Sean Murray: Hello, everyone, and welcome back to deBanked TV.
I'm Sean Murray. And today I have a very special guest. I'm
here with Sonia Alvelo from Latin financial. Thank you for
being here.
Sonia Alvelo: No, thank you for the invitation, Sean, I can't
believe that I'm here and thank you.
Sean Murray: No problem. And you came all the way down from
Connecticut.
Sonia Alvelo: Yes, Connecticut.
Sean Murray: Wow.
Sonia Alvelo: Two and a half hours in traffic. Brutal.
Brutal. Brutal. Well. No, no, no, I'm so glad that you know,
the invitation. And your team is absolutely. Thank you for the
invitation.
Sean Murray: Yeah, no problem. Thank you for making the trip
all the way down to New York and being here in Brooklyn. I know
it's not Manhattan. So. Beautiful. For some people can
be a little bit daunting coming to the outer boroughs.
Especially Connecticut. Yeah. So I appreciate it. You know, but I
want to talk to you about what you do, right? Yeah. Latin
financial is a unique company in my in my opinion, and you've
been around the space for a while. As a broker, right? Yes.
So you know what it's like in the trenches? Yes. And so if you
could, for those who might not know you, could you tell me a
little bit about yourself and about Latin Financial.
Sonia Alvelo: I would love to, what's not to love about talking
about yourself? Yes, Latin Financial started about six
years. I've been in the industry for 10 years. And I love what we
do we actually help those businesses who speak Spanish,
all over US and Puerto Rico especially it's something that
is something very special for me, because I'm from Puerto
Rico. So for me to go back and help those businesses over there
is it's the best idea. It's the best decision that I ever made.
So yes. And about me, I'm about to be 50 my birthdays coming,
you are invited.
Sean Murray: Really? I'm invited?
Sonia Alvelo: Yes.
Sean Murray: Okay.
Sonia Alvelo: You gotta come to Connecticut.
Sean Murray: I'm gonna take you up on that.
Sonia Alvelo: Okay. And no, it's we got the company in new into
Connecticut it's growing. I love my team. You know, hi to
everybody. I know that you guys are watching. I'm paying you to
watch you know, to watch today. But um yeah, we super proud of
what we do. Sharp Capital is another side of the company as
well. And Latin Financial, it just that's exactly what we do.
You know, we are broker, we are proud to be a broker. We are
small company. And we love what we do. You know, especially, you
know, it's something that I'm doing in Spanish too. That's
something incredible. So, yeah.
Sean Murray: I want to ask you about that because you have
Latin in the name of your company. Yes. Latin Financial.
Yes. Born and raised in Puerto Rico. Yes. All right. You're
speaking Spanish on the phone a lot. Like, like, talk to me
about that? Like, how important is it to be part of the of the
Latin American community, like in this country when it comes to
funding their business?
Sonia Alvelo: Well, it's, it was really interesting at the
beginning, when I started doing the funding for Puerto Rico. And
it's a lot different than funding in US in the US there
there are a lot of lenders there are, there's a lot of
opportunities, people, you know, call them a lot and they don't
understand, you know, but in Puerto Rico, there were some
lack of understanding what it was a cash advance. And when I
started, it was a good opportunity to let them know,
what is the process from the beginning to the end. For them,
it was completely new, remember, and we're talking about six
years ago, and then like, no, this is this is too good to be
true. So I think that that's why we growing in the community so
fast, and so good, because they we take our time to explain how
is the process, or you know, to renew, or paperwork for some
reason, lenders at the beginning, they they're not
wanting to actually give the opportunity to funding in Puerto
Rico, for different reasons. It could have been because they
thought that that they don't, they don't run the business,
like here in the US. And thank God that that has changed, you
know, my relationship with the lenders are really close. I
explain if it's a problem I explained, you know, obviously,
Puerto Rico has been through a lot. But what I'm committed, you
know, I'm going to continue not only for Puerto Rico but you
know, for all the businesses Latinos as well, you know, in
the US so.
Sean Murray: You mentioned I think the term cash advances
like what what type of products are you helping business owners
get sois it merchant cash advances is it unsecured
business loans like what what's your kind of your product
wheelhouse?
Sonia Alvelo: Well, you know, what with the Latino is a little
bit different? I you always see the regular cash advance, we got
the weekly the daily, but lately in Puerto Rico it's been allowed
with collateral. So we've seen a shift in deals coming in, say
about the of of US as well, you know, obviously we, since COVID,
we've been helping all the merchants apply for the SBA as
well completely free. We just we I think that that's I know that
that's one of the reasons that we are so good, you know, we
take our time. And I know, you know, you know, I see all the
companies that they charge, my goodness, a lot of money shows
the help for the SBA, do it for free, you know.
Sean Murray: When you say you're free, you're not charging to
help them go through the process, or.
Sonia Alvelo: The application.
Sean Murray: You're just you're doing it out of the goodness of
your heart.
Sonia Alvelo: But you know let me tell you those merchants,
they come back, no, they're waiting, you know, obviously,
the process is not easy. It's not, it's not quick. So they
have to wait for the process, and they come back and they, you
know.
Sean Murray: And now they know you already.
Sonia Alvelo: Yes.
Sean Murray: Okay, I see.
Sonia Alvelo: So they feel comfortable. And they, you know,
any, you know, obviously, it's a client, they, they are clients
now, so it works for me, but that free information. And trust
me, you know, I was doubting myself, you know, for, you know,
for trying to contract my my goodness, how am I going to
survive, but it was the right thing to do. So, I got them
back.
Sean Murray: I like it. That's a good strategy, because you're
right, I have heard of a lot of people who are charging to help
people. And they've said, they've said they've made a lot
of money doing that. Yeah. But I guess it would, it would remain
to be seen whether or not those those people come back, when
they actually have a need outside of that, you know, maybe
they kind of already made their money. And that's the end of end
of the relationship, that's to be determined.
Sonia Alvelo: I can't do that, you know what I listen to them.
My conversations with the Latino regardless if it's in Puerto
Rico, or in the US, the Latinos they tend to talk a lot. I'm
gonna do that right now. But yeah, we express how we feel,
you know, we let them know, whoever's on other side of the
phone. Oh, my goodness, you know, this happened. And this
happened. And we got a fantastic CRM, you know, in the company
that we're so proud of it. And we put that much information in
it. Because we, I want to remember, when is the birthday,
I want to remember, you know, if it was something in the, in the
family, I put little notes that not everybody will understand
because I put I write everything in Spanish. But I make sure that
you know, when I call them next, or they call the company, when I
open I know who I'm talking to. So it's it we are different.
Sean Murray: So you're remembering like their birthday,
like little quirks about them. You're writing notes. The
birthday, but who's wishing them the happy birthday? Not the CRM?
Sonia Alvelo: No, no, no, absolutely not. I'm so proud.
You know, since I started the company, we do we help a lot of
you know, the community. First of all, Connecticut. I love
Connecticut. You know, I moved from Puerto Rico when I
graduated high school in Puerto Rico. And I moved to
Connecticut, and I never left because I love it. And it just
is. I don't know it's just the environment, I don't know, it
just, it feels right what I'm what I'm been doing. So yes,
sorry. I lost my thought right there.
Sean Murray: I mean, it seems like you're like, it seems like
you're kind of like that you really have like a relationship
with like, the merchants? Yes. That that you work with and so
I'm wondering you, you remember their birthday? Or at least your
CRM remembers, but you're the one wishing them the Happy
birthday, right? Yes. And I.
Sonia Alvelo: We do send we do send, like I was saying before,
I'm sorry, I lost my thought and my thought we do send a lot of
gifts, you know. You do? A lot of little things for like
financial, for different merchants, it doesn't matter if
it's a $1,000 deal, or, you know, half a million dollar
deal. We you know, it just, you know, in Christmas, you know, we
send out a bunch of postcards, so we try for them to remember
us.
Sean Murray: Do you think the lenders are doing that too?
Sonia Alvelo: I don't think so. I hope hopefully, they can get
that idea from here. It means a lot to them. So I'm going to
continue doing it and my portfolio keeps on growing, I'm
gonna start even, you know, doing it it's the right thing to
do. So yeah.
Sean Murray: Do you feel like that's part of the, the, of the
broker relationship? Because I feel like, there's this old
adage of, like, you know, cutting out the middleman. Is
there this value to being a broker? You're, you're talking
about gifts and happy birthday, and all that stuff like, do you
feel like there's a value to the broker in the process of small
business funding?
Sonia Alvelo: I think so. I for so many years, when I started in
the business, everybody was like, oh, your broker, you know,
no, no, you know, I only do business with with the lender. I
don't think that way. I think a lot of bad people put bad
reputation on companies like ours, and they don't see us the
same way. But, you know, if you are a good broker, you know,
what to do you, you know what to do for your clients. I would
love to stay broker forever, you know, that's, that's fine with
me because I'm happy and my merchants are happy and they
continue coming back. So you know, and other lenders are
there, you know, hey, call me let's do something to help the
Latino community you know, it is there. It is possible. And, you
know, obviously, I'm going to make sure that they treat you
right that they will pay that bet that they will come back as
as a renewal. So it's a lot of misinformation. Obviously with
the brokers, so.
Sean Murray: Sure. So you said that you've, you've helped
businesses get PPP EIDL. You didn't charge them. But what so
what I'm curious about in all of that, right, is that you worked
a lot with the, you know, the Latin community during COVID.
And I'm curious, you know, and we've asked this question, I've
asked this question a bunch of times, you know, what were
merchants telling you? What were small businesses telling you,
but I feel like I've never gotten that answer, specifically
from the Latin demographic, likr, what was the Latin, what
was the latin community telling you during COVID?
Sonia Alvelo: They were devastated, you know, there's
not a lot of information in the Latino community. In terms about
well, nobody was expecting what happened. First of all, we as a
company, we, you know, had a rough time as well as everybody.
But we decided, okay, you know, what, there's something that we
can do in that time, which was, help them with the SBA. And, you
know, the stories, they break my heart, it wasn't easy, because
you know, what, I was listening to those stories over and over.
And, you know, what am we gonna do? We don't have the money. I
didn't have the answers, Sean at all, you know, I was worried
about my own company at the time, but, you know, listening
to them, I understood that it you know, it wasn't, I wasn't
the only one, you know, that it was going through that, I think
it's it's not a lot of information for the Latino
community through crisis. And that's, I think that I got
overwhelmed. Because everybody was calling and getting trying
to, you know, Latino community, they, if I do have a job with
you, they gonna tell somebody else, and they're gonna tell
somebody else. And you know, my phones, it was like ringing and
ringing throughout the days. And trust me, I get calls from
Puerto Rico, Latinos at seven o'clock in the morning, or at 10
o'clock at night. And sometimes I have to stop and think, okay,
you know, what, I'll call them tomorrow, but we just, I am who
I am now, because of them. So, you know, anything that I can do
for the community regardless, it's not easy. But I will do it.
Sean Murray: Were there some who didn't even know about PPP or
EIDL until you told them?
Sonia Alvelo: It's it's crazy. How many people to this day,
they don't know, they don't even know about the increase.
Sean Murray: They don't know about the increase? We're
talking about the EIDL increase? Correct. Okay, you're you're the
first person to tell them basically.
Sonia Alvelo: Yes. And it's scary. You know, you know, you
know, first of all, I am surprised when they ask me, what
is that? And you know, at first with the PPP what is that? You
know they had no idea. I was like, Okay, I got to translate
this in Spanish, you know, this is not what I what I had in
mind. Yeah. So but, um, the SBA.gov they have, you know, you
know, the information in all the languages. So, that's what I
realized, you know, I was like, Okay, you got to read it first.
You know, I have to send that over, and you gotta read it, and
then call me back, I wanted to make sure that they understand
and the guidance they we're changing, so it was it was
horrific, you know, the process but it's not like I said, again,
not a lot of information for them. So I learned as like, you
know, watching the news, you know, and through my my, my
actual lender for my business account. They were amazing with
us. So yeah.
Sean Murray: That's wild. Yeah, I think that that gets lost in a
lot of people that here you are trying to help small businesses,
right. But you're like, hey, I also got to worry about my own
company. Right. But so what's what are you hearing now what
had what has your what has your merchant base kind of told you
now? Are they recovering? Are they recovered are they still in
bad shape? Like what's going on?
Sonia Alvelo: A little bit of everything, I think, the market
for the pharmaceuticals, they're doing amazing. So that's fine. A
lot of other industries it's fantastic. Great when they call
me Sonia, I got the money. I got the deposit from the SBA. Don't
get me wrong, I cry every single time because, you know, I was
like, you know, you realize, oh, my goodness, I did it, you know,
I helped them. I rather for them not to have the cash advance. I
know. But it's worth it. You know, the business is going
through hell sorry, fellows, you know, but um, yes this makes
right now. You can say hell. I can say okay, good. That's,
that's okay. I can say it in Spanish, next time, but it's
okay. Um, but no, it's a little bit of everything it's still
nowadays in Connecticut, I still have that. When they called me
oh, you know, you can apply for this, you know, in this deal.
The the information is not quite there yet. So I don't know what
to be honest with you. We're a small company. How can we fix
that? So yeah, so a lot of plans that I have for the future so we
can actually get better and give more information and and the.
Sean Murray: You've mentioned Puerto Rico a few times. But
you're funding businesses nationwide. Am I right?
Sonia Alvelo: Yes.
Sean Murray: Okay.
Sonia Alvelo: All over the US actually, before I started
funding in Puerto Rico in 2015, I was doing business prior for
four years. And it was all US and it wasn't Latinos. You know,
it was, you know, a little bit of everything. But I knew that
the market needed somebody in Spanish, the, you know, the same
language. And now I have a little bit of everything I'm so
proud of my portfolio it's it's incredible. So I'm going to
continue doing this and hopefully I can learn another
language and. Another one? No I'm just kidding. Okay. You
never know. But then again, you know, I would love to. Yeah.
Sean Murray: Sounds like it's pretty beneficial. And I
actually want to ask you, I want to ask you about the Puerto
Rican market, because you mentioned it a few times. Right.
And you I actually, this is not, this is, this is not a
coincidence. This is not a coincidence.
Sonia Alvelo: Yes, I love that.
Sean Murray: Underneath my notes here. It's an article that you
were you were cited in you put in the story. This is the
deBanked magazine issue from what is this, 2018 says It's
Back to Business for Alternative Funding in Puerto Rico. Yes. So
2018. Sonia was mentioned in this particular story. Yes. And
we've talked to you about the Puerto Rican market over the
years, a few times.
Sonia Alvelo: Yes, three times you've been, you know, I and
thank you. That helped so many businesses, and they follow you,
by the way.
Sean Murray: in Puerto Rico?
Sonia Alvelo: In Peurto Rico.
Sean Murray: I have a following?
Sonia Alvelo: Yes. You got followers in Peurto Rico. You
know, what they like, it's interesting, you know,
everything that is not only about Puerto Rico is about
everything else about you know, the industry. But this one, I do
have it on my wall.
Sean Murray: You have it on the wall? Okay.
Sonia Alvelo: I got it on my wall inside, yeah I got a lot of
things on my wall. But yes, you are in my wall twice.
Sean Murray: Twice, okay.
Sonia Alvelo: So you gotta come to the office and see about
yourself.
Sean Murray: Okay, we're gonna have to get this live stream on
your wall too.
Sonia Alvelo: Oh my goodness, yes.
Sean Murray: All right, so so talk to me about Puerto Rico. So
you, you were born and raised there, and you're doing business
there, I imagine that requires you to go there to do business.
Is that right?
Sonia Alvelo: Yes. I came to Connecticut, when I was 17, I
believe. never moved out of Connecticut loved it, you know,
I fell in love with the city with I fell in love with
everybody. Um, and when I started doing funding in Puerto
Rico, I started doing business with associations in Puerto
Rico, let's say if it's a pharmacy, they have an
associations for everything, every single industry. So my job
at that time I was like, okay, so instead of calling everybody,
you know, it's impossible, you know, so I was like, you know
what, let me call the associations. So I call those
associations I, now I'm members with all of them. And believe it
or not two of them, I'm the only the first one Latina business,
but located outside of Puerto Rico, and they invite me to see
the governor, they invite me to different events. Oh, my
goodness, twice already.
Sean Murray: You've taken advantage of this?
Sonia Alvelo: Absolutely. I mean, they send me business and,
you know, at special occasions, they always send an invite. So
in the summer pre COVID. I used to travel probably four or five
times, you know, between July and September. That's the
convention time. And now, unfortunately, you know, it's
online. But I can't wait for next year because that's, that's
where my money is, so yeah. So they still send me a lot of
referrals. So yes, I travel a lot.
Sean Murray: Okay, so who's funding the actual businesses
there? Is it lenders and funders based in Puerto Rico? Or is it
ones that are on the mainland?
Sonia Alvelo: From here.
Sean Murray: From here?
Sonia Alvelo: Yes.
Sean Murray: Okay. Are there no lenders and funders in Puerto
Rico?
Sonia Alvelo: I'm gonna answer that to you in the next
interview, because I do, I did receive an email really
interesting, and I was in a conversation last night, and he
may be a lender in Puerto Rico that wants to do business with
Latin Financial, so that I cannot tell right now, that's
news, news. So yes.
Sean Murray: I look forward to that one.
Sonia Alvelo: I know you're gonna be the first one.
Sean Murray: You have to sit through two hours of traffic
again to get back here to tell everybody.
Sonia Alvelo: No, no, no, we ain't gonna assume that day.
Sean Murray: Okay.
Sonia Alvelo: I'm just kidding.
Sean Murray: All right, so we're talking about lenders and
funders based in the mainland who are funding the businesses
in Puerto Rico. Now, the question I get all the time is
whose funding there so I get the sense that there's, there's a
hesitance or resistance to funding businesses in Puerto
Rico. And I wonder why that is? What's the aversion you've
encountered to funding businesses in Puerto Rico? If
they're not from here?
Sonia Alvelo: No, for some reason, you know, when I started
in 2015, there was one lender who gave me the opportunity for
some reason they have this this wrong information in their
heads. The Latino businesses in Puerto Rico they don't they
don't run the business the same as here in US. They pay taxes,
they do the same things. So.
Sean Murray: They're part of the United States.
Sonia Alvelo: They're part of the United States.
Sean Murray: They're not a different country.
Sonia Alvelo: Not Not at all. Okay. Oh, my goodness, I get
that question a lot.
Sean Murray: Do you, do you really?
Sonia Alvelo: Yes.
Sean Murray: Okay.
Sonia Alvelo: It's incredible. Do you you know, you do need a
green card? No, I'm part of the US.
Sean Murray: Wow, okay.
Sonia Alvelo: But that's for another segment. Okay. Yeah,
that's a long. But um, yeah, for some reason they have this wrong
information that, you know, they don't run the business as you
know, any other business. So I started in 2015. And I'm gonna
say, Jordan, I love you. He did amazing. Jordan. From
Greenbacks.
Sean Murray: Okay, I was like who's Jordan?
Sonia Alvelo: He owes me one right now. But no, he, he took
the chance with me. He, he it wasn't easy. He said no, like,
15 times. But I was like, give me give me give me the
opportunity. Let me try it. And let me tell you, you know, it's
still five years. Six years later, we still together.
Sean Murray: You're still funding deals out in Peurto?
Sonia Alvelo: I'm still funding them them, yeah, absolutely.
Sean Murray: So it's worked out?
Sonia Alvelo: Yes. Okay. Oh, my goodness. Yes. He never stopped.
There's been situations in Puerto Rico, obviously, Maria,
the hurricane Maria earthquakes, COVID, obviously. And we always
have a good communication, you know, send an email, hey,
listen, we're going to have to do something, there's a
hurricane coming. We're going to have a problem with the
payments. So it's the communication I think that
works. So and obviously other ones, but you know I gotta say
Greenbacks. And I can say McKenzie, I love your brand. So
those are the two, I love you. But other ones I'm not going to
mention, because you know, I'm still waiting for offers. Not
not too happy.
Sean Murray: Putting you on the spot.
Sonia Alvelo: No, no, not right now. But yeah, for some reason
that was back in the day now. And thank you for your
opportunities, because you're, everything that you wrote about
Latin Financial in Puerto Rico, it did hit a few nerves, because
they can't call and good because.
Sean Murray: I don't want to disrupt my following in Peurto
Rico.
Sonia Alvelo: No, no, you're okay and you're better now
because you're with me. But don't the, the lenders, they
actually called me after that, hey, listen, you know, what can
we do? So it's a matter of opportunities, opportunities,
like this, opportunities, you know, for the Brokers Fair. I
can't wait, it's gonna be amazing.
Sean Murray: I'm gonna I'm gonna ask you a little bit more about
that at the end.
Sonia Alvelo: Oh, god, I did got drunk. I'm so sorry. No.
Sean Murray: That's okay.
Sonia Alvelo: Yeah.
Sean Murray: That's that's what it's all about having a good
time. Right?
Sonia Alvelo: Yeah. Oh, my God. Yes, I can't wait.
Sean Murray: So you know, Puerto Rico, given that it has a lot
of, you know, weather related events, there are the lenders
and funders that you've worked with? Have they been
understanding, when say a hurricane happens? Like, I think
you mentioned like something about like, hey, you know, a
hurricanes coming, we got to do something about the payments,
like, what what is your experience been with, because
they're they're if they're typically on the mainland,
right? Are they understanding of the issues that happen there?
Like a hurricane or earthquake? or what have you experienced?
Sonia Alvelo: You know what, I was really, really nervous. When
that happened at the beginning, 2016, 2017 was really hard. I
was really, really nervous. I was like, how am I going to do
this? I mean, we talking about a lot of merchants, that they
calling me and they are calling me. The it's, this is the crazy
thing it's happening out here again, in Puerto Rico, and both
merchants are worrying how am I gonna pay this loan? You know,
that's incredible, you know, and, you know, I'm there
listening and saying, okay, let me, let me handle this. Let me
contact the lender. So at the beginning, yes, I was super
worried. Now. I'm not, you know, things happen and you can't
control it, I want to make sure that they are safe, that they
okay, first. And my lenders, they're super understanding, I
think we go back to the communication, if you have a
good communication with them, Sean is not even a problem.
Because they understand don't get me wrong, you know, when
it's, you know, two weeks pass or a week later, I'm going to
make sure I'm going to be on top of it. Right. And contact them
and make sure that they have the power. You know, okay, so you
back in business, let's let's, let's get your paid. So it's
communication, I think that, you know, if we, if the lenders
there should have more communications with all the
brokers, it should be a better way to do business, you know, so
I do have it and I'm welcome new lenders, as long as we have a
good communication, some of the brokers or lenders, they don't
get along, for whatever reasons, but you know, hello. But you
know, I am happy with the ones that I have. So as long as they
give me their problems, I'm fine.
Sean Murray: What about the banks down there? Because we
talked about how in the US, you know, banks aren't lending
they're not lending in small business but what's the
relationship? Traditional Funding. Yeah, what's the what's
the relationship? You know, the traditional lending relationship
down in Peurto Rico?
Sonia Alvelo: They don't they don't want to they don't want to
lend and they don't have the money. Peurto Rico is not in a
good situations they know about companies like us. And don't get
me wrong, they try to mimic the programs, but it's not gonna
it's not gonna work. I got lenders like a banks from over
there, Sonia, God, you know, oh, my goodness, this lesson, oh, my
merchants they coming, you know, and they declining, they don't
have the money.
Sean Murray: The banks don't have the money.
Sonia Alvelo: They just either don't have the money or they
don't wanna lend the money, you know, and people that they've
been 20, 40 years and they don't want to.
Sean Murray: They won't lend to it. They won't lend. They've
had, they've had a relationship that long, they still won't do
it.
Sonia Alvelo: I don't know what, you know, it's a shift right
now. Yeah, I wish I would know, and the things that I know, I
cannot say right now. I got invitations, you know, pending.
So you know, so I, unfortunately, they're going
through, they need us they need companies like ours, like
Planning Financial they need Latin Financial and that's it,
to help them. Yeah.
Sean Murray: Your customers, are they, because this is like the
topic of conversation today, are your are your customers being
hit with offers from companies like Square Capital and Shopify
Capital? Or you know, whatever it is PayPal, Working Capital?
Are they being offered money from like, whatever tech,
they're using QuickBooks, I think even has their own, like,
you know, their own QuickBooks capital now, are your are the
people you're talking to you, are they being offered money
through these sources? And are they taking it? And like, what's
what are you seeing?
Sonia Alvelo: Um, I seen a lot of that in the US, the Latino
community from the US. I have not seen a lot in Puerto Rico,
which is beneficial for me. But I do worry.
Sean Murray: So you are worried about this type of thing?
Sonia Alvelo: You know, any, anybody, any broker should worry
about those companies. But I don't I haven't seen a lot of
offers from those companies. In Puerto Rico. But yes, in the US
in the mainland, yeah.
Sean Murray: So you find yourself competing against that
occasionally? Say hey.
Sonia Alvelo: Yes, yeah, obviously, yes.
Sean Murray: Okay.
Sonia Alvelo: Yeah.
Sean Murray: Well, you know, like long term though, you do
think that there's always going to be a value for a broker
versus that, you know, that one to one tech relationship?
Sonia Alvelo: I, I'm really confident in the way that I
treat my clients. So if, if I have to do some shifting and
look for new opportunities, that is going to bring me to that
level, how, however it is, I think it's possible. But we all
have to work together. This is this is this year's companies
are taking over, you know, and I want my company, my company is
going to be unique, it is unique right now, because of the
conversations that we have with the clients. It is new and
unique right now, because of the it's not only about funding, the
person right now it's about seeing the business in about a
year from now. And knowing that that business is being
progressing, it's been surviving, I'm super proud of
what we do. So you know, in the meantime, I try not to think
about it. But yes, I do have to make other plans and see what I
can do to adjust.
Sean Murray: I will say, though, that one of the complaints I
hear about those companies is that you can't call anyone, if
anything goes wrong. You can do like an online, you can do an
online chat maybe. Right? Yeah. And I imagine it if anyone has a
problem with say your company they can get can they get to
someone if they call you like if someone has a problem?
Sonia Alvelo: Yes, I mean, it's incredible. You know, my, my
clients, yeah, I'm gonna tell you this. It's funny. I mean, I
learned what the application was sub ones because my merchants,
my merchants, they use that all the time, Sonia, please answer
me and they used to me calling them. So yes, they're always
gonna have that customer service. I have a amazing team.
Sean Murray: How many people work there?
Sonia Alvelo: It's only eight.
Sean Murray: Eight people?
Sonia Alvelo: People, they think that we are a bigger company and
it's because we always there, you know, we always we, I'm I'm
so proud of all of you. So it's incredible. That's what we do we
go in and don't get me wrong. My office is super loud, I put the
music. Yes, Latino music and it's loud. And we have food and
we got, you know, the gatherings and everything else. But we
work. We're hard working team. So as long as we continue this
those companies they got nothing on us.
Sean Murray: How do you compare your office environment to ours?
Cause.
Sonia Alvelo: When I walked in, oh my goodness, can I say it?
Sean Murray: Yeah.
Sonia Alvelo: I'm sorry. You were so quiet. My office is
loud.
Sean Murray: I can hear you. I can hear your footsteps when you
came in. I was like.
Sonia Alvelo: I would love for your team to go to Connecticut
in the office.
Sean Murray: No, we're gonna do the 50th birthday party.
Sonia Alvelo: That right, okay.
Sean Murray: We don't want to see the office. We want to we
just want to do the birthday party. Valentine's Day, that's
your birthday?
Sonia Alvelo: That's my birthday.
Sean Murray: Oh, that's big.
Sonia Alvelo: That's huge.
Sean Murray: Yeah.
Sonia Alvelo: Tis mio, yes.
Sean Murray: And I feel like that feeds into Broker Fair.
You've been you've been to our shows before right?
Sonia Alvelo: I love that I seriously you've done an amazing
job. This is through your Broker Fair, I met some of the lenders
that I got right now. I met incredible people that I still
talk to this day. So it's it's a huge opportunity and love it.
Love it. I can't wait for this year and the following years,
and I'm going to be there.
Sean Murray: Awesome.
Sonia Alvelo: Oh, yes.
Sean Murray: How would you feel about speaking at our event?
Sonia Alvelo: Oh, no, I knew it was coming. Well, I don't know.
I don't know how I did today. I'm sorry. If I mumble. Let's
talk about it in the future.
Sean Murray: Okay. All right. Yeah, hopefully.
Sonia Alvelo: I knew you were gonna ask me.
Sean Murray: Yeah, hopefully that you know, you will join us.
We've we've been trying to get her for quite some time. But,
uh, yeah, you know, that would require the two hours of traffic
to even get to the show. But you're coming to this upcoming
one, right?
Sonia Alvelo: Yeah, no, I'm coming. And I'm gonna stay for a
couple of days, and I'm goinna party and I'm gonna meet people
and I'm going to hang out with you and and what I do best, you
know, mingle with people and try to get those lenders to put
money into finance and with Latin Financial to do business.
Sean Murray: Is it really worth it for a broker? Cause I know if
you're a lender and you want to be brokers, sure, obviously,
because you want to meet brokers but some brokers will say, you
know, what's the value for me as a broker to go to a conference,
like you said, you met lenders like.
Sonia Alvelo: Connections, it's incredible. You're the only the
only company that does this type events that I like that is there
that everybody's talking about it. Don't change, do bigger and
better things. You know, everybody's gonna follow you.
Because, you know, what it's the perfect event, to connect, you
know, so yeah, I'm they're not on the stage but I'm there.
Sean Murray: We'll see. We'll see. But on that note, Sonia,
thank you very much for being here. I really appreciate it. Is
there anything else that you wanted to share about Latin
financial or what's going on?
Sonia Alvelo: No, you know what, I'm going to meet us. Right now,
I wanted to say thank you, you know, obviously, thank you for
giving me the opportunity. I felt that I wasn't. But no,
thank you for the opportunity and your team, your friendship,
you know, for all these years and talking to me and, and
wanting to know more about Puerto Rico, that really, really
I appreciate that. And for everybody out there, I'm Sonia
from Latin Financial and my group, I love you, I'll see you soon.
Sean Murray: And we will share her information on our site and
we'll have a recording too of this of this live stream and her
contact information and website. So thank you very much for
joining deBanked TV. I'm Sean Murray and we will see you next time.