Meet Ashlin Endter | Senior Mortgage Advisor, Branch Manager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashlin Endter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashlin, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
No guts no glory. Can I get that saying tattooed on myself also? I am so so so so passionate about my career and being a First Generation Hispanic Woman who is breaking generational gaps, curses, and all the fun glass ceilings we are faced with that we were meant to shatter anyways.

“Lender” and “Ashlin” would not exist in the same sentence or the same atmosphere if it weren’t for the word “Risk” and everything that tiny, but loaded word comes with.

I was up against the wall. At 21 on my way to making six figures, living my best life, I was faced with the reality that “mom” might not happen and I could risk never being a mom later in life, or I could risk it early on and try to carry a healthy baby and be a young mom. Fast forward, the big risk, came with my first great reward, mom of one and then mom of two, years later.

Risk? One in the womb, one 3.5 years earth side with me. I was on welfare. I stayed up countless nights praying for a way to be able to be a present mom, but also make a living. My nursing career didn’t fulfill me anymore when I saw what it was. My second shot at Health Care Management was a kick in the face. Money runs medicine and there was no room for Ash to come in and “save the world” it just wasn’t happening. Medical school, learning that Dr’s have to chose being mom or being a hero, crushed me. Dropped out of that LONG path. COVID hit and my birth photography career was shut down along with the rest of the world. I was stripped of everything and anything that I loved to do.

I had the option. Take the risk and borrow some money from my mom to get started along with the tiny non-existent savings to get my license as an MLO and take the test or stay the same. FYI, MLwhattt? I had zero notion of what I was getting into. I was just coming along for the ride because there was a potential opportunity to change my narrative, again has no idea how, I just needed to pass that “MLO class thingy of 20 hours and we had 14 days online to do”. I could stay the same- “The same” was credit ruined, broke, busted, and disgusted, but still managing to show up everyday for my girls and myself even when I didn’t know how I’d make enough to put gas in the car to make it to school pickup.

See, years before right out of high school my best friend Nick and I almost opened a Herbalife Nutrition spot- I was THAT girl who was hustling with her shakes and sharing her testimony about how I looked better and felt better while making money, meanwhile my friends were moving away to college. We then got caught, again, by my best friend to get into an MLM for TRAVEL this time- and we did very well. We THEN got into a trading MLM and I quickly learned the ropes to trade and made TONS of money not just for myself, but also with my team.

Every single time we started in a new “venture” there was risk. But I knew that my girls needed to eat. There needed to be gas in that car. There needed to be something for her Vale’s school events. I needed to piece together enough to get my baby girl that Target costume for her “Trunk + Treat” because she would NOT miss out because I couldn’t make it happen for her. I still have that costume and I take it out from time to time and I cant help but cry when I see it. Her sissy later on wore it for a Halloween event, and I was so proud. It brought back so many emotions.

See risk, that big BOLD word, is where it all starts. I learned that there was no one in the world more deserving to have everything they needed than my daughter Valentina at the time and Alessia, who was just a few weeks in utero, my second biggest blessing- and they would not, NOT be able to have it because I wasn’t able to make it happen. I refused to quit when I knew it was them on the other side of the receiving end.

Without risk, I would not be where I am today. A mother, one who is present, lately not as much as I wish, since mama is on a mission to serve people who need financing, but nonetheless, the mom who doesn’t have to chose between leaving her little in ICU alone after an acute asthma attach on a Sunday morning or having to go clock in at work. My office is wherever Vale and Ale need me. Without risk, we wouldn’t be able to eat healthy meals together. We wouldn’t be able to put gas in my dream car- yes, my Telluride. We wouldn’t be able to attend the school the girls wake up at 6 am every morning to commute 25+ miles to daily.

Without the risks that I started to take even before the girls were born- I would not be here today writing this.
I always ask myself when the “little gal” like my dear friend Carl White calls it, starts to plan doubt and fear in my head, I always remind myself “If me taking the risk and opening my mouth, shaking that hand, making that call, is the reason my girls have a roof over their head and a warm meal every night, then I’ll take my chances and test the odds, because my girls come first”.

Risk is the reason I am here and I can tell you that if you’re willing to RISK and bet on yourself, the world becomes your oyster. I won’t promise perfect days, I won’t promise that on that cold call you make, that realtor on the other side of the phone wont tell you to “get the fudge** off my line” and then 3 weeks later you’ll run up to him in a parking lot scared *lifeless* to get a chance to shake his hand and let him know you were that annoying girl that called a few weeks ago and even though I got cursed off the phone, it was worth the risk to shake his hand in person… He is now someone who will send me business every now and then and has respect for me, like I do for him… all because I took the risk to make that cold call, get kicked in the face, and took the opportunity 3 weeks later to just shake his hand and say “Hi, I’m Ash”.

If there is no risk, there is no reward, You’ll have to get a few thousand doors shut in your face. A few thousand no’s before you get the yes that changes your life. You’ll have to risk the rejection as you grow that business, enter that new career, move steadfast in the direction of that dream when no one understands, when no one sees your vision, understands your mission…. Feel the fear- and do it anyway.

What do you have to lose if you NEVER try?

Take the risk- it’ll change your life.

It changed mine

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a lender, I get you the money to get you into the home. No I will not sell you the home, advise you on the home, open the door of the home, drive to show you a million homes, I am the Money Gal. “Ask Ash for Cash” is one I’ve heard.

You hear lender and most people cringe, roll their eyes, or treat us like second class citizens- LOL. Shout out to all the realtors who have rejected me, you have helped built my confidence behind lots of tears. Yes, I am a crier, but we gone thug it out.

What sets me apart from others is my tenacity, my grit, my refusal to give up, and the referral program that is able to generate warm business back to my partners. There is money in the follow up. But the reality is, we get caught up in the “now” and stop prospecting, stop building, and then all of the sudden we cannot predict next months income…. because there is none. Real estate is every changing, and you learn there is no money, until that client has keys in hands and the sun goes down, because it’s a wild rodeo.

It has been everything but easy. Actually, look up the word “Arduous” and there you’ll find synonyms “lending, a day in the life as Ash The Lender”.

Overcoming the challenges has been a challenge itself. I learned that sharing the wins on social is cool, but sharing the losses, actually makes you more human and relatable, and knowing you’re not alone….makes stuff digestible. All of the sudden, someone’s like “ah this is wild” or someone is like “try this” and its not so bad anymore. Then… every now and then someone is inspired to go after their dream of going back to school as a mom of three, because little me inspires them….. like what? This hot mess whos got nothing but her loans together and her follow up flawless, is inspiring you? OK Ash, you better show face tomorrow, someone’s counting on you.

Along the way I learned don’t give up. This is the one career where you get paid to open your mouth. Closed mouths don’t get fed- remember this*. If someone’s eating, it’s my kids. It should be yours too. BUT, not at the cost of crapping on others, don’t do that. That’s not cool. God don’t do ugly* and it gets around, quick.

I also learned- don’t look left and don’t look right. You won’t catch me following more than a handful of local lenders, unless we are in organization’s together or we shake hands. *LISTEN UP* I do not do it because I am envious, or jealous, or any of that. I am just so in my own lane, I don’t allow myself to get caught up in what others are doing. Listen, I clap for all of you- I just have to run my own race and stay focused on my production. It’s me VS me. My numbers last month versus this month. Did I come home everyday spending time away from my girls that was productive or was I “comiendo lo que pica el pollo”?
Run your own race. The FOUR other lenders in my shared office are NOT my competition. That online “Rocket Mortgage” is our “competition” and even then, humbly, it’s not. How can I be better, more efficient, give more value?

We all have a day one or a one day. Find your why. Discover your non-negotiables. Be a master of one. Grow your brand. Thank God everyday. Bet on yourself.

I beat the odds everyday. Want to know why? Because I am an ordinary person who joined the ordinary people doing extraordinary things… and when you show up everyday and you never quit, there’s nothing you can’t do.

We all have a story and maybe yours is the one that changes the world

you were made for this

xx.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Head to Marco Island. Charge your laptop, get a good book, grab a chair or put your but in the sand and get a room at the JW Turnberry or Hilton Marco Island Resort.

We’re getting ice cream by the pool. Room service pizza to the room. Having dinner on the terrace while we watch the lightning light up the water and illuminate the dark ocean and night sky.

We’re going jetski riding in the mornings and “just give the room number and last name for BEST vacation ever” is something my oldest would say.

I am a Miami gal, 305 til’ I moveeeeee, jk can’t take me from the crazies, cafecitos en la ventanitas with a side of croquetas con limon- but I love to get away from the noise and recharge by the water.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to first off thank my family. My girls, their dad, my parents, my closest friends, This month, a year ago, I had to completely start over… and I did. I came back to do all the things I was told I’d never achieve. Vale and Ale, you are the reason I do what I do. Everyday, I am blessed to show you that with faith, good intentions, and passion, you can do ANYTHING you set out to do.

Noel, when I was absent growing this business from day one. first condition, every day I didn’t believe in myself, you reminded me to back out there and remember who the heck I am. You also learned how to cook on Youtube for yourself and the girls when I was out hustling. Thank you for believing in me when I couldn’t believe in myself and all the odds were stacked against me.

Mom + Dad- you saved this little girl from the moment you knew I existed. You disrupted all your life plans and adopted me out of the blue. You risked it all and saved me.

Last but NOT least, my MMA + Freedom Club Family. Carl, Steve.

Carl White, to the man who taught me that words have power, and that I wasn’t “A nobody” and that words have power. That I have a story and I’m going to help a lot of people when I share it. You gave me clarity and direction. That day we sat down for the first time during session when I snuck out to run to the bathroom you poured into me for 30 mins… you didn’t want a sign up, you wanted me to know you cared. I don’t think you remember I showed up 2 hours late my first event- I was hung over. You saw so much in me that day, it was the last day I had a drink. Two months later, you sat with my oldest, and poured into her and showed her that her mommy in a sense is a “super hero”…..You saved me in so many ways Carl…. You also gave my girls their mom back….. no more 100 hour weeks.

Steve Kyles, “boss” I know you hate that. Thank you for calling me that day while I stood in the hall and reported I made no calls and had done nothing for myself or my business. Thank you for telling me I needed a change, and giving me the opportunity to take my talents to a place where I could grow and develop more as a Loan Officer. You also gave my girls their mom back, and promised them we’d never go back to the days where mom was not around.

You BOTH blessed me with: my coach Jeff, Rick, Kevin, Kristin, Sarah, Irene, Nate, Merrily, Jamal, Devin, Maria, Val, Faris, Rachel, “Q”, and so many other people that have my back day in and day out. You gave me a family I connect with every morning. Friends I can call and talk “Shop” with and share the frustrations as well as the wins with… and they get it. You gave me a family and even more purpose. I am forever indebted, I only hope to pay it forward in the work I am blessed that I do and anyone else who needs a hand on the way up.

Website: https://www.successmortgagepartners.com/ashlin/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askashaboutmortgages/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashlin-endter-143751267/

Other: https://msha.ke/askashaboutmortgages

Image Credits
Shay Walker Photo @ShayWalker for my “headshot” ORL based branding photographer