Expertise Matters. But So Does Skill.

Why experience alone isn't enough when you're trusting someone with something important

By Rosemarie Ashley

A few days ago, a dental crown came off.

It was on a tooth that had undergone a double root canal about a year and a half earlier.

When I went back to my dentist, I expected we'd simply figure out what happened and fix it.

Instead, I was told there was a problem with the root canal. There was an infection, and I might lose the tooth. Even if the root canal could be repaired, there was concern that the crown could fail again.

And that's when I found myself thinking about something that has nothing—and everything—to do with dentistry.

Expertise matters. But so does skill.

The endodontist who performed the original procedure was considered an authority. He had years of experience and extensive knowledge.

But knowing your profession and being able to consistently execute your profession are two different things.

### Experience matters.

An experienced professional has seen things before.

They recognize patterns. They know what questions to ask. They know where problems are likely to occur. They can draw on years of knowledge when something doesn't go according to plan.

That's expertise.

And expertise is incredibly valuable.

But there's another piece that is just as important.

### Can you execute?

Can you communicate?

Can you pay attention to the details?

Can you adapt when circumstances change?

Can you use the tools available to you effectively?

Can you take everything you know and actually put it to work for the person you're serving?

That's skill.

And the more I thought about my experience with my tooth, the more I thought about my own profession.

### Mortgage lending requires both.

When I first started in the mortgage business, the process looked very different from what it does today.

I remember when a mortgage application could literally be completed by hand.

Today, applications are largely digital. Documents are uploaded electronically. Credit information is obtained electronically. Communication happens through email, text and other digital channels. Loans move between borrowers, lenders, processors, underwriters, title companies, appraisers and other professionals through increasingly complex systems.

The technology has changed.

The process has changed.

The way we communicate has changed.

But the need for expertise hasn't changed.

If anything, I think expertise is even more important because there are so many moving parts.

You need someone who understands mortgage guidelines.

Someone who knows how to structure a loan.

Someone who can recognize a potential problem before it becomes a major problem.

Someone who knows which questions to ask.

But you also need someone who has the skill to execute within today's system.

Someone who knows how to use the technology without losing the human relationship.

Someone who communicates.

Someone who follows through.

Someone who can adapt when something doesn't go according to plan.

Because knowing what to do and actually getting it done are not the same thing.

What should you look for when choosing a professional?

Whether you're choosing a dentist, an attorney, a contractor, a financial professional—or a mortgage professional—experience and credentials matter.

But they're only part of the equation.

Ask yourself:

Do they have the expertise?

Do they have the skills to execute?

Do they have the tools and resources to do the job well today?

Can they communicate with you throughout the process?

And perhaps most importantly:

Can they combine all of those things while keeping your individual needs at the center of the work?

That's what I believe people should expect from the professionals they trust.

It's also what I believe we should be working toward in the mortgage business.

Expertise matters.

Skill matters.

And when you're making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life, you deserve both.

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Thinking about buying, refinancing, or making a move?

You don't have to figure out the mortgage process by yourself.

Let's have a conversation about your situation, your options, and what makes sense for you. There may be more possibilities than you realize—and understanding those possibilities is often the first step.

Contact Rosemarie Ashley at the Ashley Mortgage Team to start the conversation.

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Ashley Mortgage Team

Rosemarie Ashley, NMLS #1112113

Burney Ashley, NMLS #1094707

Pinnacle Mortgage Corp.

Serving families in Michigan for over 30 years and trusted professional and experienced.

Office Phone: 586-585-2626**

[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Mortgage lending is subject to credit approval and applicable program guidelines. This article is for educational purposes and is not a commitment to lend or an offer to extend credit.