Posts
1282
Joined
9/16/2014
Location
MN
US
Edited Date/Time
5/9/2015 4:41pm
Moto is an expensive hobby and you need a lot of time to be competitive at any level. My job doesn't allow me to be able to afford to ride unless I work every weekend which causes a dilemma because then I have no time to ride. So I am just wondering what else is out there that would be semi-fun to do every day and still have the luxury of riding every weekend.
The beauty of my job is that anyone can do it...I'm just about the dullest tool in the shed and I can do it...so anyone can. No formal education or degree required...just take the state/federal required education (usually around 40 hours) and pass a test and background check and you're good to go (you'll always have a job). It takes a while to build up a clientele and develop relationships that will provide a steady income (it is a commission only job)...but once you get to that point you're good to go and will likely make more money and have a better quality of life than 90% of Americans.
My average loan amount this year is $235K. I make 1.5% of the loan amount for every loan that I close (commission rates vary from company to company)...so you could close 1 loan/month and make $42K/year (which has got to be close to the median income in America). 2 loans/month would put you at $84K/year...you get the picture.
Is it "fun" or even "semi-fun"??? Probably not, in fact its frikkin' boring...but it sure is fun to roll into the office at 10:00 or 11:00...after riding in the morning, and be home by 5:00...and its fun to never work weekends or holidays and ride/race instead...or to be at the kids soccer games and dance competitions...or to be able to cut out of work at 1:00 to watch the kids school program. (I'm all about the quality of life, not necessarily the income).
Anyway...I always tell every person I know that is ever out of work, to get their mortgage license...and come to work for me. (same could also be true of real estate license or even insurance licenses...unlimited income guaranteed work) Nobody has taken me up on it yet.
Just my $.02
Actually just got diagnosed with adult ADHD, which explained my frustration the last 10 years of uni and work - it´s like cryptonite for someone with ADHD.
I was asked to help the firm build up a new office in another city after only 4 years in the firm. Thought I was going psychotic after too much work and ADHD fucking my head up. So I quit, sold my apartment and I am now going to travel Asia and Latin America for a year or so at my own pace to get back to my normal self. Only downside - I don´t get to see RV ride at Swedish GP
The job means work 24/7, no time to ride or nurse personal relations of any kind.
The Shop
17 years on the job. Have plenty of free range so I come and go as I please to work my cases but work for the 6th largest County in the State so I am pretty busy all the time.
Don't become a cop if you want to make money. Our pay sucks, I have not had a raise in 8 years because of the economy.. if no one pays their taxes, our local Government starts cutting shit and it usually starts with us. Just did get our retirement match back but no where near as much as it was. Plus if you have not notice... there is a large population upset with Law Enforcement lately so there is always someone trying to bait you..
We stay broke and often times rob Peter to pay Paul to hit certain races. But, my kid is just a couple short years away from being an adult so I guess we will do what we need to do until then to be able to spend time together.
So far we got media, a lawyer and a cop here. Three of the most stigmatized fields around.
I really like it. It feels like playing with puzzles all day long. I guess you have to be somewhat introverted to enjoy it though. I am fine sitting there all day trying to figure out a problem. Before I know it it's time to head home. Deadlines can bring a decent amount of stress. I would say the pay is good and IMO it's a skillset that more and more companies are looking for.
I ride very conservatively since graduating dental school and do not race at all any longer. You can imagine that if I hurt my arms or hands I am out of commission, so I have to be very careful. Otherwise though, it's interesting work and a great profession. I love working with my hands and seeing immediate results.
Are you a mortgage banker, or broker?
Pit Row
It can be both relaxing and stressful. When you are presenting good news on time, everything is great. When you are presenting bad news... after the deadline you were given, it is not fun. If you like a mix of math/statistics, computer programming and a mental challenge this may be a field for you to look in to.
So here is a simplified version of what I do...
1. Someone important in the company has a question. "If we change our policy on X how does it effect Y?"
2. I work with my team to come up with what data we need to answer the question.
3. I design a data warehouse model to collect and house data. (Sometimes we have to wait for surveys, sometimes we work with historical data already in house(Sales, Returns, Customer Sentiment, Payroll Hours.. etc.. etc.. )
4. The data is then assembled in a manner that is easy to design reporting around
5. Reports are developed to make the data digestible
6. Answer is the delivered to important person that asked the question. This can end the process or lead to more questions.
I am not self employed. I am a W-2'd employee. It's complicated (thanks to federal regs) but I have 4 people that work directly for me (and I'm personally responsible for the payroll, as well as office expenses), as processors and underwriters. And I have one other loan officer that works for me (the small amount of income I make on her loans is just to off set some over head). So on paper I'm not self employed, but in reality I am. The easiest way to describe it is it's like I own a franchise of the mortgage bank I work for, but because of federal regs all of my income is w2d from the corporate office. (It's way confusing, and doesn't make a lot of sense...believe me, I know).
I really do love the quality of life my job provides.
like teh new gig as I have far more time off hours, and not being tied into racing has made it more fun again, (i was heavly involved in running and sponsoring MX in my last jobs)
have only had a KX125 in the shed for the last 6 month as i concentrated on learning the new business, but i have just brought a 2015 KX450 and pick it up on the weekend, can't wait to ride again,
Went to school at Ohio State for business for 3 years. The mortgage banker guy at the top has me thinking........
All in all though, I get to live the dream that most kids have at one time or another. I'm paid to drive a fire truck every day (driver is a promotion for us) and I generally love my job. It does take some coping skills to make sure that what I see and do at work doesn't come home with me. I tend to be good at managing that aspect. I'd prefer my family (especially my daughter) to believe in the good of the world. Sometimes she doesn't understand why I say no to something or why we have a rule that seems "stupid."
I can't see myself doing anything else. Great career. Great schedule. And t still allows me to work a day or two a week in the motorcycle shop to keep me out of trouble.
Right now my biggest focus is on getting back to work after breaking my leg. The guys at work have been awesome about making sure we have everything we need while I'm hurt though. They're a truly great group. Within 20 minutes of so of word getting to the firehouse that I'd broken my leg (saw one of our guys when I was going in), Engine 3 had gone out of service and come to the hospital to see if I was ok and more importantly what myself and my family needed. After that it was a steady stream of guys on and off duty stopping to check in. How can you not enjoy going to work when you work with guys like that?
Shane
Post a reply to: What is your occupation?