In this Know Your Speakers edition of the Paper Trail Podcast, Chris sits down with Matt Kelley, a certified foreclosure expert and long-time investor who’s underwritten tens of thousands of loans across California, Arizona, Nevada, and beyond. Known for his no-BS style, Matt shares insights from both sides of the note space—firsts, seconds, courthouse steps, and post-sale acquisitions.

They cover:

• Why underwriting is the true money-maker in note investing
• Red flags vs. yellow flags (and why the latter are more dangerous)
• The importance of underwriting sellers, not just borrowers
• Common mistakes new investors make—and how to avoid them
• What’s really happening in today’s note market (and why inventory isn’t your biggest problem)

Matt is also a featured speaker at the upcoming Paper Trail Conference (Sept 18–20) in Chandler, AZ. Get a preview of what he’ll bring to the stage—and why his sessions are can’t-miss.

🎟️ Register at papertrailconference.com

In this episode of our series called Know Your Speakers, Chris Seveney is joined by Kevin Kim, partner at Geraci LLP and one of the leading legal minds in the private lending industry. Kevin leads the firm's corporate and securities practice, helping lenders structure funds, stay compliant, and scale responsibly. With deep experience across Regulation D, Regulation A+, licensing, and M&A, Kevin’s firm has advised hundreds of funds from mom-and-pop startups to billion-dollar platforms.

In this conversation, Kevin shares the most common mistakes new fund managers make, how to think like an institutional operator, and why raising capital is about more than just legal docs—it’s about trust, transparency, and preparation. He also gives a behind-the-scenes look at what to expect as a speaker at the 2025 Paper Trail Conference and the critical conversations happening around fund formation, compliance, and market dynamics.

🎟 Join Kevin and other top speakers live in Chandler, AZ, September 18–20.

Reserve your spot at papertrailconference.com

In this Know Your Speakers episode, Chris talks with Melissa Palmer—former federal agent turned due diligence expert and founder of Capital Verified. Melissa shares how a personal experience with investment fraud pushed her to create a service helping private lenders and note investors avoid the same fate.

Melissa discusses how she repurposed her background in criminal investigations to vet borrowers and deals, what most people miss when reviewing investment documents, and why it’s not just about spotting red flags—but understanding the yellow ones too. She opens up about lessons learned from owning rentals, getting scammed, and building a business that helps protect other investors from similar pitfalls.

Melissa will be taking the stage at the 2025 Paper Trail Note Conference to go deeper on risk, verification, and the overlooked areas of due diligence that matter most—especially as more investors shift into private lending.

🎟️ Join us live in Chandler, AZ, September 18–20. Reserve your seat at papertrailconference.com