From time to time we like to highlight our members and help introduce them to the rest of our member network and followers. This month, we have a member spotlight… with a twist! 

Anthony Geraci is not just an AAPL member, he is one of the original founding members who isn’t just supportive but continues active involvement through a substantial strategic partnership. Over nine years ago, Anthony, along with Jack Rollins, recognized the need to unite private real estate lenders to be a national voice in Washington D.C., post SAFE Act.  The rest – as they say – is history! 

As the benefits of AAPL have evolved throughout the years, which do you most value? 

I honestly love everything about AAPL. The annual conference is full of top-notch people in the private lending space, the webinars are chock full of educational format, and the AAPL designations are the ONLY industry accreditations in existence. What’s NOT to love? 

Do you still see the same need for a private lending association compared to nine years ago?  

As we have seen through the years, more and more regulations and laws are impacting private money lending and there is more of a need of AAPL than even when we founded it. 

What is your favorite AAPL memory? 

I have two. My first AAPL memory was the very first conference (then called National Hard Money Association or NHMA). My second is experiencing what Linda and Chrissey accomplished with the 2017 Annual Conference. As an entrepreneur, I’m always excited about taking a dream and making it a reality. The dream we (the founders) had is where Linda and Chrissey have taken AAPL – a long way from the days of our first conference Caesars Palace that had about 120 people in attendance.  

Why did you decide to enter the private lending profession? 

I fell into it. I started at a small law firm that dedicated themselves to the private lending space. Then in 2007, formed Geraci Law Firm with my partner, Christina Geraci. I started lending in 2009 with second trust deeds at a time where no one would be interested in being in the space. 

What are some accomplishments you are particularly proud of?  

I’m particularly proud of Geraci LLP; we had no attorneys 11 years ago and now we have 20. Also, I’m proud of writing the latest #1 Amazon best-seller for real estate investing entitled Earning Money While You Sleep. It’s been a lot of fun and a great journey seeing it from writing to publication! 

Tell us something fun about yourself. 

I love to do things that I’ve never done before. Whether that is building an arcade system from scratch, to traveling to new destinations, or to read 3 new books every month, I love to keep pushing myself. 

What is your favorite book, and why? 

I read a lot of nonfiction and I think that’s widely known, so I’ll tell you one of my most favorite fictional books: Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand. There’s a scene where he closes down the theater and the owner says, “We’ll have to refund all their money, what will we do?” Cyrano throws him a bag of gold (his monthly wage) and says the theater won’t go poor due to his decision. Afterward, he sits down to a dinner of a single grape and walnut. I like to think about that. It reminds me that sometimes grand gestures really make all the difference in the world. 

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To see yourself in the spotlight or nominate a member, just complete one of these form with some basic information.  A member of the AAPL team will then follow up with you.  It only takes a minute and the committee would love to hear from you.