We have been mentoring brokers for a few years now and we've seen people enter the industry from a wide variety of backgrounds.  We have seen many enter the industry part-time, with others leaping in feet first.

Here are a few observations which I have made over this time.

1. For those thinking to enter the industry full-time, please ensure that you have the financial resources to see out 1 full year with little or no income.  This doesn't meant that you won't make money in the first year.  BUT, it does give you a safeguard and allows you to proceed without the stress or pressure of having to replace your income immediately.  Remember that this business is built over time and the major benefits come from having built a solid client base and a long term trailing income. 

2. For those who are entering part-time, set yourselves goals and targets to where you can leave your current employment and start full-time in this field.  While we are mentoring you, we will help you to meet these goals.  But without those goals, we've seen many brokers who exist in a limbo between their day job and their broking business.  Yes, working in your business to get loans approved is important, but you need to spend time working ON your business, in order to get it to a position where you can take it to the next level.

3. The most successful brokers we have mentored are those who are open to new ideas and are willing to put themselves Out There.  The role of the mentor is to help you to find ways to grow your mortgage broking business, but all of our coaching and suggestions are useless unless they are acted upon.  Take yourself out of your comfort zone and find new opportunities.  Socialise, network and meet people - this is how you grow your business - with people.

4. CUSTOMER SERVICE.  Your clients should come first every time.  Look after them, keep in contact with them and don't wait for them to call you.  Create a successful partnership with them and they will stay with you and they will then recommend you to others.

On the last note, I'll be updating our forum tomorrow with some insights from some Customer based research myself and several others undertook recently and it has some amazing insights. 

That's all from me today - my customers await.

Happy New Year to you all.

We really celebrated the new year in this year.  2009 was to say the least, a very interesting year.  There were certainly more than a fair share of challenges for us brokers and across the board, our team experienced the highs and the lows.

From Vision's perspective, we've come through to the other side of 2009 in better shape than when we started.  During the course of the year we connected with many more interesting and helpful individuals and organisations, building a stronger network for our future.  Yes, it was much harder to get deals across the line, but, I feel that many of us have become better brokers for the experience.

We ended the year on a high note, with a $9.5m commercial deal settling on the 23rd of December.  Well done to all involved in getting that across the line in the Christmas rush.

I'm not officially back on board yet, but considering how many others are back in the traces, I thought it would be appropriate to get the new years message out there.  I'll be back at work next Monday.

This year, we are really focused on helping our members to achieve their goals.  We'll be working closely with all of the individuals to help them to enjoy the success and the lifestyles that can be achieved through growing a solid broking business.

I'm looking forward to catching up with you all soon. 

Michael