Rick A. King prides himself on tailoring loans so they are optimal for clients’ specific circumstances. But to do so, says King, a sales manager with Movement Mortgage, requires active listening. Beyond just hearing words, it’s about understanding the underlying needs, goals and concerns of clients and any potential obstacles they might face. “Effective communication and active listening are key to building trust,” King says, “and ensuring that the recommendations you provide align perfectly with their goals.”

After working in tech for two years, King made the switch to lending upon a friend’s suggestion. Twenty-two years later, he’s still happy with his choice.

King actually began his finance career while still in high school, working a co-op position at a local credit union. The experience led to a role at Prudential Insurance Company in Atlanta, and later, Milwaukee, where he worked for Cargill. Both positions involved using the same software developed in Redmond, Washington. In 1997, he was recruited by that software company, Mosaix (later known as Lucent Technologies), to Seattle, where he oversaw software implementation for the world’s largest independent credit card issuer.

“After a demanding nine-month implementation period and frequent trips to the East Coast, I decided to transition out of the high-tech industry and into residential lending,” he recalls. “This shift has turned out to be the best career move I could have imagined, and I’ve never looked back.” In all, he has been in the financial/customer service industry for 37 years.

Knowing that purchasing a home is likely the largest investment clients will ever make, King ensures they understand the process and discuss any concerns upfront. “I always advise that they need to have fun during this journey, so any future like-investments aren’t stressful,” he says.

Grateful for the opportunity to give back, he supports San Diego-based Saddles In Service and the Filipino Community of Seattle.