Sacramento Loan Advisor Finds Job Personally Rewarding Daily

Josh Mottashed is a senior loan advisor with Alpine Mortgage Planning, a local firm that draws clients from all over the greater Sacramento area. Mottashed is a pure numbers master, with a heavy dose of analytics thrown in. His client list covers the greater Sacramento area, dips down into San Francisco and up into the mountains. His personal service coupled with an extraordinary grasp of the the mortgage business is what draws clients to his office. He received an AA from Cosumnes River College and walked in the graduation line from Sac State in 2001, both with business concentrations. He sheds some light on working within the field of finance in the Sacramento area.

What was the reason behind choosing your field?

"I've always enjoyed science and math studies. As I entered college, I felt a big draw to the field of medicine. As my first few semesters progressed, I started taking finance and marketing classes, which changed my tune. I worked at Cameron Park Country Club where I met business owners. Out of the many wonderful offers in business, I took a job with Silver Sierra Mortgage while attending Sac State. I always knew I loved working with people and enjoyed the idea of advising/guiding. I worked virtually every aspect of my field to the point where I knew my advice would be helpful."

You are a business man and manager. Is it a difficult balance?

"I focus on my personal production with the team that I built. This allows me to find balance with work and family time. I'm always trying to improve systems with the right staff and resources to ensure we are operating at peak performance."

What is the biggest challenge in your field of finance?

"By far, the biggest challenge is the ever-changing market. We have constant compliance changes, licensing changes, etc. When I first got into the business, the scrutiny to originate business compared to now was far different. In order to work in my field, it is necessary to have a license for each state we work in. It's backed with a lot of scrutiny. This has helped wean out the fly-by-nighters who had little business being in this business in the first place. It's hard to keep up with constant compliance and guideline changes."

What brings the biggest smile to your face during the business day?

"Seeing my beautiful children and family. Knowing that I've been able to be where I'm at in business financially brings a sense of freedom for us as a family. Helping clients realize their goals is a big one too. I often times step back and reflect on how blessed I truly am."

Charles Ferris is a freelance writer who has lived in the Sierra, halfway between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, for the last 37 years. In 2010 he retired from teaching after 36 years . He and his wife hike, kayak, cross country ski, snow shoe, ride mountain bikes and road bikes, year round. His work can be found at Examiner.com.