In Episode 16 of Unconventional, Bill Tessar sits down with Kevin Kim, Partner and Head of Corporate Securities at Fortune Law—a nationally recognized expert in mortgage fund formation and a trusted advisor across private lending.
But Kevin’s story doesn’t start in a boardroom. It starts with a Craigslist ad.
And what unfolds is a masterclass in adaptability, resilience, and what it really means to “trust the process”, even when there isn’t one.
From Craigslist to Corporate Securities
In today’s world of LinkedIn and polished career paths, it’s easy to assume success follows a predictable trajectory. Kevin’s didn’t.
After graduating law school into the chaos of the 2009 financial crisis, job opportunities disappeared overnight. Offers were rescinded. Career plans dissolved. Like many others at the time, Kevin was left with one priority: survive.
So he took what he could find, a small contract legal role sourced through Craigslist.
What started as low-level, part-time work quickly became something more. As the private lending market began to re-emerge post-crisis, Kevin leaned in, stayed present, and said yes to opportunity when others hesitated.
That decision didn’t just shape his career, it defined it.
Built on Work Ethic, Not Entitlement
Kevin’s grinding mindset was built early.
Raised by two hardworking parents, his father a career banker and his mother a small business owner, discipline wasn’t optional. It was expected.
From working in family retail stores as a kid to navigating the structured rigor of a Korean-American upbringing, Kevin learned early that effort compounds.
That foundation became critical later, especially when success wasn’t guaranteed and the path forward wasn’t clear.
When the Plan Falls Apart
Some people face a moment in their career where the script breaks. For Kevin, it came early.
Graduating into one of the worst job markets in modern history forced a hard pivot. Instead of stepping into a structured legal career, he found himself doing litigation work he didn’t love just to stay afloat.
But here’s the shift, instead of waiting for the “right” opportunity, he used every experience as a building block:
- Learning how to communicate with clients in crisis
- Understanding how deals and people actually work
- Developing instincts that no textbook teaches
What felt like a detour at the time became the edge that set him apart later.
The Inflection Point: Opportunity Meets Readiness
Years later, that Craigslist opportunity came full circle. Kevin joined a small firm doing contract work. Over time, the workload grew, the market accelerated, and then unexpectedly the partner leading the division retired.
Instead of hiring someone new, the firm made a bet, handing Kevin the keys.
No long runway. No perfect preparation. Just an opportunity and a decision to step into it.
That moment changed everything. While Kevin may not have had decades of experience, he had something more valuable: Perspective. People skills. And the ability to simplify complexity.
The Real Skill That Changed Everything
In law and in lending it’s easy to assume technical expertise is the differentiator. Kevin sees it differently he says, “90% of this is people skills.”
Understanding documents matters. But understanding people, their fears, their goals, and their expectations, that’s what builds trust. In private lending trust is everything, it’s what turns transactions into relationships and relationships into long-term success.
Riding the Wave of Private Lending
Kevin’s rise paralleled the evolution of the private lending industry itself.
What was once a fragmented, “hard money” space has begun transforming into an institutional asset class, attracting capital, structure, and credibility.
From fund formation to capital strategy, Kevin has positioned himself at the center of that growth. Helping lenders scale, adapt, and navigate an increasingly complex market.
The lesson? You don’t need to predict the wave. You need to recognize it and ride it.
Building Community, Not Just Business
Beyond his legal practice, Kevin has played a pivotal role in shaping the private lending ecosystem. Through conferences, industry forums, and The Lender Lounge podcast, he’s helped create something rare in finance: A true community.
One built on shared knowledge, collaboration, and a rising-tide mentality.
Because in an industry evolving this quickly, information isn’t just power, it’s protection.
Dare to Be Unconventional
For real estate investors, brokers, and operators, Kevin’s story reinforces a core truth: Success in this space doesn’t come from perfect timing, it comes from prepared action. Markets shift. Capital moves. Opportunities evolve.
The investors who win are the ones who stay adaptable, stay informed, and surround themselves with the right partners.
Every story on Unconventional reinforces the same idea: There is no single path to success, only the one you build.
Kevin Kim didn’t follow a straight line. He followed opportunity and backed it with relentless effort. And in doing so, he built something extraordinary.
Follow @CV3Financial and subscribe to the Unconventional with Bill Tessar podcast for more stories of entrepreneurs redefining what it means to lead.
Dare to be Unconventional.