New York to Florida
Gene Simmons comes from
the other side of the real estate
development and investment
business; the lending side.
Originally from New York, he
relocated to Florida years ago.
At this point in his career,
with more than 20 years
experience in mortgage and loan
business, he’s seen his share of
ups and downs in the industry.
He’s also seen—and chosen to
live by—the timeless principles
of good ethics and honoring
one’s word, regardless of what
this or that other lender is doing.
Those principles have served
him well, even through some
wild years for some sectors of
the lending industry. But
Simmons never veered from his
core path of excellence in
service, good ethical practices,
and highquaiity loans.
For Simmons, it’s not solely
about the money or the profit.
He takes a longer view. For him,
it’s always been about building
solid, trustworthy and valuable,
longterm relationships with his
clients. This makes his partnership
with Aaron a solid one.
"Trust is the glue of life. It’s the
most essential ingredient in
effective communication. It’s the
foundational principle that holds all
relationships."
Stephen R. Covey
Early mentors
Both Aaron and Simmons
know their area of expertise so
well that they practically could
do it, excellently, in their sleep.
But when you talk with either of
them about their beginnings,
they are each quick to point out
excellent mentors in the
beginning of their careers.
For Simmons it was an early
boss in the loan business. The
man was renown for not only
his nimble and creative loan
solutions, but also, and more
importantly, for the ethical way
he did business. Every. Time.
For Aaron, it was a real
estate investor guru. Again, this
mentor was bold, challenging
his mentees and always
available when a student needed
53
help. Above all, he was ethical to
the core, and Aaron valued that.
But mentors without students
who are willing to follow the
advice of their mentor yields no
fruit. The students themselves
have to be willing to DO what
they are challenged to do, even if
it is out of their “comfort zone”
and doesn’t seem to make sense
at first.
Both Aaron and Simmons
were willing to take those newbie
leaps of faith, to take advised
action, to “just do it,” but only
because of the high level of
proven trust they each had for
their early mentors.
Now they, in turn, are trusted
guides for their team, for each
other, and for their select
clientele.