Cameron Findlay, chief economist from Lending Tree, explained the current and future outlook of the economy as well as regulatory changes in the mortgage market to Los Angeles BTA members and guests. There was discussion on the impact of home prices and consumer spending that influences corporate margins. These issues affect everyone in myriad ways. Our personal spending is affected as well as that of our customers and employers.

Findlay was responsible for Capital Markets operations including risk management, hedge strategy and analytics, since joining the firm in 2004 and establishing the firm’s derivative trading platform. Findlay took over as chief economist in 2008 and is also the firm’s principal representative in Washington DC, involved in mortgage industry reform.

Findlay is the author of “Economic Perspectives” and is a frequent guest on CNBC and Fox Business, as well as oft-quoted expert in such news outlets as the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Reuters, BusinessWeek and SmartMoney.

Guests were encouraged to give their business clothes a second life and someone else a second chance. Donations were given to Clothes The Deal, a nonprofit organization that provides professional clothing free of charge to low-income job-ready men and women.