Carrie Cook is a leading figure in the male-dominated real estate and investment lending industries, serving as CEO of Preferred Trust Company and President of Ignite Funding. Known for her transparency and authentic leadership, she emphasizes the importance of accountability and proactive problem-solving while advocating for sustainable growth and teamwork. Looking ahead, Carrie aims to grow Ignite Funding by introducing a real estate fund and expanding Preferred Trust's relationships with small to midsize businesses.

1. Carrie Cook: Breaking the Glass Ceiling
and Conquering Success in a Male-
dominated Industry
In this edition of Tycoon Success Magazine, we have featured the
story of Carrie Cook, a real estate marvel and investment lending expert.
Cook holds two consecutive executive-level roles: CEO of Preferred
Trust Company and President of Ignite Funding.
Carrie has over 18 years of real estate expertise, specializing in private
lending. She also holds a mortgage broker license from the Arizona
Department of Financial Institutions and the Nevada Mortgage Lending
Division, as well as a Retail Trust Company license from the Nevada
Financial Institutions Division.
Carrie embarked on her inspirational journey at Ignite Funding after the
real estate crash. She joined the company as president when nobody
believed the company could survive. While most were running from the
fire, Carrie put on the necessary protective armor and ran into the
burning building and rebuilt the company from scratch.
With her proven abilities and remarkable skills, she later joined
Preferred Trust as the CEO and rebuilt it. Working at Preferred Trust
broadened her knowledge of custodial services, IRS guidelines, and
banking regulations.
Carrie's Distinctive Approach to Maintaining Transparency
Carrie sees transparency as a chance to allocate resources wisely, create
increased value for customers and communities, and ensure the
companies' long-term success. She believes that certain principles
universally enhance transparency in business, whether you're a small
business owner or part of a large corporation.

2. Carrie also believes authenticity is crucial. Adding unnecessary
embellishments to transparency efforts can distract from the main
message or even cause harm. Instead, it's vital to demonstrate expertise
and authenticity both as a company and as individuals. Rather than
relying on generic imagery or paid referrals, providing insight into the
people behind the business helps build trust.
Carrie stresses the importance of disclosing relevant information to those
affected. Keeping essential details limited to a "need-to-know" basis can
harm reputations when they inevitably become public knowledge.
Furthermore, Carrie advises taking prompt action when issues arise.
Addressing problems proactively often demonstrates accountability and
helps maintain trust with stakeholders, preventing the spread of negative
assumptions.
An Overlay of the Companies
Carrie believes outsourcing is nothing but a shortcut. It's easy for anyone
to act as a broker and walk away once a deal is funded. It's important to
stay engaged, service the loan, stand behind the underwriting, and take
responsibility for collecting assets if the borrower faces difficulties.
This is where Ignite Funding's philosophy differs from that of other
mortgage brokers. It believes in long-term sustainability, which means
saying yes to these questions and rolling up its sleeves to deliver top-
quality investments to its investors. To ensure high quality, Ignite
Funding controls the entire process internally, keeping a close eye on all
aspects of its offerings.
When clients invest, they stay with the team throughout their investment
journey. This builds integrity, confidence, and trust in clients, which sets
the company apart in the industry.
On the other hand, Preferred Trust stands out in the custodial industry
primarily because it maintains all its services in-house. It provides

3. guidance to small—to mid-size businesses and resources for promoting
the concept of tax-deferred or tax-free investment income. Preferred
Trust's marketing team and IRA experts serve as an extension of
resources to its company partners.
The Recipe for Success
Carrie firmly believes that growth and sustainability come from the
people with whom one surrounds oneself. Street and book smarts are
crucial for guiding a company's future. A leader needs to lead people to
believe that nothing is impossible.
Carrie's exceptional leadership inspires a culture of curiosity among her
team. She advises leaders to challenge themselves by venturing into
unfamiliar territory and taking action to address challenges as they arise.
Furthermore, she encourages them to delegate responsibilities and make
space for strategic growth.
Leading in this manner fosters trust and loyalty among team members,
who witness tangible results and get motivated to follow, regardless of
circumstances. This approach cultivates a robust management team and
empowers employees to excel, as they are held to high expectations.
However, Carrie never dreamed of being "the boss." She adores her
team atmosphere, which enables her to achieve things that others would
consider impossible.
"I believe this is my true talent. I never sit still. I am always looking for
the next advancement. The “there is always more to accomplish” motto
makes superstars. Some would say that I am never satisfied, and they
are correct because no one should settle for good. It is not worth my
time if it is not better than a four-letter word. Make it a five-letter word
or more extensive, and I will be in,"- she explains.
Leveraging Technological Advancements

4. Carrie firmly believes that technology should always be built with a
user's needs in mind. First, one must establish how users in and outside
the organization will communicate with the system. Internal user
interaction is essential because it determines how productive a user will
be in accomplishing tasks and their overall job experience.
If the system doesn't meet expectations, it affects employee satisfaction.
While 90% of users may be content with basic functionality, the
feedback from the remaining 10% seeking improvements is invaluable.
Paying attention to this feedback through surveys allows for continual
improvement of the user experience.
Carrie also feels it's necessary to be ready to have platform management
forever. The good part about platform management is that you can keep
improving and changing adaptability and growth. When banks halted
lending on construction loans, Carrie and her team swiftly adjusted their
system to accommodate construction loans with a draw-down strategy
and took over bank loans that were not being financed. Such agility is
rare among lenders.
The success and flexibility of a corporation in the face of market change
depends on its technological infrastructure.
Leaving a Legacy Behind...
As a woman business leader, Carrie still faces stigma and fights daily to
make her voice heard in male-dominated industries. Some might even
say that Carrie's courage and determination rival that of any man. She
sincerely hopes that women won't hesitate to pursue leadership roles in
industries typically dominated by men. It's time for them to step
forward, demonstrate their strength and confidence, and show they are
just as capable as anyone else.
Future Prospects

5. Carrie's primary focus is on driving Ignite Funding's growth by
introducing a real estate fund. This move aims to expand the company's
presence in states where multi beneficiary lending is regulated as a
security product. The challenge lies in integrating this new product while
maintaining the core operation of offering collateralized real estate
investments.
She is also excited to expand Preferred Trust's footprint in B2B
relationships and educate small—to midsize businesses about raising
capital through retirement accounts.