Why Top Loan Officers Are Choosing Platforms Built for Growth

June 23, 2026.

In today’s private lending market, top-performing loan officers are evaluating more than compensation plans and product menus. They’re looking for platforms that can help them scale – platforms with strong operational support, reliable execution, leadership accessibility, and the infrastructure necessary to sustain growth.

When Asset Based Lending recently reported record production numbers, including more than $153 million in term sheet volume and over $111 million in monthly fundings, it raised an interesting question:

What does it take to build the kind of platform that attracts and supports high-performing originators?

To find out, I sat down with Kevin Rodman, CEO of Asset Based Lending, to discuss the company’s growth, operational strategy, culture, product mix, and the leadership decisions that have helped position the company for its next stage of expansion.

Uriel Fleicher: Kevin, the first thing that caught my attention was the growth itself. A lot of companies talk about momentum, but your team recently shared some impressive production metrics. How did Asset Based Lending reach this level of growth?

Kevin Rodman: Growth at this scale is really the result of years of preparation.

We have always believed that sustainable growth comes from building the right infrastructure before you need it. That means investing in people, systems, processes, and leadership long before the volume arrives.

A lot of lenders focus on growth as an outcome. We focus on building the platform that makes growth possible.

When volume increases, borrowers and brokers should experience the same responsiveness and consistency they would have experienced when the company was half the size.

That has been a major focus for us.

Uriel Fleicher: One of the challenges many growing lenders face is internal friction. As organizations scale, communication becomes harder, decision-making slows down, and bottlenecks start to appear. How have you managed that process?

Kevin Rodman: It starts with culture and leadership. We have intentionally built a culture centered around accessibility, responsiveness, and accountability.

Our originators have direct access to decision-makers. Our operational teams understand urgency. Communication flows quickly across departments.

We constantly look for ways to remove unnecessary bureaucracy because every delay impacts the borrower experience and the ability of our loan officers to compete.

Sustainable speed doesn’t come from rushing. It comes from alignment.

When everyone understands the mission and has the authority to execute, deals move efficiently.

Uriel Fleicher: One thing I noticed is that your growth isn’t concentrated in a single product category. Can you talk about how your portfolio is distributed today between DSCR, bridge lending, fix-and-flip, and construction financing?

Kevin Rodman: One of our strengths is diversification.

Bridge and rehab lending continue to represent a significant portion of our business, particularly among experienced investors looking for certainty of execution and speed.

Construction lending has also become increasingly important as developers and investors pursue larger projects and new opportunities.

At the same time, DSCR lending continues to grow as investors focus on building long-term rental portfolios.

Having a balanced product mix allows us to support investors across different strategies while also remaining adaptable as market conditions evolve.

Uriel Fleicher: Funding over one hundred RTL loans in a month requires tremendous operational coordination. What did Asset Based Lending have to build internally to reach that level of execution?

Kevin Rodman: Preparation.

The reality is that you cannot wait until volume arrives to build infrastructure. We invested heavily in operations, underwriting, technology, workflow design, and team development before we reached these production levels.

As a result, when volume accelerated, we were prepared to absorb it without sacrificing service.

Execution is not something you turn on when business gets busy. It has to be embedded into the organization.

Uriel Fleicher: How important are loan officers in creating these results? Because from the outside, people often focus on capital, technology, or leadership, but production ultimately happens through the originators.

Kevin Rodman: They’re absolutely critical.

You can have great products and strong capital sources, but if your originators don’t trust the platform behind them, growth becomes very difficult.

Our responsibility as leaders is to create an environment where loan officers can focus on relationships, business development, and helping clients. That means providing strong operational support, reliable execution, responsive communication, and confidence that deals will move smoothly.

The less internal friction they experience, the more successful they can be.

Uriel Fleicher: One of the natural consequences of growth is expansion. Where does Asset Based Lending currently have its strongest presence, and which markets are creating the biggest opportunities moving forward?

Kevin Rodman: As we continue growing, we’re seeing significant opportunities in several markets across the country.

Historically, our strongest presence has been in the Northeast, which reflects our roots in New Jersey, but we’ve also built substantial momentum in states like Tennessee, Texas Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. Those markets continue to be key drivers of our production and have provided a strong foundation for our growth.

Looking ahead, we’re focused on expanding strategically into markets where investor activity and housing demand remain strong. The Carolinas and Georgia present attractive opportunities, and we’re also seeing potential in several Pacific Northwest states.

Our approach has never been growth for growth’s sake. We’re focused on expanding where we can deliver the same responsiveness, reliability and consistency that helped us build our reputation in the first place. Growth only matters if you can preserve quality, and that’s a principle that continues to guide every expansion decision we make.

Uriel Fleicher: When loan officers read interviews like this, many naturally begin asking themselves whether there are opportunities to become part of what you’re building. So let me ask directly: Are you inviting loan officers to reach out to Asset Based Lending?

Kevin Rodman: Absolutely.

We’re particularly interested in connecting with entrepreneurial loan officers who want access to a platform built for long-term growth rather than short-term production.

We’re not simply looking to add headcount.

We’re looking for loan officers who appreciate execution, accountability, collaboration, and long-term growth. The success of our originators and the success of our company are directly connected.

If someone reads this interview and feels aligned with the culture we’ve built, the way we operate, and the direction we’re heading, I would absolutely encourage them to reach out and start a conversation.

Those are the kinds of relationships we’re looking to build.

Uriel Fleicher: Last question. When you look at today’s private lending landscape, what separates the companies that continue growing from those that plateau?

Kevin Rodman: The companies that continue growing are the ones investing in long-term operational strength rather than chasing short-term volume.

The industry is becoming more sophisticated every year. Borrowers expect more. Capital providers expect more. Execution standards continue rising.

The platforms that will succeed over the long term are those that can combine speed, discipline, consistency, and scalability. That’s what we’re focused on building every day at Asset Based Lending.

Final Thoughts

As our conversation concluded, one thing became clear: Asset Based Lending’s recent growth is not the result of a single product, market cycle, or recruiting effort.

It is the result of years spent building operational infrastructure, leadership alignment, and a culture designed to help both borrowers and loan officers succeed.

For loan officers, the lesson may be simple: compensation matters, but platform matters too. As private lending becomes increasingly competitive, the firms investing in execution, culture, and operational scale may be the ones creating the greatest opportunities for long-term growth.

At Asset Based Lending, that is exactly what we are building. If you’re interested in joining one of the fastest-growing private lenders in the nation and want to learn more about the Asset Based Lending team, click here.