From the Top From the Top continued from page 9 the refi boom, but I’m not doing anything other than being involved in the community and meeting bankers, financial planners and attorneys. Those are my main three referral sources. RM: When we first met back in the mid-2000s, you were heavily involved in creating the Charleston chapter of the National Aging in Place Council. I know that chapter has disbanded, but do you still see community involvement as a key to your success? DH: Yes, it’s a place that I need to get back to—and that is the best way to put it. The [COVID-19] pandemic created this ability to work from home, which is great in many cases, but it also got me away from being involved in community organizations and networking groups like Rotary International and chambers of commerce. All that went by the wayside after 2020. And here we are in 2023, and I’m not nearly as involved as I used to be. Community involvement is huge, and it’s something that I need to personally get engaged with despite being casual in working from home. RM: As we begin 2024, what do you anticipate doing differently to stay competitive? DH: I just touched on it. It’s a goal of mine to get more involved in the community and find organizations that mean something. You’re going to get referrals naturally just by telling people what you do, especially if you tell people that you do reverse mortgage financing. They’re immediately interested and want to know more. Getting involved in the local Rotary, financial planner associations, banker associations, mortgage broker associations or whatever those different associations are, finding a way to get involved with those is certainly a goal of mine. Darryl Hicks is NRMLA’s vice president of communications. LET US PROTECT YOUR ASSETS SERVICES Preservation Inspection Title and Diligence Property Maintenance & Tenant Services Appraisal & BPO REO Asset Management Vacant Property Registration & Utility Processing GuardianAssetMgt.com Guardian Asset Management is an industry leader providing our clients a comprehensive range of solutions to help manage and maintain their properties effectively yielding the highest return. 10 REVERSE MORTGAGE / JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024
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