June 2026
Phase 1Starting the Journey
Today marks the beginning of a new chapter. I've decided to pursue my mortgage agent license in Ontario. After years of building software, diving into cybersecurity, and exploring technology, I'm adding financial services to my toolkit.
Why mortgages? Because helping people navigate one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives — buying a home — is meaningful work. And I believe the industry needs people who understand both the financial side and the technology side.
My first step: understanding the landscape. Ontario mortgage agents are regulated by FSRA (Financial Services Regulatory Authority). I need to complete an approved educational course and pass the licensing exam.
Milestones
- Decided to pursue mortgage agent license
- Researched FSRA requirements
- Built amortization calculator as a learning exercise
- Started studying mortgage fundamentals
Building the amortization calculator forced me to deeply understand how Canadian mortgages work — semi-annual compounding, the difference between amortization and term, how accelerated payments save you interest. Theory becomes real when you code it.