Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim

In this episode of Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim, Briana Hildt, CEO and Founder of Cardinal Capital Group, joins the show to share her remarkable journey in private lending. From starting in asset management to becoming one of Massachusetts’ leading private lenders, Briana discusses how she transitioned from a loan broker to launching and scaling her own lending business. She provides insight into the challenges of breaking into the Northeast market, the importance of relationship-driven lending, and how strategic decision-making fueled Cardinal Capital’s success. Briana’s story highlights resilience, the power of strong partnerships, and a commitment to executing with integrity—valuable lessons for both emerging and established lenders.
Briana Hildt serves as the Founder and CEO of Cardinal Capital Group, a prominent female-owned private lending firm operating on a national scale. With a strong background in real estate lending, she has facilitated over $1Billion in business purpose loans. Under her guidance, CCG has emerged as the top private lender in Massachusetts, Briana’s native state. Her pioneering approach and unwavering commitment to excellence have positioned her as a formidable leader in the industry. She emphasizes the core values of Adaptability, Devotion, and Integrity in steering the company toward success.

In this episode of Lender Lounge, Kevin Kim interviews Daniel Guimont, CEO of Guimont Capital, and Kirsten Lundell Koester, the company’s Chief Legal Officer, at their Bellevue office. Daniel and Kirsten share Guimont Capital’s journey from its roots as Las Vegas Loans to becoming a diversified lender focused on high-value, diverse projects across the U.S., from real estate to business acquisitions. They discuss the company’s hands-on approach, unique underwriting process, and commitment to borrower relationships, emphasizing both operational experience and the human element in lending. Daniel reflects on lessons from his previous waste management venture, now applied to Guimont Capital’s approach, while Kirsten explains how her M&A background supports their current deal-making strategies.
This episode offers insights into balancing growth with careful underwriting, maintaining client relationships, and defining long-term goals in the private lending market.

Kevin Kim hosts a live episode of Lender Lounge from the Captivate Conference at the Encore Hotel in Las Vegas. Joining him are industry veterans Evan Stone, CEO of Champions Funding and Chairman of Community Savings, Dustin Wells, President of Dominion Financial Services Wholesale, and Dave Orloff, CEO of American Heritage Lending. This discussion explores the evolving landscape of private lending, particularly the intersections of consumer and business-purpose lending. The panelists dive into their experiences transitioning from consumer to business-purpose lending, the distinct challenges of each, and the nuances of RTL and DSCR products. The conversation also highlights the importance of understanding credit risk, borrower psychology, and the growing role of brokers in non-agency lending. The episode provides valuable insights into market trends, capital strategies, and the future of private lending in a rapidly changing economic environment.

In this episode of Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim, Mike Hoffman, CEO and President of Longhorn Investments, joins Kevin to share his journey into private lending and the growth of Longhorn Investments. Starting from a background in law with no real estate experience, Mike stumbled into the world of hard money lending during the 2008 financial crisis. He shares the origins of Longhorn Investments, its expansion beyond Texas, and the unique challenges of building a successful private lending business. Mike also discusses how the company adapted to market changes, including the decision to start a fund and the impact of institutional competition on their strategy. The conversation dives into the nuances of operating in multiple states, the challenges of raising capital, and the importance of maintaining a solid relationship with investors. Tune in to hear Mike’s insights on navigating the evolving private lending landscape, maintaining discipline, and his perspective on future opportunities.

In this episode of Lender Lounge, Kevin Kim welcomes back Ben Fertig. Ben is the President of Constructive Capital, the leading national capital provider for DSCR Rental Loans and Residential Transitional Loans (RTL or Fix and Flip Loans). Prior to Constructive, Ben led Credit and Asset Management at Finance of America Commercial; and, before that, he served as Chief Operator Officer of Jordan Capital Finance, where he managed originations, credit policy, and capital markets. Ben was instrumental in the sale of the Jordan Capital Finance platform to Blackstone and Finance of America in 2017. Ben began his Mortgage Banking career over 25 years ago and has served in a Senior Leadership role in the Residential Investor Loan Market since 2012.

Ben delves into the rapid growth of Constructive, highlighting the company’s journey from its inception in 2017 to becoming a nine-figure monthly producer. The discussion covers key milestones, strategies for risk management, the importance of capital diversification, and how Constructive navigated the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent market volatility. Ben also shares insights on leadership, the impact of economic cycles on the lending industry, and the increasing importance of managing fraud and maintaining solid client relationships in today’s market.

John Beacham, CEO of Toorak Capital Partners, joins Kevin Kim for a special episode of Lender Lounge, produced in collaboration with the American Association of Private Lenders. John shares his extensive journey in the finance industry, detailing his transition from investment banking to leading one of the most recognized firms in the private lending sector. The discussion covers the evolution of real estate finance, the impact of market crises, and the strategic maneuvers that have shaped Toorak’s success. John is an experienced entrepreneur who has completed more than $50 billion in transactions over his 25-year career and has structured CMBS or financings that were honored with multiple “Deal of the Year” awards. Prior to Toorak, Mr. Beacham was the founder and President of B2R Finance, the leading mortgage origination company focused on the single-family rental (SFR) and residential bridge loan markets. B2R Finance (now Finance of America Commercial) is a Blackstone portfolio company. Before founding B2R SFR platform, Mr. Beacham originated large balance commercial real estate loans in the CMBS group at Deutsche Bank and worked in the financial institution’s investment banking groups at Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse First Boston.

In this concluding episode of Season 4, Kevin Kim reflects on the insights gained from our guests and addresses common questions from our listeners, particularly those new to private lending. Kevin discusses licensing for private lenders, emphasizing the variation in requirements across states and the importance of compliance and understanding securities laws, even when raising funds from family and friends. He also explores the challenges and opportunities of raising capital from international investors and the intricacies of fractionalized loans. He shares his observations on the entrepreneurial spirit, discipline, and focus he witnessed in interviews throughout the season. Kevin highlights the importance of adding value to the marketplace, creating a strong team culture, and maintaining financial discipline to ensure the longevity and success of your private lending business.

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.