Western Lawman Debuts October 2024

Charlie Woo, President of Fidelity Bancorp Funding, joins Kevin Kim in this episode of Lender Lounge. With a deep background in investment banking and a pivotal role in past industry-shaping transactions, Charlie shares why he moved from Wall Street to private lending. Fidelity Bridge Loans focuses on small balance bridge loans for commercial real estate with an emphasis on multifamily and business-purpose residential properties. Charlie discusses the firm’s strategic balance between retail and institutional capital, their selective growth into DSCR and construction lending, and the evolving role of capital markets in the sector. The conversation also addresses underwriting discipline, the impact of rising rates, and Fidelity’s vision for long-term, flexible growth.

In this special pre-Captivate episode of Lender Lounge, Fortra Law Partners Kevin Kim, Jennifer Young, and Nema Daghbandan trade industry insights, leadership philosophies, and plenty of jabs in a no-holds-barred “roast” of their own. Set against the backdrop of Captivate 2025, this episode blends serious economic forecasting with personal stories from the trio’s time building Fortra Law. From market expansion and DSCR strategies to parenting styles, grumpiness, and what it means to be a good older sibling (or not), the episode gives listeners an unfiltered, funny, and refreshingly honest look behind the scenes. Whether you’re here for private lending predictions or to find out why Kevin doesn’t say “good morning,” this one’s not to be missed.

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.

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 cultur
e 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

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.