Andrew Russell
Owner of RCG Mortgage
What if the key to building a top-ranked mortgage company wasn’t finance—but psychology?
Meet Andrew Russell, a former guidance counselor and football coach who transformed his deep understanding of human behavior into a mortgage empire. With a master’s in psychology and zero background in finance, Andrew entered the mortgage industry during the 2008 financial crisis—a moment when others were running for the hills.
But instead of spreadsheets, Andrew led with empathy. And that changed everything.
In 2017, he founded RCG Mortgage on Long Island with just two team members. Today? It’s the #1 mortgage broker in New York and ranked #11 nationwide. But the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Andrew built a company around people—clients, realtors, and employees—with a culture rooted in service, transparency, and human connection.
His background in counseling still fuels his leadership style. His insight into fear, stress, and life’s big decisions makes him a trusted guide in one of the most stressful transactions people face: buying a home.
Andrew’s story isn’t about selling loans. It’s about redefining leadership, scaling trust, and turning a very human skill set into an unexpected superpower in business.
This is a story about reinvention, emotional intelligence, and building a business where people come first—and the numbers follow.