Referral partners
For agents, CPAs, advisors and neighbours
The best outcomes happen when the people advising a client actually talk to each other. If you work with California homeowners — anywhere in the state — let's know each other before we need each other.
Who I work alongside
Four professions, one shared client
I'm not looking to be on a vendor list. I'm looking for a handful of people I can send work to and trust completely — which tends to run both directions.
Agents & brokers
Pre-approvals that hold up under scrutiny, same-day letters when you're writing an offer on a Saturday, and a direct line so you're never explaining to your client why the lender hasn't called back.
CPAs & tax preparers
Your self-employed clients get declined by banks because their returns are optimised for taxes, not for lending. Loop me in before filing season and we can often structure things so both goals survive.
Financial advisors
Asset-depletion qualifying, portfolio-friendly jumbo structures, and a second opinion on whether a client should pay cash or finance. Sometimes the mortgage is the better use of capital and sometimes it isn't.
Estate & family attorneys
Trust and probate transactions, buyouts between siblings, refinances tied to a divorce settlement. These files have real deadlines and unusual title situations, and they go badly with a lender who's never seen one.
Coverage
One relationship, the whole of Southern California
Emory Financial works out of Arcadia, in the middle of the San Gabriel Valley. The practice itself spans the state — Greater Los Angeles, Orange County, the Inland Empire, Ventura and San Diego.
For an agent, that's the difference between maintaining three lender relationships and maintaining one. Your client finds something in Irvine after touring Temple City for two months, and nothing about the financing has to start over.
I'm also glad to show up in person — chamber events, business mixers, a sales meeting at your brokerage, a first-time buyer workshop. If you're organising something where a plain-English mortgage explainer would be useful, I'll come and take whatever questions the room has. No charge, no pitch.
Loans placed by region
- San Gabriel Valley
- 441
- Greater Los Angeles
- 252
- Orange County
- 208
- Inland Empire
- 152
- Ventura & Santa Barbara
- 44
- San Diego County
- 21
- California cities
- 192
Pre-approvals in 24–48 hours. Typical close 21–30 days. Derek answers the phone.
Speaking topics
Reading a Loan Estimate · What actually kills a deal in underwriting · Helping self-employed clients qualify · When a HELOC beats a cash-out · Buying with family money · The 2026 loan limits and what they change
Let's meet
Coffee is on me.
No presentation, no referral agreement to sign. Just two people who serve the same clients figuring out whether we should know each other.