Networking. Education. Fun.

The American Association of Private Lenders is the oldest and largest national association for the private lending industry. Each year we host the nation’s largest private lending event at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, featuring the right mix of comprehensive education, networking, and of course plenty of classic Vegas fun.

The Highlight Reel

Certification ClassesVIP Nightclub ReceptionExcellence Awards • 15+ Educational Sessions & PanelsPrivate Lender Roundtables • Packed Vendor HallNetworking ReceptionOfficial After Party

Networking. Education. Fun.

The American Association of Private Lenders is the oldest and largest association for the private lending industry. Each year we host the nation’s largest private lending event at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, featuring the right mix of comprehensive education, networking, and of course plenty of classic Vegas fun.

The Highlight Reel

Certification Classes • VIP Nightclub Reception • Excellence Awards  • 15+ Sessions & Panels • Private Lender Roundtables • Packed Vendor Hall  • Networking Reception • Official After Party

At A Glance.

0
Days
0+
Speakers
0+
Vendors
0+
Attendees

#AAPLannual brings together owner-operators and c-suite executives from across the private lender, broker, capital, and service provider spaces. If you are serious about your involvement in the private lending industry, our conference is the place to be.

Considering 2025 Annual Conference Sponsorship?

Your sponsorship helps us champion the private lending profession and lift up the industry year-round. From legislative advocacy, to maintaining the industry’s ethical standards and bringing more and better value to our members, thank you for your support.

Conference Overview & Schedule.

We curate topics and speakers to add real value to attendees’ businesses. You’ll walk away from sessions feeling inspired, informed, and ready to tackle the challenges of today’s market. We promise: no pitch decks or sales presentations.

All activities are Pacific Time in Caesars Palace’s Conference Center – Promenade Level – unless otherwise noted. Event schedule subject to change.

MONDAY, NOV. 10
CERTIFICATION CLASSES & VIP


9:00AM – 5:30PM

Certified Private Lender Associate
Certified Fund Manager 201
AAPL Members Only
Registration closes 12:00PM CST Friday, Nov. 7
No Walk-Ups: Check the AAPL Conference App to Confirm Registration


1:00PM – 5:00PM

Exhibitor Check-In & Setup
Exhibit Hall Floorplan (not to scale)


8:00PM – 10:00PM

Exclusive VIP Reception
Location TBA
RSVP Required during conference registration
No Walk-Ups: Check the AAPL Conference App to Confirm RSVP

TUESDAY, NOV. 11
MAIN SESSION DAY


7:30AM – 5:00PM

Registration & Exhibit Hall Open
Breakfast


8:30AM – 11:45AM

Morning Main Stage Sessions


11:45AM – 1:00PM

Lunch (Not Provided – On Your Own)


1:00PM – 4:45PM

Afternoon Concurrent Breakout Sessions


5:00PM – 6:00PM

Private Lender Roundtables


5:00PM – 7:00PM

Networking Reception


7:00PM – 9:00PM

Official After Party TBA


9:ooAM – 5:30PM

Certified Private Lender Associate
Certified Fund Manager 201
AAPL Members Only, Registration Required
Registration closes 12:00PM CST Friday, Nov. 7
No Walk-Ups: Check the AAPL Conference App to Confirm RSVP


1:00PM – 5:00PM

Exhibitor Check-In & Setup
Exhibit Hall Floorplan (not to scale)


7:00PM – 10:00PM [ACTIVITY RSVP REQUIRED]

Exclusive VIP Reception
Location TBA

No Walk-Ups for ANYONE: Check the AAPL Conference App to Confirm RSVP

Spend the evening meeting up with old friends and new acquaintances and snacking on delicious hors d’oeuvres and cocktails – all overlooking the gorgeous Las Vegas Strip.

Below is our 2024 Conference schedule to demonstrate the day’s general structure and session subject matter. The 2025 schedule will be released early October to ensure the event covers the industry’s most on-demand and topical educational content.

7:30AM – 5:00PM

Attendee Registration & Exhibit Hall Open


8:30AM – 8:50AM

2024 State of the Association and Excellence Awards
Eddie Wilson, Chairman, and Linda Hyde, President, American Association of Private Lenders
2024 has been a year of change for our membership and the industry. Learn what AAPL is doing to support your growth and safeguard your future. 


8:50AM – 9:30AM

2024 Keynote>> The Corporate Credit Outlook: Our Menu Options Have Changed
John Bringardner, Executive Editor, Debtwire
Large corporate borrowers turned to private lenders in record numbers last year when public debt markets froze up. In 2024, banks jumped back into the game to regain market share. Will the pendulum keep swinging, or can public and private markets find a happy equilibrium?


9:30AM – 10:30AM

2024 Session>> What Record-Breaking Securitizations Mean For You
Nema Daghbandan, Esq. and Kevin Kim, Esq., Partners, Geraci LLP
Emerging rated and unrated securitizations are breaking records, and our industry is increasingly becoming commoditized. You must now decide: Will you align your business with capital market buy boxes, fill gaps left by them, or pursue a hybrid strategy?


10:45AM – 11:45AM

2024 Session>> Capital Strategies to Fortify Your Business
William J. Tessar CV3 Financial Services and Eddie Wilson, Chairman, AAPL
Explore the complexities of different capital structures and the current state of capital markets, from operational funding and loan origination, to securitizations and loan sales. We’ll analyze availability and terms to deconstruct how capital impacts your lending business, and discuss strategies to diversify both your balance sheet and capital partners to strengthen your market position. We’ll cover the current sentiment – whether securing capital has become easier or more challenging —and how market shifts may influence more aggressive or punitive terms.


11:45AM – 1:00PM

Lunch (Not Provided)


1:00PM – 1:45PM

2024 Panel>> Find Your Data Oasis
John Santilli, Rehab Financial Group [Moderator]; Scott Fahl, Privy; Charles Goodwin, Kiavi; Pavel Tchourliaev, Mortgage Automator
The private lending industry used to be a data desert; now with all the market metrics available it feels like information overload. Dial in to the real KPIs that will make a bottom-line difference to your business.
2024 Panel>> It’s a Broker World 
Arthur Budimir, Constructive Capital [Moderator]; Christopher Donovan, Doss Law; Erica Sikoski, Bridge Loan Network; Wade Susini, Dominion Financial Services
Brokers are leaving Big Conventional Mortgage, with many finding a home in the private market. Explore competitive advantages to working with broker partners alongside pitfalls and potential hurdles, including broker screening, teaching, and tracking.
2024 Panel>> Stop Cherry-Picking Your Underwriting Criteria 
Chris Ragland [Moderator], Chris Fuelling, LendingWise; Seth Markum, National Real Estate Insurance Group; David Schiffmayer, PCV Murcor
In a changing risk landscape, underwriting can feel like arbitrarily or selectively assigning standards. Today’s market offers no perfect deals, but experts offer practical techniques to calibrate your underwriting risk against current market pressures.

2:00PM – 2:45PM

2024 Panel>> Fraud Fight Night: Lenders and Brokers vs. Bad Actors
Ben Fertig [Moderator], Constructive Capital; Megan Castleton, Essencap Financing; Steven E. Ernest, Esq., Geraci LLP; Justin Parker, RCN Capital; Tess Siwa, Constructive Capital
Fraud is now coming faster and at times is almost indistinguishable from “the real thing” … until the losses start rolling in. AAPL has assembled an all-star Fraud Steering Committee to strategize a path forward. In this session, Committee panelists will share insights into how fraud may already be impacting your business and what’s being developed to win the fight.
2024 Panel>> You Wear Too Many Hats (And Probably Look Bad in Half of Them) 
Kendra Rommel, Futures Financial [Moderator]; Michael Tedesco, Appraisal Nation; Eddie Wilson, AAPL; Christy Young Barger, Cornerstone Licensing Services
From expanding your in-house team to knowing when it’s time to find an outsourced vendor relationship, leaders offer know-how for what will save you time, budget, and sanity—along with best practices, where, and what to look for.
2024 Panel>> Asleep at the Wheel: Common Compliance and Documentation Catastrophes 
Nichole Moore, Geraci LLP [Moderator]; Henry Chavez, Cathedral CPAs & Advisors; Beeta Lecha, REIL Fund Services; Dawn Terry, Business Purpose Capital
Our industry may be less-regimented than conventional counterparts, but the regulations and best practices we do have can be business-busting if you get them wrong. Experts talk shop and horror stories while offering practical insight to mitigate risk.

3:00PM – 3:45PM

2024 Panel>> Control Your Capital
Shaye Wali, Baseline Software [Moderator]; Steven Bettinger, Casa Finance, Brittney Fairweather, TRX Capital; Glenn Hull, SFR Analytics
Geared for small and medium lenders, industry professionals discuss actionable insights on the art of raising capital. You’ll gain a clear roadmap to negotiate stronger deals, expand your reach, and navigate market challenges with real power to dictate your business outcomes.
2024 Panel>> Ask An Expert: Fund Management Edition
Jennifer Young, Esq., Geraci LLP [Moderator]; Steven Alexander, CohnReznick; Wesley Carpenter, Stormfield Capital, LLC; John Faheem, Granite Risk Management
These established fund managers and vendors are here to take your fund-related questions, from operations to administration, legal/compliance, and beyond.
2024 Panel>> Marketing and Sales Synergies for Origination Success 
Alex Offutt, Business Purpose Capital [Moderator]; Nathan Goodhart, The Mortgage Office; Dave Gray, Anchor Loans; Jack Helfrich, CV3 Financial Services
Cut through the buzz words to actionable strategies that will “level up” your deal flow with more and better leads. Explore cutting-edge content tactics, the best platforms to find borrowers and investors, and compare “hot new tricks” with tried-and-true methodologies.

4:00PM – 4:45PM

2024 Panel>> DSCR: Not One Size Fits All, How to Get Creative and Win More Deals
Eric Panecki, Sean Shanahan, and Matthew Neptun, Brick City Capital
Panelists will guide you through unique DSCR scenarios in this interactive session that showcases nuances, finds creative solutions, and helps you build a resilient business while fostering lasting relationships. Let us show you how thinking outside the box will drive your long-term success.
2024 Panel>> The Fraud You Know…
Scott Ward, Pacific Private Money [Moderator]; Thayne Boren, Sekady; Sam Kaddah, Liquid Logics; Justin Land, Merchants Mortgage & Trust Corporation
…Is the fraud you don’t fall for. Experts discuss the most common, most costly, and most reputationally-damaging forms of fraud hammering private lenders today, along with best practices and tools for long-term prevention and mitigation.
2024 Panel>> It’s a Cash Drought Out There
James Gaskin, Renovo [Moderator]; Eric Abramovich, Roc Capital; John Beacham, Toorak Capital Partners, Jeffrey Tesch, RCN Capital
If you’re scraping the bottom of the liquidity well to meet your lending obligations or hitting the ceiling with your current capital stack, here’s how to find, vet, and maintain private investor, bank, family office, aggregator, and other capital partners.

5:00PM – 6:00PM

Private Lender Roundtables Participants will break into groups according to their stage of business. Each group will be guided by discussion leaders with the goal of helping participants tackle strategy/tactical challenges and answering any questions they still have after the Main Day sessions. More details in the AAPL Annual Conference app!

  • Stage 1 Startup (0-2 Employees)
  • Stage 2 Grow (3-10 Employees)
  • Stage 3 Scale (10+ Employees)
  • Debt Funds

5:00PM-7:00PM

Networking Reception Continue conversations at this after-hours networking reception, where attendees, sponsors, and speakers can enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and two drink tokens.


7:00PM-9:00PM

2024 Official After-Party Not ready to turn in? Attend AAPL’s Official After Party , details TBA.


Conference Overview & Schedule.

We carefully curate topics and speakers to add real value to attendees’ businesses. We promise: no pitch decks or sales presentations.

All activities are Pacific Time in Caesars Palace’s Conference Center – Promenade Level – unless otherwise noted. Schedule subject to change.

MONDAY, NOV. 10
CERTIFICATION CLASSES &
VIP RECEPTION


9:00AM – 5:30PM

Certified Private Lender Associate
Certified Fund Manager 201
AAPL Members Only
Registration closes 12:00PM CST Friday,  Nov. 7
No Walk-Ups: Check the AAPL Conference App to Confirm Registration


1:00PM – 5:00PM

Exhibitor Check-In & Setup
Exhibit Hall Floorplan (not to scale)


8:00PM – 10:00PM

Exclusive VIP Reception
Location TBA
RSVP Required
Registration closes 12:00PM CST Friday, Nov. 7
No Walk-Ups: Check the AAPL Conference App to Confirm RSVP

TUESDAY, NOV. 11
MAIN SESSION DAY


7:30AM – 5:00PM

Registration & Exhibit Hall Open
Breakfast


8:30AM – 11:45AM

Morning Main Stage Sessions


11:45AM – 1:00PM

Lunch (Not Provided)


1:00PM – 4:45PM

Afternoon Concurrent Breakout Sessions


5:00PM – 6:00PM

Private Lender Roundtables


5:00PM – 7:00PM

Networking Reception


7:00PM – 9:00PM

After Party TBA


       This conference is the one in which key principals of every major institution show up. Effectively this is a room of #decisionmakers.”

Nema Daghbandan, Geraci LLP, Sponsor 2016 - 2023

   The AAPL Annual Conference gives our team the chance to celebrate our industry while staying up-to-speed on best practices, legislative updates, new tax initiatives and technological break-throughs.  It has been fun to see AAPL grow the conference around a growing industry these past 10 years.”

Paul Jackson, Residential Capital Partners, Title Sponsor 2019 - 2023

   … Absolutely one of the best! It’s not one session; it’s not the same thing again and again. You can decide which track and what subject has really interested you. [2023 is] probably one of the most packed AAPL conferences that I’ve seen historically and definitely two and a half to three times bigger than any other conference I attended this year.”

Sam Kaddah, Liquid Logics, Sponsor 2015 - 2023

     Every year, Bridge Loan Network looks forward to attending the AAPL Conference because not only are we always meeting amazing potential clients, vendors, and partners but we also get an unmatched level of education and a pulse of today’s industry.”

Jacob Therrien, Bridge Loan Network, Sponsor 2018 - 2023

      I thought it was exceptionally well run. The venue was phenomenal. …The quality of attendees was really impressive. It was a really good mix of vendors but also other investors. The roundtables offered a really great opportunity to talk to other people and get a sense of best practices. So overall it was a phenomenal experience. In a world with more and more lending events, this is one that we will earmark prioritize coming to.”

Abbas Jessa, Wentwood Capital, 2023 Attendee

      I’m really appreciative that there’s a lot more avenues being offered to the medium-size shops and the up-and-coming organizations in the space. All aspects and all peoples in the industry [are represented]. I would definitely recommend anyone who is in the space to attend. I just love the direction it’s going, and I can’t say enough about the value that I get coming to this conference.”

Adonis Lockett, LNH Capital, 2023 Attendee

      I’m having a fantastic time. As an exhibitor I have been to so many conferences where there was not very much thought put into the exhibitor experience. For example, something very simple is coffee in the morning for the exhibitors. Very well thought out—the direction of traffic for interaction between the attendees and exhibitors has been fantastic. We’re looking forward to next year.”

Heather Kockler, Obie, Sponsor 2023

Sponsors.

Your sponsorship helps us champion the private lending profession and lift up the industry year-round. From legislative advocacy, to maintaining the industry’s ethical standards and bringing more and better value to our members, thank you for your support.

Title

Geraci LLP
CV3 Financial Services

Platinum

Iron Fund
RCN Capital

Gold

Guimont Capital
Liquid Logics

Silver

Exhibitors & Others

Olympia Financial
PMF - Private Mortgage Fund LLC
PMF - Private Mortgage Fund LLC
SBC Trust
Scotsman Guide

Speakers.

With more than 15 sessions and interactive roundtables, you'll hear from experts on every facet of the private lending industry. Gain direct access to leading private lending professionals and service providers to learn the latest strategies transforming the industry.

Nema Daghbandan
Nema DaghbandanCEO, Lightning Docs
Nema Daghbandan is a Founder, and the CEO of Lightning Docs. He currently leads the Lightning Docs team, manages strategic initiatives, and relationships. Mr. Daghbandan also serves as a Partner with Geraci LLP, the nation’s largest private lending law firm. Mr. Daghbandan has unique expertise in understanding the needs of private mortgage lenders. As an attorney, Mr. Daghbandan has been recognized by his peers in the legal community as a Super Lawyers® Rising Star from 2016-2022. Only 2.5% of attorneys receive this distinction. He also received a perfect 10/10 rating from attorney review site AVVO®.
Bill J. Tessar
Bill J. TessarCEO and President
As the CEO and President of CV3 Financial Services, Bill Tessar brings over 35 years of mortgage industry expertise. Having founded and led multiple lending companies, resulting in over $40 billion in total originations, Bill’s leadership is defined by his ability to scale organizations and foster innovation. In 2023, he launched CV3, exceeding $1 billion in originations within its first year. Bill’s strategic vision and focus on building high-performing teams continue to position CV3 as a rising leader in private lending.

At #AAPLannual, you'll find 45+ speakers — they are the Who's Who of the private lending industry.

Eric Abramovich
Eric AbramovichRoc Capital
Steven Alexander
Steven AlexanderCohnReznick
Christy Young Barger
Christy Young BargerCornerstone Licensing Services
John Beacham
John BeachamToorak Capital Partners
Steven Bettinger
Steven BettingerCasa Finance
Thayne Boren
Thayne BorenSekady
Wesley Carpenter
Wesley CarpenterStormfield Capital
Megan Castleton
Megan CastletonEssencap Funding
Henry Chavez, CPA
Henry Chavez, CPACathedral CPA's & Advisors
Merced Cohen
Merced CohenCV3
Christopher Donovan
Christopher DonovanDoss Law
Steven Ernest
Steven ErnestGeraci Law Firm
John Faheem
John FaheemGranite Risk Management
Scott Fahl
Scott FahlPrivy
Brittney Fairweather
Brittney FairweatherTRX Capital
Staford François, CPA
Staford François, CPACohnReznick
Chris Fuelling
Chris FuellingLendingWise
James Gaskin
James GaskinRenovo Financial
Anthony Geraci
Anthony GeraciMOVE
Nate Goodhart
Nate GoodhartThe Mortgage Office
Charles Goodwin
Charles GoodwinKiavi
David Grey
David GreyAnchor Loans
Matthew Gunter
Matthew GunterGeraci Law Firm
Jack Helfritch
Jack HelfritchCV3
Glenn Hull
Glenn HullSFR Analytics
Linda Hyde
Linda HydePresident, AAPL
Sam Kaddah
Sam KaddahLiquid Logics
Kevin Kim
Kevin KimGeraci LLP
Justin Land
Justin LandMerchants Mortgage & Trust Corporation
Beeta Lecha
Beeta LechaREIL
Diana Luoma
Diana LuomaSedaky
Seth Markum
Seth MarkumNREIG
Melissa Martorella
Melissa MartorellaGeraci LLP
Brian Mielke
Brian MielkeThe Servion Commercial Loan Resources
Nichole Moore
Nichole MooreGeraci Law Firm
Romney Navarro
Romney Navarro
Matthew Neptun
Matthew NeptunBrick City Capital
Alex Offutt
Alex OffuttBusiness Purpose Capital
Jack O'Flaherty
Jack O'FlahertyHigh Divide Management
Eric Panecki
Eric PaneckiBrick City Capital
Justin Parker
Justin ParkerRCN Capital
Gregg Plunkett
Gregg PlunkettXactus
Kendra Rommel
Kendra RommelFutures
David Rosenberg
David RosenbergFutures Financial
John Santilli
John SantilliRehab Financial Group
David Schiffmayer
David SchiffmayerPCV Murcor
Sean Shanahan
Sean ShanahanBrick City Capital
Erica Sikoski
Erica SikoskiBridge Loan Network
Brett Sims
Brett SimsRenovo Financial
Ray Sturm
Ray SturmTower 1
Wade Susini
Wade SusiniDominion Financial
 Pavel Tchourliaev
Pavel TchourliaevMortgage Automator
Michael Tedesco
Michael TedescoAppraisal Nation
Dawn Terry
Dawn TerryBPC
Jacob Therrien
Jacob TherrienBridge Loan Network
Jeffrey Tesch
Jeffrey TeschRCN Capital
Shaye Wali
Shaye WaliChief Executive Officer
Eddie Wilson
Eddie WilsonChairman, AAPL
Jennifer Young
Jennifer YoungGeraci Law Firm, Partner, Corporate & Securities

Registration.

AAPL member tickets are always $699 with free RSVP to our VIP Reception. You may select up to the number of seats in your AAPL membership; all additional employees should be registered at the non-member rate.

Non-member tickets to the main day of the conference are $699 during Early Bird, then $899 online after July 31 and $999 as a walk-up. Non-Member RSVP to the VIP Reception is an additional $199.

VIP Reception ticketing for both members and non-members typically reaches space capacity a week before the event. Only attendees with an RSVP on their ticketing or with prior written (email) authorization by AAPL staff are permitted entry.

Important Registration Information.

Not finding the answers to your questions? Check out our FAQs.

>> Reserve Your Hotel
The 2025 AAPL Room Block will open April 9. To book outside our block, visit Caesars Palace's room reservations.

>> About Membership Bundles
Bundle AAPL membership with ticketing and save $100!

>> AAPL Certifications (Members Only)
Registration deadline is 12PM CST on Friday, November 9. You must purchase and pass Certified Fund Manager 101 (available online here) prior to attending CFM 201 at the conference.

>> Media Release
By registering, you agree to our Media Release & Liability Waiver.

>> Cancellation & Refund Policy
Cancellation/refund requests are subject to a $50 per ticket cancellation fee and must be received by 12:00PM CST on August 31, 2025. Refund will be less the amount of any bundled AAPL membership due to the digital nature of associated benefits. Conference attendee substitutions may be requested via email at contact@aaplonline.com and are subject to AAPL's discretion.