TSL Feature Articles
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Deep in the Heart of Texas
Sep 3, 2025Texas is quickly putting itself on the commercial finance map with recent new firms starting and a region that is clearly growing.
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Non-Loan Party Restricted Subsidiaries: A Key Pitfall
Aug 25, 2025Explore how Non-Loan Party Restricted Subsidiaries are reshaping the risk landscape for lenders. This article reveals how their EBITDA is often included in loan covenant calculations— despite not backing the debt—creating hidden vulnerabilities. Using real-world scenarios and the recent At Home transaction, it exposes the subtle, but serious, threats these subsidiaries pose, and why lenders must rethink their protections in today’s evolving market.
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Further Reflections on the Year of Elections – Where Are We Now?
Aug 20, 2025In a world where global politics and security seem to shift with every headline, understanding the forces behind today’s volatility is more crucial than ever. This article takes you inside the aftermath of 2024’s “Year of Elections,” exploring how voter pessimism, rising populism, and unpredictable leaders are redrawing the map of international risk. Discover why businesses and analysts alike must stay agile in this era of relentless change. -
Asset-based lending, or asset-backed lending? What is the difference, and why does it matter?
Jun 25, 2025The secured finance industry already knows the distinction between these two lending strategies. But these terms are often used interchangeably in public commentary, pitch materials, and industry conferences. If you are a capital allocator trying to capture the strengths of asset-based lending, or a regulator trying to understand what should be considered an asset-backed strategy, you have your work cut out for you.
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The Transformative Power of Servant Leadership in Modern Business
Discover how servant leadership is reshaping today’s business world. This article explores the core principles behind this transformative approach, shares real-world examples from top companies, and reveals why prioritizing the growth and well-being of your team can unlock extraordinary results. -
Where Are They Now? Catching up with Previous SFNet 40 Under 40 Award Winners
SFNet 40 Under 40 Award recipients share how the Award affected their careers and advice for the Class of 2025.
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5 YEARS LATER: Remote Work’s Enduring Impact on the Secured Finance Industry
Jun 9, 2025Five years after the COVID-19 lockdowns sparked a widespread shift to remote work, the secured finance industry is still exploring what “normal” looks like. In this in-depth article, leaders from across the sector share candid insights on productivity, culture, hiring, training, and communication in a post-pandemic world. From hybrid skeptics to fully remote advocates, their stories reveal the complexity—and opportunity—of evolving workplace models. -
SFNet Chapter Events Roundup
May 29, 2025SFNet has 18 local Chapters, offering the opportunity to connect you to the pulse of SFNet’s active communities across the country. While SFNet’s national conferences drive industry-wide dialogue, Chapter events let you dive into regional interests and challenges, providing opportunities to engage with peers who understand your market and build relationships that fuel growth.
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Forging the Future of Secured Finance: Highlights from SFNet’s 8th Emerging Leaders Summit
May 29, 2025SFNet's Emerging Leaders Summit was held in Boston, MA for the first time, April 30-May 1 and drew more than 150 attendees. The Summit, now in its 8th year, is a dynamic conference designed to unite professionals with 6-15 years of experience in secured finance, providing an unparalleled opportunity to gain insights from titans who have navigated the intricacies of the field. Attendees engaged in thought-provoking panels where industry luminaries offered a unique perspective on both the industry and effective leadership.
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Addressing Legal Challenges in Utilizing AI
May 27, 2025Since its 2022 release, ChatGPT has revolutionized industries, but its integration into legal and business operations raises critical concerns. This article explores pressing AI legal issues, such as compliance with evolving laws, data protection, and the consequences of AI errors in real-world applications. Understanding these concerns is essential for businesses to navigate AI adoption successfully.
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Inspiring the Next Generation: How the Secured Finance Foundation’s Guest Lecture Program and Martin I. Katz Scholarship Are Shaping Future Secured Finance Leaders
May 22, 2025Launched in 2019, SFFound’s Guest Lecture Program aims to educate and inspire young, diverse talent in the secured finance industry by introducing students to asset-based lending (ABL), factoring, and other secured lending disciplines.
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An Interview with Robert Love, Group Director of ABL at Flagstar Bank
May 16, 2025In this installment of our series of executive interviews, Charlie Perer sits with Bob Love, Asset-Based Lending (ABL) Group Director for Flagstar Bank, to hear his views about his new role at Flagstar Bank, bank vs. non-bank competition, the future of ABL, executive development and competition, among other things. -
Appraisers Assess the Impact of Tariffs, Economic Worry on Valuations
May 13, 2025The recent surge in U.S. tariffs and retaliatory measures from trading partners is reshaping the global economic landscape, leaving businesses and secured lenders grappling with uncertainty. From rising costs to shifting valuations, this article dives deep into the challenges posed by these sweeping changes
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Preparing for Tariff Impacts: Insights for Secured Lenders on Managing Customs Bond Challenges
May 1, 2025The global trade environment is facing a seismic shift with the imposition of new tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada—with reciprocal tariffs likely to follow. Historically, duty-free trade agreements under USMCA helped U.S. businesses optimize their supply chains. However, as of the reference point date of March 4, 2025 (tariffs are changing frequently), the United States has imposed tariffs that fluctuate frequently and could likely change at the time of article publication.
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Economic Outlook
Apr 14, 2025The announcement of new tariffs by President Trump marks the beginning of a critical and uncertain phase for the U.S. economy. While the full impact is still unfolding, early signs point to a significant economic slowdown, rising prices, and heightened inflation. -
Stronger Than Ever: Women, Work and the Power of Resilience
Mar 11, 2025Featuring insights from PNC’s Eileen Kowalski, Newpoint Advisors’ Carin Sorvik, Hilco’s Ervisa Ismailaj, and KPMG’s Andrea Beirne, this article delves into gender dynamics, and the hurdles women face in male-dominated sectors. Discover how these leaders have thrived and their perspectives on the progress—and remaining gaps—in achieving gender parity. -
The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership:
Mar 7, 2025Learn from inspiring women executives who prove that empathy, active listening, and relationship-building aren’t just soft skills—they’re powerful strategies for business success, driving profitability, retention, and meaningful connections.
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Cannabis Lending: Are You Ready to Fire It Up?
Feb 18, 2025When Federal and State laws collide, doing business is complicated and fraught. In this article, Riemer and Braunstein LLP commercial finance attorneys Lon M. Singer and Lyle P. Stein explore the background, evolution, and emerging landscape applicable to financing industry – with practical guidance for the cannabis1 both the lending and legal communities.
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Is Your ABL Collateral Covered? Why Action and Close Monitoring Are More Critical Now Than Ever Before
Feb 10, 2025As the market grapples with increased restructurings and rising bankruptcy costs, asset-based lenders face significant risks if they fail to understand the true position of their collateral within a timely manner. Across industries, asset values are declining rapidly. This necessitates more active and frequent collateral and borrowing-base monitoring. This article explores the challenges and evolving trends across asset classes and the implications for asset-based lenders.
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Interview with Otterbourg Attorneys: Over 100 Years of Providing Legal Expertise to the Secured Finance Industry
Feb 5, 2025TSL’s editor-in-chief sat down with Otterbourg attorneys Allen Cremer, Dan Fiorillo, Pauline McTernan and Lena Surilov, to discuss the firm’s secret to success over the past 100 years, what lenders should look out for in 2025 and possible implications of the election. Based in New York City, Otterbourg represents financial institutions (including banks, asset-based lenders, hedge funds, finance companies and insurance companies) and corporations and other business enterprises.
Click on the link below to meet some of the “difference makers” in the secured finance community. This issue of The Secured Lender celebrates those who are having a profound impact on both their communities and their organizations.
Previous TSL Articles
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Resilient and Strong: Q3 2025 ABL Market Sets Record Amid Macro Uncertainty
Nov 10, 2025
Amid a backdrop of rapidly changing geopolitical risks, trade policy recalibration, rising concern over the labor market and consumer spending and tepid M&A activity, the U.S. asset-based lending market delivered the highest quarterly volume on record excluding the volume relating to LIBOR cessation in 2023.
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Betty Hernandez: Leading SFNet with Vision and Dedication
Nov 3, 2025Betty Hernandez, executive vice president and chief credit officer, SLR Business Credit, and incoming SFNet president, shares her career journey and extensive involvement with SFNet. She discusses her priorities as SFNet president and vision for the future of the secured finance industry. -
Reflections on Asset-Based Lending with Mike Scolaro
Oct 29, 2025
In the ever-evolving world of secured lending, few voices resonate as deeply as Mike Scolaro, Group Head of Asset-Based Lending at BMO Commercial Bank. Recently featured on SFNet Presents In The Know with host Barry Bobrow, Scolaro, who has announced he will be retiring in the coming months, shared candid reflections on his career, the transformation of ABL, and what lies ahead for the industry.
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SFNet’s 81st Annual Convention: Building Connections and Strategies for the Future of Secured Finance
Oct 27, 2025Featuring a new Tuesday-Thursday format, with a golf outing on Friday, this year’s SFNet Annual Convention offers unique networking opportunities and timely topical panels to help attendees continue to rise to the challenge. In a time of disruption and transformation, the secured finance community is resilient, innovative, and determined to thrive. The Convention serves as and your opportunity to discover new business prospects, build meaningful connections, and gain critical insights to move your organization forward.
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The First Brands Collapse: A Cautionary Tale
Oct 14, 2025While lenders have always dealt with “bad or problem loans” as part of the business, the size, complexity and speed in which First Brands collapsed into bankruptcy has rattled lending markets. -
Strategies to Overcome Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) Challenges: Insights and Solutions from Industry Experts
Sep 9, 2025Merchant cash advance (MCA) lending has become a disruptive force in the alternative finance sector, reshaping how small and mid‑sized businesses access capital — and how lenders assess and protect their positions. In a July 29 webinar hosted by SFNet, "Strategies to Overcome MCA Challenges," three leading experts — Richard Simon, partner, Mandelbaum Barrett PC, Marc Mellman, managing director, MCA Stacking Solutions and Stuart Wells, counsel, White and Williams LLP — shared insights on the growth of MCAs, the risks they present, regulatory changes, litigation strategies, and how both lenders and merchants can handle this challenging environment.
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Leaning Into Strengths: A Strategic Edge for Developing Talent
Jul 28, 2025In today’s competitive landscape, companies across industries are seeking ways to unlock higher productivity, employee engagement, and long-term performance. One increasingly effective and research-backed strategy is shifting from fixing weaknesses to developing strengths and helping individuals do more of what they naturally do best.
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One Big Beautiful Bill Act Delivers Major Tax Changes
Jul 7, 2025The One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025, permanently extends key provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act while introducing new measures affecting secured lenders and their borrowers. The legislation passed the Senate 51-50 with Vice President Vance casting the tie-breaking vote on July 1, followed by House approval on July 3.
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The Power of Inclusiveness in Secured Finance
Jun 30, 2025Inclusiveness is not just a buzzword; it’s a transformative force that has shaped my career in secured finance and asset-based lending. Over the years, I’ve witnessed firsthand how an inclusive environment fosters innovation, collaboration, and ultimately, success. -
Leading with Agility: Niamh Kristufek on Her Role at First Business Bank
Jun 11, 2025Niamh Kristufek discusses her role as President - Specialty Finance of First Business Bank as well as challenges the industry is facing, including tariff, economic uncertainty and building client relationships at a specialized bank.
The Secured Lender
SFNet's The Year Ahead Issue
© 2026 Secured Finance Network
