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8 Daily Habits Of Successful Loan Originators

Successful originators seem to all share a few common traits, such as drive, systems, and discipline etc. But there is more to it than that. Here are eight recognized habits and traits that all top performers have in common.

1. They Have a High Level of Drive

Plain old-fashioned desire and a healthy self-image are key traits of the best performers in any industry. Before LO Comp, the 1 -3 loan a month performers still did okay financially, and we all know why. With the changes in compensation these folks are now being pushed to higher levels of performance, and it can be a difficult, if not impossible, transition. If drive and self-image aren’t where they need to be, then no amount of support, training, and accountability can change that.

The top performers always have their motor on high. They are always asking for the business, and “no” just means “not yet” to them. They never fail; instead, what they tried didn’t work. If they can’t get business from a Realtor, they determine that the Realtor is simply making a mistake, or the LO believes they have yet to show enough value. If the customer picks a different lender, the loan officer goes back to the drawing board and analyze what he or she can do to get a better result next time. Competitiveness, drive, ambition and a healthy self-image count … big time.


2. They Maintain Systems and Disciplines

Everyone talks about them, everyone wants them; few companies possess them, and sadly even fewer originators have the time or skill to develop them. The best performers follow a strictly defined sales process with a sales funnel to keep clients moving forward in their system. They are scripted with professional sales presentations and templates that are used consistently at every step. There are defined standards and systems for file quality so the customer experience is predictable. The best underwriters follow strict checklists to do their work, and the best loan officers typically do as well. They originate in a very proactive working environment, rarely needing to request more documentation. Their goal is to originate loans that will be clear to close on the first submission. They know that reactive work cripples their productivity.

They master a database or CRM system and never let anyone or anything fall through the cracks. The ball is never dropped. They don’t have stacks of post it-notes, or the famously ineffective yellow legal pad that has 40 or 50 pages of one-line notes going back who knows how far. There are no stacks of Realtor business cards sitting on their desk wrapped in rubber bands, as if some day they are going to go through them.  Every call is returned in a defined time frame. There is a follow-up plan and discipline that makes sure every possible opportunity is maximized. This can be easily accomplished with a disciplined, determined approach to leveraging a system with a strong database, CRM tools and calendar process. Woody Allen is quoted as saying “80% of success is showing up.”

3. They Follow a Business Plan

It seems pretty obvious that a plan of some kind would help most people achieve a better result. Yet ask the average originator what their business plan is, and you get a blank stare, or a very unconvincing explanation of what they are trying to do. Closing one loan used to pay – and sometimes still pays – entirely too much income for any one person to dedicate themselves to executing a specific business plan. Management’s direction and the loan officer’s business plan can usually be summed up in 5 or 6 words: “Just go get another deal,” or “Just go get another Realtor relationship.” Not what anyone would call a plan.

The best performers follow a work plan and measure their results against that plan. They adjust and adapt so that the business is not running them, they are running their business. They don’t sell the loan rate and terms because their plan always includes unique selling propositions or USP’s; they are never a commodity. They never resort to the “we have great service,” and “we are always available to take your call” selling system. They have bulletproof relationships with a select group of agents that refer them exclusively.


4. Product Discipline – they don’t try to do every loan

It takes a commitment to becoming excellent at your craft, to be able to deliver the best borrowing experience for the clients. After all, they are picking up the tab. And doing one reverse mortgage a year will never make you an expert. The best performers would never consider doing a loan they can’t do 5 times a month, which likely eliminates these specialty loans (Reverse, 203K, 203ks, state-sponsored etc.). They like to use the assembly-line analogy. Ford isn’t trying to build Mustangs at the Explorer plant. They refer out those loans they can’t excel at.


5. Everything Is Measured

If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it. Ask an originator how many leads, credit report pulls, appointments, pre approvals, contracts and applications, and closings he or she has in a specific time period.  Your average performers may be able to tell you the closings number, but they’ll respond with “about 2 or 3 deals a month,” or “between 25 and 30 deals a year.”

Most of the best performers know their numbers exactly. They know who their top referral sources are and they rank them. They can also tell you how many Realtor prospecting calls and past client calls they take in a given time period. They track ratios because they know they must if they want to excel. We all know why professional baseball tracks every possible statistical measure of performance.

Often the originator’s company has a lot of input on this subject. If they don’t measure anything except closings, then they don’t set a very good example for the LO. The best performers either find a company that will monitor with them, or they simply take it upon themselves. It’s just too important to ignore. 

6. Well-Managed Processing, Underwriting and Closing

This is another trait of the company rather than the loan officer – who likely has little, if any, input into how these departments are run. However, the best performers move on if they can’t effect the change they need. The best performers know they must have a positive confident attitude when in front of new referral partners. And that’s tough to do if you know back at the office you are going to have to put out fires for the rest of the day. It’s easy to promise excellent service when you have complete faith in your ability to deliver it every single time.

Top producers have studied their business, and they know what it takes to turn over a 100% process-able closable loan file. Good loan officers are smart, and they know it is possible to beat the loan condition deadlines, to get the closing figures and documents to title 3 or 4 days early, and it’s even possible to have the wire at the title company the day before the loan is closing. The top producers show up at closing and take a bow. They never have to make excuses or apologize.


7. They Want Accountability

This is where the company has to be responsible, because if there are no standards, then there are no standards to be met. We are hearing more and more about companies instituting minimum production standards. The average performer fears this kind of talk, but the true professionals see it as a challenge to improve and grow. After all, most got into this business because the reality of a fixed salary income was not going to be the conduit to whatever dreams they had when they joined this dynamic industry.

Companies could and would do more to help the loan officer grow by having actual prospecting standards, minimum production standards, file quality standards, and so on. You are either growing, or going backwards. Top producers always set up their own accountability, but mandated company standards make it easier for everyone. They appreciate company and management systems that represent high standards, and a management team that is committed to holding its teams accountable for results.


8. Cultural Match Between the Originator and the Company

The top performers trust the company, and the company trusts them. They both do what they say they will do, and both make a full effort to live up to the commitment they make to each other. Both the loan officer and the company typically have a long-term commitment to excellence and both strive to grow and improve. Top producers care about the company profitability as much as their own, and vice-versa. There is always a shared commitment to the type of service the customer gets, and the value proposition the company promotes. Reputation is important to both parties.

Ignoring a cultural mismatch is like staying in a bad marriage. No one is happy; everyone merely tolerates one another, and no one is getting what they want. Worse, no one is having fun.

Conclusion

So, can the average performer become a top producer? The good news is people change all the time. Average performers can become top producers. They must be committed to the outcome and paired with a company that shares the same values, and provides the systems and framework necessary for success.

Written By: Dave Gallegos

Ryan O'Kane I Loan Officer
CA BRE Broker #01845041 NMLS #292685
24 January
2019
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