I started today's video blog by mentioning the famous “Join or Die” cartoon Ben Franklin used to rally the American colonies together during the Revolutionary War. Even though the phrase might be a little severe, I think it's a good jumping-off point in explaining the CREED Act, and asking for yo
...
06/07/2013
For the third time in my career, I’ve been honored as the SBA Financial Services Champion of the Year (2006, 2010, and now 2013), and this kind of recognition never gets old. Of course it feels good to win awards and to get the attention that goes along with it, but it also gives me a chance to b
...
05/22/2013
Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been saying that we’re going to see a decrease in small business loans this year, likely in the 20 to 30 percent range. The primary reason for my gloomy outlook is that both the SBA 504 Refinance and FMLP programs expired last September. In my video blog on A
...
05/08/2013
One thing I love about my job is hearing the stories from small business owners all over the country. Last year, we helped 97 small business owners in 27 states purchase, construct, renovate, or refinance their commercial property. When you work with that many business owners, you’re bound to hea
...
04/24/2013
I’ve been on record saying that the SBA will likely see a 20 to 30 percent decrease in 504 loan volume in fiscal year 2013. Despite the fact that the SBA is coming off back-to-back record-breaking years, I expect this drop-off in 504 loans due in large part to the 504 refinance and secondary mark
...
04/05/2013
April Fools’ Day is usually a pretty interesting day around Mercantile Headquarters. Robin is our chief prankster, and she’s gotten some of us pretty good over the years. There was the time she told me Jorge Bouche called from 202-456-1111 and asked that I call him back. Turns out that’s the Whit
...
03/28/2013
I’ve been honored by having my book, The Entrepreneur’s Secret to Creating Wealth, nominated for Small Business Trend’s 5th Annual Small Business Book Awards. Currently, it’s in first place in the personal finance category, but I still need your help. If you’ve voted for me already I thank you, b
...
03/21/2013
The last two years have seen record-shattering levels of government-guaranteed lending, which includes the SBA 504 loan program (aka the SmartChoice® Commercial Loan). In terms of loan volume, 2011 and 2012 were the biggest and second biggest years (respectively) in the history of the SBA. Since
...
03/15/2013
The folks at Small Business Trends (www.smallbiztrends.com) are hosting their 5th Annual Small Business Book Awards, and someone was kind enough to nominate my book, The Entrepreneur’s Secret to Creating Wealth. I’d like you to go vote, and here’s why: Back in 2007, the Small Business Trends peop
...
03/06/2013
If you’re anything like me, you’ve grown weary of all the high drama in Washington these days. First the Fiscal Cliff; now the looming Sequester; next month it’ll be something else. But as we sit on the edge of our seats waiting to find out what will happen tomorrow, I’d like to tell you why the
...
02/28/2013