Kyle Perks remembers feeling angry while working for a nonprofit that helped homeowners negotiate with lenders who were attempting foreclosures on them. “I saw firsthand the lack of service people were experiencing from lenders and strove to change that,” he says. A branch sales manager with Nations Lending Inc., Perks believes in treating people the way he would want to be treated. “It’s an ongoing relationship towards personal betterment and wealth formation, not a transaction,” he says.

Living in Logan Square for over 10 years, Perks tries to mirror the community’s values by being straightforward and honest with his clients to make a complicated process simpler. Specializing in coaching and strategic partnerships, he marked the past year by giving back and watching professionals around him grow. He started a coaching venture with his wife, an executive coach, and also opened the Chicago branch of Nations Lending Inc., with his business partner. “I never thought that when I became a loan officer a decade ago that my primary job would be video content creation automation and coaching but here I am,” Perks says. “It’s important to invest in these areas and consolidate with other professionals who use tools like ChatGPT to create more meaningful and authentic relationships.”

Known for helping first-time buyers and investors build their real estate portfolios, he was named a top 1% lender nationwide by Mortgage Executive Magazine in 2020-21. “My team at Nations Lending has a unique value proposition for managing brokers, agents and loan officers alike,” he says. “We are open for business.”

When not working with preapprovals, Perks enjoys learning, raising his 2–year-old with his wife and listening to music. “Family has given me balance and made me better, making me more efficient, as I used to bounce around like a pinball,” he admits. “I relish this time in my life; practicing the art of putting others before myself.”