S6E1 | Building The Future of Private Lending featuring Linda Hyde
Release Date: 01/13/2026
S6E1 | Building The Future of Private Lending featuring Linda Hyde
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim
Linda Hyde, President of the American Association of Private Lenders (AAPL), joins Kevin Kim to kick off Season 6 of Lender Lounge. In this episode, Linda shares her journey from leading a call center to spearheading one of the most influential organizations in private lending. She reflects on transforming AAPL from a niche "good old boys club" into a national platform for ethics, education, and advocacy in the industry. The conversation explores the association’s evolution, grassroots legislative efforts, and its commitment to building a more inclusive, accountable private lending...
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2025 in Review with Kevin Kim: Defaults, Discipline, and What Comes Next
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim
In this solo wrap-up episode, Kevin Kim reflects on key trends and challenges the private lending industry faced in 2025 while sharing predictions and recommendations for 2026. From increased borrower fraud and rising defaults in major markets to the growth of in-house servicing and securitization opportunities for independent lenders, Kevin explores how lenders can adapt to shifting conditions. He also emphasizes operational discipline, compliance, and technology adoption—including blockchain and AI—as essential strategies for staying competitive in the year ahead. Bullet...
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From Regulation to Resilience: How CMA Champions California Lenders
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim
In this episode of Lender Lounge, host Kevin Kim sits down with Brad Laddusaw of SNL Capital Group and Brock VandenBerg of Talamar Financial for a dynamic discussion on the realities of private lending in California. Both guests bring unique perspectives—Brad as the President of the California Mortgage Association (CMA) and Brock as a seasoned fund manager. They explore topics such as the complexities of lending regulation in California, the role and value of CMA in advocacy and education, the evolution of loan products, and the importance of industry collaboration. The episode offers...
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S5E11 | The Benefits of Balance Sheet Lending featuring Wes Carpenter
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim
Wes Carpenter, Managing Partner at Stormfield Capital, joins Kevin Kim in this episode of Lender Lounge. With a background in multifamily investing and over a decade in private lending, Wes shares the unique story of building Stormfield into a contrarian, institutional-grade lender. Unlike many of its peers, Stormfield operates as a true balance sheet lender with no structural leverage or loan sales, holding over $750 million in AUM. Wes discusses the evolution from syndicating hard money deals to launching a fully audited, institutional fund, highlighting their focus on durability,...
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S5E10 | From Fighting to Funding with “Sam” Sarkis Chivitchian
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim
“Sam” Sarkis Chivitchian is the founder and CEO of Secured Capital Lending, a direct private lending firm specializing in private money and hard money loan products — including fix and flip, construction loans, DSCR, commercial bridge, land loans, and asset-based financing. With over 20 years of experience in real estate and finance and more than 1,200+ transactions closed, Sam has become a recognized voice in the private lending industry. He frequently shares his expertise as a guest speaker at national conferences, podcasts, and industry events. Beyond lending, Sam is a real estate...
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S5E9 | Wall Street Wisdom: Insights From Charlie Woo
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim
Charlie Woo, President of Fidelity Bancorp Funding, joins Kevin Kim in this episode of Lender Lounge. With a deep background in investment banking and a pivotal role in past industry-shaping transactions, Charlie shares why he moved from Wall Street to private lending. Fidelity Bridge Loans focuses on small-balance bridge loans for commercial real estate with an emphasis on multifamily and business-purpose residential properties. Charlie discusses the firm’s strategic balance between retail and institutional capital, their selective growth into DSCR and construction lending, and the...
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S5E8 | The (Unofficial) Roast of Kevin Kim
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim
In this special pre-Captivate episode of Lender Lounge, Fortra Law Partners Kevin Kim, Jennifer Young, and Nema Daghbandan trade industry insights, leadership philosophies, and plenty of jabs in a no-holds-barred “roast” of their own. Set against the backdrop of Captivate 2025, this episode blends serious economic forecasting with personal stories from the trio’s time building Fortra Law. From market expansion and DSCR strategies to parenting styles, grumpiness, and what it means to be a good older sibling (or not), the episode gives listeners an unfiltered, funny, and refreshingly...
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Cultivating Success Through Connection with Kendra Rommel
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim
Kendra Rommel, co-founder of Futures Financial, joins Geraci Partner Jen and Geraci Attorney Nichole for a special “She-Shed” takeover episode of Lender Lounge. Kendra shares her unconventional path from retail to mortgage lending, her early operations experience, and the strategic decisions behind launching Futures with her partner David Rosenberg. The conversation explores balancing personal life and business, building a resilient team, lessons in partnership, and the importance of remaining adaptable in an ever-changing private lending market. Kendra’s story reveals the grit,...
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Live from Renovo’s Top Gun
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim
Kevin Kim hosts a special episode of Lender Lounge on location at Renovo Financial’s Top Gun Event in Los Angeles. Joined by Paul Shaughnessy, a top originator at Renovo, and Kevin Werner, CEO of Renovo Financial, the discussion delves into Renovo's culture of employee investment, relationship-driven lending, and long-term growth strategy. The guests highlight Renovo’s commitment to local market expertise, continuous learning, and a high-performance team culture that drives their success. Insights into client relationships, the importance of local market presence, and future ambitions for...
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When A Cardinal Appears
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim
In this episode of Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim, Briana Hildt, CEO and Founder of Cardinal Capital Group, joins the show to share her remarkable journey in private lending. From starting in asset management to becoming one of Massachusetts' leading private lenders, Briana discusses how she transitioned from a loan broker to launching and scaling her own lending business. She provides insight into the challenges of breaking into the Northeast market, the importance of relationship-driven lending, and how strategic decision-making fueled Cardinal Capital’s success. Briana’s story highlights...
info_outlineLinda Hyde, President of the American Association of Private Lenders (AAPL), joins Kevin Kim to kick off Season 6 of Lender Lounge. In this episode, Linda shares her journey from leading a call center to spearheading one of the most influential organizations in private lending. She reflects on transforming AAPL from a niche "good old boys club" into a national platform for ethics, education, and advocacy in the industry. The conversation explores the association’s evolution, grassroots legislative efforts, and its commitment to building a more inclusive, accountable private lending community. Linda also offers a behind-the-scenes look at AAPL’s growth, upcoming initiatives, and her personal leadership philosophy.
Linda Hyde serves as the President of the American Association of Private Lenders (AAPL), the nation’s leading organization dedicated to supporting and advancing the private lending industry. With a deep commitment to professional standards, advocacy, and education, Linda brings a wealth of leadership experience and industry insight to her role. Under her guidance, AAPL continues to champion ethical practices, foster meaningful connections, and provide valuable resources to private lenders, brokers, and service providers nationwide. Her vision is centered on empowering members and promoting sustainable growth in the evolving landscape of private real estate finance.
Bullet Points:
[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:01:06] Linda Hyde introduces her role as President of AAPL and her early days behind the scenes.
[00:02:26] Record turnout at the 2025 AAPL Annual Conference and reflections on the event's growth.
[00:03:59] How Linda took leadership and shifted AAPL away from exclusionary roots.
[00:06:52] Emphasis on inclusivity and attracting a broad range of companies, from small shops to institutions.
[00:08:34] Key turning point around 2015 as AAPL began offering education and certifications.
[00:11:42] AAPL’s year-round programming and expanded member resources beyond the annual event.
[00:13:21] Importance of in-person connections at events and their role in shaping industry direction.
[00:15:23] AAPL’s formal ethics complaint process and how it protects the industry.
[00:18:26] The ethics committee’s philosophy on accountability and rehabilitation.
[00:19:52] AAPL’s grassroots approach to legislation and how it differs from lobbying.
[00:21:35] Growing recognition of private lending's role in affordable housing by policymakers.
[00:24:59] Balancing the needs of institutional players and emerging lenders within AAPL.
[00:28:21] How Linda handles competing priorities and pressures from larger sponsors.
[00:31:31] Linda’s background running call centers and how those skills translated into AAPL leadership.
[00:36:25] Linda’s approach to learning the industry through observation and asking questions.
[00:39:35] How new lenders and brokers can get involved with AAPL through writing, webinars, and committees.
[00:41:09] Creation of the fraud committee in response to increasing concerns in the market.
[00:43:11] Why AAPL declined to create or support a “blacklist” of industry participants.
[00:46:08] The fraud committee's focus on providing tools and standards—not policing behavior.
[00:47:31] Recognizing the community effort behind AAPL’s growth and Linda’s appreciation for her team.
[00:50:50] Linda’s perspective on the current market cycle and continued opportunity in private lending.
[00:53:05] AAPL’s plan to remain nimble and responsive in times of crisis.
[00:54:17] How Fortra and AAPL partnered closely during COVID to support the industry.
[00:56:44] Education and university partnerships as key initiatives for 2026.
[00:57:40] A call for members to volunteer as educators and get more involved with AAPL.
Links:
Learn more about American Association of Private Lenders at: https://aaplonline.com/
Learn more about Geraci Law Firm at: https://www.geracilawfirm.com
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