In this edition of Tycoon Success Magazine, we have featured the story of Carrie Cook, a real estate marvel and investment lending expert. Cook holds two consecutive executive-level roles: CEO of Preferred Trust Company and President of Ignite Funding.
Carrie has over 18 years of real estate expertise, specializing in private lending. She also holds a mortgage broker license from the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions and the Nevada Mortgage Lending Division, as well as a Retail Trust Company license from the Nevada Financial Institutions Division.
Carrie embarked on her inspirational journey at Ignite Funding after the real estate crash. She joined the company as president when nobody believed the company could survive. While most were running from the fire, Carrie put on the necessary protective armor and ran into the burning building and rebuilt the company from scratch.
With her proven abilities and remarkable skills, she later joined Preferred Trust as the CEO and rebuilt it. Working at Preferred Trust broadened her knowledge of custodial services, IRS guidelines, and banking regulations.
Carrie’s Distinctive Approach to Maintaining Transparency
Carrie sees transparency as a chance to allocate resources wisely, create increased value for customers and communities, and ensure the companies’ long-term success. She believes that certain principles universally enhance transparency in business, whether you’re a small business owner or part of a large corporation.
Carrie also believes authenticity is crucial. Adding unnecessary embellishments to transparency efforts can distract from the main message or even cause harm. Instead, it’s vital to demonstrate expertise and authenticity both as a company and as individuals. Rather than relying on generic imagery or paid referrals, providing insight into the people behind the business helps build trust.
Carrie stresses the importance of disclosing relevant information to those affected. Keeping essential details limited to a “need-to-know” basis can harm reputations when they inevitably become public knowledge.
Furthermore, Carrie advises taking prompt action when issues arise. Addressing problems proactively often demonstrates accountability and helps maintain trust with stakeholders, preventing the spread of negative assumptions.
An Overlay of the Companies
Carrie believes outsourcing is nothing but a shortcut. It’s easy for anyone to act as a broker and walk away once a deal is funded. It’s important to stay engaged, service the loan, stand behind the underwriting, and take responsibility for collecting assets if the borrower faces difficulties.
This is where Ignite Funding’s philosophy differs from that of other mortgage brokers. It believes in long-term sustainability, which means saying yes to these questions and rolling up its sleeves to deliver top-quality investments to its investors. To ensure high quality, Ignite Funding controls the entire process internally, keeping a close eye on all aspects of its offerings.
When clients invest, they stay with the team throughout their investment journey. This builds integrity, confidence, and trust in clients, which sets the company apart in the industry.
On the other hand, Preferred Trust stands out in the custodial industry primarily because it maintains all its services in-house. It provides guidance to small—to mid-size businesses and resources for promoting the concept of tax-deferred or tax-free investment income. Preferred Trust’s marketing team and IRA experts serve as an extension of resources to its company partners.
The Recipe for Success
Carrie firmly believes that growth and sustainability come from the people with whom one surrounds oneself. Street and book smarts are crucial for guiding a company’s future. A leader needs to lead people to believe that nothing is impossible.
Carrie’s exceptional leadership inspires a culture of curiosity among her team. She advises leaders to challenge themselves by venturing into unfamiliar territory and taking action to address challenges as they arise. Furthermore, she encourages them to delegate responsibilities and make space for strategic growth.
Leading in this manner fosters trust and loyalty among team members, who witness tangible results and get motivated to follow, regardless of circumstances. This approach cultivates a robust management team and empowers employees to excel, as they are held to high expectations.
However, Carrie never dreamed of being “the boss.” She adores her team atmosphere, which enables her to achieve things that others would consider impossible.
“I believe this is my true talent. I never sit still. I am always looking for the next advancement. The “there is always more to accomplish” motto makes superstars. Some would say that I am never satisfied, and they are correct because no one should settle for good. It is not worth my time if it is not better than a four-letter word. Make it a five-letter word or more extensive, and I will be in,”– she explains.
Leveraging Technological Advancements
Carrie firmly believes that technology should always be built with a user’s needs in mind. First, one must establish how users in and outside the organization will communicate with the system. Internal user interaction is essential because it determines how productive a user will be in accomplishing tasks and their overall job experience.
If the system doesn’t meet expectations, it affects employee satisfaction. While 90% of users may be content with basic functionality, the feedback from the remaining 10% seeking improvements is invaluable. Paying attention to this feedback through surveys allows for continual improvement of the user experience.
Carrie also feels it’s necessary to be ready to have platform management forever. The good part about platform management is that you can keep improving and changing adaptability and growth. When banks halted lending on construction loans, Carrie and her team swiftly adjusted their system to accommodate construction loans with a draw-down strategy and took over bank loans that were not being financed. Such agility is rare among lenders.
The success and flexibility of a corporation in the face of market change depends on its technological infrastructure.
Leaving a Legacy Behind…
As a woman business leader, Carrie still faces stigma and fights daily to make her voice heard in male-dominated industries. Some might even say that Carrie’s courage and determination rival that of any man. She sincerely hopes that women won’t hesitate to pursue leadership roles in industries typically dominated by men. It’s time for them to step forward, demonstrate their strength and confidence, and show they are just as capable as anyone else.
Future Prospects
Carrie’s primary focus is on driving Ignite Funding’s growth by introducing a real estate fund. This move aims to expand the company’s presence in states where multi beneficiary lending is regulated as a security product. The challenge lies in integrating this new product while maintaining the core operation of offering collateralized real estate investments.
She is also excited to expand Preferred Trust’s footprint in B2B relationships and educate small—to midsize businesses about raising capital through retirement accounts.