Marc Evan Rovner is a title insurance attorney and the General Counsel and Director of Business Development at Beta Abstract LLC, a multi-state title company operating across New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Connecticut. Over more than 38 years in real estate law, he’s guided nearly 18,000 closings and built a practice almost entirely on referrals, including clients whose closings he’s now handled across three generations of the same family. One of his partners nicknamed him “the fixer,” a nod to Winston Wolf from Pulp Fiction, for his role in solving problems that come up at the closing table. A lifelong sports fan, Marc is about to join his 25-year-old son’s baseball team this January, where he’ll be the oldest player on the roster by roughly two decades, a fitting extension of the team-first mentality he brings to running Beta Abstract.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I start each weekday with stretching, fitness, shower and then on to the office in Garden City. The first step at work is to review the closing calendar across our 4 states. This prepares me for the immediacy of each upcoming transaction. I am usually the 1st one in the office. The workday presents new exciting challenges and I make it productive with a calm approach to each transaction, making sure every client feels their closing is the most important because it is. I am counted on to be the last line of defense making sure every transaction is clear to close. There is a final review I perform followed by a post closing review. I pride myself on replying to every email, message and call received by the end of day. I use the car ride home to unwind, listening to music. My typical work day is about 8am-6pm. Plenty of business development meetings interspersed throughout the day as well. Try to eat a healthy dinner, spend time with family sans phones, and go for a walk or run after to complete a full typical day.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Lots of reading, thought and communication. In the office Adam Kitzen Esq. and I like to brainstorm ideas together behind closed doors and engage in what we call “Friendly Fire”. This is a calm back and forth to keep things fresh, current and making sure the clients are at the forefront of all our suggestions. I pride myself on staying ahead of the curve, taking calculated steps to advance the best interests of the firm and the clients with a comprehensive knowledge of my niche speciality in the practice of law.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The shift back towards in person transactions. Zoom closings, virtual meetings and docusign had been the trend since COVID but the lack of interpersonal contact was a detriment in my opinion. There has been a seismic shift back to the closings being in person as opposed to virtual and that has been excellent.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Making sure no matter what, I get 10000 steps a day minimum.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Quiet is better. Keep your personal life and business affairs private.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
Society should do away with working from home as much as possible.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
No cell phones at the dinner table anywhere, home or out at a restaurant.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Music is always a key. Use relaxation strategies that have helped me when feeling overwhelmed. Deep breathing, noise cancelling headphones with calm music I enjoy in mellow genres and talking to my most trusted loved ones. When feeling unfocused, noise cancelling headphones and go to motivating music ranging from Rocky theme song to The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Responding the same day to every inquiry, call, text and email. Communication with full transparency and honesty is the key. Clients need to know the absolute truth and will appreciate it even if it isn’t the answer they are looking for.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I lost a client over an issue that had nothing to do with law, insurance or business. I was overzealous and should have realized that I was overstepping by giving my opinion unnecessarily. I overcame it by learning from my mistake and making sure I kept business and personal separate. Keep sensitive issues out of the realm of discussion at work.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Start up business focusing on helping/educating 1st -time homebuyers. Most are lost, don’t understand what is going on, have no idea about mortgage rates, the documents they are signing and are too reliant on their realtor who actually works for the seller!
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
The BETA Abstract cloud. I use it everyday to log into all our systems, organize all pertinent information from title reports, recorded documents, spreadsheets and transactions in real time on our calendar.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
Signing up to play in a baseball tournament with my son in a 25 year old and up division. I believe experiences with loved ones are the greatest joys in life and thinking about being his teammate at age 63 is beyond exciting to me.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Book: Ice Capades by Sean Avery. He wore my number 16 for my favorite team the New York Rangers and he is so honest and transparent throughout the book. I loved it.
Podcast: The Rovner Report on the Mic’d Up platform. It’s my son AJ’s show on a major platform about New York sports and it gives me so much pride as a parent to listen. I also genuinely love the podcast.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
Shoresy on HULU. I love hockey and I love to laugh. The show is both hilarious and heartwarming. 5 seasons, each episode 20-30 minutes.
Key learnings
- Responsiveness and transparency build lasting relationships. I’ve built my career around responding to every call, email and message the same day and being completely honest with clients, even when the answer isn’t what they want to hear.
- I put the client at the center of every decision. I approach each transaction as if it’s the most important one because, to that client, it is. That mindset guides everything from how I review closings to how we brainstorm new ideas for the business.
- I’ve learned the importance of keeping business and personal matters separate. Losing a client after offering an opinion outside the scope of business taught me a valuable lesson about discretion, privacy and knowing when to stay quiet.
- Personal relationships still matter. I value the return to face-to-face meetings and closings because I believe personal interaction builds a level of trust and connection that’s difficult to replicate virtually.
- Consistency in my personal life helps me perform professionally. Staying active, getting at least 10,000 steps a day, spending phone-free time with family and using music to reset all help me stay focused and balanced.