John Cady

John Cady believes that the mortgage industry is an exercise in work ethic and effort is the foundation of success. Those words came straight from Cardinal Financial’s Senior VP of Retail, who holds himself to the highest standards as a mortgage expert.

“One of the many things I love about our industry is the ability to control your own destiny, your own effort, and your own brand,” Cady says. “Those who will experience legendary success will go above and beyond to delight homebuyers and chase greatness. Putting your boots on the ground, stepping out from behind the desk, and doing what it takes to build and maintain solid relationships is how to thrive in this business and is something I believe is a necessity rather than an option.”

Cady’s two career mentors instilled in him that having high standards is the only way to do business. They told him if you build the right team, lead with confidence, and leverage what each contributor brings to the table, you’ll be on your way to success.

“Having these principles instilled in me from the beginning played a big role in my career as a producer as well as my transition into leadership,” Cady, 51, says. “As I now have the opportunity to lead our growing team of mortgage experts, I make it a priority to exemplify and instill these same principles in our team.”

He holds true that the fundamentals of hard work, great service, and solid communication are always the foundation for success, even when market conditions and new technology are making waves.

“With the incredible amount of talent in the next generation of mortgage legends, the swift changes in the housing market, and the rapid pace of innovation we see in the industry, I believe mentorship, training, and professional development will empower emerging professionals to lead our industry toward a bright future,” Cady says.

He imparted this wisdom on the more than 600 new loan originators he mentored throughout his career, according to Adrea Reed, Cardinal Financial’s regional marketing director, who nominated Cady. “In John’s 30-plus years in the industry, he has cemented himself as a highly respected leader and mentor,” Reed says. Cady rises above the lingering temptation to be consumed by the neverending stream of noise, which he says is one of the main challenges facing industry professionals today.

“It’s easy to lose sight of the big picture and hold ourselves back from success,” he says. “While it’s certainly important to understand the market we’re in, there are always things we can control and things we can’t, and I’ve continued to promote the idea that mortgage professionals should focus their efforts on taking care of the things within their control. If you continue to get out there every day, meet people, return every phone call, act with integrity, and establish relationships built on trust, you’ll be in a position to succeed, no matter what the latest headlines may say.”