At Citadel Mortgages, our dedicated mortgage brokers operate on a commission basis, ensuring they are rewarded only when they successfully assist you in securing a mortgage. Typically, our brokers earn a commission ranging from 0.5% to 1.2% of the total mortgage value. What sets us apart is our commitment to your financial well-being. Our brokers are empowered to share a portion of their commission to help reduce your mortgage rate, making home ownership more affordable for you. Join us in your journey towards financial stability and let our experts guide you every step of the way.

Boundless Earning Opportunities

As a mortgage broker, your earning potential is directly tied to your dedication and effort. With a robust client base, the sky’s the limit when it comes to your income. Essentially, your earning potential is uncapped, hinging on the number of clients you serve. This isn’t just a job; it’s a self-driven career that requires a high level of motivation and commitment to truly thrive. With the right amount of effort, you could see annual earnings ranging from $10,000 to well over $300,000. Your success is in your hands, and at Citadel Mortgages, we provide the platform for you to excel.

In Canada, the typical annual salary for a mortgage agent is approximately $102,375, equating to an hourly rate of $52.50. Those just beginning their careers in this field can expect to earn around $88,142 annually. On the other hand, seasoned professionals in this industry can earn up to $147,121 per year, reflecting the potential for growth and advancement in this rewarding career. All comes down to effort.

Navigating the Entrepreneurial Path: Your Investment in Success

Embarking on the journey of entrepreneurship brings forth certain costs, but at Citadel Mortgages, we’ve got you covered with a comprehensive range of services:

– **Credit Pulls**: Gain access to essential credit information.
– **Income Documents**: Ensure a seamless documentation process.
– **Title & Purview**: Effortlessly handle property-related details.
– **CRM & All Marketing Drips**: Access our robust client relationship management and marketing tools.
– **Lender Submission System**: Streamline the submission of applications to lenders.
– **Personal Time Coaching**: Benefit from guidance tailored to your needs.

We’re dedicated to your growth and success. In fact, we provide our agents with the opportunity to have their monthly fees refunded at the end of the year if they achieve the minimum required volume for funded mortgages.

At Citadel Mortgages, we’re invested in your journey towards prosperity. Join us and turn your investment into achievements.

Monthly Fees Refunded Year If Below Targets Are Hit

Explore Diverse Roles for Your Mortgage Career at Citadel Mortgages

Here at Citadel Mortgages, we provide our mortgage agents with a range of role options to empower their career journey in the mortgage industry. Our dynamic opportunities allow you to thrive and expand your horizons within our reputable brand. Kindly remember that you are required to possess a valid license with us in the province where we are licensed.

At Citadel Mortgages, we’re committed to nurturing your business growth. No matter your stage – whether you’re a new agent, an experienced one, a team leader, or even a brokerage – we provide tailored company splits to fit your needs. Explore our up-to-date business split plans for self-sourced opportunities below. Benefit from our profit-sharing, agent recruitment bonuses, and renewal income. Plus, take advantage of our Health and Benefits package, with potential year-end credits when you achieve personal milestones. There are no costs for any documents for your files and you can partake in the free lead program and get 15 free leads.

At Citadel Mortgages, your business growth is our priority. We provide a lead program designed to expand your client base without added expenses on basic tiers. Additionally, our unique ‘Lead Cleanup Training Platform’ equips agents with the skills and behaviors necessary to effectively manage leads and cultivate self-sourced opportunities. Discover our lead program commission structure below.

**’No Monthly Fee’ Plan – The Self-Sourcing Business Model**

This plan is designed for agents who prefer to source their own clients. It offers a tiered commission structure and essential support services without a monthly fee. Here are the details:

**Initial Costs:**

**E & O Insurance**: $400 yearly

**Set-Up Fee**: $200 yearly, covering basic tech and email costs

**Tiered Commission Structure for Funded Mortgage Deals:**

**New Agents**: First 5 deals at 60/40 split

**6-10 Deals**: 70/30 split

**11-15 Deals**: 85/15 split

**16+ Deals**: 90/10 split

**Included in the Plan:**

Access to CRM, email, and a personal website.

Comprehensive training, support, and access to the training portal.

Company Referral Agent Program

Company Profit Sharing Program

Company Client Incentives – Travel Rewards – Esso Mobil etc

Renewal & Trailer Based Program

Retirement Program

Lender VB Program

**Costs Covered by Agents:**

Credit reports and other document costs per file, such as Purview and title documents. These are paid as needed for each file.

**Exclusions:**

 Agents on this plan do not receive the 15 free leads usually provided.

 They are also not part of the lead program or lead clean-up program offered by the company.

This model is tailored for agents focusing on self-sourcing clients, while still benefiting from our brand and training resources. Agents have the flexibility to purchase leads from the company as needed.

**Key Note:**

Agents have the option to switch to our standard monthly plans at any time. This allows access to the company’s 15 free leads and various lead program options.

This plan is a versatile choice for agents who prefer a high degree of autonomy in client acquisition, backed by the support and resources of our company.

At Citadel Mortgages, our coaching journey with you emphasizes mastery in deal packaging—tailoring them precisely to lender preferences and gaining expertise in analyzing and presenting your files. Many agents fall into the trap of thinking, “If I can’t communicate directly with a lender, how will I learn?” or “I need to speak with lenders.” Such mindsets, whether held by novices or veterans, can be limiting.

We’re here to pivot that perspective. At Citadel Mortgages, we mentor you to excel in assessing and structuring your deals. You’ll collaborate with an underwriter and our principal broker, who not only reviews your deals but also offers invaluable coaching. The icing on the cake? You’re not burdened with the salary of an underwriter. Instead, you incur a reasonable underwriting fee, but only upon a successful deal closure. Explore the details below.

Residential Files 

When commission are the following: 

$50-500 the fee is $50  

$500-999 the fee is $100  

$1000 –1500 the fee is $150 

$1501 – 3000 the fee is $350 

$3001 and above is $500 

Please note these fees can change at any time and can be changed per deal based on work required per file. 

For the 90/10 and 100% comp plans the UW fees are the same as above expect for when the commission is $3000 or more as the UW fee is $1000 for residential files. 

Commercial Files UW fee as follows 

5bps comes off the agent split and its $2000 fee. 

Mortgage Professionals play a pivotal role in turning dreams into reality, guiding individuals through significant financial choices that bring joy. Leveraging cutting-edge industry tools, they simplify the process, ensuring clients receive tailored mortgage solutions that align with their unique financial circumstances, saving both time and money.

Serving as a liaison between lenders and aspiring homeowners seeking mortgage loans. Guiding clients through the loan pre-approval process. Evaluating and presenting optimal home loan choices tailored to each client. Cultivating strong partnerships with real estate firms and lending establishments.

Navigating the mortgage industry requires resilience and self-motivation, given its self-employment nature. Unlike traditional employment where tasks are assigned and a paycheck is guaranteed, the mortgage world requires a proactive approach. You’re the driver of your success, and while we offer robust support, the onus of progress ultimately lies with you.

Consider this analogy: If you were to open a pizzeria, you’d receive the necessary tools and training, but the responsibility for expenses, payroll, and operations would be yours. The same principle applies here. Recognizing and accepting the entrepreneurial demands of this career is crucial.

Another critical aspect is prioritizing business acquisition. It’s tempting to dive into lender relations and intricate underwriting details, but without a client base, such knowledge remains underutilized. Our structure helps you prioritize building a solid pipeline of prospects. While we coach you in underwriting and deal packaging as you advance, remember: without a healthy client flow, longevity in this industry is challenging. We stress this because many agents become fixated on understanding lenders and underwriting without ever sealing a deal. Avoid getting sidetracked from the primary mission: acquiring and serving clients. Stay focused, stay driven, and together, we’ll achieve great things.

Embarking on a mortgage career journey is both exhilarating and daunting. Amidst the plethora of choices, it’s essential to align yourself with a brokerage that not only promises growth but delivers it. This is where Citadel Mortgages stands out.

**Traditional Brokerage Pathway:**💼🛣️

1. Identify prospective clients.

2. Initiate client interactions and collect documents.

3. Engage with lenders.

4. Submit deals, hoping for approvals without clear guidelines.

5. Juggle multiple tasks including approvals, signing packages, lender and lawyer interactions, and compliance.

This path can be overwhelming, especially for a new agent. The constant juggling act might lead to only a handful of clients in the first year, limiting learning and growth.

**The Citadel Way:**

1. Secure a client.

2. Onboard the client seamlessly using our specialized training.

3. Package your deal using our comprehensive CUU Process.

4. Submit your deal to our expert Underwriting (UW) team.

From here, we take over:

1. Engage with lenders.

2. Handle submissions.

3. Prepare signing packages.

4. Manage compliance and payroll.

Our UW team provides invaluable feedback on each deal. They guide you on potential fixes, alternative solutions, and the rationale behind each decision, accelerating your learning curve. This mentorship ensures that you understand lender expectations and can adapt accordingly.

By entrusting the intricate details to us, you can focus on what’s vital: expanding your client base. No other brokerage offers this harmony of mentorship, support, and time-efficiency.

**Why Citadel?**

Our leadership boasts over three decades in the industry. We’ve walked the traditional path and recognized its pitfalls. Our approach is curated from personal experiences to ensure that our agents don’t just survive, but thrive.

Before joining another brokerage that insists you must wade through every step to learn, consider this: at Citadel, we’ve designed a roadmap for success. It’s a journey we’ve traversed, refined, and now offer to you.

Enclosed are two examples of our detailed feedback documents, testament to our commitment to your growth: Please note these are examples and do not reflect any personal information.

Example One – – This exemplifies your interaction with our Underwriting (UW) team, illustrating a collaborative approach between you and our underwriter to navigate through the challenges on your file and make real-time corrections. It also showcases how you respond to the UW’s inquiries and implement the necessary adjustments on the file.

Citadel Mortgages Example Of Support

Example Two – – This serves as a sample of the feedback you receive upon the closing of a file from our Underwriting (UW) team and your principal broker/managing partner. It provides real-time insights about your deal and actionable advice for future files, serving as a valuable reference point.

Citadel Mortgages Example Of Support

Join us, and redefine what it means to succeed in the mortgage world. Become a Citadelian today and let’s craft your success story together.

At Citadel, we recognize the importance of balancing sales and underwriting in the mortgage business. For most agents, especially those without an established pipeline of $25-35 million in annual sales, managing both aspects can be challenging. Here’s why:

1. **Sales Focus**: Building a robust sales pipeline is crucial. It demands about 90% of an agent’s time to establish a funnel that could potentially close $10-20 million out of $25-35 million. This intensive process leaves little room for new agents to effectively handle both sales and the intricate details of underwriting.

2. **Underwriting and Compliance**: Underwriting involves detailed interactions with lenders, lawyers, and managing compliance and signing packages. For new agents, building relationships with lender BDMs (Business Development Managers) is less impactful at this stage. Lenders prioritize volume, and without it, new agents might face challenges like declined deals, which can be detrimental to client relationships.

3. **Our Model’s Advantage**: Citadel Mortgages offers a unique model where our dedicated underwriting team acts as an intermediary, akin to the lenders themselves. They provide real-time coaching on file packaging and essential insights, which is invaluable for agents, especially in their first three years. This support allows agents to focus on building their sales pipeline without the added pressure of direct lender interactions and complex compliance procedures.

4. **Client Acquisition Skills**: Learning to acquire clients doesn’t come from underwriting experience. Agents who believe that handling their own underwriting will attract more clients might be overlooking the essential skill of client acquisition. At Citadel, we believe in empowering agents to focus on sales while we handle the complexities of underwriting. This approach not only accelerates growth but also ensures client satisfaction.

5. **Future Independence in Underwriting**: As for gaining independence in underwriting, it’s a gradual process. The benchmark for this transition is not just about experience but also about consistently maintaining a high volume of sales. Once an agent reaches this level, they might consider handling their own underwriting. However, our team’s guidance in the initial years is crucial in preparing agents for such future responsibilities.

In summary, Citadel Mortgages is committed to supporting our agents in mastering the sales aspect while providing expert guidance in underwriting. This dual approach ensures that our agents can focus on client acquisition and retention, paving the way for long-term success in the mortgage industry.

Example One – – This exemplifies your interaction with our Underwriting (UW) team, illustrating a collaborative approach between you and our underwriter to navigate through the challenges on your file and make real-time corrections. It also showcases how you respond to the UW’s inquiries and implement the necessary adjustments on the file.

Citadel Mortgages Example Of Support

Example Two – – This serves as a sample of the feedback you receive upon the closing of a file from our Underwriting (UW) team and your principal broker/managing partner. It provides real-time insights about your deal and actionable advice for future files, serving as a valuable reference point.

Citadel Mortgages Example Of Support

As an agent at Citadel Mortgages, you play a crucial role throughout the entire process. Your responsibility primarily lies in managing the sales aspect, which involves engaging with clients to understand their priorities, whether it’s securing the lowest possible rate or focusing on strategies to pay off their mortgage earlier.

When preparing a client’s file for submission to our underwriting team, your insights and notes are vital. These should include any considerations about rate buy-downs or other specific client needs.

Once the file is complete and any necessary adjustments or additions have been made in collaboration with the underwriter, we proceed to the offer call. This is a critical stage where you, alongside our Regional Vice President, will present the available rate options to the client. It’s during this call that the client makes their decision on what they wish to proceed with.

Your involvement is integral at every step of this process. By effectively performing your role, you ensure that you are fully informed about the options and decisions being made regarding your client’s mortgage approval. This collaborative approach ensures that the client’s needs are thoroughly understood and met with the best possible solutions.

Yes, to offer the low rates advertised, we typically need to buy down the rates through our commissions, which is a common practice across lenders when a buy down occurs.

The decision to buy down is influenced by the information the agent provides to our underwriting team. Since we are not part of your direct sales process, it’s crucial for you to effectively utilize our coaching resources to understand your client’s needs and communicate this to us. It’s important to note that we have a strict policy against agents pushing clients towards higher rates for increased commissions. Any such behavior will result in the termination of your license with us and a report to the regulatory body. Our focus is on serving clients’ best interests, not on the commission of a single deal. Agents should prioritize closing as many files as possible and seeking referrals to build their pipeline. Ultimately, this approach balances out commission-wise over the year. Remember, those who focus solely on monetary gain rarely sustain a long-term career in this industry.

Typically, the conversion rate for the initial 15 leads provided to new agents is relatively low. This is often because agents are still adapting to our proven process, getting comfortable with client interactions, and learning to effectively use our technology. The success with these leads largely depends on the agent’s dedication and effort. On average, an agent might successfully close 1-3 of these leads, but this varies and requires time.

It’s important to understand that securing a mortgage isn’t an immediate decision like buying shoes or a car. The process for mortgages, especially purchases, can take an average of 18 months, and refinances can take 3-6 months. This longer sales cycle means being prepared for a journey and not expecting immediate financial returns. While quick closings and early earnings are possible, most deals will take several months to materialize. Therefore, the focus should be on building a strong pipeline of potential clients. Be wary of any brokerage or marketing company that suggests otherwise, as this is a common misconception in the industry.

Regardless of the tools you choose for your business, Citadel always provides support. It’s a common misconception that building a personal brand as an agent will automatically lead to client acquisition.

Unfortunately, this isn’t typically the case. Canadians generally have a strong trust in banks, and it’s crucial for agents to align themselves with a brand that has a bank-like presence, similar to what we’ve established at Citadel. Often, clients will research our brand before they consider an individual agent.

While creating your own website might seem appealing, it’s important to understand the significant marketing budget required to make it effective. Driving substantial traffic to a personal website can realistically require an investment of around $10,000 per month. Any marketing materials you create, including a personal website, must be approved by the principal broker and partners in compliance with regulations and policies.

Be cautious of marketing companies that promise substantial results for a lower cost; the quality of leads often correlates with the investment. We recommend leveraging the resources and experience Citadel offers, rather than learning through costly trial and error, as many of us have in the early stages of our careers.

Yes we work as a collective team, someone can help you in this case.

If an agent decides to leave Citadel, they are entitled to take with them any clients they have sourced independently using their own resources. However, leads provided by the company at no cost to the agent are not transferable and must remain with Citadel, as per the agreement signed by the agent. This policy is in place because these leads represent an investment made by the company and are considered company assets.

Our Lead Clean-Up Team program offers a unique opportunity for agents who demonstrate commitment and adherence to our best practices. This program, spanning 40 days, delves deeply into managing, refining, and expanding a provided book of business. It also covers strategies for self-sourcing clients, focusing on niche products and programs. This intensive training demands high commitment levels, and participants who don’t fully invest in the program are removed.

Typically, out of a group of 15-20 agents, only 1-4 complete the training, largely due to varying levels of effort and dedication. This program not only enhances skills in client management but also helps agents discover their most suitable roles within the industry, whether as agents, document collectors, or underwriters. We conduct this program monthly, continually fostering professional growth and specialization among our team members.

The Lead Clean-Up Team program is an exceptional opportunity for agents to gain hands-on experience with a provided book of business. Starting with a commission rate of 25%, participants have the potential to increase their earnings up to 40%, contingent on their closing ratios. This program serves as a pivotal first step for those aspiring to join our company’s elite lead program. It offers a structured pathway to enhance skills, improve closing efficiencies, and ultimately, to progress within the company’s framework. By demonstrating success in this program, agents can showcase their capabilities and commitment, positioning themselves for further advancement and opportunities within our lead program.

Citadel Mortgages Refer an Agent Program

This program is built around allowing agents and brokers the opportunity to refer other agents and brokers while being rewarded in the process.

We strive to make this program as simple as possible.

Steps involved

1. Refer a new or experienced agent/broker to Citadel Mortgages by sending their contact information and a brief description of your relationship with a referred party to leadership team.
2. The agent/broker will be contacted for an interview by the hiring team
3. If the agent/broker is a good fit, then an offer will be sent to the applicant.
4. Once the agent is officially licensed under Citadel Mortgages and funds their first deal, you will make a 3% commission rate on their deals closed for the life as long as the agent is still with Citadel Mortgages 
5. You will also get a $1,000 Commission bonus for referring an agent – please note this agent must be with Citadel Mortgages for six months minimum and have closed and made the company at least $1,000 in commissions to be paid out. Because of this, the bonus would be paid out either on the first deal or spread over the number of deals required based on commissions earned.

Keep in mind the following:

1. This referral program does not apply to team leaders recruiting agents/brokers for their team and does not apply to team members referring to their team.
2. This program can be discontinued or can change at any time.
3. Payment for referral bonus must meet the conditions above.
4. The percentage pay out is on company gross commissions after all costs deducted.

The opportunity to share in the company’s profit sharing with this program and the referral bonus can give you an additional income stream for anyone looking to build that in this business.

This program can change at anytime without notice.

**Example of Potential Income from Referrals**

As demonstrated, this approach can lead to a substantial and recurring monthly income, achieved by dedicating a few hours each week to growing this aspect of the business.

Mortgage Agent Retirement Plan

Citadel Mortgages is proud to announce our Agent Retirement Plan. We all know its hard to retire when 
we all make good money, but at certain stage in life its just nice to relax and enjoy your life without the 
worry of where is your next client coming form!

As agent you would retire & retain a portion of the commission secured by Citadel Mortgages your client 
list / book of business as a referral fee going forward creating a passive stream of revenue to aid in the 
enjoyment of your retirement. As well you can name a beneficiary to this referral stream (spouse, child, 
etc.) to supplement the lost income in the event of you passing or wanting to support someone close to 
you. 

Once retired the Citadel Mortgage Agent Retirement Plan would take effect. Citadel Mortgages will 
continue to work your client list / book of business for further business going forward. You would then 
receive a referral fee on a sliding scale as follows 

Year 1 – 5, 50/50 50bps Retiree 50bps Citadel Mortgages

Year 5 – 10, 40/60 40bps Retiree 60bps Citadel Mortgages

After year 10, 30/70 30 Retiree 70 Citadel Mortgages

After year 10 the referral paid out would stay at the floor rate of 30bps for the retiree until such time as 
your passing. Upon passing of the beneficiary the prior named beneficiary (spouse, child, etc.) would 
then receive the 30bps referral stream for a period of 2 years before ceasing completely

Should the retiree pass prior to the 10 year floor referral fee we would keep the current split in effect 
for the 2 year period for their named beneficiary (Example. Agent passes year 4, beneficiary would 
receive 40bps- 50bps for a period of 2 years depending on their current floor) 

During the course of the retirement plan as well as after the plan has ended Citadel Mortgages will have 
our own underwriters handle the file & assign agents to handle the face to face meetings. This program 
is for all new business within the agents existing book outlined as any client in the current book that 
either, refinance their mortgage, or takes out equity or chip mortgage etc. 

Our goal at Citadel Mortgages is simple and our hope is this will help you enjoy your retirement even 
more.

Our Profit Share Program: A Key Driver of Success for Agents/Brokers and the Company

Our profit share program plays a crucial role in the collective success and growth of our agents, brokers, and the company as a whole. Here’s how it works:

– At the end of each financial year, the company undergoes an audit to determine its profitability.

– A portion of any profits made is then shared with all agents and brokers. This distribution is based on the volume of mortgages each individual has closed over the year.

– It’s important to note that if the company does not turn a profit, no bonuses will be distributed.

– We believe in a unified approach to business, where successes are shared and celebrated as a team.

**Eligibility and Percentage of Profit Share Based on Volume**:

Payable  in April of the following year – Plan can change at any time.

This structure reinforces our commitment to working together and sharing the rewards of our collective efforts.

The purpose of this example is to help others understand the questions they are asking and honest replies to help you make a choice for your career at the end of the day, Citadel Mortgages is committed to helping the business and agents grow but its importance to be transparent and give honest feedback is at the heart of our business and we hope this example helps.

Thank you for your email, first see below for my reply to your feedback and then below that please see my input/advise.

Applicant Question

Actually, my main concern is not  about the commissions split as mentioned above . ,  my main concern is regarding the brokerag’s   comprehensive support     , mentorship, and education that offers to the agent, also my other concern is regarding the marketing system and tools supported to the agent , together with  the lead generation and other marketing platforms and sources.

And this is what I am missing right now .

Company reply

-Before we delve into the details, it’s important for you to identify and communicate what you feel is lacking in your current brokerage experience. Many brokerages and networks offer a comprehensive suite of services, except perhaps for lead generation. If you believe you’re not getting everything you need, can you specify what you currently have access to and what you believe is missing?

– Regarding our offerings, we have automated social media content ready for you to use, and it updates itself. Our support system is award-winning, recognized for excellence in HR and as one of the best places to work. We do provide leads, but to be frank, 99% of agents still face challenges. Often, this is due to mismatched expectations or a reluctance to engage in the more demanding aspects of the job “bullpen work”.

While we can assure you that we offer a comprehensive and exceptional service – and our reputation supports this – the real question is, what does this mean for you? Are you prepared to utilize these resources effectively and commit the necessary time and effort to truly benefit from them?

– To give a more tailored answer, we would need additional information about your specific situation and needs.

Applicant Question

With my last telephone conversation with your hiring director, I did not get the concrete display , as I have expected to get a zoom call with digital presentation of what you guys can offer for an agent with one year experience , ( a new agent for you) .

Company reply

– I understand that certain aspects of our approach may appeal to you, but let’s consider a few critical questions: Did the hiring director provide satisfactory responses to your queries? Was the information shared with you transparent and useful? These are important reflections to make. While numerous brokerages might impress you with elaborate presentations and Zoom calls, the essential factor to weigh is whether they can offer the substantive answers and facts you need, or if they’re primarily focused on dazzling you to secure your monthly fee.

– Our commitment at our firm is to transparency. While  my self and my business partner that handles hiring are open to discussing the possibility of arranging Zoom calls and presentations our primary concern is the value our hiring directors bring to the table. Are they addressing the tough questions that others might avoid? Are they delivering the kind of experience we aspire to provide? All this can be achieved effectively without necessarily resorting to a Zoom call or a formal presentation. While we aim to impress our candidates, we equally anticipate that our applicants will impress us with meaningful questions and insights, helping us to understand their needs and what they might be lacking.

Applicant Question

I have requested a personal meeting , and requested to visit your brokerage , but my request was not encouraged or welcomed by the other party .

So these points made me with cold steps to move forward with your brokerage.

Company Reply

– I get where you’re coming from, but let’s consider what’s truly beneficial for you. Do you really want a brokerage that impresses you with superficial allure? Imagine going to an office where you might find people who are either barely active, processing maybe one file every few months, or new agents and even experienced ones who aren’t closing deals, potentially looking to profit from you. That’s often the reality in many other brokerages. With us, it’s different – we recognize that real business isn’t typically conducted within the confines of an office. You should be out there, in places like Starbucks, hotel lobbies, high-traffic areas, social clubs, etc., actively seeking business opportunities. That’s how you’ll truly build your client base.

Building a successful career in this industry doesn’t happen by just sitting in an office. The beauty of our profession is the flexibility it offers – the ability to work from anywhere. We’ve embraced this modern approach. While we do have an online office space where our agents and leadership team provide daily support, the emphasis is on being proactive and dynamic. We’re living in 2024, and the landscape has evolved. We aim to equip our agents with the best tools and strategies, emphasizing that about 80% of their daily time should be invested in generating business, rather than just engaging in idle office chatter. This approach, we believe, is more aligned with the current times and more likely to lead to success. I hope this perspective is helpful to you.

Applicant Question

If you think you can offer the better, then you still can reach me before I take other decisions.

Company Reply

– Let’s reconsider the question you’ve posed. Absolutely, we can offer you excellent opportunities and support, but it’s important to ask what you will bring to our team. This relationship is a two-way street. Are you going to be a cost to us every month without putting in the required effort, or will you try to do things your way instead of following our proven methods? Or, are you ready to fully commit and work hard? It’s essential to understand that for a brokerage, every new agent represents both a liability and an investment. Success in this industry requires accountability, a strong ‘why,’ and a genuine willingness to learn. If you possess these qualities, then undoubtedly, we can provide you with top-notch tools, coaching, and resources, as evidenced by our reputation and awards.

– We’re among the top 6 brokerages offering the lowest rates. We provide agents with 15 free leads to start with, helping them gauge the effort required to work these leads effectively. We also offer a wealth of tools and support, relevant in today’s mortgage landscape. However, the initiative to utilize these resources effectively rests with you; we can’t do it for you.

– It’s important to clarify that a lead is merely an opportunity to engage with a potential client, not a guaranteed deal. Success in this business requires working each lead correctly, understanding that it can take anywhere from 90 days to 18 months to close deals, with every client being at a different stage. Are you prepared for this reality?

– For instance, last year we had three new agents, with no prior finance experience, close 10 deals in their first 8 months with us. We’ve seen many agents close a single deal, and groups who’ve closed over 30 deals annually. However, we also had 200 agents close no deals at all. What made the difference? Those successful agents didn’t presume to know everything. They embraced our systems, tools, and coaching, and put in substantial effort. The others, perhaps relying too much on social media or minimal networking, or not fully engaging with our model, struggled. This highlights a key point: no brokerage can help someone who isn’t fully committed to the process.

– In conclusion, we excel in what we do, and I often say, “If you aim to be number one, join us. If you’re content with being number two, go elsewhere.” This is a mindset inspired by Kobe Bryant’s ethos. We can certainly guide people to success, but only if they genuinely desire it and are prepared to give their all. So, what do you truly seek? Transparency, support, access to tools? Are you ready to excel and give 100%?

If you feel you’re up for it, we’re ready to bring you aboard. If not, there are no hard feelings. My hope is that this message aids you in your mortgage career journey, regardless of the path you choose. Thank you for considering us, and I trust that this response has been impactful and transparent.

One of the most rewarding aspects of our role is when agents proactively seek help and feedback. It’s a crucial step that allows us to assist you more effectively. Frequently, we notice that the questions asked by one agent might be relevant to others as well. This enables us to formulate responses that not only address individual concerns but also provide valuable insights to the entire team.

Recently, we received an inquiry from an agent that we believe is worth sharing with all of you, as it touches on common concerns and perspectives. This query revolves around viewing oneself as a business owner-operator in the mortgage brokerage field, rather than just an employee. Here’s the question raised by the agent:

**Agent’s Question:**

“I have been sifting through various emails and documents to better understand how to advance in this business. It’s quite challenging, and I felt the need to check in with you. From a recent email, I gathered that new agents might only manage 1 or 2 deals in their first year. I also noticed a suggestion for a monthly advertising budget ranging from $3,500 to $5,000. Considering all the fees involved in this business, what’s a realistic expectation? How much income can one deal generate? It seems to me that achieving a positive cash flow could take a considerable amount of time.”

This question is critical in understanding the realities of being a mortgage broker, especially regarding the initial stages of building your business, budgeting for advertising, and setting realistic financial expectations. We hope that sharing this will provide valuable perspective and encourage a fruitful discussion among the team.

This is about your role as a mortgage broker and how to look at yourself as a business owner operator and not as a employee going to a job, please see below:

My reply to give honest feedback:

If  I can expand on this abit to help as well:

1. To Rocky point you are self employed and this is how much work are you going to put in to see the results, yes is does take time to close deals which is why we try to coach out pipeline building daily as the focus. Think of it like this you were given a set of keys to a Pizza store:

• Pizza store in this case is your mortgage license under Citadel Mortgages
• You are provided all the training, coaching, support, templates and marketing resources – this is our training portal, access to our tools, support, marketing and templates in our resource hub. This includes CRM, LOS, and a team of UW and compliance officers.

Now you are responsible to get clients for this pizza location, which means you need to do marketing online, print, social media etc….you are the business owner that has to drive business, the more clients you get through the doors the higher chance of closing them if you are prepared for them.

Key items here:

1. You need to be prepared for them meaning you need the stock and team to make the pizzas and the deals to entice the clients to buy in your store.  

• We provide you with the tools ( Onboarding your clients, Referral Partner, CUU Process, Business Development, Lender TV in the training portal)
• We Provide the deals – lowest rates, mortgage products.
• We supply the team, Coaching, UW, Compliance

1. You need to also understand just because a client comes into your store front doesn’t mean they will buy, that’s up to you on your ability to close, and also they might not be a client today might be a client in future so got to get there information and follow up regularly and build a reason for that client to want to reply to you or pick up your call.

1. Now some Pizza places might have a book of business, maybe someone selling there and there is a client list there and they give you this list as leads a book of business, when working this business it is important to understand that you need to reach out and build a reason for these clients to want to do business with you, during this process you will find happy clients, angry clients, missed opportunities with clients and clients that want to buy a pizza today and others that will next week, but the thing here is your given something that others do not have and you must work that book of business and earn the right to have them as clients, which comes down to finding ways to get them to engage with you, believe in you and want to do business with you, again are you putting in the effort and time to work this book of business? To Earn this book of business? And are you building a book of business for the future?

What do I mean by that?

1. 1. 1. 1. When given a book of business or leads to work are you working it the way the company coaches you? Are you putting in effort or doing it halfway?
         2. Are you prepared to handle the good, the bad and the ugly feedback and handle the yes or no’s? can you over come objections and sell them on why to do business with you?
         3. Are you cleaning up the book of business? When you get a book you have to work it to clean it up, find the fake or dead ones remove them, find current and future business.
         4. Are you trying to build rapport by using the other partnerships or referrals sources you have access to, this is key as they might not want a pizza but maybe they want 20% off at Sport check that your partnered with right?
         5. Are you building a book that is future business and writing down that they need a pizza on x day because its there works anniversary or team event?

As you can see what you put in is what you get right?

Now the last thing I will say is this, as a business owner we all know its going to take time to make money, and how fast you can make money comes down to the effort and time you put In and sometimes the money you invest too, but some businesses never make money either so which one will you be?

Apply all the above to your mortgage business its all relatable, and I hope this helps bring this full circle and help you and your business at the end of the day.

As for the rest of the items:

1. 1. 1. 1. Never concern yourself amount the money, I get it we all need to make money, the issue is stressing about money is a negative and once you do this you begin to create negative energy that effects you regardless if you realize or not, whatever you do it must be that your passionate for it and that your “why” provides you with the required energy you need to push through, do it for that and not money and you be okay long term.

1. As Rocky suggested how much you make depends on the deal, is it a self source or a company lead? Regardless it’s a deal and it gets you hands on experience you need to figure out this business, even deals you loose are experience to grow from the issue is you need to get this experience and sitting there afraid to launch or working on admin items or social media isn’t going to help any agent — so that agent needs to find ways to get hands on experience usually a mix of leads and self source help with this.

1. Understanding leads, as mentioned above in the pizza example a lead is an opportunity its not a deal, no one or no marketing going to give you a for sure sale you need to be ready and know how to work leads, you can burn your capital learning this or you can do it on our lead clean up side that helps you understand what is needed.

1. Look this is a hard business, this week 10 people started the lead clean up group and 4 days in we down to 3 people, now there all kinds of reasons for people dropping out but the most common are, either its a lot for work and people are not ready for it or they cant take coaching feedback just yet and need some time to be more open to it those are honestly the top two reason and its not anything bad it just takes time and energy and people have to be in that space mentally and ready for it.

In closing I will leave you with this that I replied to an applicant today with as another insight:

– For instance, last year we had three new agents, with no prior finance experience, close 10 deals in their first 8 months with us. We’ve seen many agents close a single deal, and groups who’ve closed over plus 30 deals annually. However, we also had 200 agents close no deals at all. What made the difference? Those successful agents didn’t presume to know everything nor did they think there way was better. They embraced our systems, tools, and coaching, and put in substantial effort. The others, perhaps relying too much on social media or minimal networking, or not fully engaging with our model, and even thinking they know everything and not willing to be open to coaching struggled. This highlights a key point: no brokerage can help someone who isn’t fully committed to the process.

My hope is this helps you on your mortgage career journey, and thank you for reaching out as it shows you care and I hope with the depth I went into in this email shows how much we all care about you and your business and are here to help.