In the past 25 years, Money Store branch manager Alex Ilich has seen just about every imaginable market, recession, interest rate, boom and bust — and has a trick for navigating all of them. In fact, he decided to open up a new branch of an old mortgage company in Chicago to do just that, and created a service-oriented, boutique lending experience in the city.

“I discuss my clients’ needs up front and tailor my solutions to fit that,” Ilich says of his quarter-century of experience building an all-referral client base. “I make sure my clients are in the best possible position for preapproval and finding their dream home.” Combining a detail-oriented approach with a fun-loving and approachable spirit, he is a regular President’s Club and Scotsman Guide feature and is among the top loan officers in the market. He also knows a thing or two about leadership and fighting through challenges — he was, after all, a 1994 Rose Bowl championship winner alongside his beloved University of Wisconsin football team.

Today, Ilich has traded grass stains and helmets for navigating a wild market and unprecedented demand. Licensed in most states and able to handle conventional, jumbo, government and construction loans, he carries on a legacy begun by his father, who was also a loan officer. After his father’s untimely passing, Ilich picked up the mission they both shared and marched on to a successful career. “I’m always available for my clients, just the way he was,” Ilich says. “My clients know once they work with me that my experience can’t be matched and that I will always have their best interests in mind.

“I am relentless in how I fight for my clients,” Ilich declares, “whether it means getting them the best possible rate or addressing challenges that can pop up during the approval process.”

An avid scuba diver working toward his Divemaster certification, as well as a musician in a local band, Ilich has creative outlets that all funnel back into his main driver: Working hard for his clients.