New York Times @radius financial group inc.

Young, Diverse Mortgage Bankers

radius financial group inc., a mortgage lender in Norwell, Mass., recently made a $1million investment in its future. The outlay wasn’t for technology, marketing or even office space. Rather, the company executives decided the future well-being of Radius depends upon its ability to attract younger employees from more diverse backgrounds.

So they started what they call the Next Generation Independent Mortgage Banker training program, and hired a young Marine captain to lead the initiative. In May, about two dozen candidates became the first to enter the 12-week immersion program, which paid them a base salary. And this month, 13 of these candidates graduated. Of them, six are veterans from the military, one is black and two are Hispanic, according to Keith Polaski, the chief operating officer and a founder of Radius.

The program is an attempt to ready the company for the coming shift in demographics among home buyers, Mr. Polaski said. Over the next decade, young adults are expected
to drive most of the country’s new household growth.