Are you ready to make the life-changing switch to a career as an independent mortgage broker or loan officer? Our team at BeAMortgageBroker.com is here to help you every step of the way.

THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY AT THE RIGHT TIME

Having sales experience of some kind bodes well for anyone starting out as a mortgage loan officer. Selling yourself on being able to do the job is a different story. After one of the toughest periods of her life, Jessica found a new beginning with a job in the wholesale mortgage industry. 

LOSING A MENTOR AND THEN HER INCOME

Jessica was enjoying her job in radio advertising sales, an industry she had worked in for more than 6 years. However, when her close friend and mentor in the business unexpectedly passed away, everything changed.

“Once he was gone, I didn’t have that same passion for it anymore,” said Jessica.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only loss Jessica had to endure. Not long after her mentor’s death, the COVID-19 pandemic started. Companies slashed their advertising budget to save money, which was another gut punch for Jessica.

 “All my income basically disappeared overnight,” she said. As Jessica pondered her next move, fate intervened.

MAKING HER PITCH AND GETTING PITCHED

In January 2021, Jessica was on a sales call when something unexpected happened.

“I actually went in to sell one of my clients advertising and he sold me on becoming a loan officer,” she said. “He was someone I used to sell advertising to prior to the pandemic, and he ended up opening a mortgage brokerage. He already knew how I worked and he recruited me.”

Jessica was confident that her relationship-building skills from her previous job would help with the transition, but admits she felt intimidated by the prospect of learning a completely new industry. She also knew that after everything she’d been through, a change could be a good thing.

“I just knew that it was the right opportunity at the right time.”

“I LOVE DOING THIS”

After getting her license as a mortgage loan officer, Jessica took a few months to learn the job. During that time, she let her sphere of influence know about her big career change since getting referrals from friends and family members was essential to succeeding.

“My mentor, when I was in radio, always used to say that people do business with people they like, know and trust,” said Jessica. “I feel that is truer than ever in the mortgage industry.”

Jessica has leaned on her previous sales experience to drive business. She even promoted her new business at a bridal show, the same bridal show she used to sell advertising at. This time around, she captured contact information for 88 different brides, all of whom could become clients as future homebuyers.

Today, Jessica is enjoying opportunities like helping a single mother go from a 30-year mortgage to a 15-year mortgage with essentially no change in her monthly payment.

“Things like that really have an impact on people’s lives,” she said. “And that’s why I love doing this.”

Jessica’s resiliency has served her well, overcoming adversity to find a fresh start and a new career in the wholesale mortgage industry. She knows her mentor would be proud.

“The last 2 years have really been a roller coaster. There’s no other way to explain it at all,” said Jessica. “As I was hitting the lows on that roller coaster, finding this job and being able to make this change has allowed me to hit those highs a lot more often.”