Purpose-Driven Pros

Say you're in mortgage without saying you're in mortgage

Link copied

Associate Editor

Remember that long take in Goodfellas where Henry Hill steers his then-girlfriend Karen into a restaurant through the back? He passes $20 bills to waiters who greet them, hustling to get the couple the best table in the house. “What do you do?” she asks him. “I’m in construction,” Henry says. And her, stroking his hand: “You don’t feel like you’re in construction.”

We here at NMP Magazine put forth that same inquisition on social media, challenging mortgage professionals who follow our publication to say they’re in the business without actually saying they’re in the business.

Up To The Challenge

The prompt, “What do you do?” drew a lot of interest, especially among the West Coast crowd. Respondents were not nearly as elusive as the young mobster with so much to hide, most opting to take a clear and focused approach to defining their professional purpose.

Anthony Sabri, division manager at E Mortgage Capital in Irvine Calif., who goes by “The Debt Alchemist” — enjoyed the challenge.

“One way to describe what you do without saying ‘I sell mortgages’ — is to say ‘I help people achieve their dreams of owning their own homes.’ As a mortgage professional, you’re not just selling a product; you’re making people’s dreams come true,” Sabri said in his response to the prompt, posted on the employment-focused social network LinkedIn.

“I say I’m a Life Changer Extraordinaire,” Todd Zelcer with American Financial Network in Brea, Calif. wrote.

Zelcer was one of several people to employ the word ‘life’ in a description, suggesting the belief that some part of their nine-
to-five impacts others’ lives.

Vickie Lasher, a branch manager for the same company, said, “I am a life coach, a counselor, and I help families with their dreams.”

Mike Faraci, founder and CEO of Red Button Media and Video Marketing Marvels in Orange, Calif., did not take the question ‘What do you do?’ lightly. In fact, he came up with a whopping total of seven responsibilities.

“I help renters become homeowners.”

“I build strategic debt and equity strategies for homeowners.”

“I help people buy homes with no money down.”

“I help the self-employed qualify to buy a home.”

“I provide home financing in underserved communities.”

“I help investors build real estate portfolios.”

“I build generational wealth strategies for young families.”

And in conclusion, Faraci beckoned, “Come on, mortgage people ... WHAT DO YOU DO?!”

“I’m a Life Changer Extraordinaire.”

Todd Zelcer, American Financial Network

Insta Feedback

Photo and video-sharing platform Instagram drew in more feedback.

“I help take the fear out of buying a home,” Deb Barone with JWK & Associates in Post Falls, Idaho, said, adding a smiley face emoji for color.

An individual who bills themselves as ‘Donxjvan Juan Munoz’ presented a woebegone perspective. “I’m an alcoholic who happens to help educate clients about real estate financing,” this user wrote.

And from the self-described “Prince of MLO” Moisés J. Perez of Yireh Finance & Lending came a simple, “I help people build wealth.”

That’s just a sampling of the literal, inspired, and cynical career manifestos of those who loan others money for decades at a time. Advocate for the homeless. Put families closer together.

Mortgage professionals who chose to contemplate their existence in this industry. Who responded to our challenge.

Now, it’s your turn.