A Day in the Life of a Successful Loan Officer

Loan Officer Category

Spiral-bound daily planners, wall calendars, high-tech smartphone apps, good ol’ fashioned sticky notes—whatever your preferred format may be, keeping a daily to-do list is essential for staying organized and focused as you work towards achieving professional and personal goals. And, let’s be honest, crossing off an item from a to-do list delivers a pretty amazing feeling of accomplishment!

If that reason alone does not convince you of the benefits of a daily to-do list, these surely will:

  • Improved productivity. A to-do list allows you to identify your most pressing tasks, helping you complete projects quicker.
  • Less time-wasting. With a daily to-do-list, you always know which tasks to undertake, when to work on them, and how they will be completed—ensuring you make efficient use of your time.
  • Better collaboration & accountability. By sharing your list with team members, you can more easily coordinate tasks, assign responsibilities, and provide updates. And when tasks and responsibilities are clearly defined, team members know everyone is pulling their weight.
  • Increases in motivation. Visualizing progress as you check off completed tasks is a powerful motivator.
  • Reductions in stress. Stated simply, a daily to-do list is a clear and concise roadmap to your goals.

What to include on your to-do list

“Subtracting from your list of priorities,” wrote author and marketing strategist Frank Sonnenberg, “is as important as adding to it.” When creating your daily to-do list, be sure to add tasks that are:

  • Specific. Tasks should be absolutely clear. Not being specific may result in you becoming disorganized and losing focus.
  • Attainable. Big goals are certainly achievable but taking on a task that is too large can lead to frustration. Shoot for objectives that are realistic.
  • Manageable. Set minor intermediate goals as part of your overall objectives. Achieving small wins will help you stay motivated. 
  • Trackable. Keeping track of your progress is essential to staying on course. Doing so will also ensure team members stay updated.
  • Organized. Consider organizing tasks by workflow, priority, or deadline.

A to-do list is your life raft

In today’s high-tech age, being a loan officer often feels like a round-the-clock occupation. There’s always emails to send, phone calls to make, leads to acquire, relationships to nurture, and loans to close. A daily to-do list is the life raft that will keep you from drowning in work-related tasks.

Our sample list will help you craft a successful loan officer to-do list of your own!

Early-early morning

  • You may not be a fan of starting your day at the crack of dawn, but there are scientific studies that link success with waking up early. Even if most of your appointments are later in the day, your work ethic is on display when your outgoing emails are stamped with a time ending in “a.m.” 
  • Exercise your body and mind. Working out at any time is beneficial, but doing so in the morning can boost mental clarity and improve mood. Also, taking a moment to meditate can improve your ability to calmly focus during hectic times.

Early morning

  • Start your workday by logging into your CRM or marketing automation solution (or both!). Check any missed texts, emails, or phone calls from your network of leads, prospects, customers, and partners. Review completed and uncompleted tasks from the previous day as well as the data from your most recent marketing efforts. This will help you identify your must-dos and would-like-to-dos for the day.
  • If you have an assistant, now is the perfect time to connect. Review your to-do list with them as well as any lingering projects from the previous day.

Mid to late morning

  • Now it’s time to focus on lead generation. Lean on your CRM to identify leads and retarget existing contacts. Also, look to industry partners and past clients for referrals. The most common referral partners for loan officers are real estate professionals, and many LOs feed their pipelines with the help of just a few strong relationships. The high-quality leads you generate today will propel your business forward tomorrow.

Midday

  • Don’t skip lunch! Eat a healthy meal and take time to get your body moving. If you can, go outdoors. Improved mental and physical health are well-known benefits of spending time in nature. If you cannot step away, turn off your smartphone and laptop, and focus on non-work activities. One of the biggest keys to productivity is practicing the refueling principle: You accomplish more and have greater success when you recharge your brain and body.

Early afternoon to late afternoon

  • This is the time of day when a loan officer’s daily tasks will vary. Depending on where you are in your loan transactions, you may spend the afternoon connecting with clients over the phone or in person—to gather necessary financial documents, detail available financing options, or provide information on the mortgage process.
  • You may also dedicate this time to maintaining your social media presence. Today’s borrowers frequently rely on Instagram Reels or Facebook Reels for recommendations, advice, and ideas. Partnering with a well-known influencer is another way loan officers are boosting brand visibility and driving customer engagement.
  • Or you may set aside an hour or two for professional learning and development. This can entail earning a certification, attending an industry association-sponsored event, or simply meeting up with colleagues and partners to discuss current market trends.
  • Close the workday by reviewing your to-do list. Determine what you did well, where you need improvement, and how you can prepare for tomorrow.

Early evening

What is crucial to your professional success is that you embrace the concept of downtime. Even though we live in a world where it is possible to work 24/7, 365 days a year, it’s essential that we step away to make time for family, friends, outside activities, etc. Always remember: A “stop-doing” list is just as important as a to-do list.

Ready to connect?

Does your daily to-do list leave you feeling overwhelmed and frustrated? Is your CRM or marketing automation solution not delivering the results you desire? Or has securing leads in today’s competitive environment been an ongoing challenge?  

Whatever the case may be, Volly can help. Contact us today for a demo and to learn more about how we can be your valued marketing partner!