In this episode of The Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan MacNeil and Neal Andreino dive deep into one of the least glamorous but most critical aspects of private lending, insurance. From title and homeowner’s insurance to blanket mortgage impairment, E&O coverage, and even cyber and key person insurance, they break down what every lender needs to stay protected. Ryan also shares a real-life million-dollar fire story that could have ended in disaster, but didn’t, thanks to prope...

In Episode 106 of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan MacNeil and Neal Andreino sit down with Benjamin Sammut, Founder & Principal of Dabble Capital Advisory, for a deep dive into how institutional money is reshaping Canada’s private lending landscape. Benjamin shares how he transitioned from growing up in a family of mortgage brokers to building a firm that bridges the gap between MICs and global asset managers. Together, they unpack what’s next for capital raising, M&...

In this final episode from The Canadian Mortgage Summit, hosts Neal Andreino and Ryan MacNeil sit down with Nick Kyprianou, CEO & Founder of RiverRock MIC, to unpack nearly four decades of mortgage industry experience. Nick shares how he helped grow Home Trust from $200 million to $17 billion, how he built RiverRock into one of Ontario’s most disciplined private lenders, and what today’s market can learn from the brutal housing downturn of the early ’90s. From 24-hour turnaround times to ...

In this episode of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan MacNeil and Neal Andreino sit down with Shane Lakhani, Business Development Manager at Canadian Mortgage Professional (CMP) and the mastermind behind the Canadian Mortgage Summit. Shane shares how CMP grew the event from a small industry gathering into a 1,600-attendee powerhouse, bringing together private, alternative, and institutional lenders from across the country. From his unexpected journey from Bay Street to event pro...

In this Episode of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan McNeil and Neal Andreino sit down with Mike Forshee, President of Glass Lake Funding, to explore how the company has skyrocketed from a start-up to over $1 billion AUM in just three years. Mike shares his 25-year journey from Home Trust to founding Glass Lake, backed by Bayview Asset Management, and dives deep into the company’s hybrid lending model, disciplined underwriting, and commitment to serving Canada’s “missing-middle...

In this episode of The Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan MacNeil and Neal Andreino sit down with Armando Diseri, Chief Sales Officer at Alta West Capital, live from the Canadian Mortgage Summit. Armando shares how Alta West has evolved from a Calgary-based second mortgage lender to a national powerhouse with diversified institutional backing and innovative mortgage products like their Low-Doc and Flex offerings. From their acquisition of Premier Mortgage to insights on Alberta’s bo...

In this episode of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan MacNeil and Neal Andreino sit down live at the Canadian Mortgage Summit with Reaza Ali, National Broker Relations Manager at Fisgard Asset Management—one of the largest private lenders in Canada. Reaza shares his career journey and provides an inside look at Fisgard’s growth from Western Canada into Ontario, their unique no-lender-fee first mortgage model, and their strategic focus on residential lending over commercial and...

In this milestone 100th episode of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan MacNeil and Neal Andreino are joined by guest Chandler Haliburton—real estate investor, landlord, and past co-host of the Master Keys Podcast. Together, they take a deep dive into the current state of the Canadian real estate and private lending markets. From shifts in multi-unit valuations and softening condo demand to rising vacancies and cooling rents, the conversation unpacks where the opportunities and ...

In this milestone 99th episode of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan and Neal share an inside look at Keystone’s very first foreclosure. From red flags during underwriting, to borrower challenges, expired insurance, and the unexpected passing of the borrower, this case study highlights the realities private lenders face when enforcement becomes necessary. They break down the legal process in Nova Scotia, the importance of hiring experienced lawyers, carrying costs during enforce...

In Episode 98, hosts Ryan and Neal dive deep into a thought experiment: what would they do if they had to start a private lending business all over again, with $0 in the bank? From building a business plan and securing the right licenses, to scaling smart, sticking to underwriting criteria, and leveraging marketing for deal flow, this episode breaks down the fundamentals and real-world lessons they wish they had known earlier. They also unpack Halifax’s record-breaking surge in apartment cons...

In Episode 97 of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan and Neal sit down with Matt Shallo and Andrew “Hutch” Hutchinson of Indi Commercial Mortgage, two rising stars redefining commercial financing in Atlantic Canada. From Matt’s unconventional career shift from policing to commercial finance, to Andrew’s background in investments and insurance before discovering the broker world, their journeys are as inspiring as they are instructive. Together, they’ve grown Indi Commercial Mortg...

In this special episode of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan and Neal sit down with Owen and Derrick MacNeil—the trailblazing brothers behind GraysBrook Capital. Credited as pioneers of Atlantic Canada’s private lending industry, Owen and Derrick share their remarkable journey from flipping homes and working in unrelated industries to building one of the region’s most respected private lending companies. They discuss the early challenges of breaking into the space, how they bui...

In this episode of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan McNeil and Neil Andreino take listeners through one of the most overlooked strategies in private lending: non-arm’s length transactions. They start by unpacking today’s economic climate — rising unemployment in Ontario, hiring freezes, and the disconnect between stock market optimism and real-world struggles. From there, Ryan and Neil explain how non-arm’s length deals, such as family transfers, estate sales, or spousal buyou...

In this behind-the-scenes episode of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan McNeill and Neil take listeners through a typical day in their roles at Keystone Mortgage Investment Corporation. From broker relationship building and business development to investor relations, cash flow management, and deal sign-offs, they break down the moving parts that keep a private lending business running smoothly. Along the way, they share personal stories, lessons learned, and the importance of tr...

In this episode, hosts Ryan MacNeil and Neal Andreino sit down with Sanjay Ramwani, Chief Operating Officer at Indigo Blue Group of Companies. Sanjay shares his journey from traditional banking to building one of the most respected private lending firms in Ontario and Atlantic Canada. This episode dives into Indigo Blue’s expansion strategy, their risk-first approach to lending, why they chose to become an Exempt Market Dealer, and how they’re helping other issuers stay compliant in a tighten...

In Episode 92, hosts Ryan MacNeil and Neal Andreino sit down with two powerhouse voices in Atlantic Canada’s mortgage space — Daniel Cox, Team Lead and founder of United Group Mortgage Alliance, and Hannah Martens, rising star broker based in Charlottetown, PEI. This energizing conversation dives into their unique career paths, the evolution of brokerage culture in Eastern Canada, and their shared commitment to client education, mentorship, and community impact. Daniel shares how his military...

Navigating the financing landscape for Airbnb and short-term rentals isn’t easy—especially when lenders see red flags. In this episode, Ryan and Neil dive deep into the unique challenges of underwriting Airbnb deals from a private lending perspective, how investors can position themselves to secure private capital or institutional financing, and why an exit strategy is critical in short-term rental financing. Enjoy the show! Show Notes: 03:55 - The challenge of financing Airbnb properties 04:...

In this episode, Ryan and Neal delve into one of the most crucial decisions a private lender can make. Should you invest your capital, or stick with using other people's money (OPM)? They explore how lending your funds can significantly boost your returns, improve flexibility, and build investor trust. In this episode, Neal and Ryan break down when it makes sense to deploy your cash, the risks involved, and how to structure deals smartly. If you're a private lender, broker, or investor lookin...

In this solo episode, Ryan MacNeil breaks down one of the most challenging but inevitable parts of private lending: borrower defaults and enforcement. From the first missed payment to legal recovery strategies, Ryan walks you through the entire process with practical tips and hard-earned experience. He covers borrower communication, provincial differences in enforcement (Nova Scotia, Ontario, New Brunswick, and BC), issuing demand letters, working with the right lawyers, and recovering ...

In this episode, Neal and Ryan pivot from private lending to something even more personal: their real estate investing journeys. They each share how they got started, the challenges they faced, the lessons they learned, and the deals that changed everything. Together, they cover the realities of scaling, the role of private capital, partnership dynamics, reserve fund strategies, and what they would do differently. Whether you are just starting or looking to grow your portfolio, th...