$100M Funded | How She Built a Nationwide Private Lending Company

Today's guest is Janine Casio. She's the CEO and founder of Simple Lending Financial. She's funded over 100 million seller worth of private loans originated through her programs in her company. She has 10 full-time employees, nationwide reach, and you have a dual founder success. So, you have something called She Funds Academy. That's quite a lot. Janine, >> I graduated with an accounting degree, but ended up moving to New York City, chasing a dream of modeling full-time. I

also wanted to be successful, like really successful. Didn't know what I wanted to do to become that, but I gave myself till 25 to kind of chase the modeling dream. >> I was doing a lot of gigs, but I knew it was more of a hustle. Didn't feel like this was something for abundance. COVID happened and I moved to Houston and right after COVID I ended up buying a house and starting a company in the same

month and I was like I'm going to do my own thing and I was able to like raise 500k in first 3 months and I was just like is this easy when you're bringing on people and payroll is getting bigger and bigger and then you're up and like you toss and turn at 3:00 a.m. thinking of business ideas and how you can expand and then it becomes a little sleepless but it gets easier over time. What

would you say is the secret sauce to selling Janine? >> Yeah. Well, >> welcome to another episode of Pick up the phone podcast. I'm your host, Tossanas. I'm the CEO of Vancom.io. I help companies scale with marketing, sales, and artificial intelligence. Today's guest is Janine Casio, like the watch. [laughter] She's the CEO and find founder of Simple Lending Financial. Um she's funded over a hundred millions uh $100 million worth of private loans originated through her programs

in her company. Um she has 10 full-time employees um nationwide reach um and you have a dual founder success. So you have something called sheont academy. So >> uh that's quite a lot Janine. Uh I'm really excited to get into that in in a bit. >> Same. Thank you for having me on the podcast. something. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. So, um I always like to to start from the beginning, right? Who are you? Where are you from?

Where were you born? You know, where did you go to school? All that stuff. And then how did you transition into it? So, um let's start at the beginning. Where you from? >> Yeah. So, I'm from Long Island, New York. Um I went to college in Philadelphia. I had a full ride to play soccer. Um so, it was nice. I went to a nice private school. I graduated with an accounting degree. Um, but ended up moving

to New York City. Um, chasing a dream of modeling full-time. So, um, I was modeling. I was doing a lot of music videos and cataloges and I was more of a print, uh, model than a runway model, obviously, because I'm 5'5. Um, but I knew at a certain age that >> I also wanted to be successful, like really successful. I didn't didn't know what I wanted to do to become that, but I gave myself till 25

to kind of chase the modeling dream. I was doing a lot of gigs, but I knew it was more of a hustle. >> It didn't feel like this was something for abundance, right? >> Um, so at 25, I actually got offered a job at a family office and, um, I worked as a loan officer there, but it was a small niche family office. I worked right next to the CEO. I was um there were three brothers

that were like the main investors in the family office and I was super close with them and um a lot of the conferences they went to they took me on and uh more of a booth girl. >> Yeah. But um I was able to really get to know the industry and I kind of fell in love with the industry and then I got to meet so many people across the country and I also knew who they

sold their loans to and I like that I was even at capital markets type dinners and things like that. So I ended up becoming even friends with their attorney and their attorney now runs the National Private Lenders Association conference which is a nationwide conference. So, I'm actually a member of that. >> So, I I just really indulged myself even working at this family office. >> Um, COVID happened and I moved to Houston. Um, ended up just

finding a place. >> It's kind of random. Like, >> it was really random. >> So, you're like in New York. >> I was kind of seeing a guy in Houston. >> All right. [laughter] All right. >> But that makes more sense. >> Yes. But it was still like monthto month. Like I didn't sign anything long term. Um, but then when we actually broke up is when I had that moment of >> do I move back to

New York or do I stay in Houston? And um, I had a lot of single friends in Houston. I was single at the time. Like my whole family is like married with kids. And like if I was to be back to New York, it'd be nice to be next to my family, but at the same time, I was at a different phase in my life, >> right? And I was at that point like, you know, I

need to start investing in myself because I can't just like be here for a guy and like live his life. Like I want to live my life, >> right? >> And that's literally the year of like change for me. I >> What year was this? >> I was 29 years old. It was 2022. Um so about three years ago. And right after co um I ended up buying a house and starting a company in the same

month. >> In the same month. >> Yes. Wow. >> I was like >> talk about drastic change. >> Yeah. So I was just like looking at houses and like home prices. And I'm like I need something like for my mental health like something stable, something you can call home. And I didn't want to rent an like I was such like coming from New York City. I was such a high-rise girl living in a studio apartment in

New York. And then I ended up finding a house that like my mortgage that I pay is like less money than like the studio apartment in New York City. Like you know, >> anything's cheaper than New York. >> Exactly. So I was like, "Oh my god, I'm just going to buy a house. Like it doesn't have to even be longterm, but like let me at least have something that is mine, >> right?" >> And that's like

where I was at. Um, and then I even with the family office I was working with, I was still actually working with them even when I was in Houston, just remote because they let everyone be remote during COVID. But then they were calling people back. And then they were like even offering me a nice decent raise and all of that to come back to New York >> and I was like, I'm going to do my own

thing. [laughter] So yeah, I ended up doing my own thing. And at first it was just a job for myself. I'm like, let me just work for myself. Like I don't have to answer to anyone and call to anyone and I could just be on my own schedule. And at first it was like, how much money can I make and how little do I have to work? Like you know, >> I was like, okay, I'll go

to Pilates at 1. I'll do some calls. I'll close a few few deals and I'll make more money than I made, you know. But now, I don't know what it was, but when I first started the company, I like had a few like women DM me that like they were inspired by me. >> And then like I was getting so much support >> being >> just a woman founder in the space, >> a woman in a

male dominated industry. >> And I was able to like raise 500k in like the first three months. And I was just like, wait, >> nice. >> Is this easy? Yeah. And if I showed you the Instagram reels of like when I first started my company, like in these like leather skinny tight pants with a crop top, like I take myself way more serious now, but like three just three years ago I was still a model. Like

I was still like, >> you know, in bathing suits and all my Instagram pictures and like that Instagram girl like and now it's just like no, I'm the CEO [ __ ] like you know. >> So it's just like crazy how much it changed. I think you know like as you as you age you know and as you get a little bit more maturity and wisdom in life you start realizing what's truly important right and you

had your your stage of life you know you were a model like hey that's perfectly fine and that was >> you know you know the the whole bikini thing that you mentioned but hey now you're like stepping into this new era you know it seems like you have like a very successful company you're the CEO you have 10 employees I mean that's no easy feat >> so um you know kudos to you to be able to

accomplish all that >> um I I'm I'm actually really curious though because I think you know for for people to like >> know exactly who you are like what was that like being a model in New York City. I feel like a lot of people would want to know what that is what what that's like you know especially girls out there right a lot of people would aspire to that. So that's that even in in its

own is a a huge success. What was that like for you? Yeah, it it's great, don't get me wrong, because you end up like going to events and parties that like only like models are invited to and then you have like celebrities and like it's all this like extravaganza. >> But on the flip side, you could get caught so easily in that night life like because they want models at every party and event and exclusivity and

things like that. So then you end up like being out four or five nights a week and then like casting calls are like a hustle and it's really like a no sleep go. Yeah. >> And it gets tiring. But then I had a lot of like people I kind of looked up to that were kind of >> I realized that their lifestyle wasn't what I wanted for myself. meaning like >> there were like maybe like mid-4s,

no family, like things like that. And I knew I wanted kids. I knew I'm five months pregnant now, >> so I'm getting Thank you. I'm getting what I want. >> But like it at one point I was just like I can't stay here too long like at least with who I'm surrounding myself with. >> Um because it wasn't aligning like with what I wanted for myself. >> Right. Got it. Yeah. >> Well, I love that. I

mean, >> you're not a tree, right? you you're not planning anywhere, so you're able to move away and be able to go and chase your dreams. So, kudos to you. >> Um, when you when you started with the with the office, the family office, is that when you got your uh your loan, your MLO license? >> Um, no. I actually didn't get my NMLS license until I was in Houston and started my own company. Um, because

they always kept it very separate. Um, the people that were doing conventional and the people that were doing private money like and you don't need a license. to do private. Um, so they actually were very encouraging for you not to get it because >> they had their people doing conventional and they only wanted those people to focus on, >> right? >> That was hard money like through and through. Like I was Yeah, that's what my main

focus. >> Got it. Got it. So, let's uh let's talk about the beginning of Simple Lending then. How was how was that like? Um, a lot of sleepless nights, I'm assuming. >> Yeah, for sure. Um, well, not at first. at first the first few months of just working with myself. Um that part's easy. It's when you're scaling. It's when you're bringing on people on payrolls getting bigger and bigger and then you're up and like you toss

and turn at 3:00 a.m. thinking of business ideas and how you can expand. Um and then it becomes a little sleepless. Um but it gets easier over time. But I do remember when I first took on a few employees and my payroll was going up and I was just like this is insane. Like what? I'm spending 30 G's a month just on paying people. [laughter] >> Yeah. Not even including like your rent. >> No, marketing expense

>> and it comes every month like you know >> you got to keep up with it. So you better be making money. >> Yes. Exactly. >> So uh the first couple of months you said that you raised 500k. What what are those 500k for? >> Um so it was just uh debt that I took on from Simple Lending Financial obviously to allocate it out and um I pay my investors around 9 and a half% on a

monthly basis. So then I make a spread on that because we usually charge clients around 12% and then obviously all the origination and fees we keep in house. Um but yeah, that was my goal to start my own fund and really ramp that up. Um, and yeah, I I think, you know, going back just picturing that person in light uh leather pants and a crop top, like it's just funny because um I want to inspire people

and that's kind of the mission that I've been on is like kind of like if I could do it, you could do it, too. >> Um so yeah. >> What do you think when you look back and you think about that throw in the leather pants with a crop top? >> It's funny. Yeah, I mean it's not far off of who I am now. Like I'm still like always in minikrts in my office and um I

think a lot of it's like this is who I am and that's why I attract certain people to work with me. I always pride myself on being authentic and letting people in my office be authentic because I think that's when you really cultivate the people who want to work with you and not like you're not trying to please everyone. But I've been told so many times at the conferences I go to like, I think you'll be

taken more seriously if you like fully cover yourself and like things like that. I'm like, >> if if you don't want to work with me cuz I'm in a mini skirt, then don't. >> Bye. [laughter] >> Plenty of other people that won't care about that at all. >> Exactly. Yeah. But no, I am way more conservative than I was. But that's just also I'm three I'm 33 now, so I'm three years older as well. Um um

and modeling is far beyond me than than it was then. That then was more of a quicker transition. >> Yeah, absolutely. So you're um so let's talk about also how you started um scaling the company. What was what was that like? What kind of systems did you have to put into place? What kind of business were you doing? Um >> actually, let's talk about this. What were some of the early wins that you had when you

started your when you were doing business? I think you did $25 million in your first year. What was that like? >> So, at first it was, you know, I told myself like, okay, I have to like be prepared for the first year of like not making money. Like, I'm just going to like grind and like start this business up and like then it was like the first 30 days and I made more money than [laughter] I

than I ever thought I was going to make. And it was like 30 days. >> Yeah. Yeah. And >> how much how much did you make in the first 30 days? >> I think we brought in like 25K that month and it was just like >> okay. >> And then like little effort very Yeah. And that was when I was only trying to work three or four hours a day like max. Like I'm like I need

to go to my Pilates. I need to do this. >> Yeah. >> Um so then it was like that January February like maybe like four months in I was I then hired Sydney. Um Sydney's my chief operating officer now. We actually met playing soccer as like free agents. We just ended up on this team together and we played a few seasons together >> back in New York. >> And no, this is in Houston. In Houston, so

yeah, I didn't have many friends, but soccer is always a hobby of mine. I I played in college >> and um she ended up on my team and when >> um I was like buying a car at the time, so I didn't have a car. I was Ubering everywhere >> and she drove me home and she was just telling me about how she didn't really like her job and this and that and I was like, "You

want to come work with me?" [laughter] And she ended up coming to work with me and I remember like one of the first deals she she closed, I like bought her an Apple laptop. I'm like, "Let's keep doing deals." >> Yeah. [laughter] Let's keep it going. >> Yeah. >> So, that was your first hire, Sydney. Um, what happened next? What would you attribute your success to in growing your company? >> Um, I think finding the right

people's everything. Um, it wasn't just Sydney. I ended up hiring like three other people. None of those are still none none of those people are still with the company. Um, but it it's really key to find the right people. Um, and to know when someone's not the right person, how to fire quickly as well. Um they always say hire slow, fire quick. Um and it is so essential because ideally like you can't invest in people's potential.

Um because a lot of times you as a business owner like you want to see people develop and you want the best for them and you want to teach them, but sometimes like you can't change people's will and their willpower. So, um, knowing right away and having that intuition if someone's, you know, there and wanting to learn and grow and not wasting too much time in in those people, other people that don't. Um, but yeah, that

some most of the people that are with me now have been with the company for over a year and a half and I think that says a lot for we're only three years old like you know. Yeah. >> Um, so just finding those those right people on the bus and they got to be positive, fit with the culture. I'm very big culture person so you got to get along with the team and like be a part

of the growth. >> Yeah. You obviously have a lot of business knowledge, right? You're talking about culture. you're talking about earlier we spoke about uh a CRM you know you have HubSpot uh for your ask your CRM >> um but you know culture is not one of those things that's like intuitive I would say you know it's something that you you learn it along the way right what kind of resources did you have to >> to

learn hey I need to focus on the right people I need to focus on the right culture what kind of resources or mentors did you have to >> so um I had a mentor um through the NPLA a few one's the lawyer I spoke about, his name is John Hornick. Um, another is Mike uh Tedesco. He's the CEO of Appraisal Nation. Um, actually he just sold that company for like $100 million. [laughter] Um, but I also

>> And that guy's your mentor. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Well, that's useful. >> Yeah, for sure. He's the best. He's the best. Best best. >> I am a big reader and a lot of things I take are actually from books. So obviously the book traction is all about EOS and operations systems and it's really helped me scale in the way of holding like level 10 meetings and making sure everyone in the leadership team has rocks and

we're hitting quarterly goals as well as monthly goals and setting KPIs to hit them monthly. So, I'm really about having that entrepreneurial system because to scale and sell, you need systems in place. Like, it's all systems because ideally like you're not creating there's people that create jobs for yourself, but then there's people that scale create systems to the point that I'm not needed in my company. I'm also 5 months pregnant, so a lot of my mindset

is what's going to happen when I'm not here and making sure I have the right people in place so that when I'm not here, it's important. So, you have to learn to let go of control and trust your people >> because a lot of business owners get stuck in the world of let me do this, let me do that. And you're actually killing the culture. And then also there's a whole depth of like micromanaging and not

giving people the space to be creative and make decisions theirelves. Even if it's the wrong decision, it cost you money. It's you rather that because this person's learning to become a leader as well and make their own decisions. And you don't want to >> raise a [ __ ] Sorry, I don't know if I could curse on this, but like >> you don't want to raise like a little [ __ ] Like, you want to raise

leaders that are going to make decisions on your behalf that you trust and you're empowering, >> like, you know? So, I don't want to just like develop people that are scared to do something until Janine says it. Like, I don't even like when people call me the boss. Like, Don't call me a boss. We're all on the same playing ground. Like we're we're all responsible for our actions and what we're reflecting for this company. >> Right.

Exactly. Um what what has been if you're a reader, what has been some of your favorite books to read to that that have >> Sorry, I was going back to that. >> No, you're good. >> So tractions, the EOS and the systems that we put in place. Jim Collins talks about the right people on the right bus and good to great. >> Um and then I love John Gordon. John Gordon is everything about positive culture. He

actually goes to NFL um NFL teams and >> John Gordon. >> Yeah. >> What's the name of the book? >> There's so many. There's so many. >> There's so many. Um within my team, we've had a book club for some time. I have to actually bring it back. But we read the energy bus and then we read the power of a positive team and then we read uh the coffee bean. And it's all about being a

coffee bean and expanding and positivity. [laughter] >> I love it. That's a great t. >> Yes. >> And the energy bus that he wrote is all about >> putting the right people on the bus, meaning within your company, right? >> And then if there's energy vampires, removing them, like knowing who's draining because >> you could have five people and one negative and that negative person bringing everyone down. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And it and it's crazy

how like and uh someone that sucks energy will bring down the the just the overall feeling and vibe of the environment just down significantly. Just one person. Yes. You know, it's I've had it and I've seen it and Yeah. You need to cut it quick. >> Yes. >> What other books you like? >> Um I mean there's so many. I'm also a very like spiritual mindful person. So I like a lot of like Buddhist stuff because

I do a lot of yoga meditation. We actually do a sound bath every month at my office. It's very unique but >> um we have a yoga teacher come and we host it. Um but um the beginner's mind is a good one. Um that's all about being very humble, knowing you're always a student. Like you know just because I'm a CEO of the company, I don't know everything. >> Yeah. I'm learning every day. I'm going into

the unknown every single day and putting out fires every single day, right? >> But I'm also going in with a humbleness of like a humility and actually that humility and that vulnerability is what attracts, you know, clients and people to work for you and like no one's going to work for like the egotist. I'm sure there's plenty of egotistical CEOs out there. Um, but it you just attract a attract such a better culture when you're like,

I don't know everything. Like I want to hire people that are going to also teach me things, too. >> Absolutely. Yeah, I love that. >> Um, let's switch gears here a little bit and let's talk about business. Um, >> you call yourself a private lender, right? So, and you're able to do it nationwide. I've seen other lenders and they're only doing it in in Texas or, you know, just one state focused. >> How have you been

able to do it all nationwide? Yeah. So, um obviously private lending you don't need to have the license. So, it's nice because most of the states we could just lend in. There are a few states like South Dakota, North Dakota, Nevada. Um California has some regul regulations now too, but a lot of times I'll buy an entity like in that state that has a regulation and we'll just close on a different entity that's like qualified. Um,

so then I have investment committees and through my network, like there's certain states that I'll just piggy back off them. Um, so just having that network and connections and being able to service nationwide um through that. >> So you don't have to be licensed essentially in every state. >> Exactly. >> Right. That's that's amazing. >> Uh, and it also helps that your mentor is the president of a nationwide what is it? Yeah, it's a nationwide appraisal

company. >> Nationwide appraisal company. Yeah, that seems like you'll be plugged in nationwide very [laughter] easily. >> Exactly. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, that's amazing. That's good for you. I mean, and it's good for you and good for your clients, right? Because you're plugged into someone that has >> a nationwide reach that can potentially solve any issues that a particular investor may be having. >> 100%. Yeah. And then we also work with BCHH Title. Um they're the

best. They sponsored our three-year last uh we just had a big three-year party in August. Um and then they also help with She Funds Academy, but they do nationwide title. So, everyone's always like, "Oh, do I need title or a real estate attorney like in that certain state?" Like all of my, you know, vendors that I work with actually service nationwide. So there's a lot of like uh real estate attorneys that are only licensed in certain

states, but like these bigger national real estate attorneys, they just have people across the country. So it's like you don't have to go out looking like we always have obviously simple ending financial even as a loan officer like I knew how to exceed like excel in this business because I would go above and beyond of providing value and my value within my company is that is like I'll have a title person for you I'll have a

attorney for you. I'll have a appraiser for you no matter where you are in the country through my connections and that's a way of like keeping it simple is just being able to have those >> and [clears throat] insurance as well. Yeah. >> Very nice. What's the name of the title company again? >> BCH. >> BCHH. So, I'm guessing they're pretty uh investor friendly. They maybe do some sort of wholesale deals, fix and flips, everything. >>

Everything. >> Yeah. So, they do blind huts and all that good stuff. Okay, cool. Double closes. Yes. the whole nine yards. [laughter] >> All of the above. >> Um Janine, what what sets Simple Lending apart from other lenders out there? >> Yeah, of course. We're womanowned, but we're very transparent. We're very valuebacked company. And I think in this industry, you just have a lot of wishy-washy, a lot of scammers, a lot of fraud. Um, I hear

it all the time that there's companies on Facebook pretending to be lenders and they're like, "Pay this 1,500 application fee and then they end up not closing loans." >> No way. >> Yeah. So, I Yeah, for sure. Um, so I think just being very transparent and proactive and um I think being a woman in that sense kind of helps too because um women women are just nurturing. Like we we have this like trustworthy aspect. we're not

like out to get you thing. So, um I think it it works, you know. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's awesome. Cool. So, you have uh you have some some different um programs, right? Uh the bridge, what talk about the programs that you have. >> Yeah. So, a lot of private lenders or hard money lenders, they just have like their fix and flip or 12-month intereston. Um we like to be called private lender just because we have

all of the above. If if you need like a DSCR long-term loan, rental loan, uh we have that. So, we have the simple bridge, the simple build, the simple rent, and the simple build. So, groundup construction, fix and flip bridge loans, renovation projects, long-term rental loans. We'll we'll we'll be your lender through and through. So, you could buy something, renovate it, then cash out from the interestonly loan to hold it long term and rent it out

>> to a DSCR loan. So, you'll be able to do the shortterm bridge uh and then the long-term PCR. Very cool. All in house. >> Now, do you still have to do two closings or >> um Yeah. So, we do have a seasoning period. So, they have to be doing the fix and flip for at least the minimum of the three months and then from there we could go off the ARV and do a cash out

off that. >> Nice. Nice. Nice. And so, um that's that's awesome. What about um what about in terms of closing? Do you guys close pretty fast? >> Yeah, so we've closed uh fix and flips anywhere from 5 to seven days and then DSCR is around 10 business days. >> 10 business days. >> Yeah. >> Got it. Got it. >> How are you how are you scaling your business right now? >> Um so right now we're actually

recently launched a few months ago what's called She Funds Academy >> and that is really just an academy teaching people about the private lending space. Like the private lending space is a growing space. It's been a growing space, but at the same time, there's so many people that don't know about this industry. Like there's even realators that are real estate, you know, brokers that don't know about what a private loan is, right? Uh they know obviously

traditional conventional mortgage banks. Um, but private lending is still a rapidly growing industry and I think She Funds Academy can really just add value and introduce people to what a private loan is and how they could even make more money being in this ecosystem of the real estate industry. Um, so we're adding sales remote people nationwide. Um, >> and they could sign up. We have a software that we've created in house and a portal that they

could literally go in, run terms, issue term sheets, have a company email, they get access to our CRM. Um, we'll even give them leads if they're wanting leads to call and we give a whole training on scripts of cold calling um and learning our programs step by step. Like so each academy we're really diving deep into either the simple flip, the simple bridge, simple build, or simple rent. Um, and yeah, we're we're looking to grow and

add more sales remote people. >> Yeah, that's pretty It seems like it took a long time to build. [laughter] >> Yeah. But at the same time, it's just me being me and teaching people what I've learned and overcoming self-limiting beliefs and being confident and being able to be a woman in this space and dominate in this space. um and not needing to really know anything. Like, you know, you don't really need experience to excel in this

area. You just have to be someone that's good with relationships and networking and um being able to sell. So, >> yeah. Well, I think that's the hardest part, right? Being able to sell. >> Yeah. >> What would you say is the secret sauce to selling? >> Confidence, for sure. Yeah. Being able to >> But how do you teach confidence, Janine? >> Yeah. Well, overcoming the limiting beliefs, knowing that you have to just silence that little voice

in your head, but also being confident in what you're selling and knowing the products. I think where people lack confidence is that you're unsure of something. So once you cancel out the unsuress, you're able to really push something with the confidence and also being able to give value. So knowing that you know you have all these connections and you're able to you know be transparent and proactive and walk someone through a deal a toz because you

know I think just having that will be able to transpire over the over into selling and being able to be confident when you're selling it. >> Yeah. Yeah. Confidence is key. I mean, it's uh it's it's definitely something. >> It's something that I, you know, like whenever I think about training someone, right? >> It just boils down to like me telling them like, "Dude, you just have to do it over and over and over and over

again." And just understand you're going to suck at the beginning. >> Being okay with being shitty at the beginning, >> going through the failure. On the other side of failure is confidence, right? And so, I think that's how I think about it. And I feel like how I like to explain it to people is fail over and over and over again until you're comfortable with it. And then after that, you're going to be like, "Oh, wow.

This wasn't so bad." >> Mhm. Yeah. And failing is just a state of mind. Like it's it's there's no failing unless you're like giving up and you're accepting that as your reality. So I always say that too is just like, you know, setbacks are normal. Don't let yourself get beat up on it. Don't get stuck in it. Um, I think a lot of times people get so like stuck in in setbacks, but setbacks are such a

normal part of the process and yeah, it's the comeback from the setback. >> Not only are they a normal part of the process, but I would consider setbacks as being stepping stones to be to creating character, >> of course. >> Right. To creating the person that you're destined to be. >> Yes. >> Uh, and it's just a process. And it sucks while you're going through it, right? while you're going through a setback, you're like you're depressed,

you're sad, you're like, "Oh my god, this is so tough." But then on the other side of that, it's like, "Oh, wow. That wasn't so bad." And I learned something great from it. >> Yes. >> You know what I mean? So, I think [snorts] uh I think that's uh pretty pretty incredible. Um on the She Funds Academy, what do you provide? Do you provide like courses? Do you provide one like maybe group mentorship or what what

is it? Yeah, right now obviously there's so many things in my head of what it could become and but right now it's just monthly webinars that people tune in and usually we have the same people every month and then new people are being added. Yeah. Um but we also have a WhatsApp group and a Facebook group and me and Sydney and most my team are in the WhatsApp group so people could come and ask questions and

um it's just a very open community and then obviously the bigger vision would be doing retreats and and seminars and um online courses and things like that but um right now it's just monthly webinars and then if someone is interested in brokering deals to simple ending financial We have a whole onboarding process where they get onboarded on with a company email, um, HubSpot, Slack, and they're able to really communicate under an account manager. Um, and just

send send deals and learn to quote deals and things like that. >> Yeah. Teaching teaching women nationwide how to broker these deals, huh? >> Exactly. >> That's incredible. >> Um, what how did we how did you do all of like you have a lot of ideas, right? And you have all of this this vision, right? But it didn't just happen overnight. Let's let's uh let's talk about what that process looks like for you. Like for example,

this the she funds academy, right? >> Do you have um are you doing it all through HubSpot or what other resources are you doing to run all of these things that you have in your company? >> Yeah, obviously I have a team that really is my bread and butter. Like I wouldn't be where I'm at today without them. Um but yeah, having them be on board for pretty much anything I lay out there. One day I

was just like, "We're doing Chief Funds Academy." They're like, "Okay." >> Um, but yeah. >> So, the people the people on your team figured out. >> Yes. [laughter] Exactly. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Well, going back to finding the right people, right? If you find the right people, the right people that can be resourceful, they can go find things out >> um and then execute on it. I think it's is everything in business. >> Um,

cool. Cool. Well, um, if if people want to find out, for example, on She Funds Academy, how can they find out about that? >> Um, >> is it launched yet? >> Yeah, it's launched. We we're a few months in. So, our next one's actually October 29th. Um, but it's every Wednesday at 400 PM Central time, and it we always post on Facebook, Instagram, and Eventbrite. Um, and yeah, it's it's the same time every month. And um

just through Simple Lending Financial Financials Instagram or Facebook page, we'll we'll have posts on >> on it. Yeah. >> Uh what's the cost to it? >> It's free. >> Yes. >> You're doing it for free. >> Yes. >> Wow. Well, everyone everyone that's give value person, >> everyone that's listening to this right now needs to go and sign up right away. Uh uh it seems like it could be a lot of a lot of good content

for people that are having mental blockages, you know. >> Yeah, for sure. And it it's just too about finding your community. So, um we have realtors in there, we have attorneys, we have title people, and just being able to connect with people like that. You never know when you're going to need someone. Um so, just having that community to tap into and then like community is everything. Um, and it just helps with your support system. >>

Yeah. Yeah, I agree with that. Um, I have a question about, you know, let's talk about some of your clients. Um, what has been like the biggest deal that you've done, the biggest loan that you've issued? >> We actually just recently closed our biggest deal, which was a 6.1 [clears throat] 6.1 million um, DSCR cash out for a client of mine. Um, he was from New York. So actually like being in New York and like having

like kind of like that high net worth clientele has helped me so much because we do do nationwide. So even being in Houston, but having that network in the northeast and now boots on the ground in Houston, it's only expand like who I know and what I I do. But um yeah, we cashed out six of his properties in Chicago um for 75 LTV with a really good interest rate. I think it was like in the

sixes. Um, but yeah, that was that was our biggest deal for one client. >> Um, and then earlier in March, I think we closed 7 and a half million per day in that day, but it was four different clients and it all happened like closing day [laughter] like you know. So, uh, that was pretty nice too because I think I it was like >> 250k in revenue in that day. >> In one day. >> Yeah. >>

It's not a bad payday. >> Yeah. No, not bad at all. Do you only do um do you only do single family or do you do commercial as well? >> So, we do 1 to 20 units um for fix and flip. Um our DSCR will do 1 to 10 units. If it's a stabilized asset, we can get very creative. So, we'll do self storage, warehouse, office buildings, things like that. Um but I would say our bread

and butter is 1 to 20 units and then we'll do mixed use as well. >> Mixed use. Okay. What about any sort of like businesses? any loans on any businesses? >> No, it has to be backed by real estate. So, yeah, we only lend to LLC and corporations, but we won't do like an actual business loan. Um, unless they have real estate asset that we could lend money on. >> What if it's like a car wash

or something like that? >> We've done a car wash. You have? >> Yeah. It was like a 30-year stabilized asset, though. It wasn't any like renovate like we won't do any like renovation rehab for office. Yeah. Yeah. Um, we actually have a guy now that bought an office building, but he's converting it into eight condos that he plans to sell those eight condos separately, but being that he has approved plans and permits and they're condos now,

we'll lend on that like, you know, so we'll get creative with things. Um, but even that like you have to have a good track record like show us that you know how to convert things over, that kind of thing. >> Good liquidity. >> Yeah. And then we love also we love development projects um for groundup construction. So we finance someone doing like 10 homes at once. Um so things like that we love as well. >> Very

cool. What has been your most um interesting deal that you've done. >> That's a good question. I would say any conversion deal has always been like a kind of like a tricky deal that's been like, "Okay, wow, this was like >> this was an accomplishment." Yeah. [laughter] >> A conversion deal. >> Yeah. So, like like I was saying, like the office building that's going to eight condos, like that's kind of like a >> crowd-pleaser because like

tricky one, right? >> People are like, "Wait, what?" Like Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Something that you don't see very often. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> For sure. >> Very cool. Very cool. What about your uh your least favorite deal? Horror deal. Give me Give me a nightmare deal. >> I mean, I just have had horror clients, but I don't want to say [laughter] I don't want to like talk about that because one of our values is customer

obsession. Yeah. Um but yeah, I've kind >> I mean, if you're in business, you're going to you're going to come across all types of people. >> Exactly. >> So, that's to be expected. For sure. >> For sure. What's next for Simple Simple Lending Financial? >> Yeah, just we're on the we're on the growth train. So, just growing and scaling. Um I'm a very big give back person. So, we like to do something like always giving back.

Like when the the flood happened in Houston, we donated to that. We're doing like a walk for cancer. We like to do um the Houston Habitat and help build homes for poor people. So, we like to be very involved within the community. Um, but Simple Lending Financial, yeah, we're just growing. We want to onboard a lot of remote sales people. We're growing our team and uh be on the lookout for us. >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean,

it seems like you've had a lot of a lot of growth. First first year you did 25. >> Yeah. >> Second year you did uh $25 million in what' you call it production or >> 25 million funded in the year. >> 25 million funded. Okay. So, we've been growing like 50% year-over-year as far as the volume we're doing, but we're also growing our team, so it kind of makes sense and correlated. Um, but, you know, I

I am looking to hire a chief credit officer, have some >> offers out there right now. Um, but he's going to help me really knock knock more capital markets down, be able to sell loans to more people, uh, raise more money. Um, and then you know the goal is 100 million a month in deal volume. So that's what we're doing right now for the year. Yeah. Um, but yeah, if we stay on track, hopefully we could

hit that within five years. >> Within five years. That's a fantastic goal to to >> uh be able to look forward to, you know. >> Yes. >> Uh, what other people are you looking to on board? You know, there's people that are going to be watching this and they may say, "Hey, I that could be me." What other people do you need in your company? >> Yeah, for sure. Um, we're just always looking to expand in

in multitude of ways. Um, but processors, uh, sales people, um, you know, people that help with events and She Funds Academy and things like that. And we're very big social media people. So, we have a videographer, but also anyone that could help with like, you know, ramping up our socials. I I'm such a believer within social media. We also have an awesome brand ambassador program and I'm always looking for brand ambassadors to come on board. So

if you're doing fix and flips and you just want to promote you know using simple lending financial and our services um we would love to onboard people like that as well. I think a key to marketing is to really highlight the people that are in this business and doing what they are loving to do and that's people doing fix and flips. like why wouldn't I get behind that? >> I want to if anything put more money

in your pocket. Everyone doing fix and flips can use some more money for their renovations. They're doing multiple homes at a time. >> Of course, >> it's like you're doing that already. >> Let me just help you and promote you and you promote us and like we have this good relationship. Um and I I find beauty in that. Like I it's definitely like I like this is the industry I'm in. I want to promote the people

that are actually grinding and doing the fix and flips and building homes from the ground up. And we're also helping communities renovate and having their appreciation go up. Like everyone should love us. Like, you know, [clears throat] >> it's a it's a circle of life or the circle of business, right? That you just give back to each other and it's >> uh an over or evolving train that just keeps on getting momentum and getting bigger and

bigger. >> I mean, look at Nike. Nike sells shoes that shoes are a commodity. Like people know not Nike because they're on Michael Jordan. They're on the biggest basketball players or or the people like that are doing the art. It's art, >> right? >> So I want to eventually sponsor Grant Cardone [laughter] >> or someone like that, right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Well, that's uh that seems like an amazing goal to be able to have, you

know. Yeah. >> Grant Cardone. Simple lending. [laughter] >> Exactly. >> Cool. Cool. Cool. What about real estate agents? You work with a lot of real estate agents. >> Honestly, I don't think real estate like I think traditional and conventional bankers are just down realators throats in a sense that it's just like in like >> everyone they're at their open houses, but they also are like realators are doing a lot of primary homes. These are these are

homeless people are buying full-time. So, I actually like >> conventional bank mortgage guys because or girls because they get deals that they end up not being able to lend on. And guess who can? Me. Because I don't look at DTI. I don't take tax returns. So, you could have a no income self-employed and you come to us for the mortgage. Um, but realtors are great and but there's a small niche of them that actually know what

private lending is. But hopefully she with she's academy will have more awareness about what how creative we could get for real estate investors um and people that are buying homes full-time. >> Yeah, for sure. So would you say that other conventional lenders are maybe your highest or your highest form of leads or >> um they're a great source. Yeah. But then there's also brokers that they actually focus only on investors. So conventional are good here and

there because they'll get a deal and send it over. But then the brokers that are just so focused on private lending um th those are those are key. And then, you know, I have a broker local here in Houston that he does a lot of flips himself. And then all of his friends are like, "Where are you doing your flips?" Like I said, like brand ambassadors almost like Right. So >> those are the best is like

when they just give you Yeah. They're doing the deals, but then they also like see the worth of like sending you referrals because he knows I'll I'm I'm going to take care of you. >> Yeah. Yeah. For sure. >> Like just send me all your friends. I'll take care of you. >> Yeah. Um, so finding those people because he's also doing deals himself. >> Yeah. Seems like you're able to build really good relationships wherever you go,

not only from where you started off in New York, but now even now, you know, fostering those relationships, and then just being, you know, being able to give back, hey, here's a referral, here's a referral, here's a referral, and it just keeps on your momentum going and your marketing machine going. >> Yeah. I think it's important to give value and to pay people what they deserve. like, you know, like I think that's one way I differentiate

too is that I will never back out of a deal. I always put my money where my mouth is. Like I'll always pay referrals. Like we'll pay 500 bucks to someone just sending us a name number, an email if they close, like you know. Um so we're just very on top of that because um we want to be a household name. We want to be a referral based name. We want someone that's um able to be

like, "This is someone I trust and this is who you should use." >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's amazing. >> What are you going to do after uh what kind of plan do you have for when you have your baby? How are you going to run your company through that? I'm really curious about this. >> Yeah. So, um my mindset is that obviously I want to take as much time with my kid as possible when I

have a newborn just because I know that's a big connection. uh time uh is having a newborn. So, um I'll be most likely like online working. Um I don't have a CFO. I'm I'm a CEO and a CFO. Like I do my payroll. I I do my tax. I have an accountant, but I I do all the numbers like, you know. >> Yeah. >> Um >> So, you're still going to be doing that? >> I'll be

online. Yeah. >> But I'm not going to be like working. I'm going to trust my team to be working. Yeah. >> Um, and then I'll probably ease into the office, >> uh, like go in like a few hours a day or important meetings and I've strategically made my office 2 minutes from my house. [laughter] >> So, um, just to pop in and like things like that. So, >> I'll probably be back within like two months. >>

Yeah. Well, it also goes to show like the level of systems that you've created in your business, right? And being able to have those level 10 meetings. Uh me and Noah were just uh in a level 10 meeting, you know, hours before you got here and you know, we're talking about the roofing company. So um if you have the right and the EOS model, I mean it's so easy with that EOS system >> month over month

and then week over week you'll have that reporting. >> Absolutely. You look at your KPIs, you look at your scorecards, you look at your rock reviews. Hey, who who's responsible for what did you do the to-do list? Why didn't you? blah blah blah >> and HubSpot's great like you can't lie on HubSpot like we see what everyone's doing activitywise at least for the account manager so >> very cool so would you say that you have >>

you're like watching that like a hawk all the numbers >> on I don't I don't I don't want to come across like that but you can go back and be like okay this was accurate or not like you know it's it's pretty straightforward >> what kind of KPIs do you track in your in your level 10 meetings >> uh I mean We have so many and each department has different um but as far as the CEO

um I track a lot of like my visionary time and like how much am I involved within tasks that I shouldn't be involved with and >> how many speaking gigs PR gigs am I doing that I'm enhancing the brand and um obviously numbers within our social media growth and as well as she's academy and how many people within sheuns academy is actually coming into being sales remote people and uh metrics like that and then of course

c my CEO marketing and my sales how all have different KPIs. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But I mean you still have to be in involved in the the marketing and the sales and everything >> of course. Yeah. We do monthly leadership meetings. Um and then we do quarterly off sites. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What was the first C when I when I asked her about KPIs? You said something about visionary your visionary time. >> Oh yeah.

I I put in a so I have a visionary um tracker like a audit tracker that I put the hours that I'm working on visionary stuff like I meditate every day so creative space right so how >> so you measure that >> I measure it >> that's cool >> yeah so I measure how much am I like >> being in a creative space and how much am I doing within my company so when you're starting out

and scaling your company and it's a startup it's okay to have 20% % >> the more you scale the more you want to be in a visionary >> right >> so then it goes from like 30 to 50 then it's over 50 if if you're have a big big company like a Google >> yeah yeah yeah know yeah for sure how do you track it how do you track the time >> so just the hours I

work divided by the hours that I'm in either um I start my day every day with uh meditating so that would be a visionary um and then I set an hour or two for like oversee like marketing but like >> on a creative level >> on a creative level like creating she funds creating what we're doing next with she funds um so it's just a different space and and mindset than actually >> doing the business yeah

you always want to work on you want to work on the business and you want to walk work in the business but you have to create that space to differentiate because a lot of people get caught in the doing right >> you're doing all these tasks and then you're not seeing in the future not seeing You're not being a visionary of like what's next because as an entrepreneur you have to be a visionary. >> Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. That's very interesting. Where did you get the idea to track your creative and visionary space, your creative visionary time? >> Um that's just how I am. And when I like meditate a lot, I just feel good. And then I started thinking like >> I need to not get wrapped up because it's so easy to get wrapped up. Everyone gets wrapped up. There's business going on every day, phone calls. >> Yeah. So, Jim Quick actually

talks about blank space in your calendar and as an entrepreneur putting it in there. Um, and then when I was doing KPIs, um, I I might have been from traction or another KPI thing probably just chat JBT honestly like what good what are good KPIs as a CEO to keep track of and it was like what how many how many visionary hours are you creating for yourself? Yeah. >> And then I just like Yeah. I just

ran with it and it's something I measure every month now. >> That is [ __ ] cool. >> Yeah. >> See, this these are the kind of talks that I like to have with other CEOs when it's just like why haven't I been doing that? You know what I mean? >> That's good. >> Like it's just like a question where it's like that seems almost just like common sense, but then it's like it takes this kind

of conversation to just take you there and be like, "Oh, wow." Yeah. I mean, I I do all those things, too. I'm just not tracking it. You know what I mean? So I think just where focus go where where focus goes energy flows right and so it's all about bringing your attention to the right things that are going to move the needle forward >> 100%. >> So I think as a CEO I think you know visionary

time wow why didn't I think of that? >> Yeah [laughter] for sure. >> Yeah. What are other uh what are other very important metrics that you measure in your company? >> Um obviously how many deals we're quoting and term sheets and time. Like I'm a very big time person. Time kills all deals. So like response time. >> U that is something I am guilty of being a little bit of micromanager on like if because a lot

of like the leads we give our account managers too are internal marketing leads. Like it's from our social media, it's from the podcast, it's from Defense Academy, it's something we're doing, right? >> Um so then we're dishing that off for account managers. So you better you better call that person that day >> like you know. >> Yeah. So, um, that's something we really care about. And, yeah, of course, the norm of like how many deals we're

closing, how many deals are falling off, why are those deals falling off, kind of reviewing that, um, the conversion rates and all that. >> Yeah, that's incredible. What would you say is uh like how many clients are you helping out now? >> We have about 25 million in the pipeline and probably across like 40 deals. So probably active in the pipeline at a time is like 40 to 50 clients. >> 40 to 50 clients. That's a

lot. >> Yeah, >> that's a lot. Yeah. >> Yeah. No wonder it takes 10 people to do all that. >> Yeah, pretty sure. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Well, man, I've had a lot of fun um talking today with you, Janine. I think this has been really, really invigorating and uh hearing your story. I think anyone that's watching the podcast will be able to take some value out of it. >> Perfect. Uh, I know that I'm personally

going to tell some people about She Funs Academy. I mean, it's free. Why wouldn't they show up, right? >> I agree. >> Just show up, listen to Janine, and uh, you're going to get something out of it. >> Love it. For sure. >> So, how can people find out more about you, your company if they want to work for you or maybe partner with you? Uh, she funds Academy. What's the best way to reach you? >>

Yeah, through our Instagram. Um, so simple lending financial and then my email directly is just janina simple lending financial. I'm also very active on LinkedIn. Um, but I'm a very big mindset person and I'll help people as much as possible through She Funds Academy and we actually um I have a book coming out in April called She Believes She Receives. It's all just about manifesting and more talks about overcoming limiting beliefs and really having positive thoughts

and taking those positive thoughts and turning them into action belief and action and the art of receiving too is key because people can sometimes do all the work but then they don't think they're worthy of receiving all the good. So, that's a whole art within itself. And um I'm hoping, you know, in April when that book comes out that people buy it and read it because um it's my journey. It's what's got me here. And um

I'm just on a mission to give back and create value for others. >> That's incredible. Where where uh you're going to be publishing the book at? >> It's going to be on Amazon. >> On Amazon. >> And it'll be on our website as well. >> On your website. Yeah. >> Got it. Got it. So um simplefinancial.com. >> Correct. Got it. >> Well, thank you so much again, Janine. Any final words that you'd like to say? >>

Yeah, just bet on yourself, believe in yourself, and uh if you're a real estate investor, make sure you have the right capital partner behind you. Simple Lending Financial. Thank you. >> There you go. Thank you so much, Nan.