Meet Neal K. Smith
Neal has been serving the Sacramento area since 1992 as a Certified Mortgage Planner. He has a degree in Real Estate Finance from California State University, Long Beach. A proud graduate of Jesuit High School, Neal believes wholeheartedly in growing others, as well as sharing gratitude with his community. Through his speaking and coaching work with Michael Maher, Neal has helped others to thrive personally and professionally. NKS Financial also offers and supports numerous events and fundraisers each year in an effort to spread generosity within the community. This includes our signature Cheers to Charity wine events.
Clients rely on Neal because he cares.
He cares about the client’s situation, goals and life situations. Neal understands that this is one of the biggest purchases that most people make and it can become overwhelming with all the documentation, different options, terms and language that most people are not familiar with. Every home is different, every loan is different and with a client-focused approach he is able to offer a custom-tailored service to specifically meet the needs while also demystifying the mortgage process.
Why NKS Financial
Your Lender for Life.
Founded in Sacramento, California in 2002, NKS Financial offers mortgage loan services to individuals and families for residential purchase and refinance. Our client-focused approach allows us to custom-tailor our service to specifically meet your needs while also demystifying the mortgage process. We treat each client like family, while concurrently ensuring that we deliver service that goes above and beyond expectations.
NKS Financial strives to put the customer “First, Last and Always.” We can offer a breadth of loan products to meet your specific needs. We exist to help clients achieve their financial goals.
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Neal K. Smith Certified Mortgage Planner -
Gina Ketcher Director of Operations -
Hallie Smith Processing & Compliance Manager
Owner & Founder
With 29 years of experience as a successful Certified Mortgage Planner, NKS Financial and Neal Smith are uniquely poised to assist clients with all of their mortgage needs. Neal’s emphasis on relationship development, and NKS Financial’s high level of client service, are second to none in the Sacramento region.
Neal possesses a BA in Real Estate Finance from California State University, Long Beach, is a Certified Mortgage Advisor, and was recognized in 2021 amongst the Top 1% of Mortgage Originators in the United States by Mortgage Executive Magazine and Scotsman’s Guide.
Neal and his wife Angie live in East Sacramento. They are new empty-nesters with two sons, Jackson and Max, away at college. Neal is a proud graduate and active supporter of Jesuit High School. When not sidelined with an injury, he is an avid pickleball enthusiast.
Neal believes wholeheartedly in growing others, as well as sharing gratitude with his community. Through his work as a Certified Referral Trainer with Michael Maher, Neal has helped others to thrive personally and professionally.
Hallie Smith is our Processing and Compliance Manager. With over 20 years of industry experience, Hallie is responsible for collecting all the financial documentation needed for your loan to get your financing approved. She is also responsible for submitting your application to the underwriter and clearing any conditions received from the underwriting department. Finally, Hallie sets up closing with the escrow company and is in constant communication with them throughout the loan process.
Hallie's customer service is impeccable and she is always available to answer questions. All our clients rave about her.
Hallie lives in sunny San Diego with her husband, two kids, a cat named Sassie and a tortoise named Raphael(a). She is a native of Lake Tahoe and moved to San Diego for college in 2003 and never left. She enjoys going to the beach with her family and watching her children play sports.
Leah Brown is the newest member of the NKS Financial team, and has been working with the organization since 2020. As our Assistant Mortgage Loan Processor, Leah is responsible for requesting and verifying client documents, working closely with Karen on all facets of loan processing and assisting Neal with daily organization tasks. Leah brings two years of experience and expertise in indirect lending, funding and auditing to Team NKS.
Born in Seattle, Washington, Leah moved with her family to Fair Oaks, California in early childhood and now calls Sacramento home. In her free time, she enjoys paddle boarding, fishing, backpacking and camping, and is also a gifted horticulturist of rare houseplants.
Gina Ketcher joined NKS Financial as our Operations lead in early 2020. Her expertise includes over 10 years of experience in computer consulting, and 20 years leading, guiding and managing Northern California non-profit organizations. Gina possesses a BBA in Information Systems from The University of Oklahoma and holds an MBA from The University of Wyoming.
Gina and her husband Keith live in East Sacramento. They are newly empty nesters, with one son in college in New York City and one son doing specialized training to be a BMW mechanic. She is an avid college football fan (Go Sooners!), Sacramento Kings fan, as well as Formula 1. She and Keith love to travel, following horse racing and sporting events across the country. When not working, Gina can often be seen walking her dog through East Sacramento.
NKS Financial Proudly Supports these Community Organizations & Partners
What Industry Professionals say about Neal Smith and NKS Financial
"Neal Smith and his team were able to fund the loan on time when many other lenders were falling behind. The best lenders know how to solve problems under any circumstance and not blame outside forces."
"When working with lenders, I often look for consistency and clear communication. Neal Smith offers these qualities throughout a transaction. He sets the appropriate expectations right out of the gate and frequently picks up the phone to have conversations with agents and clients involved in a transaction. Furthermore, he is able to get the deal across the finish line without any issues and in a seamless manner."
“Neal is a class-act! He is organized, creative, helpful and a great communicator...all the pieces required for a seamless transaction. It’s nice to trust that Neal always has his client's best interests at heart. I look forward to working with him again!”
“Neal Smith has extensive experience in lending, exhibits genuine interest in helping others and most importantly, truly and honestly cares about his clients. His experience and ability to find the best scenario for clients based on their overall financial situation makes him one of the best choices when selecting a lender.”
Why choose NKS Financial
All Loan Programs
NKS Financial offers a breadth of loan products to meet your specific We exist to help clients achieve their financial goals.
Strategic Borrowing
Our team will help you to choose the right program for your loan. We’ll analyze your finances, assets, goals and plans for the future and with that information will craft the perfect loan for you.
Competitive Interest Rates
Interest Rates can be a huge source of stress during the mortgage process, we remove all the uncertainty and bring you competitive interest rates.