SBA Ray

We also did a follow up live stream youtube.com/live/Oy6LIejxS…

The Money Store reunion episode: youtu.be/BQuN7ikZQa4?si…

Sometimes in life, you must ask yourself… "How did I get here?" Last fall, while wrapping up the final episodes of The Art of SBA Lending podcast, I came across a video posted by Vince Calicchia from "the money store days." While I was not around back then, it’s been brought up on my podcast countless times and have great respect for their legendary role in turning the SBA 7(a) product into an industry. The comments section was going wild. TMS Alum were all engaging. It was my best and final opportunity to do one of my bucket list episode ideas. The Money Store reunion episode. It was a hit. Through the stories of folks like Vince, Sam Renta, Joseph I. Weiner, CCIM, John Handmaker, and Mark Raffield, we encapsulated what made that moment in time so special. The podcast made the rounds. One morning, I get a call. The voicemail says it’s Paul Leliakov. “Hmm that name sounds familiar,” I thought. 🤔 And that was because the guys mentioned his name in the podcast. He ran TMS’s SBA division. This was a big deal. ——————————— Fast forward 6 months Paul Leliakov — the person who: → Led the SBA team through their sale to Union Bank → Retired from SBA lending in 1999 → Spent 14 years at a company that holds the record as #1 SBA lender for 16 consecutive years …made his return to the SBA scene at my Directors Retreat this week. And according to Paul, a lot has changed after 27 years, but a lot hasn’t! Improving efficiencies. Fostering culture. Building a sustainable shop. Quests The Money Store pioneered. Quests we continue to work at today. The Money Store remains the most impactful lender in SBA history — because they started this whole thing. And Paul at this event was a huge honor.

@ClintFiore Our bones are probably powdered dust

@SBA_Ray Dude soo so bad, fast food, microwave corn dogs, that styrofoam cup ramen soup, cokes, chex mix, oreos, potato chips, apple juice, etc all staples

My mom used to give me these when my blood sugar was crashing as a chubby hypoglycemic kid playing sports in 100 degree TX heat so I could "get some protein in me". 🫠

@EndresenHeather 2025 was a peak year in general for SBA. I wonder if COO transactions were even up in 2025 as a % of SBA lending

Although 2025 was a peak year, I think it's safe to say there's no sign yet of a "Silver Tsunami" Thoughts?

561 where you at

@Robbie_R23 🙋🏼‍♂️

Trying to arrange another Palm Beach County SMB happy hour if people would be down?

@SMB_Attorney @smblawgroup @KHendersonCo @Sam_Rosati @TwoTeesSMB @RegZeller @girdley @realEstateTrent @MikeBotkin_ @WilsonCompanies @patrickdichter @moseskagan @SullyBusiness @guessworkinvest @fortworthchris @StrongpointRich @shawngorham @stephenolmon @jakelywakely @ClintFiore @SBA_Matthias @housleyd @bradford_hardin @sbabmarks @SuccessWithJake @CTW_SMB @RandBusiness @ElliottEHolland @RobertMSterling @bibelhausen @ItsMattsLaw @KrissBergTweets @skylarromines He is HIM

To the people who were there while we were figuring it out: @ClintFiore @SBA_Matthias @housleyd @bradford_hardin @sbabmarks @SuccessWithJake @CTW_SMB @RandBusiness @SBA_Ray @ElliottEHolland @RobertMSterling @bibelhausen @ItsMattsLaw @KrissBergTweets @SkylarRomines @SteveWiesnerSMB @pinpulleddrmf @SMBJackieHirsch @nunziopresta @EdMyso @agazdecki @AgeofHoffman @kelceylehrich @adammarkleysmb @SievaKozinsky @kenpozek @baldridgecpa @connorabene @mhp_guy @shanecroft @ElliottEHolland @cofoundersnik @thesuddenwealth @betterceo @slackwatercap @fortworthchris @seanodowd15 @xavierhelgesen @investing_law @adamgwaschesq @sullybusiness @guessworkinvest You saw something before it was proven.

Four years ago today, we launched the first-ever social media-driven law firm, @smblawgroup. Here’s how it’s going:

@AlanPetersonSBA Collins already got her a license plate that says CEO (for her pink corvette)

@SBA_Ray 🎯 She's a bright kid - future CEO!

I just asked my three-year-old what she thinks I do for work. Me: I have to go to work. Her: what work? Me: do you know what I do for work? Her: sell money Lucky guess…

@SBA_Ray I would like to buy some of this money. Can I buy $100 for $10 please?

@ClintFiore She answered better than anyone in my family could

@SBA_Ray no better way to describe what you do in 2 words. amazing prescience.

SBA Ray content is officially back. ‼️ Small business owners deserve the truth about SBA lending. The good. The bad. And the ugly. They ain't getting it from their bank. They ain't getting it from their jack-of-all-trades loan broker. And they certainly ain't getting it from ChatGPT. Subscribe on YouTube so you don't miss these drops. 🔗 @SBA_Ray" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@SBA_Ray

8/ The average loan size fell 43%. Now it's reversing. Program-wide average dropped from $698K (FY2021) to $397K (FY2024) as small-dollar volume flooded the market. Now climbing — $475K annualized in FY2026 and rising.

I just spent the last week digging through 5.5 years of SBA 7(a) volume data. Every lender that finished in the top 40 — any of the last 5 years — plus current YTD. 8 takeaways. Thread 🧵