Welcome to Loan Stars, the podcast for aspiring referral partners who want to shine in the world of business lending. Hosted by ARF Financial, each episode unpacks the tools, trends, and tactics you need to succeed in today’s lending landscape. Whether you’re new to referrals or looking to sharpen your edge, Loan Stars offers practical insights, real-world case studies, and interviews with top-performing partners. Tune in and discover how to turn referrals into revenue—and become a true star in the loan game.
Loan Stars Episode 13: SBA Lending in 2026 & Beyond with the Lords of Lending
Celeste Deal-Maunoir hosts the Loan Stars podcast with Stephanie Dunn, Shane Pearson, and Brian Congelero of Lords of Lending and Leader Bank to discuss an SBA market shift from 2025 “volume” to 2026 “discipline,” noting SBA lending exceeded $35B in 2025 but is down about 15% in 2026 amid rate pressure, fuller bank balance sheets, and rising defaults. They preview SOP 50 10 8.1 changes effective October 1, emphasizing stricter equity and “skin in the game” for first-time business acquisitions, limits on refinancing MCA/factoring debt (including seasoning requirements), and continued ineligibility for legal permanent residents without U.S. citizenship. They highlight opportunities from separating 7(a) and 504 caps (up to $5M each), stress cash, fundamentals, and post-close liquidity, and recommend exploring building purchases. They cover when SBA vs. bridge/working-capital loans fit, common deal-structure pitfalls, SBA Form 159 fee disclosure, and Lords of Lending’s training platform for packaging stronger referrals.
13 Jul 2026
Loan Stars Episode 12: Navigating AI in Brokerage: Insights from Cheryl Tibbs
On the Loan Stars podcast, host Celeste Deal-Maunoir (Chief Sales Officer at ARF Financial) interviews Cheryl Tibbs, founder of One Stop Commercial Capital and an AI/automation strategist, about practical ways brokers can use AI to improve speed, workflow, and client experience while keeping human judgment in the loop. Tibbs argues deals often go to the fastest broker and describes AI as a “junior loan officer” that can handle intake, qualification, and follow-up 24/7, including instant text/email responses and document flagging. She outlines using agentic systems with guardrails for security and brand voice, leveraging tools like ChatGPT and Claude, and scoring leads against ARF guidelines to route “hot” deals into a GoHighLevel pipeline. She emphasizes automating first touch while reserving packaging/structuring decisions for humans, and advises brokers to fix one major workflow leak—usually follow-up—before adopting many tools.
22 Jun 2026
Loan Stars Episode 11: AI, Regulation, and Opportunities in Business Financing with Shane Mahabir
Host Celeste Deal-Maunoir welcomes Shane Mahabir, founder and president of Funder Intel, to discuss the current business financing landscape. Mahabir recounts entering alternative lending in 2014, launching Funder Intel during the 2020 pandemic, and evolving it from company ratings into a community platform offering data, news, resources, and networking events. They describe an industry that is rapidly improving through technology, giving business owners more options and faster funding, while banks remain tight and may partner with or adopt underwriting software. Mahabir notes ongoing lender growth alongside potential consolidation, plus inflation, energy costs, and tariffs shaping cautious cash-flow management. They cover AI-driven underwriting speed, embedded finance awareness, fraud and security risks, and state-by-state commercial finance disclosure laws increasing compliance costs. Mahabir predicts AI agents will increasingly apply for financing within 12–24 months.
3 Jun 2026
Loan Stars Episode 10: Building a Robust Business Pipeline with Select Capital's Steve Champlin
Host Celeste Deal-Manouir (Chief Sales Officer at ARF Financial) interviews Steve Champlin of Select Capital about building a robust referral-partner pipeline in private commercial credit. Champlin, a former manufacturing owner-operator for 27 years who sold his last company in 2022, founded Select Capital in 2023 after seeing a Midwest gap for private commercial credit. He says bank, CPA, and attorney referrals—especially banks—outperform expensive online marketing because bankers provide credibility and a “captive audience.” He defines his pipeline as tracking referral relationships and multiple potential transactions per client, advising consultants to offer a broad lender “Rolodex” (unsecured revolving lines, small-balance CRE, ABL, bridge, SBA, equipment finance, factoring, specialty finance) and to avoid bad lenders charging upfront due diligence fees. He recommends clarifying positioning, leveraging LinkedIn, meeting bankers regularly (coffee/lunch), using newsletters to stay top of mind, asking for internal bank introductions, and being patient with long trust cycles; he notes banks are conservative, understaffed, and increasingly concerned about unpaid-down principals.
4 May 2026
Loan Stars Episode 9: ARF 25th Anniversary with Steve Glenn
Celeste Deal-Maunoir hosts the Loan Stars Podcast to mark ARF Financial’s 25th anniversary with CEO and co-founder Steve Glenn. Glenn recounts how the company began in 2000–2001 after a restaurant marketing business revealed clients’ need for cash flow, leading ARF to become a California licensed lender and later a nationwide lender via a bank model. He describes early milestones and evolution from “Advanced Restaurant Finance” to ARF Financial, expansion beyond restaurants, and innovations including early line-of-credit checkbooks, ROI-based selling, and later a true revolving line of credit. Key challenges included 9/11, the 2008–2009 recession, and COVID-19, during which ARF cut low credits, extended terms, launched a broker program (2018), continued funding, and introduced payment relief and a 13-week interest-only product. Glenn highlights the partnership with co-founder Les Haskew and outlines future growth through new business categories, products, and broker training.
21 Apr 2026
Loan Stars Episode 8: Unlocking Asset-Based Lending with Tammy Kemp
On the Loan Stars Podcast, host Celeste Deal-Maunoir (Chief Sales Officer at ARF Financial) interviews Tammy Kemp, President of Carrington Capital, about identifying asset-based lending (ABL) and invoice factoring opportunities earlier in the sales process and when they fit better than traditional cashflow loans or merchant cash advances. Kemp explains that many small and mid-sized businesses are declined by banks or qualify for less than they need, while ABL leverages underutilized tangible assets such as accounts receivable, inventory, and sometimes equipment. She highlights strong fits including manufacturing, staffing, transportation, service businesses, and oil and gas services, especially during growth, volatility, or ownership transitions. Carrington focuses on realizable collateral value, offers typical advance rates of ~85% on receivables (up to ~90%+ in factoring), and can work alongside banks via carve-outs; brokers should provide the business “story” and key collateral details and enable early borrower conversations.
26 Nov 2025
Loan Stars Episode 7: Mastering Equipment Financing with Sandra VanBuren
Sandra VanBuren, CEO of Food Service Solutions, illuminates equipment financing strategies for restaurant owners, emphasizing informed decision-making and strategic growth in a discussion with Celeste Deal-Maunoir in this interview.
23 Oct 2025
Loan Stars Episode 6: Thriving in Economic Uncertainty: Insights from Joe Camberato
Celeste Deal-Maunoir interviews Joe Camberato about strategies for small businesses to thrive during economic uncertainty, emphasizing growth opportunities and establishing trust with clients.
21 Aug 2025
Loan Stars Episode 5: Breaking Down Texas's New Business Finance Laws with Kate Fisher
Celeste Deal Maunoir and Bob Lapidus interview Kate Fisher, exploring Texas's new business finance laws and their impact on commercial sales-based financing.
12 Jun 2025
Loan Stars Episode 4: Navigating SBA Policy Changes with Terry Luker
Celeste Deal-Maunoir interviews Terry Luker about recent SBA refinancing policy changes, exploring implications for loan brokers and strategies to adapt in this informative conversation.
31 Mar 2025
Loan Stars Ep 3 pt. 2: Smart Marketing with Oz Konar
In this episode of the Loan Stars Podcast, presented by a ARF Financial, Celeste Deal-Maunoir continues her insightful conversation with Oz Kanar, the founder of Business Lending Blueprint. This second part of the interview delves deeper into marketing strategies for new lending brokers, especially those with tight budgets. Oz emphasizes the importance of mastering one marketing channel before diversifying and offers expert advice on targeting specific industries. He introduces essential AI tools, which can revolutionize lead generation and content creation. Oz also discusses the evolution of marketing from traditional methods to the modern AI landscape and highlights the significance of maintaining personal connections despite technological advancements. For anyone looking to thrive in the business financing space, Oz's insights are invaluable. This episode is a must-listen for current and aspiring loan brokers aiming to elevate their business game.
3 Mar 2025
Loan Stars Episode 3 Part 1: Smart Marketing with Oz Konar
In the first part of this two part episode of The Loan Stars Podcast, hosted by Celeste Deal-Maunoir from ARF Financial, guest speaker Oz Konar, founder of Business Lending Blueprint, shares invaluable insights for new loan brokers. Konar discusses his journey from college to establishing a successful training program that has transformed individuals into profitable business loan brokers. The conversation covers essential strategies for building a pipeline, common rookie mistakes, the importance of urgency and trust-building, and effective networking techniques. The episode also emphasizes the significance of taking action and offers practical advice for newcomers to thrive in the business financing space.
5 Feb 2025
Loan Stars Episode 2: Know Your Lender. Know Your Customer – A Conversation with Jared Weitz
The Loan Stars podcast, hosted by Celeste Deal-Maunoir and Noel Joseph from ARF Financial, features an insightful conversation with Jared Weitz, CEO of United Capital Source. This episode delves into Jared's journey of founding UCS in 2011 and growing it to facilitate over a billion dollars in funding for small and mid-sized businesses. Jared discusses the importance of offering multiple funding options, solid relationships, and having a robust lead generation process. He also shares advice for newer agents, the value of strategic partnerships, and lessons learned from early challenges and successes. Jared emphasizes integrity, company culture, and mission as keys to building a sustainable business.
12 Dec 2024
The Affiliate Advantage: Partnering with ARF Financial for Success
In the first episode of 'Loan Stars,' host Celeste Deal Maunoir, Chief Sales Officer at ARF Financial, discusses the benefits and opportunities of affiliate partnerships with ARF Financial. Celeste is joined by lending experts Vincent Lam, Keith Kohler, and Mike Spitalney, who share their experiences and success stories in securing financing for small businesses through ARF. They highlight ARF's role in providing flexible, longer-term financing options, particularly for industries like restaurants, and bridging gaps where traditional methods fall short. The discussion covers ARF's efficient loan processes, the importance of personalized customer service, and details about the Loan Star Affiliate Program which offers significant commissions and bonuses. The episode encourages listeners to reach out and explore partnership opportunities with ARF Financial.
Who has been a guest on ARF Financial’s Loan Stars Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Sandra VanBuren
Joe Camberato
Kate Fisher
Terry Luker
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 5 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
9
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
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Books guests
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Questions about ARF Financial’s Loan Stars Podcast
Who hosts ARF Financial’s Loan Stars Podcast?
Celeste Deal-Maunoir host the show. Published by ARF Financial.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes monthly, based on its RSS feed.
Does ARF Financial’s Loan Stars Podcast take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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