Loan Officer Leader: Ginny Phillips

What makes Ginny Phillips a leader in her community

Headshot of Ginny Phillips "I started in the mortgage industry as a marketing assistant, which seemed only right because I have my degree in marketing. From there I held various positions including Director of Research and Communications at Langley Credit Union. While in this role, my husband at the time worked at a mortgage company. His boss was constantly trying to recruit me saying how great I would be at it. Well, lo and behold, two years later a promotion a Langley fell through and I decided to give this opportunity a shot. I made $99,000 in my first year and haven’t turned back.

Although the mortgage industry has really pushed me professionally to be the person I am today, in the past four years I have truly been able to personally celebrate life, joy and love through my battle with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. About four years ago, I sat in front of my doctor as he explained to me that I had Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). Of course, being hard-headed, I didn’t believe him and decided to seek a second opinion. After a long weekend at Duke Medical Center, I returned home and began the process of accepting that I did, indeed, have cancer. It was a dark, dark time, but I eventually found my light and have chosen to stand in that light ever since.

Not everyone gets to share their story of remission, but I have been in remission since May 2014. Cancer still touches my life and is a constant reminder that life is a gift. Each year the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) launches its Man and Woman of the Year fundraising campaign. After an amazing 10 weeks of campaigning the LLS Virginia Chapter recognized me as Woman of the Year. It has been such an honor and I am excited to see what awesome adventures this year will bring."

 

"I eventually found my light and have chosen to stand in that light ever since."

 

An interview with Ginny Phillips

Best advice you’ve received and who gave it?

The best advice I’ve been given is to make a habit of finding the positive in everything. You have to understand that even when bad things happen there is always something good that comes out of it. When I lose a deal to another loan officer, I don’t think of it as a loss, just an experience.

Another thing that is super huge to me is that I don’t operate in a space of fear. You truly can’t expect to carry around negative thoughts and be fearful of things that come your way. If you do, how can you create a meaningful and happy life? When I stopped being fearful of things everything became brighter in my life. I also started making totally different and fulfilling decisions that made me feel more positive. Once you do this you’ll start to see that your positivity attracts amazing opportunities.

Favorite part of being a loan officer?

I love helping people buy homes, especially first-time homebuyers. First-time homebuyers are often less knowledgeable and don’t understand the importance of buying. I love helping them understand that when they buy they are becoming a part of a community. The area becomes a better place to live and gives them a footprint that renters are not able to have.

Biggest success as a loan officer?

I know I’ve made an impact when I get a ‘Thank you’ call after closing from my clients and that is always a win/success for me. Since I’m not at the closings most of the time I know they took the extra time and made a conscious decision to reach out to me. This is the BIGGEST win for me.

Biggest failure as a loan officer?

My biggest failure as a Loan Officer would be thinking that I was in competition with other loan officers. I would obsess who I lost deals to and lose sight of what was really important. You should be you’re biggest competition, not others. You should be the one pushing yourself to be the best you can be!

Name one goal you’d like to achieve in the next year?

Take a week long vacation and really take time off work, no checking emails or answering work texts. Later this year I’ll be going to Italy and can’t wait to relax and take some much needed rest and relaxation. Our team has been doing a lot of cross-training lately so that we can all experience the same vacation away from work reminders. It’s super important for everyone to get recharged and take time for themselves.

How do you maintain referral relationships (which ones are most effective)?

Thank you cards! Anyone I’ve met with, agents or not, I will send thank a you card. It’s a way to show you genuinely care about their business, whether they turn out to be a lead or not. Also, I treat referral sources the way I would want to be treated. I take time to answers questions and I truly become friends with my referral agents. Focus on the person not the referral.

What is an area of self-improvement you recognize in yourself?

I need to be better at taking time for myself. But, I have been improving on this and even recently got myself a Peloton bike. Let me tell you it was worth it and the community surrounding it is wonderful and supporting.

Explain one way technology has helped you as a loan officer.

Texting is amazing! It’s a quick way to reach out clients and referral sources. With texting you can send more personal touches out per day, my favorite is the cute Bitmojis. In some cases, phone calls do have their place and I think both work in good combination.

What social media platform do you use most for business?

I’m not a social media junkie, but I tend to market myself on Facebook. Not to necessarily look for business, but to maintain relationships. I’m more of a one-on-one coffee or lunch kind of gal!



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