On Track to Break $100 million feat. Alan Peterson | Ep. 180
Release Date: 05/29/2025
A.I. Disruption: Time to Throw Out The Old Playbook ft. David Tinsley | Ep. 181
The Art of SBA Lending
This week on The Art of SBA Lending, Ray Drew sits down with David Tinsley of Lenders Cooperative to unravel the shifting landscape of SBA lending and the role of technology and LSPs in shaping its future. Recorded live from the MALC conference, they dive into the buzz surrounding the unannounced new SOP and what it means for lenders. From the challenges of scaling an SBA division to the surprising dominance of AI in industry conversations, Ray and David explore how to navigate growth, manage risk, and foster innovation — "throwing the whole playbook out". They also tackle the ongoing debate...
info_outline
On Track to Break $100 million feat. Alan Peterson | Ep. 180
The Art of SBA Lending
This week on The Art of SBA Lending, I sit down with the incredible Alan Peterson, BDO from First Internet Bank. Alan isn't just closing deals; he's redefining what it means to be a top producer in SBA lending, reaching over $30 million year-to-date and tracking towards an astonishing $120 million annually! Ray Drew and Alan dive deep into the mindset of a high-volume BDO, the strategic art of saying "no" to grow faster, and why true business value isn't always what it seems. They discuss navigating the complexities of deals, the crucial role of data and innovation in banking, and why being a...
info_outline
On Track to Break $100 million feat. Alan Peterson | Ep. 180
The Art of SBA Lending
This week on The Art of SBA Lending, I sit down with the incredible Alan Peterson, BDO from First Internet Bank. Alan isn't just closing deals; he's redefining what it means to be a top producer in SBA lending, reaching over $30 million year-to-date and tracking towards an astonishing $120 million annually! Ray Drew and Alan dive deep into the mindset of a high-volume BDO, the strategic art of saying "no" to grow faster, and why true business value isn't always what it seems. They discuss navigating the complexities of deals, the crucial role of data and innovation in banking, and why being a...
info_outline
Untold Stories: The Rise and Fall of an SBLC feat. Kirk Beason | Ep. 179
The Art of SBA Lending
This week on The Art of SBA Lending, we're sitting down with a true SBA powerhouse: Kirk Beeson, SBA Managing Director at Veritex Community Bank, and former Chief Credit Officer (and so much more!) at Fund-Ex Solutions Group. Ray Drew and Kirk take a deep dive into the inside story of Fund-Ex: from its promising start-up days to navigating the chaos of PPP and the eventual sale. What does it really take to build an SBA shop from the ground up? How do you maintain culture while scaling at lightning speed? And when do you know it's time to step away? 🎯 In this episode: ➡️The...
info_outline
The Model Has Changed: Rethinking SBA Operations ft. Mike Breckheimer, Brian Carlson & Chris Kwiatkowski | Ep. 178
The Art of SBA Lending
This week on The Art of SBA Lending, we're confronting the hard truth: the traditional SBA lending model no longer works. Rising overhead, margin compression, and tighter audits have flipped the economics, and now, shops across the country are closing or scrambling to restructure. So what’s the new model? And how do you scale without losing control? Ray Drew is joined by three SBA leaders navigating this shift in real time. Mike Breckheimer, Brian Carlson, and Chris Kwiatkowski are coming together to unpack the numbers, the pitfalls, and the path forward. 🎯 In this episode: ➡️...
info_outline
MCA Debate: Ryan Kroge and Joe Alam vs John Dicanio and Jerry Cocuzzo | Ep. 177
The Art of SBA Lending
This week on The Art of SBA Lending, we're diving headfirst into one of the most controversial topics in small business finance: Merchant Cash Advances (MCAs). Are they a necessary lifeline—or a dangerous trap? Ray Drew brings together a panel of experienced lenders and brokers to debate the role of MCAs in today’s lending landscape. Featuring Ryan Kroge (First Internet Bank), Joseph Alam III (Midstates Advisors), John DiCanio (Fund My Biz), and Jerry Cocuzzo (FundAll Capital), the group tackles: ➡️ The pros, cons, and misconceptions of MCA lending ➡️ Why MCAs exploded post-2008...
info_outline
Ray’s Top 10 Priorities for the SBA ft. Charles Green, Jeannie Yoder, and Shane Pierson | Ep. 176
The Art of SBA Lending
This week on The Art of SBA Lending, Ray is laying out his own list of top 10 priorities for the SBA, several of which might shock you. But hey, if the SBA wants change, let's give em change. Joined by Ray is a panel of Art of SBA contributors: Charles Green, Jeannie Yoder, and Shane Pierson to discuss: ➡️ Changes to SBA 7a policy ➡️ Some fresh ideas that could streamline the program ➡️ How to avoid throwing the baby out with the bathwater ➡️ Timeline for the new SOP that is inevitably dropping ➡️ Predictions for the SBA landscape in the next 12 months Join Ray and his...
info_outline
Addressing the SBA Default Crisis ft. Jane Castro, Kay Anderson, and Mike Breckheimer | Ep. 175
The Art of SBA Lending
This week on The Art of SBA Lending, we're tackling one of the hottest topics in the industry: the rising SBA default rates. With concerns mounting over repayment trends, economic conditions, and policy shifts, it's time to cut through the noise and get to the facts. Ray Drew and an expert panel of Art of SBA contributors discuss: ➡️ The 3.69% default rate—how bad is it, really? ➡️ Why defaults are rising and whether it's just economic cycles catching up ➡️ How lenders can proactively manage risk and prevent unnecessary losses ➡️ The impact of interest rate hikes vs. SBA rule...
info_outline
The Dogefather Strikes at the SBA ft. Darren Davis, Javier Jorge, and Brooke Mirenda | Ep. 174
The Art of SBA Lending
This week on The Art of SBA Lending, we’re diving into the Twitter war of the century: Elon Musk vs. the SBA. It all started when Musk called the Small Business Administration the "Shady Business Administration" and claimed that only 8% of SBA loans get paid back. Naturally, we had to set the record straight. Ray Drew and an expert panel of Art of SBA Contributors discuss: ➡️ The impact of Musk’s comments and whether misinformation could disrupt the SBA ➡️ The reality of SBA loan repayment rates (spoiler: it’s not 8%) ➡️ What happens if the SBA 7(a) program is...
info_outline
BDO Power Panel: Live from the BDO Retreat ft. Glenn Giro, Alan Peterson & Jared W Johnson | Ep. 173
The Art of SBA Lending
What does it take to rise as a leader in the competitive and ever-changing SBA lending space? In this episode of The Art of SBA Lending, we’re joined by Glenn Giro, Alan Peterson, and Jared W. Johnson—three industry leaders who share their insights into navigating the dynamic world of SBA lending, overcoming challenges, and seizing new opportunities. SBA lending is full of growth potential, but it’s not without its challenges. Today, we dive into how these experts are leading the charge, adapting to market changes, and embracing innovation to stay ahead. Key topics include: •...
info_outlineThis week on The Art of SBA Lending, I sit down with the incredible Alan Peterson, BDO from First Internet Bank. Alan isn't just closing deals; he's redefining what it means to be a top producer in SBA lending, reaching over $30 million year-to-date and tracking towards an astonishing $120 million annually!
Ray Drew and Alan dive deep into the mindset of a high-volume BDO, the strategic art of saying "no" to grow faster, and why true business value isn't always what it seems. They discuss navigating the complexities of deals, the crucial role of data and innovation in banking, and why being a trusted advisor is paramount.
🎯 In this episode:
-
The Power of "No": How strategic selectivity leads to massive growth.
-
MBA vs. Blue Collar: Understanding true business ownership and cash flow beyond the books.
-
The Innovation Imperative: Why banks embracing data (like Lumos) are set to dominate the future of lending.
-
Beyond the Brokers: Why sourcing 85% of your own deals makes you a more objective and effective advisor.
-
Sleep Well Deals: The difference between simply buying a business and buying one you can actually sleep on.
-
The Evolution of a Lender: How perspective and gratitude reshape your approach to the "hard" parts of the job.
💬 What are your thoughts on growing by saying "no" more often? Share your take in the comments!
🎙 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.
Loving The Art of SBA Lending episodes? Make sure to follow along with our sister shows, The BDO Show and SBA Today, each week with the links below!
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.