Whether it’s new brokers or their assistants, why education is critical to their success
A recent decline in the number of mortgage loan originators has left many brokerages looking for new brokers and loan assistants.
Fortunately, there has been an influx of new loan professionals into the business. But their long-term success will be determined by the training they receive in their formative years. One mortgage veteran said that training can be the difference in finding that new job and remaining outside the industry.
Irene Duford (pictured top), visionary founder and owner at Loan Team Training, said it’s great to see so many new people getting into the business.
“There's going to be a lot of new loan officers coming in, because we're aging out,” Duford told Mortgage Professional America. “There are a lot of people who will be leaving the business at some point, and I think we need to bring new blood into the business. What I love about new people coming in is that they can learn from the ground up, but there aren't a lot of companies that want to teach them that. So there needs to be education.”
In addition to the training her company provides, there is a wealth of information available to new professionals in the business now. Duford wishes this type of training was available when she was getting started in the mortgage industry.
“Originally, we designed that for a loan assistant, but new loan officers have been taking it, so they know how to do things,” Duford said. “I wish we had that kind of education when I first got into the mortgage business. I looked for it and couldn't find it anywhere. So it's a passion of mine to provide that for people. It's really helping them.”
Experience needed
Duford also helps companies hire new loan professionals, as many brokers lack the time to build out their teams while simultaneously working on loans. She said having training before applying for a job gives you a much better chance of landing that new opportunity.
“A lot of it is just mortgage knowledge and having experience,” she said. “The ones that I feel sorry for are the ones that are a really good fit, and they just don't have the experience. It's hard to bring them on knowing that you're going to have to train them. Sometimes you've got these great people who would be so good at it, but it just takes time.”
She suggests that people who want to become a mortgage broker start with training. That can help them get in the door with a brokerage, which puts them one step closer to becoming a broker.
“If they apply themselves, and go to the training courses and pay for it themselves, that would be great,” Duford said. “Imagine walking into a mortgage broker and you say, ‘I've taken this loan assistant mortgage training, and I want to start as an assistant, and I have everything I need to start.’ And then they interview them, and they find out this person has some knowledge.
“They're not great yet, but they have some knowledge. They can start in an entry-level position and then work their way up. And they'll work their way up way faster than anyone else, because they've put the time and the effort in already.”
AIME transformed
Duford will be one of the speakers at the upcoming Association of Independent Mortgage Experts (AIME) Fuse event in Nashville. She said she wasn’t involved with the organization earlier in her career, but now is very excited to be a part of the event.
“What I love about AIME is, when I was an originator, I was not involved with AIME,” she said. “I haven't been involved with AIME until the last year or so. I love what they have done, and how they have transformed that organization has been amazing. I have been so impressed with them, and that's why this is my first year as a vendor member with them. So now we are members. We're not just partners, we're actually members. And I love it.”
Melissa Rifai’s journey from retail banking to launching her own brokerage is a masterclass in facing fears and finding freedom. After 15 years in retail, she made the leap thanks to advice from Julie Yarbrough and the energy of AIME’s Fuse event.https://t.co/mABNIf5WO7
— Mortgage Professional America Magazine (@MPAMagazineUS) September 25, 2025
She said one of the best parts of the event is the connections made between people from all corners of the mortgage industry. For brokers seeking new ideas and techniques, Duford said Fuse is a great place to find them.
“They're going to have amazing speakers,” she said. “There are a lot of great main speakers that are going to be on there. But what I love about getting together with people is the interactions. It's the face-to-face interaction, shaking hands, giving hugs, and seeing people you haven't seen in a long time. I love the connections.
“I love meeting new people and hearing their stories and hearing how I can help them. Hearing their stories of struggles, and anything I can do to help them, I love helping them. I love just giving things away and knowing that it's helping people, because that's my mission: to help people grow their business, and whatever I can do to make that happen.”
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