Inside the Lenders’ Studio: Jason Wood | American Mortgage Network

Welcome to another installment of Inside the Lenders’ Studio, where we get to know top-producing lenders from their start in the industry through their rise to the top.

Our latest guest is Jason Wood, a California-based Veterans Administration (VA) loan origination expert and part-owner of American Mortgage Network. Established in 2019, American Mortgage Network is a 100% employee-owned company (ESOP) that focuses on helping homebuyers achieve the American dream of homeownership.

Surefire CRM:

How did you get started in mortgage banking?

Jason Wood:

I was finishing my last year of college in 2001 at the University of Nevada in Reno, and an opportunity to do mortgage refinances came to one of my fraternity brothers. He reached out to me soon after that because he needed some extra help. We started working together, meeting clients after class and running around campus in a shirt and tie while our classmates looked at us funny. Eventually that office grew to about seven or eight of us, all fraternity brothers, doing mortgages. It was a really great time.

Surefire CRM:

What motivates you?

JW:

Certainly my family and children are a huge motivator for me, but I also have a deep-rooted passion for working with the veteran community in the VA loan niche. As a veteran myself, I love serving the military community by providing guidance on how they can leverage VA loan benefits. Sharing my knowledge and giving servicemembers the ability to set up a secure financial future is what drives me.

Surefire CRM:

Who is your digital mentor?

JW:

My digital mentors are one of my fraternity brothers and his brother. They were in the mortgage business with me when I first started, and gave me advice about the benefits of video marketing and leveraging social media to set yourself apart as an expert and gain exposure in the mortgage industry. I always look to them for inspiration when it comes to digital and video marketing.

Surefire CRM:

What is your top marketing trick?

JW:

A good marketing tip is to stay away from the braggadocious type of marketing that focuses solely on your accomplishments. It might make you feel good to constantly post about whatever your latest win is, but it doesn’t influence most people because it isn’t useful information to them. Share helpful, informative content that people can consume and reuse in their own lives. That way, when someone has questions regarding information that you put out there, they’ll come straight to you for help.

Surefire CRM:

What is an on-the-job experience that made you especially proud?

JW:

An on-the-job experience that made me especially proud was learning to quit saying yes to everything. The reality of our industry is every transaction is uniquely different, so being the yes man or trying to be the hero can oftentimes turn around and bite you. I think it’s a very common mistake in the mortgage business because we all want to put our best foot forward. But sometimes, being the person who admits their limits early enough in a transaction will win you more gratis than waiting till the end to realize you’ve taken on too much.

Surefire CRM:

Where would you go on your dream vacation?

JW:

I’d do a two-week cruise of the Mediterranean. I love history and architecture, and there’s so much of that to experience there. Plus, a cruise is a great way to see the world because your hotel travels with you.

Surefire CRM:

Show us your most treasured possession.

JW:

What I treasure most in the world are my children, Henley and James. My daughter Henley is five and has such a cool personality and is super smart. My son James is two, and he’s the happiest, most joyful little guy you’ve ever met. Other than my family, my most prized possession is my 1995 Toyota Supra. It’s my baby and it’s going to the grave with me.

Surefire CRM:

Who’s the most famous or interesting person you’ve ever met?

JW:

One of the most interesting people that I’ve met was a one-star Marine general. We were paired together at a golf tournament that my company at the time was sponsoring, and he shared a story with me about the time he traveled with former presidents Bush and Clinton on a humanitarian tour. Getting to the general rank is quite an accomplishment, so he was a really interesting person to talk to.

Surefire CRM:

If you weren’t a mortgage banker, what other profession would you like to attempt?

JW:

If I wasn’t a mortgage banker, I think I would be a hedge fund manager. I’ve always had a strong interest in financial markets, and I have some friends who are in that industry. It’s not an easy job by any means, but had I not gone into mortgage banking I think that’s a turn that I might have taken.

Surefire CRM:

Rapidfire: You’ve just won an Oscar. Give us your top-3 acceptance speech shout-outs.

JW:

First I would thank God for giving me the ability and passion to do what I do. I’d also thank my wife and my family for their continued support and for dealing with my crazy schedule. And finally I would thank our military community for serving and defending this country. Few people will raise their right hand and swear to give their life in defense of this country, and that’s a tremendous honor. I wouldn’t be where I am without the military, and I certainly wouldn’t be in the position I’m in from a business standpoint, if it wasn’t for their effort and continued sacrifice.