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.

OVERCOMING LOSS TO FIND EMPOWERMENT IN THE BROKER CHANNEL

Life presents opportunities in unexpected ways, sometimes coming from the worst of circumstances. For Lauren, the loss of a mentor led her to completely redirect her career for the better – switching from retail to wholesale lending. What’s happened since has been equal parts honoring her friend’s memory while finding the best version of herself.

FINDING AND THEN LOSING A MENTOR

Like many people who get into the mortgage business, Lauren connected with a mentor to help her navigate the industry. Corey hired Lauren when she was 5 months pregnant with her second child, something that meant a lot to her.  

 “He took me right under his wing. He brought me to every event he went to. He helped train me, introduce me to people. He was everything.”

 Sadly, Corey passed away in May of 2023 at the age of 46. They had talked about starting their own company in the broker channel and even though Lauren had offers from other mortgage brokers to join their company, she knew she was going to execute her and Corey’s plan.

 “It was just him and me in our branch. I immediately was like, ‘Oh my gosh, what am I gonna do now?” said Lauren. “After some consideration, I said I need to take this chance. He would want me to.”

EMBRACING THE OPPORTUNITY IN WHOLESALE

Having only worked in retail, Lauren admits that she didn’t know much about the wholesale channel, but once she opened her broker shop, all the advantages of wholesale lending became evident.

“Pricing was better. The speed was faster. I used to kind of make fun of brokers that would post, ‘clear to close in three days.’ Who cares? But honestly, it does make a big difference,” she said.

 Another big differentiator was the community that Lauren found in the broker channel. She was afraid that the bigger shops wouldn’t give her the time of day, but for her, it’s been the exact opposite.

 “I can reach out to any random broker and say, ‘Hey, I have this situation. How have you handled it?’  And they jump in, they're willing to help. And it's not competition based,” said Lauren. “We all want brokers to succeed and do well. I don't feel like I'm on my own. And that is a very comforting feeling.”

FREEDOM THROUGH INDEPENDENCE

Lauren’s move to the broker channel has given her the flexibility to manage her life as she sees fit. As a mom of three, she can adjust her schedule so she can be there for her clients and her kids.

 “We're busy at home, we're busy with school and my husband is self-employed, too. So being independent truly gives me that freedom.”

 Becoming a broker owner may have seemed overwhelming at the start, but the good that’s come from Lauren taking a chance on herself has been invaluable – professionally and personally.

 “I've grown as a person and a woman and an individual. I've gotten stronger and I've been able to use my voice more and be more confident, which is something I struggled with,” she said. “I've learned so much and developed so much from this career path, along with the flexibility and the financial support for my family. It's very empowering.”

 As happy as she is with her decision to become an independent mortgage broker, it’s bittersweet feeling to be doing it without Corey. That said, Lauren is carrying on his memory by delivering the best experience possible for her clients.

 “At the end of the day, that's what we're in business for.  Yes, we all want to make money and we all want to have flexibility, but we're there to make our clients happy. And I feel like the best chance to do it is in wholesale.”