Mark E. Jennings, Jr.

🔍 Top SBA 7(a) Loan Mistakes That Can Cost You Big Securing an SBA 7(a) loan can transform your business—but making these mistakes could put your funding in jeopardy: 💡 1. Failing to Align the Loan with Business Goals Don’t treat the loan as “free money.” Lenders expect a clear purpose. Whether it's purchasing equipment, expanding operations, or refinancing debt, align your loan request with your strategic growth plans. 📝 2. Submitting an Incomplete or Disorganized Application Missing documents, outdated financial statements, or errors on forms lead to delays—or worse, rejection. Stay organized with a checklist: tax returns, P&L statements, personal financial records, and more. 💳 3. Neglecting to Improve Personal and Business Credit Lenders evaluate your creditworthiness. A poor credit score signals risk, while a strong score demonstrates reliability. Before applying, take steps to correct errors and reduce debt. 📉 4. Misjudging Loan Repayment Ability Your cash flow matters. Overestimating revenue or underestimating expenses can jeopardize your ability to repay. Build realistic projections and showcase a steady history of cash flow management. 🏢 5. Overlooking Collateral Requirements Even though SBA loans offer flexibility, lenders often require collateral. Be prepared to offer assets like real estate, equipment, or receivables. Know their value and condition ahead of time. 📊 6. Submitting a Weak Business Plan Lenders want to see a roadmap for your success. A generic or outdated plan won’t cut it. Highlight your target market, competitive edge, and financial projections to show viability. 📈 7. Ignoring Eligibility Rules Each SBA loan has specific requirements, including business type, size standards, and use of funds. Review these carefully to avoid wasting time on a loan you don’t qualify for. 💼 8. Miscommunicating with Your Lender Lack of communication is a red flag. Build rapport, ask questions, and ensure your lender fully understands your needs and how the loan will be used. 🔥 Ready to Secure Your SBA 7(a) Loan Without the Stress? We specialize in helping businesses like yours avoid costly mistakes and secure the funding needed to thrive. Let’s craft a winning application and position you for success. 📩 Contact us today for expert advice! #SmallBusiness #SBALoans #SBA7aSuccess #BusinessFinance #Entrepreneurship #FundingYourFuture #SmartBusinessMoves

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With the New Jersey & New York state retirement mandates launching soon, check out JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s upcoming webinar on state mandates with Kevin Gaston, CPC, QPA, QKC, QKA, TGPC & Charlie Cote. In the last 10 years, the number of 401(k) plans has doubled from 360K plans to over 700K today. That trend will continue to accelerate thanks to state mandates coming online over the next 2-3Y. https://lnkd.in/e-CVWe35

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Congratulations to our Northeast Advisors who were listed in the 2024 Barron's Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams and Top 100 Financial Advisors! 2024 Barron's Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams: Awarded May 2024; Data Compiled by Barron's based on the time period from Jan. 2023 - Dec. 2023 (Source: Barrons.com). The Barron's Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams are evaluated on a range of factors for the Financial Advisor and their team, who specialize in serving individuals and families. Factors included in the ratings include their previous year's size and shape, the regulatory records and credentials of their members, and the resources they have at their disposal to serve their client bases. Self-completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 2024 Barron's Top 100 Financial Advisors: Awarded May 2024; Data Compiled by Barron's based on the time period from Jan. 2023 - Dec. 2023 (Source: Barrons.com). The Barron's Top 100 Financial Advisors ratings are based on the previous year's assets under management, revenue generated for the advisors' firms, and the quality of the advisors' practices. Investment performance isn't an explicit factor because clients have varied goals and risk tolerances. Self-completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria.

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Mortgage Applications Decreased 21.9% From Two Weeks Earlier, Purchase Applications Down 48% From Two Weeks Earlier https://lnkd.in/gMQnp4az Chuck Cowan Brad Moseley #mortgage

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In Infrastructure Investor's 2024 Sustainable Investing Roundtable article, Melisa Simic, Senior Director of Sustainability at #NuveenInfrastructure, discusses how ESG frameworks differ internationally as well as our approach to working with local communities when developing solar projects to preserve the integrity of their land for future generations. Read the full roundtable to learn more. https://bit.ly/46GeBro

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Real, practical and executable advice are critical in growing and scaling a business. Gabe Garcia speaks to how SEI provides advisors with the tools, capabilities and support that can help power growth and create efficiency, all in effort to help serve clients more effectively. 

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Congratulations to CleanFiber's CEO, Jonathan Strimling for earning the well-deserved 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year Award in New Hampshire! I have learned so much working alongside Jon in the past year to secure CleanFiber's Series B fundraising round, apply for various grants, and explore areas of strategic growth for the business. He is truly one of the most impressive entrepreneurs I have ever met. Drawing on my investment background, there are certain things investors typically look for in a founder/CEO - I look for some of the same things whether I'm looking to invest in, evaluate or join a company - tenacity, drive, grit, emotional intelligence, strategic vision, knowing when to get "in the weeds" and when to keep things high level. Jon has all of those. But working alongside him, I have come to really admire and appreciate the importance of two more traits in particular that a typical investor wouldn't see during a pitch -- two that are actually critical to running a successful business that's growing as rapidly as CleanFiber. 1) Mastery of context switching, and 2) the ability to build coalition. Jon is able to context switch extremely effectively - he is able to shift gears from an in-depth engineering discussion, to people management, to sales, to unit economics, to preparing for Board discussions faster than anyone else I've ever worked with. Most importantly, he is able to do this fully and presently, dealing with each new problem set anew, and without context hangover. As far as coalition-building goes, I believe this is an under-appreciated skill in an era where we idolize visionary founders who pay a social price for their genius (think Steve Jobs, Elon Musk). I've met many aspiring entrepreneurs who will never build great companies if they can't figure out how to get a team, a Board, and an investor base excited and on board. Not just on board, but actively rowing alongside in the same direction. If you are a founder or a CEO, it's not enough to create, think strategically or act massively. You must practice articulating your vision to others in a way that resonates. You must spark positivity and excitement in your team, provide clarity, and relentlessly confront and remove roadblocks. For this and so much more, Jon certainly has earned this award, and I'm honored to be learning alongside him! https://lnkd.in/gyG_rBwY

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Today, we’re thrilled to announce SEI’s acquisition of LifeYield, a Boston-based leader in tax-smart technology. Through this acquisition, SEI is positioned to be the first in the industry to offer real-time, automated Unified Managed Household (UMH) capabilities, combining tax optimization, control, and personalization at scale. We’ve long been committed to tax efficiency through our Unified Managed Accounts and tax overlay services. This acquisition takes us even further, giving advisors the tools to quantify tax benefits in dollars and basis points. A new era in wealth management is here. https://lnkd.in/euXY7KH7

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🏨💥 Hospitality Meltdown: Pandemic Legacy Strikes Hard! 📉⏳ • COVID-era loans and deferred payments are now triggering defaults. • Labor shortages and reduced business travel are driving costs up and revenues down. • Rising Interest Rates: • Higher borrowing costs make refinancing tough, leading to defaults. • Property values are dropping, tightening lender options. • High Costs & Inflation: • Rising energy, wages, and supply chain costs are squeezing margins. • Traveler Shift: • Airbnb competition and preference for suburban/outdoor stays hurt urban hotels. • Delayed Renovations: • Postponed upgrades leave properties outdated, reducing occupancy and revenue. • Lender Fatigue & Sales: • Lenders push hotels into receivership, with distressed assets sold at discounts. • Local Pressures: • Hotels in cities reliant on business travel (e.g., SF, NYC) are hit hardest. #Hospitalitymeltdown #Money #Markets #Airbnb #Linkedin

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Merry Christmas and have a wonderful new year. ❤️❤️ Here is food for thought Fannie Mae’s five predictions for 2025 According to Fannie Mae’s 2025 forecast, the housing market will continue to face challenges from 2024, including affordability issues and high mortgage rates. The report outlines five key predictions that will shape the market, offering insight into home sales, price trends, and new construction in the coming year. 1.    Mortgage Rates: Rates will stay above 6%, with inflation and job market stability preventing significant rate cuts. 2.    Economic Growth: The economy and employment will decelerate modestly. Inflation will ease but remain above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target until 2026. 3.    Existing-Home Sales: Sales will improve slightly to 4.25 million but remain near 30-year lows due to affordability issues and the lock-in effect, where homeowners keep low-rate mortgages. 4.    New-Home Sales: Limited existing inventory and strong demand will keep new-home sales robust, with the South and Mountain West dominating new-home sales thanks to favorable land availability and zoning. 5.    Home Prices and Rent: Home price growth will slow to 3.6%, improving affordability. Multifamily rent growth will remain modest at 2%-2.5%, with construction activity tapering off.

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The commercial mortgage servicing business is primarily focused on securitized debt products, including CMBS loans, collateralized loan obligations, single-asset, single-borrower loans and Freddie Mac K-Series debt. The proposed Wells Fargo sale includes only the debt servicing and no associated assets. That fee-for-service structure helps insulate the debt servicers from potential market volatility. Sexton estimates there is roughly $2T in debt set to mature in the next three years, which creates an opportunity for his fee-for-service firm.

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Roll call! 🗣️📣📢 If you're in DC, don't miss out on our upcoming panel TODAY at 1:45pm ET at this year's FINRA Annual Conference! The panel topic is "Practical Insights About Retail Investors." This is a great opportunity to hear from experts in the field and gain valuable knowledge on the Retail Investor who is defined by more than #MemeStocks. Hope to see you there! #Investing eToroUS

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When it comes to having confidence that you’ll achieve your financial goals, the right guidance can make all the difference. TIAA Wealth Management Advisor Sean Oakes explains the value of personalized advice from a dedicated financial professional. By partnering with a wealth management advisor, you gain access to tailored strategies and solutions to help secure your financial future. From retirement planning to investment management, you can get actionable insights to help take control of your finances with confidence. Help secure your financial future with actionable financial advice today. https://lnkd.in/gXE32rdy #FinancialPlanning #WealthManagement

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Protect your clients in 2025-26 Fixed Income Thoughts. Higher Rates: A Minority View. Also: Warning on Equities. ▪️” Whereas previously the ESR Group had expected mortgage rates to dip below 6 percent in early 2025, the revised forecast now shows mortgage rates ending 2025 at 6.3 percent and remaining above 6 percent through 2026.” Meaning? Prepayments will continue to be subdued and the curve will continue to steepen. ▪️WH pressure on the Fed to be more aggressive in lowering rates will lead to long-term inflation fears given an already strong economy and labor demands continuing. ▪️With aggressive tariffs in the next few months a certainty it would be wise to review your fixed income portfolio in a more sober, (aka low duration) manner for the foreseeable future. ▪️ “This year’s projected budget deficit of $1.9 trillion is already likely to reach more than 6% of economic output, a threshold crossed previously only during World War II, the 2008-09 financial crisis, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet stocks keep hitting records.” WSJ PS Here two other reasons I worry about equities: 1. “The Conference Board asks US households about their outlook for the stock market, and a record high of 51.4% say that stock prices will move higher.” 2. The cyclically adjusted price earnings ratio at 38 is near all-time highs, significantly above its long-term average at 17. https://lnkd.in/eNJHHHSA. #riskmanagement #money #interestrates #hedge

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SBA Lending Limit Increase - What could go wrong with increasing the SBA lending limit from 5 million to 10 million? Increased Risk Exposure: Higher lending limits could potentially expose the SBA and participating lenders to greater risks if borrowers default on larger loan amounts. This could lead to higher rates of loan defaults and losses, impacting the overall financial health of the SBA loan program. Strain on Resources: Processing larger loan applications may require additional resources and administrative efforts from both the SBA and participating lenders. This could strain existing infrastructure, lead to longer processing times, and potentially impact the efficiency of the loan approval process. Impact on Loan Availability: Raising the lending limit could result in a concentration of available funds towards larger loans, potentially reducing the availability of smaller loans for microenterprises or businesses with lower financing needs. This may disadvantage certain segments of the small business community that rely on smaller loan amounts. Concerns about Overleveraging: There may be concerns that raising the lending limit could encourage some businesses to take on excessive debt beyond their capacity to repay, leading to financial instability or bankruptcy in the event of economic downturns or unexpected challenges. Risk of Mission Drift: An increased focus on larger loans could shift the SBA's mission away from its core mandate of supporting small businesses, particularly microenterprises and those in underserved communities. This could potentially divert resources and attention away from these critical segments of the small business population. Do you think SBA lenders would want to process a 10-million-dollar business acquisition? ..that's a lot of risk to take on. SBA community, How can banks minimize their SBA risks and exposures on larger deals?

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Higher mortgage rates continue to weigh on existing home sales, keeping overall sales well below their pandemic lows and roughly even with the lows hit during the Global Financial Crisis. Home prices are still rising, driven by a lack of supply. Many homeowners are reluctant to sell and lose their low mortgage rates of 4% or less, limiting the supply of available homes. However, there are signs that the housing market is starting to move past this impasse. Inventories of existing homes have been rising in recent months, and mortgage rates have fallen back below 7%. We expect rates to fall further this fall, potentially bringing more buyers back into the market. Interestingly, the upper end of the market remains strong, with sales of homes priced at $1 million or more rising 15% over the past year, while sales of all other homes fell by 5.9%. Check out our latest report on existing home sales for more insights, and feel free to leave a comment or share this post with your network. #RealEstate #HousingMarket #MortgageRates #HomeSales #EconomicUpdate https://lnkd.in/eXpnBPDa

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Freddie Mac - Weekly May 23, 2024 12:00 PM EDTMortgage Rates Drop Below Seven Percent (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.94 percent. “Spring homebuyers received an unexpected windfall this week, as mortgage rates fell below the seven percent threshold for the first time in over a month,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Although this week’s data on previously owned home sales showed a decline, total inventory of both new and existing homes is up. Greater supply coupled with the recent downward trend in rates is an encouraging sign for the housing market.” News Facts * The 30-year FRM averaged 6.94 percent as of May 23, 2024, down from last week when it averaged 7.02 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.57 percent. * The 15-year FRM averaged 6.24 percent, down from last week when it averaged 6.28 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.97 percent.

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April’s movement of yields across the maturity spectrum experienced a month of fairly uniform increases. Read about what’s happing in the muni market in the May edition of The Bond Bulletin. #markets #assetmanagement #fixedincome #thoughtleadership

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