An American mortgage broker tells his story on how a great mentor can help new brokers get ahead
Paul Volpe started off in the mortgage industry in 1998 while still studying at the University of Arizona; working behind the scenes at Nova Home Loans, where he has been ever since.
Thanks to guidance from his brother, Volpe has become one of the top originators in his company. “My brother Jon Volpe, who had been in the business for about 3 years, was a big
influence. He gave me the tools and mentorship to allow me to be where I am today. I owe all my success to him,” said Volpe.
Now vice president and senior loan officer with his own team to back him up, Volpe currently ranks #3 for most loans closed and #17 in dollar volume for 2015 by Scotsman Guide. However, getting to where he is today was no easy feat. “A lot of late nights, early mornings and weekends – no secret to that. Those who grind and stay on top of their business will succeed. As my dad always said, ‘sacrifice today for tomorrow’,” said Volpe.
Throughout his nearly 20 years of experience, Volpe has learned some valuable lessons that have contributed to his success today. “Never bite off more than you can chew,” he said. If you are 100 percent confident that a loan won’t close, don’t commit to the deal. Another valuable lesson he has learned – face issues upfront. Simply avoiding a problem will not make it go away; addressing issues immediately will help prevent further setbacks. “I’ve learned the hard way to not say what the agent or client wants to hear. Sometimes you have to deliver bad news but you need to be tactful on it. Addressing any issues upfront will save you a lot of headaches in the end,” he said.
Despite the lessons learned and skills gained, Volpe credits his success to his brother. First set on earning a degree in veterinarian sciences, Volpe switched his career path to mortgage when he began to work for his brother at Nova. His advice to young originators getting their start in the industry is simple – find a mentor. “Someone who’s been in your shoes and can help you avoid mistakes they have made along the way,” he said. “Knowledge is power. And with power you gain trust and your business will surely grow if you put the hours in.”
This article is from our sister site Mortgage Professional America by Heather Turner.
Thanks to guidance from his brother, Volpe has become one of the top originators in his company. “My brother Jon Volpe, who had been in the business for about 3 years, was a big
influence. He gave me the tools and mentorship to allow me to be where I am today. I owe all my success to him,” said Volpe.
Now vice president and senior loan officer with his own team to back him up, Volpe currently ranks #3 for most loans closed and #17 in dollar volume for 2015 by Scotsman Guide. However, getting to where he is today was no easy feat. “A lot of late nights, early mornings and weekends – no secret to that. Those who grind and stay on top of their business will succeed. As my dad always said, ‘sacrifice today for tomorrow’,” said Volpe.
Throughout his nearly 20 years of experience, Volpe has learned some valuable lessons that have contributed to his success today. “Never bite off more than you can chew,” he said. If you are 100 percent confident that a loan won’t close, don’t commit to the deal. Another valuable lesson he has learned – face issues upfront. Simply avoiding a problem will not make it go away; addressing issues immediately will help prevent further setbacks. “I’ve learned the hard way to not say what the agent or client wants to hear. Sometimes you have to deliver bad news but you need to be tactful on it. Addressing any issues upfront will save you a lot of headaches in the end,” he said.
Despite the lessons learned and skills gained, Volpe credits his success to his brother. First set on earning a degree in veterinarian sciences, Volpe switched his career path to mortgage when he began to work for his brother at Nova. His advice to young originators getting their start in the industry is simple – find a mentor. “Someone who’s been in your shoes and can help you avoid mistakes they have made along the way,” he said. “Knowledge is power. And with power you gain trust and your business will surely grow if you put the hours in.”
This article is from our sister site Mortgage Professional America by Heather Turner.
