TSL Feature Articles
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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.
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Wingspire Capital Continues to Soar After Five Years With Diversified Solutions and a Long-Term View
Feb 3, 2025The Secured Lender’s editor-in-chief sat down with David Wisen, founder & CEO of Wingspire Capital, to discuss Wingspire’s evolution and keys to success as well as his outlook for the future. -
Celebrating the Achievements of SFNet Chapters
Dec 17, 2024The Secured Finance Network’s 20 Chapters are comprised of professionals with great insight and experience. From golf outings to educational events, several Chapters shared their highlights from the past year.
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Part 2 -Taking Security in Cross-Border Lending: (How Do You Know) the Steps to Take or Whose Law Is It Anyway?
Dec 2, 2024David Morse of Otterbourg P.C. explores the key relevant rights of the Secured Lender and “Third-Party Effectiveness”, what happens if the obligor on the receivable is located outside
of the United States?, Rome I Regulation and more. Part 1 of this article appeared in the September/October issue of The Secured Lender. -
Appraisers See a Mixed Picture for Valuations
Nov 18, 2024Secured lenders increasingly rely on appraisers for swift and accurate valuations amid rising complexities in asset-based lending. With business bankruptcies up 40% and ongoing supply chain challenges, appraisers must adapt quickly to maintain their vital role in the underwriting process, ensuring lenders receive the critical insights needed to navigate this evolving landscape.
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Faces of Freedom
Nov 11, 2024Walter Schuppe, formerly of Pacific Western Bank, started Faces of Freedom in 2019 to
express gratitude to and honor the sacrifices and service of U.S. Military veterans and their families. The project uses black and white portraits and oral histories, as told by each veteran, to help connect a face with a personal story. -
Eyes on the Future: SFNet Welcomes its Youngest President in 80 Years
Nov 4, 2024Robert Meyers, managing member and president of Republic Business Credit, discusses his over 10 years of SFNet involvement to where he is today, as well as his goals as SFNet’s incoming president, which include creating a larger and more inclusive community to benefit its members and accelerate access to those in need of capital.
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Navigating Cybersecurity Challenges in the Lending Industry
Oct 14, 2024Attorneys from Mandelbaum Barrett PC explore how the rising cyber threats and stringent regulations facing lenders and the essential strategies for developing robust cybersecurity programs, safeguarding data, and maintaining regulatory compliance in a rapidly changing landscape.
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SFNet 2024 President Barry Bobrow Reflects on a Successful Year
Oct 2, 2024Bobrow discusses the highlights of his tenure as president of SFNet, challenges and opportunities faced, and advice for incoming SFNet President, Rob Meyers.
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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Interview with Neil Aaronson, President of Hilco Global
Nov 17, 2025Hilco Global recently announced a strategic transformation designed to position the company for its next stage of growth. The firm has streamlined its 20+ operating companies into two new divisions, Hilco Global Professional Services and Hilco Global Capital Solutions, creating a more integrated platform to deliver comprehensive financial solutions.
As part of this evolution, Neil Aaronson, along with other key executives, will play a central role in driving integration and execution. Here, Neil shares insight into the strategic vision behind the transformation and Hilco Global’s long-term growth goals. -
Strategic Report: U.S. Freight Capacity Shake-Out & Factoring Industry Risk Analysis
Nov 13, 2025The U.S. freight-transportation industry is undergoing one of the most significant structural contractions in its history. Market indicators suggest that up to 600,000 drivers may exit the industry amid suppressed freight volumes, rising operating costs, and persistent margin pressure. This transformation affects the entire transportation ecosystem and poses substantial credit, operational, and fraud risks for factoring companies. -
Navigating the Switch: Practical Considerations in the Transition from Commercial Bank Loans to Private Credit Loans in the Middle Market
Nov 11, 2025Many articles compare syndicated loans and private credit loans as asset classes, often noting the faster execution of private credit lenders and the lower cost of capital in syndicated bank deals. However, these types of articles often skip over the practical challenges that can arise when refinancing a syndicated bank loan with a private credit loan. This article will highlight several of those topics and the related considerations that borrowers in the middle market and lower middle market should keep in mind.
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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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