Rose Pallotto: Bringing positive energy to alt lending
Name: Rose Pallotto
Role: Business Development Manager with Bridgewater Bank
Years worked in financial services: 20+
Work location: Ontario
Superpower: Positive energy
Rose Pallotto mastered the relationship-building trifecta—sharing positive energy, helping people feel at ease, and sharing her wealth of knowledge. Wherever she goes, people want to be there. Rose’s genuine passion for her work and excellent people skills are evident to everyone.
Building experience in the mortgage industry
Q: How did you get into financial services?
Rose: I planned on going into education but changed my major at the last minute and went into business. On the advice of a professor, I started working with a financial institution while in school. This led to a full-time position once I graduated.
Q: Can you tell us more about your experience?
Rose: I spent the first ten years of my career in branches for one of the big banks before moving to their head office. I worked in several areas—credit review and audit, credit adjudication, HR—before moving back to a branch manager role.
I took a position with another bank working with mortgages before deciding to work as a mortgage agent. Then a great opportunity opened up with a credit union where I spent several years helping members improve their financial situation.
Q: Why did you decide to work in the mortgage industry?
Rose: I love everything about real estate (and I watch a lot of HGTV shows, too). I’ve always believed that a person’s house is likely their biggest asset, yet many people don’t really get a full explanation of what it means to own a home. They visit their financial advisor later in the process, which should really be their first stop. That opportunity sparked something in me—being there from start to finish to help someone achieve their dream.
Discovering alternative lending
Q: What is your alternative lending experience?
Rose: Aside from my time at Bridgewater Bank, I worked as a mortgage broker for five years. And I was like, “Oh my gosh—you can get a mortgage outside of a bank.” I love alternative lending because it can help people in so many different ways, which has always stuck with me. In a big bank, there are limits on what we can do to help people.
Q: What’s your favourite part of being a BDM?
Rose: I mentioned before that I almost went into teaching. I like that I can bring that passion for education into my current job. I enjoy presenting to people, and I love to share those special things BwB does to help us close deals. It’s not something I got to do as a branch manager or at the big banks.
Q: How do you stay informed about what’s happening in the market, especially in your region?
Rose: I focus a lot on the Ontario market, but I keep current with trends across the country because many of our partners have a national scope. In my role, it’s essential to be informed and to know what the competition is doing so I am prepared for questions from mortgage brokers and lenders. I do a lot, and I mean a lot, of reading. I receive a lot of newsletters and stay on top of current news on LinkedIn (and follow the right people). I join webinars and chambers of commerce events and regularly reach out to my network. Oh, and I am married to a mortgage broker, so many of our dinner conversations revolve around what’s happening in the industry.
On a personal note
Q: What’s your best childhood memory?
Rose: As a kid, I loved to do cartwheels and would do them all over the backyard. Just before grade three, I broke my right arm jumping off a picnic table. My mom was a bit relieved because she thought it would stop me from doing these crazy cartwheels. She was wrong—I learned to do them using my left arm.
Q: If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
Rose: Hawaii. I know it sounds cliché, but although I’ve travelled to many places, I’ve never been there.
Q: If we asked your best friend to describe you, what would they say?
Rose: I asked her, and she rattled off a list of things; kind, caring, empathetic, trustworthy, supportive and nonjudgmental. She said that I live with integrity and create a safe place for everyone, so they know they can talk to me.
Final thoughts
Q: Do you want to share some final thoughts about your job?
Rose: I enjoyed my past position and its philosophy of focusing on people over profits. The pandemic changed the dynamic of brick-and-mortar banks and how we connect with people. My work now combines my love of mortgages with my passion for education. I’m bringing alt-lending to the people and building relationships along the way.