Twenty years ago, I could have never in a million years guessed at my future career as I did not even know private lending "was a thing." As the owner operator of MGM Private Capital LLC, I provide funding to entrepreneurs who are building their investment rental portfolio or who are breathing life back into distressed properties and to residential neighborhoods in Southeastern Wisconsin. MGM (Milwaukee's Good Money) is on track to extend just under $12 Million in loans in 2024. My background is law, starting out working for banks in residential and then commercial foreclosures - brutal to see the hardship and loss. During the foreclosure crisis, I leapt at the chance to design and operate the Wisconsin Foreclosure Mediation Network, under the auspices of Marquette Law School, my alma mater, and the Department of Justice, with the aim of making a sheriff sale the act of last resort for homeowners. It was a privilege to work with lenders and homeowners to find real solutions.As foreclosures waned, I jumped on the HGTV band wagon, buying my first flip in the Milwaukee suburbs, an executive home for $620 Thousand - no turning back at that point. That led to another 30 plus rehabs, most with some odd legal aspect that I could unravel, like navigating shoreland zoning or title issues. The world of self-directed IRAs also called to me, and I set up our company 401K as another funding source. Income can grow there with deferred taxation, or be completely free from income taxes.In 2018, Premier Point Realty LLC took me into their investor focused real estate brokerage, and I enjoy everything about the real estate sale process, from valuation, to negotiation to the ultimate: closing.Experiences like these allow me to understand the needs and goals of my loan clients. Time is money, decisions need to come quickly, and from those solo investors I often hear, "Can I run something by you . . ." Sure you can.