At Family First Funding LLC, we are proud to have over 150 talented loan officers on our team. Becoming a loan officer can be a very valuable career path. As a loan officer, you play a major role in helping someone afford the house of their dreams! While the benefits of this career path are endless, there are many challenging aspects of getting your licensing. So, do you have what it takes?

We spoke with Lawrence Zhou, Loan Officer from Rockaway, NJ, and Daniel Pop, Loan Officer from Orlando, FL, to get an inside look on what life is like as a loan officer who is early on in their career.

WHAT ARE SOME TIPS YOU HAVE ON PASSING THE NMLS MORTGAGE LICENSE EXAM? 

Lawrence Zhou shared a prep course that helped him pass this difficult exam. “I highly recommend taking Affinity Real Estate & Mortgage Services’ Online NMLS Exam Prep Mastery Crash Course. Many people do not pass the first time, and the exam’s wording is designed to be tricky.”

Lawrence Zhou also stressed that you trust your instincts while taking the exam. “One way I thought about it is if the exam tricks me enough times to fail, they win, and I have to wait and pay for the exam again. Go with your first answer selected and try your best not to overthink and change your original answer.”

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR FIRST 6 MONTHS ON THE JOB AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU LEARNED EARLY ON. 

Daniel Pop explained that his mentorship program helped him the most in the beginning of his career. “I was blessed to be part of a mentorship program during my first 6 months on the job and I think that is crucial for new loan officers.”

“Having someone to answer your questions daily is extremely helpful and builds a solid foundation. Another thing I learned early on is the importance of working for the right company that properly integrates you based on your level of knowledge and experience. Beyond that, being a part of a team where everyone treats you like family and helps you succeed is crucial.”

HOW ARE YOU GROWING YOUR BUSINESS? 

While building your business takes patience and effort, Lawrence Zhou shared how relationship building has helped him grow his clientele. “I am all about strategic partnerships with realtors, attorneys, financial advisors, accountants/CPAs, etc.  My personal network is also very powerful because these are people who know me and trust me already.”

Daniel Pop expressed the importance of having a positive attitude in this customer-facing role. “Being friendly, approachable, and having the right attitude will open doors for you and with that, possible new clients. But is also very important that you are knowledgeable and confident. What you say and how you say it could determine if you win or lose the deal, especially if you do not have a previous relationship with that person.”

WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR JOB AND WHY SHOULD OTHERS TAKE THE LEAP? 

There are many benefits to choosing a career as a loan officer. But Lawrence Zhou and Daniel Pop both agree that the ability to help others afford their dream home, along with the flexible nature of the role, is the most rewarding aspect of their career.

“I get paid to help people afford the home of their dreams. Many of my clients become lifelong friends of mine. We chat often and it’s not always about real estate,” said Lawrence Zhou.

“I am happy I took the leap and I fully recommend anyone interested to do it because of the schedule flexibility and the fact that there is no cap on how much you can make. The harder you work, the more income you can generate,” said Daniel Pop.

With this inside look at what it is like to start your career as a loan officer, you will be able to decide if it is the right career path for you! Family First Funding LLC is dedicated to providing loan officers with the proper training and tools they need to succeed! To learn more on how to join our team, visit www.fam1fund.com/careers!

Thank you to this month’s featured Loan Officers for sharing their insights!

Learn more about Lawrence Zhou: https://lzhou.fam1fund.com/

Learn more about Daniel Pop: https://dpop.fam1fund.com/