We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jim Gaffney. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Jim, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
Most of all I am proud to deliver expert advice to consumers. As a population we are relatively uninformed when it comes to choices around credit and finances. The average consumer isn’t connected to topics like debt management, home appreciation and wealth building. I take a lot of pride in educating consumers on the benefits of home ownership and the most affordable way to make it happen.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a 30 year veteran of the Mortgage profession, specializing in educating home buyers on ways to build wealth through home ownership and financial preparation. I am also the founder of “The 3 Step Guide to Home Financing” as well as Author of “No Money No House” and “Know Before You Go”. I speak at First Time Home Buyer Workshops and actively coach industry professionals on how to reshape the homebuying experience for their clients.
My goal for the coming year is to invest more time in educating the Real Estate Professionals in my market how to use financing tools and knowledge to create more buyers. As a real estate community, the more we know the more we can control the outcome of buyer activity.
Exciting time for my Employer Union Home Mortgage coming up! We have the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl coming up this December as the first Bowl game of the college football season. Also, our owner and CEO Bill Cosgrove is now a co-owner of the Tampa Bay Rays Baseball team so looking forward to all of the excitement around our connection to major sporting events. Great branding in the community!
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
What I learned from my father at a very young age is that good things happen to people who work. People who are in service that are willing to labor. He taught me it’s not luck that will carry you along but good fortune resulting from hard work.
Since I could walk, I remember helping my family shovel the driveway and rake leaves and dig holes for the new fence or whatever was needed. He also taught me to work for others for free because they need it. The generosity he had to lend a hand to someone else was abundant and I saw it every day growing up.
I find myself helping people who can’t do it for themselves and I don’t expect anything in return because I know my Dad would have done the same. When it comes to sharing my industry knowledge, I am an open book and always a resource for those around me who need answers.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say something to my younger self it wouldn’t be just one thing. I would encourage the younger me to be a full time learner. The opportunities to read and study all aspects of life, communication, leadership, relationships and all the topics that would create a smarter more understanding adult.
I would also value my mornings more to accomplish productive things early in the day like going to the gym, eating healthy breakfasts and knocking out most difficult tasks first.
Through the years, I would have said no more than yes. I would have had tough conversations early on with relationships, personal and professional and most of all I would tell my younger self to slow down. Enjoy the journey of building a life and to stop thinking the end result is everything but to slowly build and build and enjoy the path of growing. Understanding the growth really is a lifetime event.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I have always lived by a motto of “good things happen to people who work hard” If you apply your trade every day and give it 100% and do it with gusto and appreciation, your day will come to reap the rewards of your efforts. It may take years or a lifetime, but hard work is a staple that is required to thrive. I can’t always prove this theory however I would challenge anyone to commit to a life of accountability and service and say their work effort hasn’t paid off. I would also say most successful people found themselves where they are as a result of slow gradual consistent efforts of committed work.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I had a known limited lifetime left. I really wouldn’t change much other than to spend more time with family. I would still want to live with purpose each day and contribute to my community and friends. I would like to slow down a bit more but not too much. It’s important for my sons to see that you never stop working or providing for your family. Even when times get tough, find a way to be productive. Hard work is my love language to my family, I guess. It’s just how I’m built.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.uhm.com/loan-officers/jim-gaffney/
- Instagram: gaffneymortgageteam
- Linkedin: jamesgaffney union home mortgage
- Facebook: The Gaffney Mortgage Team
- Youtube: Gaffney Mortgage Team!
- Other: may have to copy and paste hyperlinks, unable to from this portal
