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How long have you been a Mortgage Broker?
I have been a mortgage broker about six years, after twenty years in senior managment in the financial services and investment fields.
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When did you decide to become a Mortgage Broker and why?
I moved into mortgages as I became more conservative in my own investment strategies. I saw my investors seeking better returns with lower risks, and my client led me into providing them with suitable investment products and mortgages to meet their goals.
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What jobs did you have before becoming a Mortgage Broker?
I started out my professional life as a life insurance sales person for Sun Life. Since then I have been involved in investment consulting, real estate sales, telecommunications financing, and running a large credit counselling service.
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What type of education or training have you received for your profession?
I have a Master’s degree in Organizational Management, and am a Accredited Mortgage Professional.
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What professional designations do you have?
AMP
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Where do you live and how long have you lived there?
I have lived in North Vancouver off and on since 1967, where I live with my wife.
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How has your family life helped you in your profession?
I am a father of five adult kids, all of whom have long since left home. We remain committed and close to each other. Children make you aware of your own mortality and the fact that immortality can only be acquired by what we do for others with our lives.
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What geographical area do you specialize in and why?
I work with clients across Western Canada, including residential and commercial mortgages. I have investors from all over BC and borrowers in almost every corner of the province as well. The secret to mortgage advising and planning is that a mortgage is first a financial instrument. Unlike real estate, mortgages are not local to an area, and expertise is readily transferable from one part of the province to another.
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What geographical area do you get most of your business from and why?
My own personal business is mostly from Southwestern BC.
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What type of product or service do you specialize in and why?
I personally specialize in difficult to place private mortgages and commercial loans, as well as investment mortgage planning. This allows me to leverage my many years in financial services management and planning.
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Do you work alone? Or are you part of a team and why?
I am the designated broker for DLC Trillium-Accessible, and I have a team of mortgage brokers who work under my direction. We also have a superb boutique real estate agency.
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Since you first entered the profession, how has it changed to this point?
The biggest changes have been towards more and more of a sense of professional development and a commitment to custom service to clients.
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What part of your job provides you with the most fulfillment and why?
Teaching and training others.
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Why should a customer choose to work with you?
Because when he or she has their mortgage, they will truly understand what they have and why it is the right thing for them.
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What would be your best advice to a new customer?
Demand that your broker invest time in you. If they won’t then move on until you find a broker who will.
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How are you different from your competition?
Personal service. A commitment to leadership of new brokers and trainees.
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Do you use the Internet for your business?
I use the Internet a lot.
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How has the Internet helped your business?
Social media is the centre of my marketing and advertising plan.
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What do you do in your spare time?
Read and write.
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What inspires you in life and in work?
My faith and hope in the future of the human race.
