by Kevin Kim
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim is a podcast that gives an exclusive look beyond the title of private lending industry leaders. Kevin Kim, Esq. is a partner at Geraci LLP, an organization that has been serving private lenders for over 10 years. An experienced lending lawyer and engaging speaker, Kevin digs deep with his guests to discover what makes a successful company and leader in this industry. Learn their company stories, wisdom, and what makes these leaders tick through captivating interviews and engaging banter.
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🇺🇲
Publishing Since
11/17/2020
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1 available
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April 17, 2025
<p dir="ltr">Kendra Rommel, co-founder of Futures Financial, joins Geraci Partner Jen and Geraci Attorney Nichole for a special “She-Shed” takeover episode of Lender Lounge. Kendra shares her unconventional path from retail to mortgage lending, her early operations experience, and the strategic decisions behind launching Futures with her partner David Rosenberg. The conversation explores balancing personal life and business, building a resilient team, lessons in partnership, and the importance of remaining adaptable in an ever-changing private lending market. Kendra’s story reveals the grit, vulnerability, and mindset required to build a private lending business from the ground up.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Bullet Points:</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">[00:00:00] Kendra introduces Futures Financial and its lending focus.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:03:22] Her start in mortgage at 17 and transition from retail to lending.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:07:21] The story of meeting and partnering with David Rosenberg.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:12:37] Early challenges and scaling lessons from small shop lending.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:15:26] What sets Futures apart and its unique infrastructure approach.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:17:29] Hiring philosophy and how the team has grown intentionally.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:20:03] Marketing missteps and learning from early mistakes.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:22:02] How Futures adapts to market changes without losing identity.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:25:01] Kendra opens up about the emotional toll of launching a business.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:27:38] Building trust in a partnership and handling vulnerability.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:30:09] Balancing parenting, entrepreneurship, and personal time.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:33:25] Setting boundaries and time-blocking to stay present.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:35:42] Advice for clients: always have more than one lending option.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:39:43] How Futures remains transparent and client-focused.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:42:52] The role of active asset management in borrower retention.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:46:17] Moments of fulfillment and pride in Futures’ progress.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:50:55] How private lending reshaped her perspective on money.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:52:29] Vision for Futures: slow growth, strong capital, and tech projects.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:54:20] Where to find Kendra and connect with Futures Financial.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><br /> <strong>Links:</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><br /> Learn more about Futures Financial at <a href= "https://futuresfinancial.com/">https://futuresfinancial.com/</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Learn more about Geraci Law Firm at <a href= "https://www.geracilawfirm.com/">https://www.geracilawfirm.com</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Subscribe to the Lender Lounge newsletter for episode notifications and exclusive content at <a href= "https://www.geracilawfirm.com/lender-lounge-podcast">https://www.geracilawfirm.com/lender-lounge-podcast</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Subscribe to the Geraci Law Firm newsletter at <a href="https://www.geracilawfirm.com/sign-up">https://www.geracilawfirm.com/sign-up</a></p> <p><strong id= "docs-internal-guid-071ef035-7fff-37d3-ce90-aa60e732f103">Follow Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim on <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/lender-lounge-with-kevin-kim/">LinkedIn</a> and <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/@lenderloungewithkevinkim">YouTube</a></strong></p>
March 11, 2025
<p dir="ltr">Kevin Kim hosts a special episode of Lender Lounge on location at Renovo Financial’s Top Gun Event in Los Angeles. Joined by Paul Shaughnessy, a top originator at Renovo, and Kevin Werner, CEO of Renovo Financial, the discussion delves into Renovo's culture of employee investment, relationship-driven lending, and long-term growth strategy. The guests highlight Renovo’s commitment to local market expertise, continuous learning, and a high-performance team culture that drives their success. Insights into client relationships, the importance of local market presence, and future ambitions for Renovo make this a compelling episode.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Bullet Points:</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">[00:00:00] Introduction to the Lender Lounge podcast with Kevin Kim.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:00:48] Kevin Kim on location at Renovo Financial’s Top Gun Event in Los Angeles.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:01:19] Paul Shaughnessy introduces himself as an originator at Renovo Financial.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:01:35] Kevin Werner introduces Renovo's annual Top Gun Event for top performers.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:02:03] Criteria for Renovo’s Top Gun: Originators must close $50 million annually.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:03:01] Discussion on Renovo's culture of investing in employee happiness and growth.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:04:21] Renovo’s focus on continuous learning and development for the team.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:06:38] Challenges of expanding into new markets and attracting top talent.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:08:31] Renovo’s approach to lending only in markets where they have a local presence.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:09:40] Paul Shaughnessy on building Renovo’s presence in Massachusetts.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:12:31] Importance of understanding clients' business goals and challenges.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:14:27] Relationship-driven lending versus rate-driven competition.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:16:18] Balancing competitive product offerings with strong client relationships.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:18:23] Long-term perspective in lending and the value of borrower loyalty.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:24:14] The consultative approach to client relationships at Renovo.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:28:13] Navigating competition from legacy hard money lenders.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:31:04] The importance of character assessment in borrower qualification.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:33:21] Renovo’s diversified product offerings in the Massachusetts market.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:38:01] Expansion plans for Renovo in California with a focus on local leadership.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:41:06] Renovo’s internal culture-building through events like Renovo Palooza.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:44:31] Investing in employee development without sacrificing profitability.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:50:09] Insights from other successful companies like Quicken Loans.</p> <p dir="ltr">[00:54:11] Transparency and accountability at Renovo through public performance metrics.</p> <p dir="ltr"><br /> <strong>Links:</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><br /> Learn more about Renovo Financial at <a href= "https://renovofinancial.com/">https://renovofinancial.com/</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Learn more about Geraci Law Firm at <a href= "https://www.geracilawfirm.com">https://www.geracilawfirm.com</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Subscribe to the Lender Lounge newsletter for episode notifications and exclusive content at <a href= "https://www.geracilawfirm.com/lender-lounge-podcast">https://www.geracilawfirm.com/lender-lounge-podcast</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Subscribe to the Geraci Law Firm newsletter at <a href="https://www.geracilawfirm.com/sign-up">https://www.geracilawfirm.com/sign-up</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Follow Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim on <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/lender-lounge-with-kevin-kim/">LinkedIn</a> and <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/@lenderloungewithkevinkim">YouTube</a></p> <p> </p>
February 12, 2025
<p dir="ltr">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. </p> <p dir="ltr">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.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong><br /> Bullet Points:</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>[00:01:04]</strong> Briana Hildt introduces herself and her company, Cardinal Capital Group.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>[00:02:10]</strong> Briana’s early career in asset management and real estate before entering private lending.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>[00:03:54]</strong> Transitioning from a loan broker to establishing Cardinal Capital.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>[00:06:22]</strong> Breaking into the Massachusetts private lending market and navigating industry challenges.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>[00:08:44]</strong> The pivotal decision to launch her own lending firm instead of joining an established lender.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>[00:12:08]</strong> Raising seed capital and securing early investors for Cardinal Capital.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>[00:14:50]</strong> The importance of building trust with investors, borrowers, and industry partners.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>[00:18:30]</strong> How Briana built lasting client relationships and a referral-based business model.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>[00:21:42]</strong> The challenges and benefits of intentional, steady growth over rapid expansion.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>[00:25:10]</strong> Cardinal Capital’s disciplined approach to underwriting and deal structuring.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>[00:30:20]</strong> Market insights: The Northeast lending landscape and how it differs from California.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>[00:35:55]</strong> How Briana and her team adapted to market volatility in recent years.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>[00:40:38]</strong> The role of trust, transparency, and execution in scaling a lending business.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>[00:45:12]</strong> Briana’s advice for brokers looking to transition into direct lending.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>[00:50:05]</strong> The future of Cardinal Capital and key trends in private lending.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong><br /> Links:</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><br /> Learn more about Cardinal Capital Group at <a href= "https://ccgloans.com/">https://ccgloans.com/</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Learn more about Geraci Law Firm at <a href= "https://www.geracilawfirm.com">https://www.geracilawfirm.com</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Subscribe to the Lender Lounge newsletter for episode notifications and exclusive content at <a href= "https://www.geracilawfirm.com/lender-lounge-podcast">https://www.geracilawfirm.com/lender-lounge-podcast</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Subscribe to the Geraci Law Firm newsletter at <a href="https://www.geracilawfirm.com/sign-up">https://www.geracilawfirm.com/sign-up</a></p> <p>Follow Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim on <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/lender-lounge-with-kevin-kim/">LinkedIn</a> and <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/@lenderloungewithkevinkim">YouTube</a></p>
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