Stacy Rissman

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How did you get involved in the mortgage industry?
I started in the mortgage industry working for a mortgage company who had a joint venture with a real estate office in January of 2016. The position required relationship building, marketing, education and generating referral business. Last summer, I accepted a position at Dupaco Community Credit Union as a mortgage Lending Consultant. The fast paced, relationship building, fulfilling part of this industry, keeps me coming back!

What is the biggest challenge or opportunity you have seen in the mortgage industry?
I would say the biggest challenge is how technology has changed immediate response times. With the addition of Day one certainty is defiantly changing our industry.

What advice would you give people just entering the industry?
Buying a home is most of the time the biggest investment of your member’s life. Taking the time to educate your members through the process and being their advocate is the most rewarding part of this career.

Do you have a quick tip for saving time, generating leads, tracking information, etc. that you would like to share?
Getting back to leads quickly is the name of the game as conversion rates drop astronomically after just 5 minutes. There are so many online channels as information is at their fingertips so communication is key in the industry.

When you are not at work, what do you like to do most?
Outside of work, my life revolves around my 3 busy boys. Brady is 9, Parker is 7 and Maddon is 18 months old. They keep me busy traveling to watch them play baseball, football and wrestle, but I still like to play softball myself when I can squeeze it in.

What is a quote or a guiding principle you live by?
“Never let the fear of striking out, keep you from playing the game”

Meggan Jensen

Meggan_Jensenweb

How did you get involved in the mortgage industry?
I was approached by a former co-worker about an opportunity to work for a Mortgage Broker in Kansas City and began there in 2002.

What is the biggest challenge or opportunity you have seen in the mortgage industry? The biggest challenge is staying on top of the changes that are continuously happening and the biggest opportunity is all of the great people I have been able to meet and form relationships and friendships with that may not have happened otherwise.

What advice would you give people just entering the industry?
Be approachable and do not be afraid to go out and build relationships with those in your community.

Do you have a quick tip for saving time, generating leads, tracking information, etc. that you would like to share?
Organization is key!

When you are not at work, what do you like to do most?
Spending time with family and friends and watching my son in all of his sporting activities!

What is a quote or a guiding principle you live by?
“Success is never owned; it is only rented and the rent is due every day” Rory Vaden

Nicki Montelongo

Nicki_Montelongoweb

What is the biggest challenge or opportunity you have seen in the mortgage industry?
Purchase Markets are unique. You really have to work hard to get those loans into the door.

What advice would you give people just entering the industry?
Remember it isn’t mortgage sales, we are in the relationship business. Clients make our business memorable and mean so much to me.

Do you have a quick tip for saving time, generating leads, tracking information, etc. that you would like to share?
Build your business on relationships

When you are not at work, what do you like to do most?
Spend time with my husband and three children. We keep busy with kids’ activities and boating in the summer.

Kurt Backes

What is the biggest challenge or opportunity you have seen in the mortgage industry?
People like to work with someone they know, like and trust. Be likeable and not transactional.

What advice would you give people just entering the industry?
Meet as many people, business leaders, realtors and other mortgage lenders as possible. Ask questions. Be a student of the game.

Do you have a quick tip for saving time, generating leads, tracking information, etc. that you would like to share?
Excel and managing your pipeline. Know where every member is within the process.

When you are not at work, what do you like to do most?
Anything Fitness, everything wrestling and family experiences.

What is a quote or a guiding principle you live by?
“All progress takes place outside the comfort zone.” Michael John Bobak

Tyrel Kool

TyrelKoolweb

How did you get involved in the mortgage industry?
I fell into the mortgage industry back in 2013.  I had graduated from South Dakota State University (Go Jacks!), and had finished an internship with a community bank working with their commercial lenders and knew I wanted to get into lending!  I got my first opportunity as a Jr. Loan Officer with Wells Fargo and have not looked back since.

What is the biggest challenge or opportunity you have seen in the mortgage industry?
For the first time in a long time, we are in a rising rate environment – which is both a challenge and an opportunity.  The challenge is profitability – rates go up, margins get smaller.  A lot of institutions will have to decide if mortgage is going to be a revenue stream, or just a service they can provide.  The opportunity is, as some institutions scale back, that opens up the door for others to gain more customers and market share.

What advice would you give people just entering the industry? 
Don’t spend time learning every little thing, about every loan program because it will all change at some point.  Spend your time building relationships and meeting people, so that you can begin to build a business!

Do you have a quick tip for saving time, generating leads, tracking information, etc. that you would like to share?
Start and finish you day with a quick 10-15 min. meeting with yourself and ask:  What did I do well today?  What could I have done better/different?  What do I need to get done before I leave?  What are the most important things that I will start my day with, tomorrow?

When you are not at work, what do you like to do most? 
I’m one of those wierdos that like being active and working out.

What is a quote or a guiding principle you live by? 
If you want to be really good, do the things no one else is doing.