Thinking strategically is one of the most important skills for a leader, especially in the mortgage sector. You need to be able to see the big picture and make decisions that will benefit your business in the long run. This requires a deep understanding of the financial markets and the factors that can impact your business and your customers. It also involves being able to think outside of the box and come up with creative solutions to problems.
Finance and business leaders need to be excellent at managing risk. This means being able to identify potential problems and develop plans to mitigate them. It also involves being comfortable with making decisions that may not always be popular but are necessary in order to protect the interests of your business.
Industry-leading knowledge is also another key skill for business leaders, especially in the mortgage industry. As a leader in the mortgage niche, you are the one who is responsible for finding the best deals for your clients.
This means that you need to have a deep understanding of the financial markets and the products that are available. You also need to be able to negotiate effectively in order to get the best terms for your clients. These are the traits that identify Jack Little as one of the proficient leaders who are benchmarking excellence in the dynamic mortgage niche.
Currently operating as Area Manager at Gateway Mortgage, a division of Gateway First Bank, Mr Little provides transparency, timely communications, and excellent service for his clients. Moreover, he is devoted to creating stronger communities and families one home at a time.
In an interview with Insights Success, Mr Little shares valuable facts while highlighting his professional tenure along with the challenges and his vision to enable perpetual betterments in the dynamic mortgage niche.
Below are the excerpts from the interview:
Briefly describe your professional journey up until now.
I started at a small broker shop for nine years, Mortgage Associates. I spent eight years at Wells Fargo and approaching my tenth year at Gateway Mortgage.
What challenges did you face along the way?
In my early days, I lacked experience. At 62, I am challenged with keeping up with the millennials and Gen X loan officers with social media skills.
What significant impact have you brought to the Mortgage industry?
Locally, we have brought a new level of service to our agents for their clients. Our realtors do not have to call us for updates on the borrowers in process.
Our operations division delivers what we need when we need it to make the transaction as smooth as possible. My team depends on them to maintain their consistency and excellence from underwriting to closing. The unseen heroes.
Tell us about Gateway Mortgage and its foundation pillar.
Gateway started in 2000 as an LLC. in July 2013; I started the 26th branch. Since then, our leadership bought a small credit union, and we are now Gateway Mortgage, a division of Gateway First Bank, but we don’t act like a bank. We still provide the same level of service we had as a direct lender.
What is your take on technology’s importance, and how are you leveraging it?
Technology is the future and must be embraced when it is available. A majority of my clients apply and send in documents through the online app or electronically. In our market, I meet very few clients face-to-face. It improves efficiency with out of state 2nd home purchases and allows more time for networking.
What are your goals in the upcoming future?
My goal, as I enter my 29th year in the business, is to prepare a pathway for my team members to take over when I retire while still maintaining the volume as a top lender in our area and with our company.
What advice would you like to give the next generation of aspiring business leaders?
You have to start small and work your way to success. There is nothing easy in this industry; whether it’s today or 25 years ago, the basics are the same. The tactics and players may change, but not the art of providing a consistent level of service to referral sources and customers. Do what you say you will do and communicate. There are no shortcuts in this industry that will sustain volume and loyalty from referral sources through the years.
The Bequest of Proficiency
At Gateway, we weave the knowledge and expertise of our local mortgage professionals together with state-of-the-art technology and the powerful resources of a national company to make your home-buying experience easy, reliable, and fast.
As your Loan Originator, I am committed to walking alongside you through every step of the journey to home ownership, from pre-qualification to guiding you to the home loan that’s right for you from our full suite of products.
I will also be available to either take your application personally or guide you through our intuitive, easy-to-use online mortgage application. My dedication to you doesn’t stop once your loan closes – you’ll have a local and trustworthy companion to call on for any of your mortgage needs.
In everything we do, we put people first. To us, this means being there for you—our customer—at every step. Helping you navigate the mortgage process, offer high-touch communication and service to put your mind at ease, and understand who you are and what you need so we can deliver on our promises. It also means being invested in your community, which is how we’ve built our business, where we’ve built our lives and homes of our own.
