Heading into tax season there is a common question on many a Mortgage Broker’s (and agent’s) mind: To be (inc.) or not to be (inc.)? 2017 was the year that the federal government basically laid the smackdown on everyone who has ever suggested being INC. ‘isn’t worth the hassle’. When the Fed tinkers, and tens […]
Each of us ultimately is just a pile of carbon. In grade 8 science class Mr. Lenton taught us that all living things are carbon based. He did so with a very memorable (albeit disturbing) story involving his neighbour’s annoying cat and a ‘stakeout’ with his pellet gun, ending with disposal of the remains at […]
I posted the following on my client facing blog earlier this morning, and really it is a few days late. I purposely kept this post short and sweet, as I tend to get better feedback on short and sweet. Feel free to take this post and adjust the language to suit your own style. You […]
The Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association asked for a few words on Brokering, I was lucky enough to have the piece selected for the 2017 Summer edition of Canadian Mortgage Broker. An Excerpt: Always Take the High Road! As with many things in life, this old adage is often easier to pay lip service to than […]
Managing Expectations, the heart of this business. A dozen or more Bank executives meeting at their local branch to spend a few hours, perhaps even a few days, reviewing the applicants file. um ya… A single individual with the computing power of a Commodore 64 surrounded stacks of paper files is expected to review […]
The changes are coming at us Fast & Furious style. Which is to say weakly written, gaping holes in the plot line, without a plausible or viable conclusion, and loaded with actors having limited experience with the subject matter. The Canadian Mortgage Market is resembling a big budget B movie franchise that just […]
The stories we tell ourselves are often out of alignment with reality. Whether it is a tale of ‘roses & rainbows’ or ‘doom & gloom’, rarely do our best, or thankfully our worst fears come to fruition, and even when it seems as though they are the peaks and valleys are typically very brief. With […]
Six rules for (self)leadership from Jack Welch worth pondering. Ask yourself how each might apply to your own life and business. 1. Control your destiny, or someone else will. 2. Face reality as it is, not as it was or as you wish it were. 3. Be candid with everyone. 4. Don’t manage, lead. 5. […]
The #1 path to consistent referrals from the same source(s) is to answer the phone the first time it rings, be in front of your computer to intake the application on that first call, and respond to every subsequent call or email instantly. Losing two hours to a morning coffee meeting? Losing two hours to […]
This piece was originally published on the most excellent mortgage news site Canadian Mortgage Trends. Day One. New business cards in hand, you sit down at your new desk in the brokerage office, what now? Your first three years are going to be hard work. Difficult beyond belief. The three after that aren’t too bad. You start […]