Member Spotlight | Steven Ernest | American Association of Private Lenders

Our January Member Spotlight shines on Steven Ernest!

How long have you or your company been an AAPL member?

Over 10 years!

What have you found to be most beneficial from AAPL membership?

I get a lot from the committees I’m on (ethics and fraud). AAPL really seems to care about its members and the industry, and that comes through in the committee work.

What, if anything, would you like to contribute to fellow AAPL members and the private lending industry?

We try to put on about 5 webinars each year, my partners and I teach classes in Las Vegas prior to the conference, and we mightily support AAPL monetarily.

What is your favorite AAPL memory?

Trying to fish for dinner invitations from Kat and Linda

What brought you into the private lending industry?

I had a whirlwind romance/interview process with Fortra Law, and left a decades-long job at another creditor’s rights firm to come here. Fortra Law is dedicated (almost exclusively) to helping private lenders, so I parachuted in.

Advice you’d give your younger self?

Calm down. You can’t smell the roses from a charging horse, and the calmer voice typically wins anyway. And quit drinking so much.

Career advice for industry newbies?

Don’t be reticent to ask the ‘dumb’ questions. You don’t know as much about this as someone who has been involved here for decades. That is totally OK. No burst from the womb knowing this stuff. No one will hold it against you. These folks are glad to help, because this isn’t a ‘zero-sum’ arrangement. Your improvement doesn’t cost me anything. So ask.

Accomplishment you’re particularly proud of?

I’ve had a few LOOONG trials (which I won). Those took a lot out of me (even literally, I lost weight), and I’m proud of the results, as well as the growth involved. The experiences were plenty rewarding.

Your “one big goal” for the year?

We have a group revenue goal, which is looking good. Unpack my boxes from the office move. Climbing Mt. Whitney might have to wait for next year. I’d also like to see the Hurricanes win a National Championship.

Favorite “down time” activity?

Sailing

The “one weird fact about you” that you always share during team building exercises?

I lived my first 5 days in the hospital (I don’t think they had NICU back then) and I used to be a pretty good runner.

Favorite book/movie/other content, and why?

To Kill a Mockingbird (Lee) – it was my inspiration to be a lawyer, and the messages are uplifting; Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – so many great lines, a terrific boys adventure tale

Your fur baby’s name?

Morty