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the beginning of his career, Swift says, has been significant. “When I started, mortgage brokers would have comprised maybe 5% of all mortgage activity in Canada,” he says. “However, as lenders grew and some of the large national lenders started to embrace the broker models and really help the brokerage industry grow, that’s when we saw change.” Recalling how brokers used to package up deals and either drop them off at lenders’ offices in person or send a courier, Swift says the growing influence of technology in the mortgage industry has been one of the most striking developments throughout his career.
ible lender,” he says. “To be able to be whatever you need us to be as a mortgage broker is what we need to be able to do. We need to be able to have that flexibility internally so we can adapt to whatever model we need to be – whether it’s a small mom-and-pop broker or one of the large networks out there. How do we deal with each other and connect with each other going forward?”
The way forward That question is part of the ever-shifting landscape of the mortgage industry, which Swift says is what makes it such an intriguing space to be a part of – and, of course, it also
“With the technology that’s coming into play and the advances we’re making so that the mortgage process becomes simpler and smoother for customers – these are things that are going to keep us at the forefront for a long time” “If you need finance from someone in Canada, we can help you,” he says. “We can help provide you advice and choices – it’s great to see. With the technology that’s coming into play and the advances we’re making so that the mortgage process becomes simpler and smoother for customers – these are all the right steps that we’re taking and things that are going to keep us at the forefront for a long time.” Technological advancements will be critical for the mortgage industry in its interactions with customers and partners alike, Swift says, driving a more effective process for all parties. “Through technology, we can start to tailor our products to fit certain market segments and broker models, to be that flex-
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brings ample reward through the satisfaction of helping Canadians make their homebuying dreams a reality. Considering those factors, Swift says he can’t wait to see what’s in store for the industry in the near future. “I can honestly say in all the years I’ve been in the industry, I’ve never been bored,” he says. “It continues to evolve and change every day. Being part of those changes has been tremendously rewarding for me – seeing how we’ve grown as an industry, how we’ve helped people over the years find homes and helped provide the financial stability that a lot of families are looking for in homeownership. I feel very proud about that – what our industry has done and how it’s evolved itself over the years.”
RON SWIFT’S CAREER JOURNEY
1983
Starts his career as a mortgage broker in Vancouver
1987
Moves to the lending side, joining Mutual Life as a regional manager
1989
Joins First Line as a regional manager
1994
Moves back to Mutual, which becomes MCAP, and is eventually promoted to president and COO
2011
Joins Radius Financial as president and CEO
2012
Wins the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Canadian Mortgage Awards
www.mpamag.com/ca
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04/09/2021 12:23:39 am