DC’s Mortgage Origin Story Part 2: From Belief to Breakthrough
Summit Lending
Published on December 26, 2025
DC’s Mortgage Origin Story Part 2: From Belief to Breakthrough
DC's Mortgage Origin Story Part 2: From Belief to Breakthrough
📍 "And that was game changing, like story over."
That was the moment the belief to breakthrough shift happened. The path wasn't just clear - it was magnetic.
When I first got into the mortgage business, I absolutely loved it. That passion translated immediately - I became a top producer, fast. It wasn't about the numbers. It was about knowing that I could actually help people change their lives through homeownership.
But like many of you know, growth rarely follows a straight line.
🚶♂️➡️⛰️ Building Something Bigger in Kansas City
After getting my start, I moved on to a small mortgage bank here in Kansas City. What started small turned into a massive operation. We scaled fast, and I was lucky enough to be a big part of that growth. But with growth comes decisions - and life threw a few my way.
"DC's mortgage origin story isn’t just about lending - it's about legacy. And here's the truth: Sometimes the best blessings in life don't look like blessings when they show up. Sometimes they show up as hard decisions. Forced change. Unknown outcomes. But looking back, those moments were pivotal.
💍 Life's Real Win: My Family
Somewhere in the middle of the chaos and scaling and leadership roles, I hit a personal home run - I found my wife, Liz.
She's the glue. The believer. The force behind everything I've built. In June 2019, we made the decision to walk away from everything we had helped build. We had branches all across the country, systems, teams… and we left it all.
Why? Because it was time. It was the right move.
I told Liz we were going to start our own brokerage. And she looked at me like I was crazy. But she backed me. 100%. Always has.
"She's my absolute biggest cheerleader. She believed in me when nobody else did."
So we broke off. There were five of us. Just five.
And out of those five? Only one person truly believed in me. That was Liz.
We started Summit Lending with zero guarantees, just conviction and vision. And now? Fast forward…
🏆 From Underdog to National Broker of the Year
Today, Summit Lending is one of the top mortgage brokerages in the U.S. And just recently - yeah, this part’s wild - we were honored as National Broker of the Year.
Oh, and the award? It's heavy. Like literally. It's marble. That thing's got weight. 😂
But more than that, it symbolizes what's possible when you stay true to your mission. Because this isn’t about me having straight A's (spoiler alert: I didn't). In fact, I barely scraped by in high school and college. C's, D's, and a couple of "mercy passes" because I was a decent kid who played baseball.
So no - this isn't about perfect resumes. It's about relentless drive, honesty, and putting others first.
🔥 The Real Shift: Make It About Others
Here's what changed everything:
"The minute you make it about others and not yourself, that's when the magic happens."
It took me a while to fully understand that. But now, it drives everything we do - from how we treat our mortgage clients to how we lead our loan officers.
We're not perfect. But we're honest. And in today's world? That's rare.
We believe in transparency. We believe in showing up, telling the truth, and doing the right thing - even when nobody's watching.
💪 Nonstop Fire. Zero Quit.
I don't stop. I won't stop. I have a healthy fear of being broke and a deeper hunger to build something meaningful.
That fire doesn't just come from a rough upbringing or past struggles - it comes from understanding that nobody sees the 99% of the grind. The early mornings. The sacrifices. The doubts. The isolation.
And you know what? Not everyone's going to clap for you. That can include friends. Even family.
That's okay.
📈 Just Getting Started
Yes, we've had success. But I genuinely believe: We're just getting started.
I'm showing up every day to be the best version of myself - not just as a mortgage broker, but as a father, a husband, a friend, and a leader.
And more than anything, I want to show others - especially loan officers - that there's a better way to do this business.
We're not just helping clients. We're mentoring a generation of LOs to think differently, act boldly, and get paid what they're worth.
🎵 Staying Humble. Staying Kind.
There's a Tim McGraw song that hits me every time. It's called "Humble and Kind."
I probably listen to it once a day.
There's a line that says:
"When you get where you're goin', don't forget to turn back around and help the next one in line."
That's where I'm at.
I'm here to build, sure. But more importantly, I'm here to help. To turn around and bring others with me. That's the real win.
✍️ From C - English to Published Author
Funny twist? We published a book this past summer. Not bad for a guy who scored a C-minus and D-plus in English. I'm almost certain I passed because I was a decent kid who played ball.
So if you're sitting there thinking, "Man, I'm not the smartest" or "I've messed up too much" - I've been there.
🧭 Final Thought: Clarity & Heart Over Everything
"If you have the clarity - and you have the heart - nothing can stop you."
You'll hit bumps. You'll have doubters. You'll feel alone. But if you stay locked in, if you stay focused on others, and if you refuse to quit?
You'll win.
And if you're not winning yet?
You're just getting started.
🏆 This moment made it all real.
The climb continues… Stay tuned.
DC Copeland, honored as National Broker of the Year at the 2025 Hall of AIME
Because every origin story deserves a trilogy. 🛸 🚀 🌠
