Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim

Beth O’Brien, a dynamic leader and innovator in the private lending industry, joins Kevin Kim on this episode of Lender Lounge. With her rich background in law, real estate, and securitization, Beth currently spearheads Encore Finance Capital. Her journey encompasses an impressive trajectory from working at renowned institutions like Goldman Sachs and Citi to pioneering her own private lending ventures. Beth’s strategic insight and deep understanding of the residential and commercial real estate sectors empower her vision at Encore. This conversation expands on the nuances of private lending, the challenges of market volatility, and the evolution of securitization in private lending.

In this episode, Kevin Kim and co-host Nema Daghbandan have the pleasure of sitting with Adham Sbeih, CEO of Socotra Capital. With a team of 33 and roughly $500 million in capital distributed across four funds, Socotra Capital has a fluid and dynamic approach to commercial real estate lending. Adham shares his compelling journey, ignited when a bank denied permanent financing for a client’s project, and discusses how he has nurtured an inspiring team culture that defies industry standards. Adham joined Five Star Bank in 2003 as a business development officer and then later FCI Commercial Capital as a commercial real estate lender. The creation of Socotra Capital, however, began in 2007 in anticipation of the credit crunch.

Kevin and Nema dive into Adham’s “all world” roots and learn more about his diverse background and interest ranging from cycling to Toastmasters. In this episode, Adham discusses his distinct business methodologies, the intricacies of strategizing for a company’s future, and an unexpected pastime that led him to train security dogs.

In this episode, Kevin Kim engages in a dynamic conversation with Matt Podesto and Brock VandenBerg, two successful private lenders who have taken the leap into fund management. From the early days of local hard money lending to the influx of institutional capital and white label programs, our guests provide valuable insights into the changing landscape and how it has affected the present. They emphasize the importance of proper underwriting and servicing while cautioning against entering new transactions without sufficient knowledge. Matt and Brock also share their invaluable personal experiences, mistakes made, and lessons learned, offering an inside look into their journeys. They dive into the challenges of scaling a lending business, the significance of segmenting functions, the importance of choosing the right partners, and the need for good service and ethical lending practices in the industry. Get ready to dive deep in this captivating episode of Lender Lounge.

The leadership at Geraci LLP collectively has decades upon decades of private lending industry experience. For this episode, Kevin asked Geraci’s seasoned professionals to offer their foresight into the private lending industry for 2024 – what does the industry need to know as we head into the new year?

Kevin and the Geraci team explore anticipated economic trends, such as preparing for potential litigation challenges and strategizing for effective hiring in the evolving market landscape. They also delve into innovative lending practices tailored for the year ahead, emphasizing the necessity of rigorous risk management, stringent compliance protocols, and more.

For this episode, our host Kevin Kim welcomes industry experts Erica LaCentra and Rocky Butani for a deep dive into the nuanced world of private lending marketing. They highlight the importance of industry conferences and share insights on how emerging companies and entrepreneurs can smartly use marketing to stand out in a crowded field. With a focus on the power of content marketing, targeted email campaigns, and maintaining transparent communication in challenging times, Erica and Rocky offer strategic tips for building brand recognition, nurturing relationships, and succeeding at industry conferences. Settle in as these industry-known marketing experts delve into the practical and technological facets of marketing within the private lending sector.

Ray Mathoda is a seasoned CEO, social entrepreneur, and passionate visionary who now leads the charge at Anchor Loans, a lending giant with more than $13 billion in loans funded to date. Her upbringing in India, passion for genomics, identity as a member of the Desi LGBTQ+ community, and vast professional experience all give her a unique perspective on the real estate lending market. With a glance into the challenges of urban housing projects and the real estate investment landscape, this discussion sheds light on Ray’s multidimensional approach to lending and social entrepreneurship. You’ll find how her distinctive blend of passion, expertise, and empathy impacts Anchor Loans and all who cross paths with her.

William J. Tessar is one of private lending’s most successful and inspiring leaders. From founding four companies in the conventional space to spearheading the remarkable success of Civic Financial Services, his journey offers invaluable insights to those new or veteran in private mortgage lending. Today, at the helm of CV3, Bill is recreating the magic that existed in each of his previous companies.

Kevin had the pleasure of traveling to CV3 headquarters in El Segundo, CA, to check out the new space and interview Bill. Throughout the conversation, it became clear that Bill puts his team’s success (personal and professional) and happiness first – a concept that too often comes secondary to many businesses – and dives deep with us to get to the core of the fervent loyalty of his employees. They also discuss the complexities of the private lending industry, the effects of regulatory interventions on banks, and more. This is a truly special episode with an extraordinary leader, so dive in now – the Lender Lounge awaits you!

Step into the Lender Lounge as Kevin Kim leads a conversation between two of the private lending industry’s best: Kevin Werner, CEO of Renovo Financial, and Greg Hebner, Managing Director at Arixa Capital. From building a reputation for their companies as desirable workplaces to the intricacies of hiring top-notch talent and truly understanding client needs, these leaders delve into the core elements that define success for their companies. They offer valuable lessons on fostering a positive work environment, attracting and retaining employees, and ultimately using these tools to become a leader in the space. It’s a dialogue filled with insights that translate to practical strategies for growth and excellence and is a rare opportunity to gain a behind-the-scenes view of what makes these lending giants thrive.

Join Arvind Mohan, CEO of Kiavi (formerly LendingHome), as he peels back the curtain for a glimpse into the lending giant and delves into the industry. Discover Kiavi’s ambitious plans for rehab projects and urban construction, their dedication to data-driven customer service, and their strategies for building a stronger lending portfolio. Hear from Arvind on the broader, ever-changing lending landscape, from the challenges posed by the Federal Reserve’s unpredictability to the importance of technology in enhancing the customer experience. This episode wraps up by exploring issues such as pricing capital markets and housing affordability. Don’t miss this captivating conversation with Arvind Mohan, a true lending industry titan, on Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim.

In the season 3 finale of Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim, Kevin interviewed Ben Fertig, the President and Co-Founder of Constructive Capital – a leading name in the private lending space and a reputable provider of DSCR loans. Ben shared about the genesis of Constructive and delved into his unique perspective on the private lending industry. With the current market experiencing significant volatility, Ben also provided valuable insights on how Constructive has managed to navigate and thrive in such turbulent times.