Are you ready to make the life-changing switch to wholesale and take advantage of what ‘going independent’ offers you as a mortgage broker or loan officer? Our team at BeAMortgageBroker.com is here to help you every step of the way.

FINDING FARLENE

Making a career change can be exciting, challenging and nerve-racking at the same time. It presents an opportunity to step outside your comfort zone and discover new things that you’re capable of accomplishing.

Farlene experienced all of these things when making the transition to the wholesale mortgage industry as an independent mortgage loan officer. The process turned into much more than a career change. It became a journey of self-discovery.

COVID CAUSES A CHANGE

Prior to becoming a mortgage loan officer, Farlene was a schoolteacher for 13 years. However, as was the case for many people, the pandemic made Farlene shift her priorities, and she decided that she wanted to spend more time with her own children. “Before COVID, I was looking for a new challenge anyway,” said Farlene. “This just forced it to happen a little bit faster.”

After doing some research online, Farlene found there was a demand for mortgage loan processors. She decided to contact the mortgage broker who had helped with her own recent home loan refinance to see if he was looking to hire any processing support. Instead, he ended up offering to onboard Farlene as a loan officer.

“I have my master’s in business so I was looking at something in that direction,” she said. “And I do love numbers. I am a math teacher, so it kind of went hand in hand to do mortgages because I get to do everything I’ve done before, just in a new industry.”

SELLING HERSELF ON SALES

While Farlene was thrilled to find a job and a mentor who was willing to show her the ropes in the mortgage business, she was also concerned about her lack of sales experience — especially since she was transitioning to a commission-based pay structure for the first time.  

“But then I thought about it and I sold algebra to 9th graders for the last 13 years,” said Farlene. “If I can sell algebra to 14 year olds then I can sell mortgages to people who want to purchase a home or who want to save money (on a refinance).”

As she gained confidence on the phone, Farlene also leveraged the power of social media to generate leads from her existing network.

“I am a fan of Facebook now. I reached out to friends, family, people I went to high school with,” she said. “I’ve just said hello or let them know what I’m doing now and if they need anything — and it’s been working.”

THE FREEDOM TO SHOP AND GROW

“I have always been a shopper myself — whether it was for clothes or a computer or the best deal,” said Farlene. “So now getting to do that for other people is very rewarding. I want to make sure I get the right fit.”

As an independent mortgage loan officer, Farlene has access to a variety of loan products from multiple lenders, low wholesale rates, the best products and everything else that she needs to serve her clients as they go through the loan process.

When she set out to find a new career, she called the search ‘Finding Farlene.’ On top of everything she’s learned about the mortgage origination business, Farlene has learned even more about herself.

“I’m constantly learning and that’s one thing that is important to me — to grow as a person, and I definitely have been. So I’m taking it all in and just enjoying this new adventure,” she said. “I know without a doubt that I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing right now.”