Switching from retail lending to becoming an independent mortgage professional is one of the smartest moves you can make for your career. And seeking out an experienced mentor in wholesale is a way to push your professional development even further and separate yourself from the pack.
Not only can a mentor help you consider the trajectory of your career from a fresh perspective, but they’ll also work with you to identify the steps you need to take to make the progress you want. Read on to learn all the advantages of working with a seasoned independent mortgage professional who can make your career journey even more rewarding.
You’ll Learn From Someone Who’s Faced the Same Challenges
There’s no one ideal model of what a mentor should be or what qualifications they should have. However, your preferred mentor should be someone also in the wholesale mortgage industry who has experience working for themselves or at a brokerage not affiliated with a large lender or bank. As a result, they’ll be able to share successful strategies and how they were able to take challenges that are common in the wholesale mortgage industry and turn them into opportunities for growth.
Your mentor doesn’t need to be someone in your same circumstances, either. In fact, the more unique experiences they have under their belt, the better. Their one-of-a-kind perspective can help you view obstacles in a different light and may lead you to find innovative solutions you may never have considered otherwise!
You’ll Get Honest Feedback on Your Good (and Bad) Ideas
The ideal career mentor doesn’t have to be an ultra-successful captain of mortgages. All you need is a friendly, experienced person who’s reliable and willing to do the following:
Answer your questions honestly
Encourage you when you’re on the right path
Be straight with you when you’re headed in the wrong direction
Offer advice when you need it
Help you sort through various options and challenges that pop up along your career path
If your mentor understands you and your aspirations, they’re likely to be an unbelievably useful resource and sounding board — so use them as much as possible!
You Can Plug Into Their Network
Assuming your mentor is someone outside of your direct business circle, they may be able to introduce you to people they’ve met over the years and refer you to real estate agents, appraisers, builders, title companies and other industry professionals they’ve worked with over the years. It never hurts to meet new people who can offer their services — and who may need your services now or down the road.
You should also see if your mentor is a member of any groups or associations of mortgage professionals. Organizations like AIME (Associate of Independent Mortgage Experts) are a great way to network and get access to a community of other independent mortgage brokers and loans officers across the country, along with resources available exclusively to members, often at no cost.
The Easiest Place to Start Looking? Social Media
If there are no obvious mentor candidates in your immediate circle, going online is a great place to look. Use FindAMortgageBroker.com as a resource to search for mortgage professionals in your area. There are also many professional networking associations on social media, including ones devoted to the independent mortgage channel — so join some and start making connections! You’ll learn about conferences and events that you can attend to meet other professionals. (Note: You may run into consultants offering paid services, but by investing a little time, you should be able to meet other entrepreneurs in the independent broker channel who you can learn from without having to spend a dime.)
Are you ready to jump-start your career in the mortgage industry? Our team at BeAMortgageBroker.com is here to help you every step of the way.
