In 2020, many originators pushed prospecting to the backburner. Thanks to the record-breaking refinance boom, originators were able to hit volume and income goals without much effort in the prospecting department. This year, a very different story is playing out. While interest rates are still low, marketplace volatility has complicated the financial outlook. A recent […]
It is Time to Get Serious About Prospecting Read More »
Everyone loves a good story. For adults and children alike, the best stories make a lasting impression. Who doesn’t remember the story of George Washington chopping down the cherry tree and the value of telling the truth. While originators aren’t tasked to share life lessons, they are challenged to connect with prospects in a meaningful
Mastering the Fundamentals of Good Storytelling Read More »
Last week, a lender reached out to me regarding consulting services because the company’s production was down 20% from the previous year. This is a familiar scenario in mortgage banking where companies that once had high volumes are experiencing lower production and higher costs. The big question is what can lenders do to turn around their
Are You Running Your Business Like an Ostrich? Read More »
Last week at the NY Secondary Market conference, most of the sales executives I met with asked, “What is the most important issue going forward for the industry?” My response I think will be surprising to many. While improving the manufacturing part of the process is important and long overdue, I believe our real challenge
The Changing Role of Loan Officers Read More »
Originators know that their database of closed transactions and referral sources represent a gold mine for future business. Obviously, people with whom you have already done business are easier to sell to than prospects you don’t know. This is not news. In fact, I would argue that originators who have the largest number of people
The Answer to “What Have You Done for Me Lately?” Read More »
Today’s customers are smarter than ever regarding the products and services they purchase. The internet has changed everything by providing a vast wealth of information on every topic imaginable including mortgages. Furthermore, customers are rating their experiences from eating at restaurants to buying vitamins to working with mortgage originators. These opinions carry an inordinate amount
Are Your Customers Savvier than Your Originators? Read More »
Recently, a mortgage executive told me that an originator had asked to use his personal marketing budget to buy leads from third-party vendors. Fortunately, the executive refused the originator’s request. Unfortunately, these requests are becoming more frequent and are indicative of the poor quality of originators at many mortgage lenders today. Before the internet, I
Are Your LOs Demanding Sales Leads? Read More »
A recent analysis of loan officer performance for a mid-Atlantic state in 2016 revealed shockingly low production numbers. According to the data, the state had approximately 9,000 originators but only 300 originators produced $10 million in annual volume. In the past, $10 million in annual volume was not considered exemplary performance but in a refinance-driven
The Hard Reality of Low Production Numbers Read More »
