Inevitably, when I mention that I am in the mortgage business, people tend to give me a pitiful look and maybe a pat on my arm, saying, “It must be really rough for you in this market.” The truth is that in the past few years there has been a mass exodus of mortgage companies and loan officers, yet many companies have done more loans than ever before. Numerous loan officers have been skipping from mortgage company to mortgage company trying to find a new home; a few of them have stuck it out and soared.

When I joined Guaranteed Rate in March of 2000, there were 38 employees. Now, 14 years later, we employ over 2,700 employees and are listed as the eighth-largest mortgage company in the country. That is right up there with the most recognized banks. I have been blessed to be listed as high as the #2 loan officer in the country, out of 200,000 people who work in my field.