prep, to final settlement (closing) and escrow accounting functions. Karen will generically review key features of TPS that are important to Title Agencies and discuss various capabilities. However, since she has not personally tested the systems she refrains from ‘referring’ one over the others.

14. Will Karen review transaction-specific files to ensure closing compliance and/or adherence with underwriter-specific requirements?

Karen will review files from a post-closing, post-insuring audit perspective. She will also answer generic questions regarding closing compliance and adherence to underwriter-specific requirements – e.g., explaining ‘why’ certain lender or title insurer requirements exist. However, she does not offer transaction-specific file review from the perspective of explaining why a specific lender or title insurer are making specific requirements to close a loan or issue title insurance on a specific transaction. Those types of questions should be directed to the specific lender or title insurer prior to closing or insuring the transaction.

15. Does Karen still offer ‘Friendly Agency Audits’ like she did in past years?

Karen may, based on availability, agree to conduct a ‘Friendly Agency Audit’ to look for areas in need of improvement. However, this generally requires on-site review, over a 2-3 day period, at an average cost $2,500 per day plus expenses.