giants,” says Parker Turk. “I don’t think I could have messed it up. I had too many good examples.” Second generations took different pathways into reverse mortgages, but they all stayed because the difference reverse mortgages make resonates across generations. Beginnings: The Turk Family Parker Turk is a loan officer for Sun American Mortgage, Mesa, AZ. He worked during summers in his grandfather’s construction company. In the first phase of his career, he earned a master’s degree in accounting and a CPA, but eventually he joined the financing arm of Sun American, where his father, Terry, is president and CEO. Terry Turk was also a founding member of NRMLA’s Board of Directors when the association was incorporated in 1997. By 2008, Parker Turk was originating reverse mortgages when his parents were called to serve on a three-year mission trip in South America. He had six months to prepare to lead operations. It was a “baptism by fire,” says Terry Turk. But with help from a loyal team and a strong board of directors, Parker Turk “shouldered most of the burden during those difficult times.” His son says he always knew he was in the right place. “In my mind, I saw the ability to help people,” Parker Turk says. “I had seen people get access to money they never thought they’d be able to have access to and continue to maintain their houses. To me, it was such a win for people who otherwise wouldn’t have known where to turn.” Beginnings: The Skaggs Family When Sean Skaggs was in high school, he was an office assistant for his parents, Ellen Skaggs, CRMP, now reverse national production manager at Paramount Residential Mortgage Group (PRMG), and John Skaggs, PRMG reverse mortgage specialist. In those early years, Sean Skaggs would manually stamp direct mail campaigns, set up files and sometimes call his friends to help move boxes. All in the Family continued on page 24 Sean Skaggs Parker Turk “I stand on the shoulders of giants. I don’t think I could have messed it up. I had too many good examples.” —Parker Turk, CRMP, loan officer for Sun American Mortgage REVERSE MORTGAGE / JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024 23
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