“I grew up in Windsor, Ontario in a modest household until my father received his Canadian work designation in accounting,” says the married mother of two elementary-age children. “At the age of 10, my father set me up with my first bank account.”
That fuelled her interest in the world of finance. After high school, Lien attended Simon Fraser University, where in 2009 she earned her Bachelor of Economics and Political Science. While in university, she worked part time at TD Bank, starting off as a customer service representative. Within two years, Lien was promoted to financial advisor.
“After graduating, I was planning on going into an investment role. Unfortunately the market crashed during the financial crisis,” says Lien. “I happen to excel in lending and mortgages, so I shifted gears into being a mortgage specialist for the bank. After a few years, I got my license in 2013 and became an independent mortgage broker.”
After getting her license, Lien spent nearly nine years working at Verico Paragon. In 2019, she was invited to join the newly-formed boutique firm Peak Mortgage Company. However, the pandemic hit so it wasn’t until 2022 that Lien was hired as a senior broker at Peak Mortgage Company.
“I often mentored other junior brokers and underwriters,” says Lien. “I am also the company’s marketing manager and oversee promotional marketing, advertising and social media.”
Lien has a real personal take on real estate; one that has been honed over the years. For the savvy businesswoman, real estate is much more than about buying and selling properties, it’s about creating homes, fostering communities, and growth and development of neighbourhoods. Buying a home is one of the most pivotal moments in most people’s lives and that is something she doesn’t take lightly.
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Having bought and sold multiple properties as primary residence and investments, I’ve been through the emotions of falling in love with homes and neighbourhoods.
Kathy Lien
Out of office.
When not working hard to secure mortgages for her clients or assisting them in growing their investment portfolios, Lien likens herself to a “mom/maid/chauffeur” to her children, both of which take part in “never-ending school and extra-circular activities”. On her off-time, Lien and her family take great advantage of Vancouver’s many gifts.
“As a family, we love to travel and be outdoors, whether it's hiking, golfing, camping and exploring BC’s beautiful landscapes, attending outdoor festivals and events,” says Lien.
She is equally passionate about philanthropy and charitable work. “I just completed the RBC Race for the Kids and our team raised over $3,500 for BC Children's Hospital,” says Lien. “I've also volunteered and donated to YWCA Metro Vancouver and ISSofBC to help the vulnerable members in our society.”
There is one more cause that’s close to Lien’s heart – cancer. With family members affected by this often devastating disease, Lien has raised awareness of cancer charities and volunteered at the BC Cancer Agency for over two years.
Although Lien works all over the province, she mainly focuses on Vancouver – a city she calls home.
“I love being around nature and Vancouver's natural beauty. We're an urban city but with a small-town feel,” Lien says. “ Since there is a lot of cultural diversity, we have amazing cuisines and I love trying new food from different cultures.”
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