{"id":7078,"date":"2024-11-01T01:24:59","date_gmt":"2024-11-01T01:24:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/honouring-excellence-welcoming-the-latest-inductees-to-the-mortgage-hall-of-fame\/"},"modified":"2024-11-01T01:24:59","modified_gmt":"2024-11-01T01:24:59","slug":"honouring-excellence-welcoming-the-latest-inductees-to-the-mortgage-hall-of-fame","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=7078","title":{"rendered":"Honouring excellence: Welcoming the latest inductees to the Mortgage Hall of Fame"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>Their paths brings to life the dedication and innovation driving Canada\u2019s mortgage industry forward.<\/p>\n<p>Each inductee has made a unique impact, from pioneering new approaches in mortgage financing to advocating for brokers nationwide. As you read their stories, you\u2019ll gain insight into the personal journeys and professional milestones that define these leaders\u2014and inspire the next generation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block aligncenter has-background has-medium-font-size\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(90deg,rgb(251,253,253) 0%,rgb(11,157,165) 100%)\" id=\"rank-math-toc\">\n<h3>Meet your 2024 Hall of Fame inductees:<\/h3>\n<nav><\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"730\" height=\"370\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Mortgage-Hall-of-Fame-Inductees-2024-730x370.jpg\" alt=\"Mortgage Hall of Fame Inductees 2024\" class=\"wp-image-56539\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Mortgage-Hall-of-Fame-Inductees-2024-730x370.jpg 730w, https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Mortgage-Hall-of-Fame-Inductees-2024-100x51.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Mortgage-Hall-of-Fame-Inductees-2024-770x389.jpg 770w, https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Mortgage-Hall-of-Fame-Inductees-2024.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 730px) 100vw, 730px\"><\/figure>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-x-large-font-size\" id=\"gilles-bouillon\">Gilles Bouillon<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Guilles-Bouillon-1.jpg\" alt=\"Gilles Bouillon\" class=\"wp-image-56491\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Guilles-Bouillon-1.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Guilles-Bouillon-1-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Guilles-Bouillon-1-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Guilles-Bouillon-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"gilles-bouillons-journey-building-a-3-b-brokerage-with-determination-and-innovation\">Gilles Bouillon\u2019s journey: Building a $3B brokerage with determination and innovation<\/h3>\n<p>Gilles Bouillon\u2019s journey started with a string of rejections. Eighteen years ago, he founded Planipr\u00eat\/MP Mortgages in Montreal with no established mortgage volume\u2014a clean slate that led most lenders to simply say \u201cno.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Then, in 2006, he crossed paths with Daniel LaFramboise from FirstLine Mortgages, who guided the former financial planner through the basics of the mortgage industry. \u201cHe took a piece of paper and showed me how to originate, how it works in the mortgage industry, how ratios are calculated, and stuff like that,\u201d Bouillon says. \u201cIt started from there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Today, Bouillon has no trouble connecting with lenders. Planipr\u00eat\/MP Mortgages now has a team of 320 brokers generating over $3 billion in annual mortgage originations. Through a partnership with TMG The Mortgage Group, Planipr\u00eat\/MP Mortgages stays current with the latest technological advancements in the mortgage industry.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"563\" height=\"964\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Gilles-Bouillon-3.jpg\" alt=\"Gilles Bouillon, Planipr\u00eat\/MP Mortgages\" class=\"wp-image-56496\" style=\"width:425px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Gilles-Bouillon-3.jpg 563w, https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Gilles-Bouillon-3-58x100.jpg 58w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 563px) 100vw, 563px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gilles Bouillon, Planipr\u00eat\/MP Mortgages<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Unlike many of his industry colleagues, Bouillon didn\u2019t join a network or pool under another brokerage to jump-start his business. He bootstrapped Planipr\u00eat\/MP Mortgages from the very beginning. If you know Bouillon, you\u2019ll understand that this is not at all out of character. \u201cWhen I have to create stuff, I am the happiest person in the world,\u201d he says. \u201cCreating companies\u2014there\u2019s something in my blood.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bouillon also developed a keen interest in the technology behind mortgage origination and customer service. While plenty of CRM platforms already exist, Bouillon envisioned a tool that would go beyond loan origination, incorporating features like after-tax budgeting. \u201cWe wanted to create a financial planning approach that did not exist in the various types of systems in the market,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond his work at Planipr\u00eat\/MP Mortgages, Bouillon dedicated significant time to advocating for his industry peers. When the Autorit\u00e9 des march\u00e9s financiers assumed regulatory control over Quebec\u2019s financial sector, new regulations emerged that restricted mortgage brokers from incorporating. Recognizing the impact on brokers\u2019 livelihoods, Bouillon lobbied for a solution that would allow them to continue receiving compensation through their existing corporations.<\/p>\n<p>Bouillon\u2019s advocacy eventually expanded beyond Quebec, leading him to lobby on Parliament Hill on behalf of Mortgage Professionals Canada. Having been deeply involved in the legal intricacies of building his firm, Bouillon developed a strong interest in government regulations impacting the mortgage industry. \u201cFor me, it was a natural thing to go and do some lobbying for the industry,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, Bouillon\u2019s work happened in and around his family life, including his son\u2019s provincial league hockey games. His secret to managing it all, he says, is hiring good people\u2014and ensuring they stay. His top broker in 2006, Mark Barbieri, remains part of the Planipr\u00eat\/MP Mortgages team to this day.<\/p>\n<p>prioritize client acquisition, stay legally compliant, and keep up with the latest technology. However, he notes that finding clients can be the toughest part. For him, building a client base isn\u2019t about investing in flashy ads or TikTok influencers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of people are quitting the industry after 18 months because it\u2019s hard for them to find clients,\u201d Bouillon says. \u201cIf you\u2019re really focusing on their needs, or if you\u2019re focusing on servicing that client, you\u2019re gonna have some success.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-x-large-font-size\" id=\"scott-mc-kenzie\">Scott McKenzie<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Scott-McKenzie-1.jpg\" alt=\"Scott McKenzie\" class=\"wp-image-56499\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Scott-McKenzie-1.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Scott-McKenzie-1-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Scott-McKenzie-1-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Scott-McKenzie-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"a-lifelong-commitment-scott-mc-kenzies-35-year-journey-at-first-national\">A lifelong commitment: Scott McKenzie\u2019s 35-year journey at First National<\/h3>\n<p>Few people can claim a 35-year career with the same company, but Scott McKenzie, Executive Vice President of Residential Mortgages and Credit at First National, is one of them.<\/p>\n<p>McKenzie started at First National as a junior underwriter in 1989, back when the company was less than a year old. \u201cIt\u2019s absolutely the best decision I made,\u201d he reflects. At that time, First National operated a single-family underwriting department in Toronto and Oakville. Today, McKenzie leads a team of about 1,000 people at one of Canada\u2019s largest non-bank lenders.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"809\" height=\"1051\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Scott-McKenzie-3.jpg\" alt=\"Scott McKenzie, First National\" class=\"wp-image-56519\" style=\"width:425px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Scott-McKenzie-3.jpg 809w, https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Scott-McKenzie-3-77x100.jpg 77w, https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Scott-McKenzie-3-770x1000.jpg 770w, https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Scott-McKenzie-3-310x403.jpg 310w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 809px) 100vw, 809px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Scott McKenzie, First National<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Now McKenzie can add another feather to his cap\u2014a place in the Mortgage Hall of Fame. \u201cI\u2019ve been in the broker space for 40 years,\u201d he says. \u201cThere are a lot of great inductees over the years who have gone into the Hall, and to be included is truly an honour for me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Throughout his career at First National, McKenzie has led both residential mortgage sales and the lender\u2019s credit division, making him a rarity in Canada\u2019s mortgage industry. He also oversees First National\u2019s underwriting for the broker channels at TD Bank, Manulife Bank, and BMO BrokerEdge, and directed the Excalibur program, which serves clients who don\u2019t meet the credit standards of traditional mortgage products.<\/p>\n<p>With his long tenure at First National, McKenzie has witnessed many colleagues progress through the ranks. Numerous team members have been with the company for decades, rising from entry-level roles to executive positions\u2014a journey McKenzie counts among the most rewarding parts of his career.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo watch these people go from their first job out of school to staying with us, being loyal to us, and hanging around and growing, and becoming vice presidents\u2014I love seeing that happen,\u201d McKenzie says. Of course, he\u2019s also a beneficiary of that process.<\/p>\n<p>McKenzie credits First National founders Moray Tawse and Stephen Smith with shaping him into the mortgage professional he is today, describing them as two of the most accomplished entrepreneurs in financial services history. Both Tawse and Smith remain active at First National, continuing to work alongside McKenzie as valued colleagues.<\/p>\n<p>McKenzie advises newcomers to the mortgage industry to find a knowledgeable mentor and \u201cbe a sponge and learn everything you can,\u201d he says. This learning, he adds, should go beyond insights from colleagues or bosses. He urges new brokers to stay informed by following financial news closely: \u201cRead about the capital markets, read about mortgages, read about rules\u2014just be aware of what\u2019s going on so you can be relevant when you\u2019re talking to customers,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>This advice is especially relevant today, with fluctuating interest rates and the ongoing housing affordability crisis making it challenging for the average homeowner to keep up with the market. For McKenzie, this is where brokers play a critical role. \u201cIt\u2019s up to the mortgage brokers to be the expert, to explain it to them,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-x-large-font-size\" id=\"steven-ranson\">Steven Ranson<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Steve-Ranson-1.jpg\" alt=\"MPC National Conference 2024 Steven Ranson\" class=\"wp-image-56501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Steve-Ranson-1.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Steve-Ranson-1-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Steve-Ranson-1-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Steve-Ranson-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"from-skeptic-to-pioneer-how-steven-ranson-transformed-the-reverse-mortgage-market\"><strong>From skeptic to pioneer: How Steven Ranson transformed Canada\u2019s reverse mortgage market<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>When Mortgage Hall of Fame inductee Steven Ranson first encountered reverse mortgages in 1997, he wasn\u2019t immediately sold. It was William Turner, the founder of the Canadian Home Income Plan Corporation, who introduced him to the concept.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"639\" height=\"1060\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Steve-Ranson-3.jpg\" alt=\"Steven Ranson, HomeEquity Bank\" class=\"wp-image-56517\" style=\"width:425px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Steve-Ranson-3.jpg 639w, https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/MPC_2024_Steve-Ranson-3-60x100.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 639px) 100vw, 639px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Steven Ranson, HomeEquity Bank<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cI remember actually thinking\u2014who would want one?\u201d he recalls. At the time, Ranson was 40 and a chartered accountant with experience in mortgage-backed securities, but he hadn\u2019t yet encountered the challenge reverse mortgages addressed: older homeowners with significant equity who couldn\u2019t access it as cash. Once he understood the potential, Ranson saw it as a golden business opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt just seemed like this unbelievable product that fit a need that was evident even then, and was only going to get bigger as the population aged,\u201d he said. Over the course of his 27-year career, Ranson would go turn HomeEquity Bank into one of Canada\u2019s leading firms for reverse mortgages.<\/p>\n<p>When Ranson joined HomeEquity Bank in 1997 as Chief Financial Officer, the company was a licensed mortgage broker operating in just two provinces with $100 million in assets. Four years later, he became President and CEO, a role he held for 23 years until his retirement in 2024. Under his leadership, HomeEquity expanded its reverse mortgage business across all 10 Canadian provinces, establishing partnerships with every major lender and growing into one of Canada\u2019s leading firms for reverse mortgages.<\/p>\n<p>That came, in part, due to a robust education drive on reverse mortgages for interested brokers, led by Ranson. \u201cWe wouldn\u2019t actually sign a referral agreement with you until you completed our course,\u201d Ranson says. \u201cBecause we just felt like the basic education on the product and how it worked just wasn\u2019t out there. And so we had to create it ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Under Ranson\u2019s leadership as CEO, HomeEquity became a Schedule I bank to secure more stable funding. The company had been relying on wholesale funding markets, which were vulnerable to economic disruptions. \u201cBecoming a bank was kind of a survival strategy,\u201d Ranson says. \u201cIf we didn\u2019t find a way to access a reliable and stable source of funding, which we did by becoming a bank, we basically would have gone under.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Today, HomeEquity Bank originates over $1 billion annually in mortgages and manages an $8 billion balance sheet. Since Ranson joined, the company has facilitated more than 60,000 loans. Its education and referral program has also attracted over 18,000 brokers who now partner with HomeEquity. However, Ranson has learned over nearly three decades in the mortgage industry that long-term success requires more than just meeting KPIs.<\/p>\n<p>arving out time for family has always been essential for Ranson, even as work discussions naturally found their way into personal life. His wife, a board member of a small bank when HomeEquity became a bank, brought invaluable insights to their conversations. \u201cHer knowledge and expertise had a huge impact on me,\u201d Ranson says. \u201cWe probably talked about the bank, the product, and customers every single day for 27 years.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For Ranson, reputation is the most crucial asset a new mortgage broker can build. The relationships brokers cultivate and the deals they choose to make\u2014or avoid\u2014shape how clients view them, and managing that reputation is no simple task.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe reputation you have is the most important thing,\u201d Ranson says. \u201cIt is your biggest asset.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n<p><em>Photo credits: @eventimaging<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Visited 27 times, 27 visit(s) today<\/p>\n<p class=\"tmnf_posttag\">First National Gilles Bouillon HomeEquity Bank Mortgage Hall of Fame mortgage professionals canada Planipr\u00eat Scott McKenzie Steven Ranson<\/p>\n<p class=\"modified small cntr\" itemprop=\"dateModified\">Last modified: October 31, 2024<\/p>\n<div class=\"author-info\">\n<div class=\"author-image\">\n                                <img alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/avatar_user_175_1656479218-96x96.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/avatar_user_175_1656479218-192x192.png 2x\" class=\"avatar avatar-96 photo\" height=\"96\" width=\"96\" decoding=\"async\">                            <\/div>\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n                            Brennan Doherty<\/p>\n<p class=\"author-description\">Brennan Doherty is a Toronto-based writer. His work has appeared in a multitude of publications, including the Toronto Star, TVO, Maisonneuve, VICE World News, MoneySense, Future of Good and Strategy Online.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canadianmortgagetrends.com\/2024\/10\/honouring-excellence-welcoming-the-latest-inductees-to-the-mortgage-hall-of-fame\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Their paths brings to life the dedication and innovation driving Canada\u2019s mortgage industry forward. Each inductee has made a unique impact, from pioneering new approaches in mortgage financing to advocating for brokers nationwide. As you read their stories, you\u2019ll gain insight into the personal journeys and professional milestones that define these leaders\u2014and inspire the next<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7079,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[216],"tags":[1857,1861,1860,1856,1859,286,417,1858],"class_list":{"0":"post-7078","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mortgage","8":"tag-excellence","9":"tag-fame","10":"tag-hall","11":"tag-honouring","12":"tag-inductees","13":"tag-latest","14":"tag-mortgage","15":"tag-welcoming"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7078","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7078"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7078\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7079"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7078"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7078"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7078"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}