This week on The Art of SBA Lending, we're getting a unique look at the state of the SBA marketplace from the perspective of the loan broker. Host Ray Drew brings together a panel of top-producing SBA loan brokers whose combined volume would rank them among the top 1 or 2% of all SBA shops. Joining the conversation are Matthias Smith from Pioneer Capital Advisory, Jerry Freedman from Freedom Business Financing, and Zach Renta from SBA Loan HQ.

The panel discusses why the traditional BDO model is becoming outdated as brokers build sophisticated operations and gain direct access to information and lenders. They reveal which lenders are winning and losing in today's competitive landscape, and why the old way of doing business — relying on personal relationships over product competitiveness — is no longer enough to succeed. The conversation gets candid as the brokers air their biggest pet peeves about working with lenders, from slow response times to a lack of respect for the work they put into a deal.

🎯 In this episode:

• The rise of the loan broker and why they are becoming more important than the BDO in controlling deal flow.
• The three categories of lenders and why a more conservative bank might still be the right choice.
• Why time kills deals, and how a broker's job is to ensure certainty of close.
• The pros and cons of lenders using Loan Service Providers (LSPs) and why it can lead to a "disastrous" experience for the borrower.

💬 What do you think is the biggest challenge when working with a BDO or a broker? Drop a comment below and join the debate.

🎙This episode is sponsored by:

Lumos

Lumos empowers your small business lending growth with cutting-edge analytics and streamlined applications that optimize your performance.

If you're ready to take your small business lending to the next level with cutting edge analytics visit https://lumosdata.com/

Shatterbox

Learn how Shatterbox can help you hire and invest in bright young talent without breaking the bank. Go to https://shatterbox.io/artofsba and set up a discovery call today.

Head to http://www.artofsba.com for more information and to sign up for our must-read monthly newsletter to stay up to date with The Art of SBA Lending. Also, make sure to follow along with our sister shows, The BDO Show and SBA Today.