For many seasoned mortgage professionals, the transition from a rigid banking environment to the independent broker world can feel daunting. But for Percy Ihara, a 37-year industry veteran and Hawaii’s leading authority on reverse mortgages, the leap to C2 Hawaii has been nothing short of a “whirlwind of new thinking”.
After just three months at C2 Hawaii, Percy’s story is a powerful blueprint for loan officers (LOs) looking to reclaim their independence, grow their personal brand, and dominate their niche in a market increasingly driven by AI and digital discovery.
A Change in Mindset: Becoming the CEO of Your Own Business
For decades, Percy operated as a mortgage banker, working within the constraints of a single institution’s guidelines. Joining C2 Hawaii sparked an immediate shift in his mindset.
“Being here for just the past three months has been a change in mindset… where I am my own boss and my own entity to grow my business and brand.” — Percy Ihara
At C2 Hawaii, LOs aren’t employees; they are independent entities supported by an elite platform. This freedom allows specialists like Percy to compete at a higher level by managing their own marketing and online presence—skills that are no longer optional in 2026.
The Power of the National Reverse Mortgage Leader
Percy has utilized his extensive experience in the reverse mortgage space to separate himself from the competition. When he discusses “why C2 Reverse,” the conversation often becomes a “done deal.”
- National Presence: C2 Financial is the largest reverse mortgage brokerage in the nation.
- Elite Expertise: Access to the most knowledgeable professionals in the industry ensures that complex senior financing is handled with unparalleled precision.
- Product Flexibility: Unlike banks limited to one set of programs, C2 Hawaii provides access to over 100 wholesale lenders, allowing LOs to find solutions for senior homeowners that simply don’t exist in the retail banking world.
Mastering the Digital Landscape: The “Joe Schmitz” Factor
A major part of Percy’s rapid success has been his focus on online visibility. Under the mentorship of local digital expert and C2 Hawaii Branch Manager Joe Schmitz, Percy learned more about social media and SEO in two months than in the previous 20 years.
- Search Engine Dominance: C2 Hawaii consistently ranks at the top of search and AI-driven discovery platforms for mortgage-related queries in the islands.
- AI-Optimized Personal Pages: Every LO at C2 Hawaii receives a dedicated, AI-optimized webpage designed to attract local and niche leads 24/7.
- Video-First Education: Percy’s own site, HawaiiReverseMortgages.com has grown into a premier resource, using video to explain complex programs in a way that is truly beneficial to Hawaii’s seniors and their families.
Why Join the Whirlwind?
Percy’s journey proves that even the most established professionals can find new levels of success by embracing the broker channel.
If you are a loan officer tired of losing deals to rigid overlays or an invisible online presence, it’s time to look at what C2 Hawaii offers:
- Pay Less, Get More: Aggressive compensation structures (including 130 bps average) that reward your hard work.
- Modern Tech Stack: Full access to the web-based Arive LOS, simplifying the entire mortgage process.
- Elite Processing: A dedicated team focused on seamless transactions so you can focus on growth.
Don’t just keep up with the market—lead it. Join C2 Hawaii today and start your own success story.
