Welcome back to The BDO Show—where the best deals are born from strong relationships, and a good broker knows how to "shake a tree" for you!

This week, we're diving into the powerful world of lender-broker partnerships with a true industry vet, Ray Diab of Bank Alliance Capital. Joined by hosts Emily Detor and Ryan Kroge, Ray explains his journey from a long career in conventional banking to becoming a broker who "makes it easy" for lenders like Ryan.

If you're a new BDO looking to build your referral network or a seasoned broker trying to navigate a tightening market, you won't want to miss this discussion on:

• Lender to Broker: Ray shares why he left a 24-year career in traditional banking to become a loan broker, driven by a desire to offer clients more financing options and a wider variety of products.

• The Art of the BDO-Broker Partnership: Ryan and Ray break down their winning dynamic, emphasizing communication, trust, and a shared philosophy of "relationship banking" that goes beyond transactional deals.

• Priority & Loyalty: Ray explains why Ryan gets "first look" at all his SBA deals—and why building a relationship based on trust and direct communication is more valuable than shopping a deal to multiple lenders.

• Market Insights from the Front Lines: Ray reveals a significant uptick in investment in commercial real estate acquisitions (65-70% of his deals!) and what that could mean for the market in 2025 and 2026.

• "Know Your Referral Sources": Ray offers parting advice to new BDOs on how to vet brokers and build lasting relationships, stressing the importance of personality, rapport, and due diligence beyond just the deal itself.

Plus, get a recommendation about a delicious Detroit Italian restaurant where Ray's son is the executive chef!

👉 Got a great broker story or a question about the market? Tell us how you really feel in the comments or email us at [email protected].

📺 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell—because a good relationship is the key to a great deal!

🎙This episode is sponsored by:

Rapid Business Plans

Rapid Business Plan is a trusted partner that can help your borrower get their story on paper. Whether they're acquiring, starting, or expanding, Rapid Business Plans delivers powerful, fast SBA and USDA-ready business plans with projections and assumptions. For more information, email Bethany McClellan at [email protected] or click the link in the show notes.

Peak Business Valuation

Our partner, Peak Business Valuation, has a free resource for BDO listeners, listing rule-of-thumb formulas for common SBA industries. Don't make the rookie mistake of missing the valuation at the prescreen phase. Go to peakbizval.com/bdoshow to get yours today.