Lords of Lending

In this episode of 'Lords of Lending,' we discuss the economic forecast for small businesses in 2026, emphasizing increased borrowing and reduced equity. We draw parallels to the 2008 financial crisis and express concerns about the rising trends of highly leveraged acquisitions and diminishing equity pools. 

The conversation touches on the importance of prudent lending, the potential impact of AI and other market disruptors, and the need for businesses to focus on sustainable cash flow and equity growth. We also predict that business valuations may adjust due to these financial pressures. 

Join us for an in-depth analysis and strategic advice for navigating the financial landscape of 2026.

00:00 Introduction and Overview
00:30 2026 Economic Predictions
01:03 Debt and Equity Concerns
01:53 Lending Practices and Risks
04:19 Market Disruptors and Future Trends
05:38 Sustainable Business Strategies
07:13 The Importance of Equity
10:26 Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Fundamentals
20:05 Concluding Thoughts and Future Episodes

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

Welcome back to Lords of Lending! In this episode, we return from our break to review the significant events of 2025 and share what we've learned. We discuss the record-breaking $100 billion in government-guaranteed loans extended to small businesses and analyze the impact of the new administration's transparency and released data. 

We delve into the challenges faced by small business owners, including rising interest rates and tighter lending criteria, and provide insights on the entrepreneurial revolution post-COVID. We also explore how AI is transforming the lending landscape, offering both opportunities and pitfalls. 

Tune in for a comprehensive recap of 2025 and insightful predictions for 2026.

00:00 Welcome Back to Lords of Lending
00:14 Reflecting on 2025: Wins and Mistakes
01:15 Record Year for SBA Loans
03:19 Challenges and Risks in 2025
11:02 The Entrepreneurial Revolution Post-COVID
14:46 Leveraging AI for Small Business Success
25:00 Summarizing 2025 and Looking Ahead to 2026

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

What happens when a business owner drops hints about selling—or outright asks you to “dance”? In this episode, the Lords break down real-world signals, emotional undercurrents, and strategic moves buyers should make when owners start flirting with exit. From awkward coffees to intentional conversations, learn how to recognize the moment and act on it.

📌 Timestamps:
[00:01:05] The Dance That Changed Everything - Steph's wake-up call about corporate America
[05:36] From Corporate VP to 20+ Acquisitions in 5 Years - Ruth's audacious goal
[11:14] The Compassion Strategy - How Ruth negotiates with legacy male sellers in a male-dominated industry
[18:42] Starting at $3.35/Hour - Ruth's telemarketing origin story and work ethic foundation
[30:41] "Don't Wait" - Ruth's urgent advice to women entrepreneurs (and why she wishes she'd started sooner)
[35:15] Betting on Ruth - How Steph fought her credit team to back a "dreamer" who doubled revenues in year one
[42:22] Breaking Glass Ceilings - Why women need "fem-tours," not mentors
[49:56] The LLC Strategy - Brian breaks down Ruth's legal structure for multiple acquisitions

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

Seller notes are reshaping how deals get done. In this episode, the Lords of Lending sit down with Abby Shemesh of Seller Edge Capital to explore the evolving world of seller financing, note sales, and how liquidity is changing the psychology of buyers and sellers. If you’re in acquisitions, lending, or advising, this is a masterclass in structuring smarter deals.

📌 Timestamps:
00:00 - Opening: Why seller notes are the overlooked weapon in M&A 
04:31 - Abby's origin story: From Bear Stearns to disrupting Main Street finance 
10:04 - The liquidity problem: Why 44% of sellers say "no" to seller financing 
13:49 - The 3 contract elements that make seller notes buyable 
19:05 - Steph's challenge: Why buy mediocre loans from Dubuque, Iowa? 
25:15 - The capital market dislocation problem (18% vs 10% returns) 
28:05 - The 3-5 year sweet spot for seller note terms 
40:22 - How SBA refinancing creates perfect exit timing for note buyers 
45:06 - Final roadmap: Closing more deals with seller note strategies

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

What does it take to launch and scale a thriving restaurant business? In this episode, the Lords dig into the real-world challenges, hidden costs, and strategic thinking behind building a successful food and beverage concept. Whether you’re dreaming of opening your first café or scaling your third location, this conversation covers what it really takes—from startup costs and SBA funding to operations, brand building, and long-term growth.

📌 Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro: Restaurant business isn’t for the faint of heart  
01:15 – Shane’s restaurant background and hard lessons  
04:22 – Startup costs: what most people underestimate  
07:35 – SBA loan structure for food and beverage concepts  
10:42 – Brand, vibe, and concept: the recipe for traction  
14:05 – Lease terms, equipment, and location considerations  
17:12 – Hiring and staffing in a high-turnover industry  
20:40 – The systems behind successful operations  
24:30 – Passion vs. profit: which comes first?  
28:02 – Real challenges: debt, seasonality, and cash flow  
31:44 – Advice to new operators looking to launch  
35:10 – Wrapping up: where great restaurant owners focus

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

Are high interest rates really stopping you from making your next business move? In this episode, Shane, Stephanie, and Brian unpack the myth of waiting for “cheaper money.” They break down what a 25 basis point rate cut actually means (hint: it’s probably less than you think), and why real entrepreneurs don’t let headlines dictate action. If you're considering an SBA loan or looking to grow your business in today’s market, this conversation is your wake-up call. Don’t wait—optimize your structure and move now.

📌 Timestamps:
00:00 - Why interest rates shouldn’t define your strategy
01:00 - Know your balance sheet like a lender
02:00 - Should I wait for cheaper money?
03:00 - Interest rate-proof businesses and operating experience
04:30 - The problem with startup loans
06:00 - External factors vs. internal discipline
07:00 - How much does a 25 basis point rate cut *really* save?
08:30 - Why variable-rate SBA loans are future-proof
10:00 - Who *shouldn’t* be borrowing right now?
11:00 - Chase growth, not hype
12:00 - The real cost of waiting to make a move
14:00 - Are we overpaying for everything?
15:00 - Why delay is the invisible killer of businesses
16:00 - “Fail fast”: Testing decisions in real time
17:00 - Don’t let $150 stop you—make the sale instead
18:00 - Closing thoughts: Be ready, not reactive

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

What does your reputation say about your business? In this episode, the Lords sit down with review industry expert Stuart Faught to break down what reputation really means in lending, operations, and growth. Whether you’re trying to build trust with sellers, brokers, lenders—or your own team—this is the real talk behind what shapes credibility and how to own your story.

📌 Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro: Why Reputation Is the Real Currency
02:10 - Meet Stuart Faught: Online Reputation Pros
05:45 - Why Reputation Matters in Lending and M&A
09:30 - The Review Gap: Real Experience vs. Online Perception
13:05 - Using Reputation to Build Leverage in Deals
17:20 - Common Mistakes Business Owners Make with Reviews
22:40 - Tactical Tools for Reputation Management
27:15 - Reputation Timing: When to Ask for Reviews
32:00 - Reputation as an Ongoing Strategy, Not a Fix
35:45 - Final Takeaways from Stuart and the Lords
39:10 - Closing Thoughts and What’s Next

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

What really makes a lender different? Shane, Brian, and Steph go rapid-fire to reveal their biggest lessons, toughest deals, and why client experience wins every time.

📌 Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:27 - Welcome to “Ask the Experts” with Stephanie, Shane & Brian  
01:14 - What Sets Us Apart from Other Lenders  
03:13 - The Human Side of Lending: Why People Matter Most  
05:25 - Defining a Great Client Experience  
08:14 - Tackling Tough Deals: Affiliates, Complexity & Strategy  
12:53 - Creating the “Perfect Package” for SBA Loans  
13:36 - Signature Moves: What Clients Remember  
16:01 - Favorite Parts of the Job (And Why We Stay)  
18:19 - The Bigger Picture: Helping Families & Legacies  

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

In this raw, unfiltered episode, the Lords of Lending pull back the curtain on the personal experiences that shaped them into the SBA lending experts they are today. 

From childhood poverty and career failures to finding purpose through adversity, Shane, Stephanie, and Brian share the dark seasons that forged their professional wisdom.

This isn't your typical business advice - it's the real story behind the expertise. Sometimes the best business wisdom comes from the worst personal moments.

🎯 TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Opening: Why vulnerability builds trust in business
04:12 - "Invisible & Underestimated" - The wounds that shaped us
06:47 - Shane's 7th grade identity crisis: From "thug" to outcast
09:36 - Brian's parents' divorce: Finding identity through sports
12:02 - Steph on daily invisibility: "Everyone else is prioritized"
16:28 - "You're Not Enough" - When the world tells you to quit
18:25 - Shane's Financial Collapse: Near-bankruptcy and the bird in the garage
23:47 - Steph's Dark Decades: "Zero through 20 - it was all dark"
26:21 - "Just when you think you're buried, really you're planted"
28:25 - Brian's Law Firm Disaster: Fired two weeks before his son was born
35:04 - The phone call that changed everything: "Dude, I just got fired"
38:20 - "Life Was All About Me" - The lies we believe about ourselves
43:19 - Steph: "I allowed people to typecast me for too long"
45:48 - Things We Can't NOT Do: Shopping carts, serving others, turning off lights
48:03 - Late Night Questions: Parasites, cancer fears, and life's anxieties
52:18 - The Archetypes: Oracle, Magistrate, and Alchemist revealed
53:05 - Steph "The Oracle": Seeing patterns before they emerge
55:03 - Brian "The Magistrate": From attorney to wise judge
56:53 - Shane "The Alchemist": Turning pressure into systematic gold
58:00 - Golden Nugget: Why people must be happy in their roles to succeed

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

In this tactical deep dive, Shane, Stephanie, and Brian sit down with serial acquirer Collin Trimble to dissect what really happens when you scale through acquisition. From chaotic day-one takeovers to post-close surprises, this episode is all strategy, scars, and lessons earned the hard way.

📌 Timestamps:
00:09:49 - What Strategy Looked Bulletproof (But Wasn't)
00:12:38 - 28 Minutes In: The Day One Disaster Story
00:15:55 - You Can't Prepare for Everything: Assessment Strategy
00:17:35 - The 90-Day Employee Rule: Listen Before You Lead
00:20:17 - Finding Hidden Leaders in Broken Organizations
00:27:11 - Employee Due Diligence: What to Look For
00:30:21 - Cultural Integration: Bringing Teams Together
00:35:18 - Customer Experience: From Personal Touch to Scalable Systems
00:41:07 - Not All Revenue is Equal: The Tire Story
00:42:57 - Due Diligence Providers: RMR Audits & Quality of Earnings
00:49:53 - Legal Landmines: Why You Need Transaction Attorneys
00:56:58 - Technology Infrastructure: Building Customer 360 with Salesforce
01:04:43 - Quick Fire Strategy Round: Never Do Again
01:05:42 - Essential Legal Moves & Holdback Strategies
01:10:12 - The 30-Day Liquidity Priority
01:13:18 - Next 5 Acquisitions: Geographic Expansion Strategy
01:15:07 - Closing: Resources for First-Time Acquirers

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.