Today we’d like to introduce you to Alana Rippey.
Alana, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Surrounded by millionaires, I wondered how in the world they had become so successful – and fortunately for me, they told me! In college, I worked behind a bar at a very exclusive golf club. Each member was successful beyond anyone I’ve ever met, and to my surprise, they were full of grace and gratitude. Money doesn’t make you happy? Perhaps that’s debatable. What I do know is, these people were living the dream and made it look so easy. I knew one day I would be on the other side of that bar. Success to me is when you treat others with respect, regardless of the number in their bank account. I wanted to be successful. I wanted to create a lifestyle for myself where I could have a martini after playing a round of golf, pick my own hours to work, have a family, travel, and help others grow their wealth and reach their own similar goals. I wanted to learn from the ones who’ve made it at that golf club.
Time and time again, each member would tell me their two cents on the secrets to success. I’ll give you an example. Jane and John Doe were doctors with their own established practice. I liked to call them the Doctor Duo. John once told me, “Alana, I am a successful doctor with my own practice. My wife is a doctor. Yet we wouldn’t be where we are today if we didn’t invest in our real estate portfolio. We wouldn’t even be able to live in this community if it weren’t for the real estate we’ve invested in over the past several years.” That resonated with me big time! At the time I was in college, debating whether I should continue with my education to get my doctorate, or if I should get into real estate and pursue my second passion of people, math, and architecture. I thought and prayed about it for a long time, woke up one day and it hit me. It was a no-brainer to jump into real estate financing! I finished my degree and was hired immediately with a mortgage brokerage in Del Mar.
Today, I am happy to say I am living the dream and helping others achieve theirs. I help my clients build wealth the same way I was taught by some of the most wealthiest local San Diegans — by making educated mortgage decisions and creating financial strategies to increase cash flow and build their real estate portfolio. Not only do I help investors but I help first time home buyers, veterans, and everything in between.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Working in a predominantly male industry where the average loan officer is a 54-year-old male, I stick out like a sore thumb. I’ve had to overcome a few sexist and ageist comments along the way, to say the least. When handling someone’s sensitive financial information, I do so with care and confidentiality. No two people or loan scenarios are the same. If anything, I would think you’d want someone like me in your court! My knowledge is fresh, up-to-date, and I excel with software changes and technology. Especially in this industry when guidelines change every day, I not only have the resources to research guidelines for complicated transactions, but I can do it much faster than the next guy.
If I had to give advice to women in a male industry, it would be to kill them with kindness and show them who’s boss! — with grace, intelligence, and wit, of course. 😉
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Alana Loans – what should we know?
I love working with people. I am proud to say many of my clients have become some of my closest friends today. I love like-minded people and creating a source of passive income or helping them achieve home ownership with their first home. Because I love what I do, it makes it easy. I stand apart from the competition because I want you to succeed and I know I can create a plan for you to achieve your goals. For me, the home loan process is like a financial puzzle and I love puzzles. Each piece is a pertinent piece of information about you – income, assets, credit, etc. I put the pieces together until it fits perfectly into a picture of your dream home or goal. As for the product, we are a direct lender and we correspond and broker to over three dozen investors. We do: Conventional, JUMBO, FHA, VA, Reverse, Construction, Commercial – you name it, we got it. Feel free to reach out and ask if you have a specific loan scenario.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
As a child, my dad and I would go on long road trips. When we came to a beautiful community, we’d drive slowly through the neighborhoods to look at the beautiful homes and architecture. I remember always feeling amazed at how grand they were. Even the smaller ones told a story. I love those memories. I love knowing in each home, people are making memories with their families. Fast forward to college, my first year I took all electives to figure out which direction I wanted to go. My electives were: economics, business, marketing, interior design, and psychology. Needless to say, I think I found the PERFECT profession that encompasses all of the above.
Contact Info:
- Website: AlanaLoans.com
- Phone: 858-729-4180
- Email: AlanaR@rwmloans.com
- Instagram: @AlanaLoans
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlanaLoans/
Image Credit:
Simha Foto, Julie Simha Pinto
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