Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity

In this episode of Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity, Andrew Pace sits down with Mike Peplinski, Vice President at Harding Brooks Insurance Agency, to unpack key legal and insurance challenges in today’s asset recovery space. As litigation pressure continues to rise, Mike provides actionable guidance for lenders, agents, and service providers on how to manage risk, protect themselves, and operate compliantly — even as legal, regulatory, and contract pressures evolve.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The rising trend in wrongful repossession lawsuits and litigation funding
• Invalid assignments and contract enforcement challenges
• How indemnification language creates exposure for recovery vendors
• The growing importance of documentation, body cams, and video evidence
• Insurance claim denials: where contracts often go wrong
• Vendor management, subcontracting risks, and ensuring proper licensing
• The role of bank consolidation and shifting dynamics in recovery partnerships
• The importance of safety culture, training, and proactive risk mitigation

Notable Takeaways:

“You know, five years ago, you’d get one or two claims here and there. Now you get multiple claims every single month on invalid assignments.”

“Probably 40% of the claims that we have going on today are invalid assignment issues, and most of them are no fault of the recovery agent.”

“When you don’t have any type of audio or video, you are basically negotiating with your checkbook because you have nothing to defend yourself with.”

“If you're subcontracting out a lot of your work, you better know who you're working with, because if you're going to indemnify a client, and you're having a subcontractor do the work, you are taking all the responsibility if something goes wrong.”

Subscribe to Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity for more industry insights and field-tested strategies.

For more information, visit Asset Compliant Solutions.

In this episode of Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity, Andrew Pace sits down with Dominick Cevet, CLFP, Assistant Vice President of Portfolio Management at Auxilior Capital Partners. Dominick shares how Auxilior has scaled from startup to over $2 billion in assets in just four years — leveraging deep vendor partnerships, independent decision-making, portfolio diversification, and a service-first approach that keeps both vendors and borrowers engaged.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The benefits of operating as an independent lender
• Deep vendor/manufacturer relationships and program building
• Managing rapid portfolio growth while maintaining discipline
• Adjusting to transportation sector volatility (without fully exiting)
• Pivoting into new sectors like motor coach and franchise lending
• The role of seasonality in portfolio structuring and payment modifications
• Leveraging technology for efficient customer engagement (automation, texting, portals)
• Navigating consumer vs commercial borrower behavior
• Early warning signs in market shifts (spot rates, equipment values, student loan defaults)
• The role of culture, internship programs, and office collaboration in driving growth

Notable Takeaways:

“We’re managing over $2 billion in assets. It’s pretty exciting.”

“When you don’t have enough clarity, you have to make decisions to protect the portfolio. Sometimes it’s not about getting out of a sector — it’s about waiting until you have enough information.”

“We can implement something in weeks that might take others months. That nimbleness is a huge competitive advantage.”

“Our independence allows us to pivot quickly, respond to vendor needs, and make decisions without layers of bureaucracy.”

“We invest in young talent through our intern program — it’s become a huge pipeline for long-term success.”

Subscribe to Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity for more industry insights and field-tested strategies.

For more information, visit Asset Compliant Solutions. 

ACS CFO and CIO Greg Meyer joins host Andrew Pace for a deep dive into the operational backbone of modern recovery and collections. With nearly two decades of leadership at ACS, Greg discusses the growing overlap between finance, IT, and compliance—and what it means for lenders today. From securing sensitive data to building scalable frameworks for regulatory risk, this episode covers how smart technology and proactive controls create a competitive advantage in asset-based lending.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Why clean, consistent data is the foundation of effective decision-making
• Turning past data into forward-looking insights
• The risks and rewards of system integrations and automation
• Real-world cybersecurity threats facing collections and recovery
• What SOC2 compliance means in practice for vendors and lenders
• The balance between security and usability when sharing sensitive data
• Adapting tech strategies for multi-state regulatory complexity
• How automation and APIs improve efficiency—without losing the human touch

Notable Takeaways:

“No data, no clue. If your data isn’t clean, your insights are suspect—and your risk goes up.”

“Technology isn’t a cost center. It’s an edge—when it’s used to increase security, reduce friction, and scale compliance.”

“SOC2 has made us better. It’s more than a certification—it’s a way to meet client expectations and stay ahead of evolving threats.”

Subscribe to Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity for more industry insights and field-tested strategies.

For more information, visit Asset Compliant Solutions. 

In this episode, Andrew Pace welcomes Chris Norman, ACS’s Client Support Manager, for an in-depth conversation on the human side of collections, strategic lender support, and navigating complex borrower situations with empathy and professionalism. With more than 30 years in the recovery space and a reputation for transforming distressed accounts into proactive recoveries, Chris shares firsthand stories and strategies that combine operational insight with a deep respect for the borrower experience.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The evolution of recovery from a back-office operation to a frontline risk management tool
• How client expectations have shifted toward professionalism, transparency, and trust
• The rise of reputation risk and why recovery needs to be handled with precision
• Best practices in borrower communication and de-escalation
• Balancing client mandates with borrower realities in high-stress situations
• The role of empathy in asset recovery and how it leads to better outcomes
• Insights from ACS’s proactive outreach efforts to identify at-risk assets before default
• Real-time market trends and what early signs lenders should watch for in distressed portfolios

Notable Takeaways:
"Every client doesn’t define success the same way. Relationship management means understanding what matters most to each one—and delivering on that."
"Being kind doesn’t cost you anything. In collections, it often gets you further than pressure ever could."
"Proactively identifying accounts at risk before they become problems is the future of portfolio protection."

Subscribe to Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity for more industry insights and field-tested strategies.

For more information, visit Asset Compliant Solutions.

In this inaugural episode of Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity, host Andrew Pace sits down with Brian Noble—CEO, co-founder, and industry trailblazer behind Asset Compliant Solutions. With over 25 years of experience, Brian shares his unique perspective on how the asset recovery and collections space has evolved from transactional services to strategic partnerships rooted in compliance, innovation, and brand protection.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Culture as a Competitive Advantage: How ACS’s culture of collaboration and compliance drives innovation and long-term client success
• Economic Cycles & Lending: Navigating the impact of inflation, interest rates, and borrower behavior on portfolio performance
• Risk Mitigation: Why proactive, earlier-stage service provider engagement is key to protecting asset value
• Compliance & Technology: SOC2 isn’t just a checkbox—it’s foundational to trust and operational efficiency
• Strategic Partnerships vs. Vendor Relationships: How ACS positions itself as an extension of the client’s team
• The Role of APIs & Automation: Creating seamless client experiences and reducing costly human error through smarter tech
• Talent & Empathy: Why hiring for emotional intelligence and problem-solving abilities is essential in collections and recovery
• The Future of Lending & Recovery: Embracing AI, data-driven decision-making, and end-to-end service capabilities

Executive Takeaways:
"Today’s market conditions require a more sophisticated approach to managing at-risk assets. The traditional recovery model focuses too late in the cycle."

"Your recovery partner’s actions directly impact your brand reputation in an era of instant feedback."

"SOC2 compliance isn’t optional—it’s protection against regulatory and reputational risk."

"Time-to-resolution is the KPI that most directly impacts your portfolio’s NPV."

Subscribe to Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity for more conversations with leaders across lending, recovery, and compliance.

For more information, visit Asset Compliant Solutions.