From exits to evolution, the next chapter in private lending is defined by maturity, specialization, and grit.”

The private lending world is relentless. Big deals, little deals, easy deals, complex deals—and everything in between. Succession planning, however, may very well be the biggest deal of your life.

At its core, succession planning is simply planning your exit—deciding how, when, and to whom you’ll eventually pass the baton. But the story doesn’t end there. It’s where real work begins. Because it’s one thing to picture the destination—it’s another to execute.

Chris and I spent years in the trenches. Chris built a reputation as the “investor whisperer,” the guy who could sit across the table from investors and make them lean in. I lived in the details of the deals—structuring them, working through the weeds, ensuring borrowers got what they needed, and protecting investors. It was a rhythm that worked—until it didn’t. The pace, the pressure, and the weight of running at full speed caught up with us. Chris stepped back in 2019; I followed years later.

Stepping away taught us something important: When the fun and creativity disappear, so does your edge and your passion. Taking a break gave us time to find perspective and reinvent. When we compared notes, one thing became obvious: Our best work happened when we leaned into what we do best—and we did it together.

That’s how this new chapter began. Not as two guys trying to rebuild the past, but as dealmakers stepping into a financial revolution. Why a revolution? Because banks don’t get guys like us. They don’t get our borrowers either. They don’t see the grit it takes to build something from scratch, or the creativity needed to make a deal work when the spreadsheets say it shouldn’t. But we get it—because we’ve lived it.

At Ragland Navarro, we’ve set up three pillars: Advise, Manage, and Trust. These aren’t buzzwords; they’re hard-earned lessons. Every scar taught us something.

One lesson that stands above the rest is this: In a crowded market, your niche is your lifeline. Too many lenders chase cheap capital and lose themselves in the noise. We learned to stop apologizing for not being the cheapest and doubled down on being the best at what only we can do. That’s where we found our footing again.

So, what’s next? The same as it is for the industry—evolve, reinvent, and find and conquer niches. The future of private lending is maturity and specialization. That’s where the opportunity is, and that’s where we plan to live.