In this episode of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, Ryan MacNeil and Neal Andreino sit down with Taylor Little (CEO) and Jared Stanley (SVP of Originations) from Neighbourhood Holdings to unpack one of the most significant moments in Canadian private lending history, Neighbourhood’s acquisition of Fisgard Asset Management. Together, they walk through how the deal came together, why consolidation is accelerating across the MIC and private lending industry, and what this merger means for brokers, borrowers, investors, and the future of alternative lending in Canada. Taylor and Jared dive deep into valuation, culture integration, expanding credit boxes, increased LTVs, new alt products, securitization readiness, and the role of technology in scaling originations. They also explore the regulatory pressures driving consolidation, the importance of strong processes and disciplined underwriting, and the strategic evolution of both brands, including why Fisgard’s EMD will remain and how both teams are joining forces. The episode wraps with advice for smaller lenders and insight into how the industry can become more efficient through national regulatory harmonization. This is a masterclass in deal-making, market strategy, and the future of Canadian private lending.

Show Notes:

05:25 — Introduction to the Biggest Acquisition in Private Lending

05:50 — Meet Taylor Little & Jared Stanley

06:12 — Jared’s Background & Early Career

08:57 — How Neighbourhood Holdings Was Founded

10:15 — Naming the Company: “Neighbourhood Holdings”

13:15 — How the Fisgard Acquisition Started

14:57 — Why Consolidation Is Accelerating in the Industry

16:11 — Deal Courtship Story: Project Beacon

19:06 — Deal Structure & Valuation Approach

22:10 — Leadership Integration: Who’s Staying On

25:01 — Why Fisgard Remains the EMD Brand

29:07 — New Products & LTV Expansion to 75%

31:38 — Alt Program & Expanded Geographic Reach

33:01 — Surging Originations After MPC Announcement

36:02 — Why the Pipeline Exploded

39:07 — More M&A Expected Across Canada

43:56 — Buying Mortgage Books & Future Opportunities

46:02 — Securitization & Institutional Capital Readiness

49:02 — Educating Brokers on Short-Term Alt Lending

50:54 — CAMLA’s Role & Industry Advocacy

54:26 — Advice for Smaller Lenders: Survive & Stay Disciplined

59:03 — What Needs to Change: National Harmonization

62:09 — West Coast Bonus Question

Resources:
Keystone Capital Group
CPLP Instagram: @cplpodcast
Keystone Instagram: @keycapgroup

Find Neal On:
Instagram: @neal.andreino
LinkedIn: Neal Andreino

Find Ryan on:
LinkedIn: Ryan MacNeil
E-mail: [email protected]

In this episode of The Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan MacNeil and Neal Andreino dive deep into one of the least glamorous but most critical aspects of private lending, insurance. From title and homeowner’s insurance to blanket mortgage impairment, E&O coverage, and even cyber and key person insurance, they break down what every lender needs to stay protected.

Ryan also shares a real-life million-dollar fire story that could have ended in disaster, but didn’t, thanks to proper insurance coverage. Plus, the duo reflect on conference experiences, chaotic Toronto condos, and celebrate the Blue Jays’ historic World Series run.

If you lend money privately, this episode could save you from catastrophic loss.

Show Notes: 

• 00:30 — Welcome to Episode 107 of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast
• 01:00 — Catching up: conferences, booths, and behind-the-scenes reflections
• 04:00 — Airbnb horror story: 60-story Toronto condo chaos
• 08:00 — The Blue Jays head to the World Series
• 09:00 — Today’s topic: the importance of insurance for private lenders
• 10:00 — Understanding title insurance and how it protects lenders
• 11:00 — When title insurance claims actually pay out
• 13:00 — Transition into homeowners insurance—what most people miss
• 15:00 — The biggest mistake borrowers make: letting coverage lapse
• 18:00 — Blanket mortgage impairment insurance explained
• 20:00 — E&O (Errors & Omissions) insurance: why it’s required in Nova Scotia
• 23:00 — The $1M coverage that cost $40,000 a year—breaking down the math
• 24:00 — Ryan’s real-world example: a million-dollar fire and five possible claims
• 29:00 — The lessons from the fire: how proper coverage saved the lender
• 30:00 — Cyber insurance and the rising threat of phishing/ransomware
• 32:00 — Key person insurance—protecting the business if something happens to leadership
• 35:00 — Final takeaways: the insurances every lender should have
• 37:00 — The Creative Crew shoutout & studio update
• 37:40 — How TikTok exposure is expanding the podcast’s reach
• 38:00 — Closing thoughts and next episode teaser

Resources:
Keystone Capital Group
CPLP Instagram: @cplpodcast
Keystone Instagram: @keycapgroup

Find Neal On:
Instagram: @neal.andreino
LinkedIn: Neal Andreino

Find Ryan on:
LinkedIn: Ryan MacNeil
E-mail: [email protected]

In Episode 106 of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan MacNeil and Neal Andreino sit down with Benjamin Sammut, Founder & Principal of Dabble Capital Advisory, for a deep dive into how institutional money is reshaping Canada’s private lending landscape.

Benjamin shares how he transitioned from growing up in a family of mortgage brokers to building a firm that bridges the gap between MICs and global asset managers. Together, they unpack what’s next for capital raising, M&A activity, and innovation in the mortgage investment sector, plus his bold prediction that a new “golden age” is coming for Canadian private lenders.

Show Notes:

00:00 – Opening thoughts on innovation in the MIC space

01:00 – Benjamin’s background and how Dabble Capital Advisory began

05:00 – Challenges of liquidity and trust between MICs

07:00 – How large asset managers enter the private-lending market

10:00 – Structuring capital: SPVs, tranches, and diversification

16:00 – How Dabble Capital earns and structures fees

17:00 – Global capital raising: from Toronto to India to the U.S.

22:00 – Overcoming skepticism in international investor outreach

23:00 – The saturation of new MICs and where opportunity lies

26:00 – Why acquisitions are rare — and how private equity could change that

31:00 – Evolution of capital-raising strategies in Canada

33:00 – The rise of “originate-to-sell” MICs

34:00 – Market cycles, risk, and investor appetite

38:00 – What brokers really want from lenders

41:00 – The “new age” of MICs and a coming heyday

45:00 – Benjamin’s wish for Canada: robust sub-prime securitization

47:00 – Bonus: Calgary food talk — and the legendary dill-pickle pizza 🍕

Resources:
Keystone Capital Group
CPLP Instagram: @cplpodcast
Keystone Instagram: @keycapgroup

Find Neal On:
Instagram: @neal.andreino
LinkedIn: Neal Andreino

Find Ryan on:
LinkedIn: Ryan MacNeil
E-mail: [email protected]

In this final episode from The Canadian Mortgage Summit, hosts Neal Andreino and Ryan MacNeil sit down with Nick Kyprianou, CEO & Founder of RiverRock MIC, to unpack nearly four decades of mortgage industry experience.

Nick shares how he helped grow Home Trust from $200 million to $17 billion, how he built RiverRock into one of Ontario’s most disciplined private lenders, and what today’s market can learn from the brutal housing downturn of the early ’90s.

From 24-hour turnaround times to an aggressive but empathetic approach to arrears, Nick explains why RiverRock’s “bad things happen to good people” philosophy continues to define its success, and what brokers and investors should prepare for in the years ahead.

Show Notes:

00:00 – Intro: Live from the Canadian Mortgage Summit

01:30 – Nick’s early career & lessons from Home Trust

06:00 – Comparing the 1990s crash to today

08:45 – RiverRock’s strategy for turbulent markets

13:00 – What sets RiverRock apart: speed, structure, and discipline

17:00 – How they reduced arrears through proactive management

20:00 – Stories from the field: “We’ll pay you to leave”

26:00 – Future expansion & the upcoming 5.99% “cleaner-end” product

30:00 – Education gaps in Canada’s mortgage industry

34:30 – Nick’s advice for brokers and MIC operators

36:40 – Bonus: Food, football, and life philosophy

Resources:
Keystone Capital Group
CPLP Instagram: @cplpodcast
Keystone Instagram: @keycapgroup

Find Neal On:
Instagram: @neal.andreino
LinkedIn: Neal Andreino

Find Ryan on:
LinkedIn: Ryan MacNeil
E-mail: [email protected]

In this episode of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan MacNeil and Neal Andreino sit down with Shane Lakhani, Business Development Manager at Canadian Mortgage Professional (CMP) and the mastermind behind the Canadian Mortgage Summit.

Shane shares how CMP grew the event from a small industry gathering into a 1,600-attendee powerhouse, bringing together private, alternative, and institutional lenders from across the country. From his unexpected journey from Bay Street to event production, to his plans for “Canadian Mortgage Week 2025,” Shane offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to unite Canada’s lending community.

If you’re a private lender, mortgage broker, or real-estate professional, this is an insider’s look at how industry networking, education, and collaboration are evolving nationwide.

Show Notes:

00:00 – Intro 

01:00 – Shane’s Background 

02:45 – What Is Key Media?

04:50 – Birth of the Canadian Mortgage Summit

06:10 – Free for Brokers Model 

07:40 – Expanding Beyond Private Lending 

09:35 – Introducing Canadian Mortgage Week 2025 

11:00 – Secrets to Event Success 

12:50 – Shane’s DJ Past & Personality

13:40 – Ryan’s Personal Story 

14:10 – Bonus Hockey Round 

15:20 – Wrap-Up & Thanks

Resources:
Keystone Capital Group
CPLP Instagram: @cplpodcast
Keystone Instagram: @keycapgroup

Find Neal On:
Instagram: @neal.andreino
LinkedIn: Neal Andreino

Find Ryan on:
LinkedIn: Ryan MacNeil
E-mail: [email protected]

In this Episode of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan McNeil and Neal Andreino sit down with Mike Forshee, President of Glass Lake Funding, to explore how the company has skyrocketed from a start-up to over $1 billion AUM in just three years.

Mike shares his 25-year journey from Home Trust to founding Glass Lake, backed by Bayview Asset Management, and dives deep into the company’s hybrid lending model, disciplined underwriting, and commitment to serving Canada’s “missing-middle” borrowers.

Show Notes:

00:00 – Live from the Canadian Mortgage Summit in Toronto

00:40 – Introducing Mike Forshee, President of Glass Lake Funding

02:00 – Mike’s 25-year journey: from Home Trust to founding Glass Lake

05:00 – The Glass Lake model: bridging Canada’s “missing middle” borrowers

07:20 – Why Glass Lake focuses on 3-year terms & 650+ credit scores

10:30 – Surpassing $1B in assets under management in just 3 years

12:00 – Funding a $100M single commercial deal — how it came together

13:45 – Lending across Ontario, BC, Alberta, and Quebec — “secondary, not sh*tty” markets

15:20 – Inside the Wave Makers Program rewarding broker loyalty

17:00 – How social media drives 50% of Glass Lake’s new business

18:45 – Differentiating from other private lenders & maintaining discipline

20:15 – What’s next: auto portfolios, small business loans & new products coming in 2026

22:10 – Mike on market optimism, regulation, and the future of private lending

24:00 – Raising the bar: why education and higher entry standards matter

25:30 – Bonus: Mike’s hockey roots & his thoughts on the Toronto Maple Leafs

Resources:
Keystone Capital Group
CPLP Instagram: @cplpodcast
Keystone Instagram: @keycapgroup

Find Neal On:
Instagram: @neal.andreino
LinkedIn: Neal Andreino

Find Ryan on:
LinkedIn: Ryan MacNeil
E-mail: [email protected]

In this episode of The Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan MacNeil and Neal Andreino sit down with Armando Diseri, Chief Sales Officer at Alta West Capital, live from the Canadian Mortgage Summit. Armando shares how Alta West has evolved from a Calgary-based second mortgage lender to a national powerhouse with diversified institutional backing and innovative mortgage products like their Low-Doc and Flex offerings.

From their acquisition of Premier Mortgage to insights on Alberta’s booming affordability market and the shifting dynamics of Canada’s private lending landscape, this conversation dives deep into growth strategy, risk management, and the emerging opportunities across the prairies and beyond.

Show Notes:

00:00 – Introduction: Live from the Canadian Mortgage Summit

00:35 – Guest intro: Armando Diseri, Chief Sales Officer at Alta West Capital

01:20 – Alta West’s origins and transition from second to first mortgage lending

03:30 – Shifting from private investors to institutional funding

06:50 – Alberta’s housing boom and migration trends driven by affordability

12:00 – Comparing Ontario and Alberta markets amid rate changes

14:30 – The “Low-Doc” mortgage product: simplicity meets opportunity

17:00 – Risk management in the low-doc model and credit score strategies

19:30 – How 40%+ of Alta West’s first mortgage volume now comes from new products

22:00 – The acquisition of Premier Mortgage and its strategic impact

25:30 – Growth outlook: new products, acquisitions, and regional expansion

29:00 – Institutional partners and building scalable infrastructure

30:45 – Rise of higher-quality borrowers in the private space

34:30 – Armando’s take on the foreign buyers ban and condo market recovery

36:00 – The importance of education and elevating the mortgage profession

38:00 – Bonus question: Armando’s favorite restaurant in the GTA

39:20 – Closing thoughts and future plans for Alta West Capital

Resources:
Keystone Capital Group
CPLP Instagram: @cplpodcast
Keystone Instagram: @keycapgroup

Find Neal On:
Instagram: @neal.andreino
LinkedIn: Neal Andreino

Find Ryan on:
LinkedIn: Ryan MacNeil
E-mail: [email protected]

In this episode of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan MacNeil and Neal Andreino sit down live at the Canadian Mortgage Summit with Reaza Ali, National Broker Relations Manager at Fisgard Asset Management—one of the largest private lenders in Canada.

Reaza shares his career journey and provides an inside look at Fisgard’s growth from Western Canada into Ontario, their unique no-lender-fee first mortgage model, and their strategic focus on residential lending over commercial and construction projects. He also dives into investor relations, capital preservation, and why managing risk and exits is critical in today’s volatile market.

Whether you’re a broker, investor, or industry professional, this conversation offers valuable insights into how one of the country’s leading lenders balances growth with stability.

Show Notes:

00:00 – Live from the Canadian Mortgage Summit

00:44 – Introducing Reaza Ali & Fisgard Asset Management

02:00 – Reaza’s career journey into lending

05:20 – Fisgard’s 30+ year history & expansion into Ontario

07:15 – The no-lender-fee first mortgage explained

09:30 – Renewal terms, penalties & borrower transparency

12:20 – Why exit strategies & capital preservation are crucial

15:40 – Investor base: 2,500+ investors backing $400–600M in mortgages

18:45 – Average loan sizes & mortgage breakdown

20:30 – Why Fisgard pulled back from commercial & construction lending

22:06 – Lending markets across Canada: BC, Alberta & Ontario

25:00 – Market slowdowns, affordability & investor protection

27:30 – Risk management, data-driven decisions & investor trust

30:40 – Urban vs rural lending focus

32:29 – Reaza on what he values most in the industry—and what he’d change

36:00 – Bonus: Toronto Blue Jays playoff talk 

Resources:
Keystone Capital Group
CPLP Instagram: @cplpodcast
Keystone Instagram: @keycapgroup

Find Neal On:
Instagram: @neal.andreino
LinkedIn: Neal Andreino

Find Ryan on:
LinkedIn: Ryan MacNeil
E-mail: [email protected]

In this milestone 100th episode of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan MacNeil and Neal Andreino are joined by guest Chandler Haliburton—real estate investor, landlord, and past co-host of the Master Keys Podcast.

Together, they take a deep dive into the current state of the Canadian real estate and private lending markets. From shifts in multi-unit valuations and softening condo demand to rising vacancies and cooling rents, the conversation unpacks where the opportunities and risks lie in 2025. Chandler shares first-hand experiences using private financing to scale his portfolio and highlights why even seasoned, high-net-worth investors lean on private capital.

The trio also explores:

• Where first-time buyers still have value in Halifax
• How flips and BRRRR strategies have evolved in today’s market
• Variable vs fixed mortgage strategies heading into a major renewal wave
• Smart refinancing plays and the importance of cash flow discipline
• Why private money isn’t just a last resort, but a strategic tool for serious investors

Show Notes:

00:00 – Celebrating 100 episodes with guest host Chandler Haliburton

04:00 – Market update: softening condos & multi-units, where buyers can find deals

07:30 – Rental market realities: vacancies, rent rollbacks & balanced supply

13:30 – Private financing in action: using seconds & equity to scale

20:00 – Flips, BRRRRs & long-term holds in today’s market

25:00 – First-time buyer opportunities & Halifax’s growing appeal

33:00 – Variable vs fixed mortgages: strategies heading into renewal season

38:00 – Smart refinancing plays & cash flow management

44:00 – Build-to-rent opportunities and long-term strategy

Packed with insights, anecdotes, and laughs, this landmark episode is both a reflection on the last 100 shows and a forward-looking roadmap for investors navigating the next cycle.

Resources:
Keystone Capital Group
CPLP Instagram: @cplpodcast
Keystone Instagram: @keycapgroup

Find Neal On:
Instagram: @neal.andreino
LinkedIn: Neal Andreino

Find Ryan on:
LinkedIn: Ryan MacNeil
E-mail: [email protected]

In this milestone 99th episode of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan and Neal share an inside look at Keystone’s very first foreclosure. From red flags during underwriting, to borrower challenges, expired insurance, and the unexpected passing of the borrower, this case study highlights the realities private lenders face when enforcement becomes necessary.

They break down the legal process in Nova Scotia, the importance of hiring experienced lawyers, carrying costs during enforcement, and why conservative loan-to-value ratios are critical. Most importantly, Ryan and Neil explain how they navigated the situation, recovered their capital, and what lessons they’ll carry forward into future deals.

If you’re a private lender, broker, or investor, this episode provides essential insights on foreclosure best practices, risk management, and protecting your portfolio.

Show Notes:

00:00 – Episode 99 milestone & last recording in the old studio

01:14 – Introducing today’s topic: Keystone’s first foreclosure

03:13 – Borrower red flags & why underwriting discipline matters

05:43 – Insurance lapse & borrower’s unexpected passing

07:34 – Hiring enforcement lawyers & navigating Nova Scotia’s foreclosure process

10:00 – Timeline realities: 5–6 months without income, still paying investors

11:43 – Property access, appraisal, and quick sale with multiple offers

13:11 – Recovery: full repayment plus surplus funds to borrower’s family

15:21 – Best practices: strong mortgage commitments, covenants & assignment of rents

20:26 – Lessons learned & advice for lenders facing future foreclosures

Resources:
Keystone Capital Group
CPLP Instagram: @cplpodcast
Keystone Instagram: @keycapgroup

Find Neal On:
Instagram: @neal.andreino
LinkedIn: Neal Andreino

Find Ryan on:
LinkedIn: Ryan MacNeil
E-mail: [email protected]