The Low Nostril Podcast with Andrew Wagner

Introduction

• Host: Dustin Owen
• Special Guest: Andrew Wagner
  • Journey from Baltimore, Maryland
  • 5-year mortgage professional, producing significant volumes before age 30.
  • Production Summary:
    • 2020: $65 million
    • 2021: $72 million
    • 2022: $62 million

Early Career and Personal Background

• Started in 2017 with Waterstone Mortgage
• Achieved notable success due to his entrepreneurial mindset and hustling attitude
• Early entrepreneurial endeavors like ‘Dirty Dorms’ during college
• Played AAU basketball in high school, which fostered competitive nature.
• Describes himself as an introvert but driven by earning potential and success in business.

Start in the Mortgage Industry

• Found the job via an ad on Indeed.com
• Mentorship under Todd Raley at Waterstone
• Learned through working late nights and practical problem-solving
• First Loan Closed: October 2017
• 2018 Production: $10 million
• Rapid growth due to the foundational efforts: 2019 Production: $45 million

Strategies for Success

Open Houses Strategy

• Called listing Realtors and offered services for open houses
• Spent entire afternoons at open houses to build relationships
• Did this consistently without missing a weekend for six months

Lead Generation and Networking

• Focused efforts on creating opportunities via calls and communication
• Created mailers and other supportive efforts for Realtors
• Importance of sustained and genuine effort for relationship building

Team Building and Expansion

Building a Successful Team

• Identifying individual strengths and weaknesses
• Delegating tasks effectively for smoother operations
• Ensuring team members buy into the vision and cultivate trust

Lessons Learned

• Reviewing and acknowledging personal knowledge limits regularly
• Actively seeking advice and supporting continuous learning
• Understanding the need for flexibility and adaptation during onboarding at new companies

Moving Companies

Transition Insights

• Moved from Waterstone Mortgage to Bay First (First Home Bank)
• Recently moved to Churchill Mortgage as Bay First closed down its mortgage division
• Acknowledged the complexity and challenges of onboarding
• Emphasized the importance of timing and internal industry relationships for a successful transition

Final Advice and Personal Insights

• Constantly work to increase capacity and personal limits in production and growth
• Embrace the learning curve as part of developing expertise and expanding business opportunities
• Network within the industry to continually learn best practices

Connect with Andrew Wagner

• LinkedIn: Andrew Wagner (Note: spelling of last name is w-a-h-e-n-e-r)