More Than the Loan: Why Getting Involved Changes Everything

Today Skip welcomes Karley Bond, a First Horizon market manager for West Tennessee and North Mississippi with 20 years in mortgage lending and active involvement in the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) and Tennessee MBA. Bond explains the value of industry association participation—education, advocacy, leadership development, and especially networking, mentorship, and relationships. She shares time management strategies like prioritization and time blocking while balancing work, volunteer leadership, and family. 

They discuss avoiding burnout by focusing on relationship-based mortgage banking and impact-driven service. Bond highlights the industry’s aging workforce and the need for recruiting through MBA’s Mortgage Banking Bound 100-hour certificate program and state Future Leaders programs. She also discusses pursuing the Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) designation and advises new loan officers to build systems, seek coaching, and commit to lifelong learning.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Welcome and Intro

00:56 Why Industry Involvement Matters

03:46 Mentors and Saying Yes

05:52 Time Blocking and Priorities

08:34 Avoiding Burnout Through Service

12:09 Aging Industry and New Talent

14:01 Mortgage Banking Bound Explained

16:45 CMB Designation Journey

20:03 Career Advice and Systems

22:10 Connect and Closing 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:06

Yeah, that's right. We're back, and this ain't my first mortgage podcast. Welcome to the show where we discuss all things mortgage sales, industry news, interviews of the top mortgage professionals, and more. Strap on in, enjoy the ride, and welcome to Ain't My First Mortgage Podcast. Carly, welcome to Ain't My First Mortgage Podcast. How are we doing?

SPEAKER_00 0:34

I'm great. How about you?

SPEAKER_01 0:35

I am fantastic. And guys, this is Carly Bond. She's been a friend of mine for a long time. Those of y'all listening that may not know who she is, what she does. Carly, take a second. Introduce yourself for me.

SPEAKER_00 0:47

Sure, be happy to. First of all, thank you, Skip, for having me on here. I'm super excited to be here. Very honored that you asked me. Yes, I've known Skip for a while now. We were went and got our CMBs together. So did that a couple of years ago. But I've been in the business for about 20 years. I'm at First Horizon and I'm a market manager here for West Tennessee and North Mississippi.

SPEAKER_01 1:10

So, you know, like you said, we were in the trenches together and the AMP CMB stuff, you know. We got our CMB designation, which you which is something that we'll talk a little bit more in a second. But you're also heavily involved in not just the Mortgage Bankers Association, right? But you're also really active in the Tennessee Mortgage Bankers Association. So a couple of things on this. Let's just say that you're out there, you're an MLO, and you've never really gotten involved in anything like that. You just got your nose to the grindstone, you're trying to get after, trying to get your loans closed. Somebody like that, you know, if you would tell me or tell or share the actual value that can be gotten from this type of involvement.

SPEAKER_00 1:58

Yeah. So great questions, Gap. You know, this one honestly, it's probably one of the hardest questions to really put into words and make someone understand. Okay. But certainly, you know, there's value in education, advocacy, professional development, both at the state and the national level. And those are super important to me and always have been. But if I had to narrow it down to one thing that makes it so special, and it's the relationships. You know, the networking. Yeah, the networking, the connections, the mentors, friendships. Oh my gosh, the friendships that I've developed over the years, being involved with Tennessee and now the national MBA, you know, those are truly irreplaceable. For sure. I've met great people like you, but I've met lots of people who challenged me, encouraged me, you know, helped me along the way. And it has made me a stronger leader and a mortgage banker. So, you know, looking back, so much of what I've accomplished in my career, I would say can be traced back to me saying yes, to being a part of both the state and the national level and getting involved. So I'm grateful every day for the people that have come into my life, you know, through these opportunities and these associations. And I would encourage anybody, just say yes, right? Just take that step and see what you get out of it. Because I think if you're like me, you'll see that you get much more out of it than you probably even put into it.

SPEAKER_01 3:27

So yeah, yeah, I love it. And it's so true. I mean, the connections you make throughout the involvement will not only, even if you never leave where you are, it'll help you grow and help and help from the idea sharing. But, you know, it also says, hey, if I ever want to make a change, you're as strong as your network, right? So, you know, so is that. It's just educationally top-notch. So I love I love that answer. I love it. All right, so I'll along those lines, you know, you've built a career, you know, as a producing originator. You're considered a leader, which I consider you a leader, right? How did you know kind of early on that that you really wanted to get involved to do all that just beyond closing loans? You know, what was the tipping point or what sparked it for you?

SPEAKER_00 4:14

So I love this question because yes, early in my career, I started out as an originator. I knew then, though, that I did want to be in leadership, right? But I thought that just meant at the time, like within my company. Okay. I was focused on growing my career, helping my team, and you know, thinking about my career in terms of movement within that organization. Sure. But I had no idea the opportunities that were out there, right? Bis by beyond the walls of my organization. And so I had a fantastic mentor who encouraged me to get involved at the statement level. And to be honest, I had no idea what I was getting into, but I said what, right? I said not because I've always, you know, been a learner and you know, like a challenge. And so I jumped into it blindly. Yeah. And, you know, looking back, I think what drew me to that, not only was my faith, you know, in my mentor that they were leading me in the right direction, but was my eagerness to learn. And I've always been a person who believes in lifelong learning. And so, you know, I wanted to learn more about the business. And, you know, did I know in that time what leadership would look like for me? Gosh, down the road at the state and national level, had no idea, right? But thankful that I had mentors in my life that encouraged me to take that step and say yes to being a part of the association in the state of Tennessee.

SPEAKER_01 5:48

I love it. I love it. So yeah, it's you just never know. You just never know until you try where things will lead you, right? I mean, it's just kind of crazy how it works out. So, but you know, you because of that involvement, you know, you got your day job, you've got your involvement. You're logging a fair number of hours, right? You know, on the quote unquote non-paying side because you're passionate about it and it means something to you. So how do you what's a strategy that you use to protect your time so that you don't feel like you're shortchanging either either organization and frankly more and more importantly, yourself? Because I know that you want to represent yourself as best as possible in both or in whatever you go into, right? So what's something that you do to make sure that happens?

SPEAKER_00 6:30

That's so true. And you know, I think I'd be remiss if I didn't include that I got three kids and a family in there, right? I hope we read kids for me. So, yes, first and foremost, my job comes first, my team comes first, right? I and my family. So those priorities are non-negotiable, but the industry involvement, my volunteer, you know, leadership, association work, all those things are super important to me because they give me fuel to do everything else, right? So I always tell people it's my passion work, it makes me better at my job and probably at my house too with my family.

SPEAKER_01 7:11

Sure.

SPEAKER_00 7:11

Because it helps me grow and I feel like I'm making a difference and I'm able to serve. I've always had that servant's heart. So, you know, it just makes me better at what I do and better in this business. And, you know, I like I said earlier, I truly believe that I get out more, you know, I get more out of it than I probably put into it. Yes, I put into it a lot, but I get way more out of it. I love the relationships, the opportunities I've had to learn and grow and to work alongside some incredible people and meet lots of people along the way. I just think you have to be intentional. I believe in time blocking. I apologize. I know time blocking is one of those old school principles, right?

SPEAKER_01 7:53

But it wouldn't something I teach quite regularly.

SPEAKER_00 7:56

So I know you do. So I know we're on the same state. Yeah. So you just have to make time for things that are important to you. It's you know, no different than spending time with your family, right? Things are important, you're gonna be intentional about it and find time to make for it. And you know, my volunteer efforts with the state and national are very important to me and just part of who I am.

SPEAKER_01 8:19

Yeah, a little bit. So it's funny you say intentional because I just got done teaching or doing the webinars on intentionality in in in financial sectors. So it's like that's a big topic right now, you know?

SPEAKER_00 8:32

As it should be, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:33

Yeah, but I like that that you said that you know, this makes you better and helps you helps you in all aspects of your life. Because you one one of the things that I harp on a lot, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, is like we are in a business that has no definitive beginning and end. It's not like a craft where you know we'd go build a house or fix a car or whatever else, right? Even when we close a loan, you're not closing that loan, right? You're opening up the relationship. So there is while there are milestones, there's no real definitive beginning, middle, and end to this. It's all constantly churning. And that has a way of it can wear us down a little bit, right? And so one of the things that that I that I try and drive home in some of my stuff is like, hey, look, at the end of the day, you gotta ask yourself three questions, right? And one of those is did I make a difference or make it or positively impact somebody else? Now, obviously we can do that through our regular job, but this is another way, a tangible project-based way that you can ongoingly do this. I mean, do you agree with that as far as involvement goes?

SPEAKER_00 9:38

I think you just hit the nail on the head because I mean, going back to what we do every day in our business, I think we have a tendency to make it transactional. That won't serve you well, right, in the long run. It needs to be a relationship business and there is no end to that. Correct. So, you know, in your volunteer efforts, I think sometimes it's you get a you get gratification, maybe if you want to call it that, quicker because you can see that you can make a difference maybe differently or quicker, you know, in in certain things like with future leaders programs or you know, mortgage banking bound through MBA, you know, being able to give back and teach people and see the excitement, for instance, that's something tangible that you know you feel good about, right? So I think that's one of the drivers and things that can fuel you in this business, these volunteer opportunities, where at your everyday job, like you said, there is no end, right? It's just constant. And so sometimes you have to remind yourself in your everyday job of all the good that you're doing, to your point, the three questions, right? You know, what good did I do today? How did I help somebody? Because there's lots of buyers that you put out and problems that you face throughout the day. And so to be grateful and to think through maybe the things that you did do today that helped somebody else, right? I'm curious to know what are the two other questions that you ask.

SPEAKER_01 11:04

So it's did you positively impact someone? Did your day reflect your what I'm branded as Cairo's commitments? Those are your non-negotiables, right? Okay. Um and did you complete everything that you set out to do?

SPEAKER_00 11:18

I love it.

SPEAKER_01 11:19

So if if you can check off all three of those boxes, it requires some self-reflection, even if it's just on the drive home, right? But if you can check off those three boxes, you consider the day a win, you know, and I think that's important. I think it's important.

SPEAKER_00 11:31

Very important.

SPEAKER_01 11:31

And joining a shared cause, like being involved in the industry, is also huge for you know, bolstering your mental health, improving your overall performance. I mean, it's just any I can't over overstate that enough. I love it. I love it.

SPEAKER_00 11:45

I did too. I mean, you know, we've seen burnout in this industry, right? And I mean, I can say I'm I have had points where I have felt right and so yeah, to your point, having others outside of just your organization, which I think is so important, right? To have others with different perspectives and experiences that you can talk to and you know lean on and have those people that in your life that help you with your mental health too.

SPEAKER_01 12:12

So I love that for sure. Okay, so let's shift gears a little bit back to just kind of MBA in general. So share with everybody, not that you're you know going to be representing via the MBA, but what is something happening right now within the association, you know, that either legislatively or policy-wise, you know, that you think every originator should be paying attention, excuse me, should be paying attention to, but they're probably not.

SPEAKER_00 12:39

So I like this question, but I think I'm gonna take it in a direction you don't expect.

SPEAKER_01 12:44

Oh, even better.

SPEAKER_00 12:46

I think that everybody's obviously focused on rates, affordability, that's an issue, right? So we all know about that and the hot topic. But one thing that I feel like I know M MBA emphasizes, but yet it doesn't get enough traction sometimes, is we are an aging industry, right? So we have a lot of call it institutional knowledge, you know, lots of great people who are reaching that end of their career that have all this knowledge, and I feel like we have a gap because last I heard, the you know, average age of a loan officer in our industry was 52 years old. And so if we don't take the necessary steps, you know, to really bring in new blood and educate people about our industry through programs like mortgage banking bound with MBA, right? Or, you know, Tennessee has a great future leaders program, just being able to be mentors and give back and pull people in to, you know, replace this one day, right? Then I think we're gonna have a big gap, and especially when it comes to, you know, knowledge about our industry. So I just think that's something that we need to be passionate about and be intentional about really focusing on that next generation that's coming behind us.

SPEAKER_01 14:06

So you mentioned something right there about future leaders and mortgage banking bound, right? Now, future leaders, I think a lot of people are probably aware of. So I'm gonna not just shortchange it, I'm gonna skip over that, all right? But but talk a little bit, just for those of y'all out here who don't know what mortgage banking bound is, because it is a relatively new thing. Carly, just talk a little bit about that for me.

SPEAKER_00 14:27

Yeah, I love the program. So David Uffman with MBA has done a phenomenal job in really driving this. It started at Barrie University in Miami, Florida, with a very first class. And then we brought it here to Tennessee, to Middle Tennessee State University. And since then it's grown to other universities, but you know, it's a program that's designed to teach someone from you know origination to closing and everything in between, including servicing, you know, secondary market, compliance, all aspects of our business. And they get a hundred-hour certificate. It's a hundred-hour certificate program. So, you know, we've gone into these colleges and talked to students, and you know, they may be in a real estate finance career or some just finance career, right? And you talk about mortgage and all the different opportunities, not just in sales, which you know what I do, right? But talk about all the other opportunities available. And, you know, they're so excited and passionate, which makes me excited. I'm like, oh great, you're excited about mortgage, right? And so, you know, they like most people that got in this business, nobody came to me and said, Hey, if you've considered mortgage, right, when you go to college. That's not something that you talk about. You just kind of fall into this business. Yeah. And so I think being intentional and going to colleges and saying, hey, mortgage, the mortgage industry is an opportunity for you. And, you know, there's lots of career paths that you could take, you know, just to see what's come of that. And, you know, we do need more job opportunities for those coming in that are new to the industry. But we've seen some companies that have stepped in and offered internships and you know, started them out in different, you know, different places along the lines of the industry. But it's a fantastic program. I firmly believe in it. I'm super supportive. We've had just at MTSU just had our biggest graduating class this past spring. Very nice. Uh 29 people graduated, and we have 20 on a waiting list to do it next spring. Very good. So that shows you there's interest, right? But we as an industry have got to find a way to bring them in, right? So we got to figure that out.

SPEAKER_01 16:44

Yeah, well, hey, one step at a time is a huge first step in the right direction. It really is. So okay, got a couple of questions before we're wrapping up here. So I would be remiss if I did not bring up the CMB design now. I've always got to put a shameless plug in there because you are involved with CMB society, which, you know, very few of us in the mortgage industry have that designation, right? There's something, what is there? I think there's 1,300 total total and like 700 active, something like that. I can't, you know, if David was around, I could just text him real quick. But what drove you to pursue it and what did that process really teach you about yourself, frankly. Yeah, because it is a it is a it's an undertaking, it's doable. So for all y'all out there that may be thinking about it, don't be scared, but it is an undertaking.

SPEAKER_00 17:29

Yeah. No, I'm so glad that you're asking me about that. So honestly, I'm gonna say, you know, it comes back to mentors, right? So I had some great mentors who encouraged me to do it, and I also had what I call silent mentors, and that's people that don't even probably know their mentors to me, but you know, I know they had those three letters and I, you know, admire them and look up to them. So, you know, I respected those people with that designation. And at the time I had no idea what it probably meant. Even though I was in the process of pursuing that designation, I didn't fully understand it and respect it until I've achieved it, right? And so I set that goal for myself because I did. I love, as I said, I'm a lifelong learner. I love to learn, but I wanted to know every aspect, not just what I do every day.

SPEAKER_01 18:25

And it makes you better at what you do every day.

SPEAKER_00 18:28

Absolutely, yeah. And to be able to, you know, say, have a seat at the table and talk to people that are not in just what you do, right? And understand, you know, what they're experiencing or where they're coming from, because then you do understand their aspect of the business, right? Now that you've learned it. And so it just gave me the opportunity to broaden my knowledge. It taught me for sure a lot about myself. Yes, I love a challenge, but I could not have done this alone. And I know that for a fact. So I had so many people in my corner that helped me along the way, my amazing sponsor, Dana Abernathy, who I promote at every opportunity that I have.

SPEAKER_01 19:09

You're beautiful.

SPEAKER_00 19:10

Yes. And, you know, I've got other people like Tiffany Cersei Wright, who spent Sunday afternoons with me to help me, and too many to name, right? Yeah. But I had so many of my friends that I have met through my participation, right, at the state and the national level. But it just helped me to see that hey, while this was something that maybe at times I did feel, to be honest, was unattainable because it did stretch me. But you know, you can put a goal out there and you can achieve it. And that you know, you've got a network of people that are willing to help you to get there. So I encourage anybody that has a desire to learn and you know, really grow themselves in their career and know more about this industry, do it.

SPEAKER_01 19:58

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yes, Carl Carly and I both will be more than happy to sponsor you if this is something that you're interested in. So please reach out to us and let us know. So all right. So last question. This is what I like to ask of folks who've been in the business a little while. You and I have been been in this for quite some time now, even though we are considered spring chickens by mortgage standards, okay? We are yes, we are. So if you could go back, tell yourself one thing, the beginning of your career, what would it be? And also, is that the same advice you'd give to a new originator today?

SPEAKER_00 20:35

Okay, yeah. So, you know, when I first started in this business, I was a newbie, I knew nothing. I'm sat at a desk and here you go, right? And if I could go back to the beginning of my career, I would tell myself to really focus on creating systems and processes much earlier. Because success in this business is really all about consistency, right? And I think it's so easy to have like an occasional great mind and then just you know, fall off the wagon and roller coaster of death. Yes. And that's just part of it if you do not have those systems and processes in place. So, you know, I would tell myself to invest in education early on, continually learn, seek coaching, find mentors, you know, whether they know they're a mentor or not. You know, I always look for people, you know, that I want to emulate. And it might be just certain things about them that I'm like, okay, I can better myself, right? Um by trying to be like that. Work to hone your craft constantly. You never have it all figured out. So you have to continuously be learning, and knowledge is so important. I've always said knowledge is power, and I truly believe that. So the moment you stop learning is the moment you stop crowing, right?

SPEAKER_01 21:57

Very nice, very nice.

SPEAKER_00 21:59

It really is. So yeah, I think if I had told myself earlier on to create those processes, it would have helped me and you know been a lot easier for me later on down the road.

SPEAKER_01 22:12

So love it. I love it. So yeah. All right. As we close, if anybody wants to get in touch with you, find out more about anything we've talked about, or just simply to connect with you, where should they go? What should they do?

SPEAKER_00 22:23

Absolutely. I would love to connect. So I'm on LinkedIn, Carly Bond. I'm on Instagram, Facebook. My email address is Carly.bond at firsthorizon.com. And you're welcome to reach out to me by phone at 731-616-5350. I'm an open book, love to talk. Feel free to connect.

SPEAKER_01 22:44

Awesome. Well, listen, listen, thank you so much for coming on. Really enjoyed it. And hey, you know what? I'm sure I'll be seeing you soon.

SPEAKER_00 22:50

I hope so. I enjoyed it. Yeah. Thanks for having me.