In the first episode of Unconventional, award-winning CEO Bill Tessar takes us on a journey through his remarkable career, sharing invaluable insights for real estate investors, mortgage brokers, and those looking to scale in private lending. Alongside producer Gina Comeaux and longtime colleague Matt Flores, Bill reflects on the defining moments that shaped his entrepreneurial path, offering real-world lessons on resilience, adaptability, and financial growth.
The Early Hustle: From Side Gigs to Real Estate Investing
Bill’s journey began with a middle-class upbringing that sparked an early hunger for financial success.
“You don’t realize it when you’re a kid that you don’t have a lot of money,” he says. But he quickly learned how to generate cash, from selling Pop Rocks and Bubble Yum at school then launching his own tanning business at just 17.
A pivotal moment came after Bill received a financial settlement from an automobile accident. Instead of spending it recklessly, he invested in real estate. “How many 18-year-olds today would even think about buying a piece of real estate?” he reflects. This decision set the foundation for a career that would revolutionize his financial future.
The Aha Moment: The Power of Loan Origination
While purchasing his first property, Bill discovered the true power of mortgage lending. “I went line item by line item… and at the very bottom was ‘Loan Origination’. That was the biggest fee,” he recalls.
“When I saw that loan origination fee, I couldn’t believe it,” Bill explains. “I asked the guy, ‘What is this fee for?’ and when he told me, I said, ‘Wait a second—you’re making that just by facilitating the paperwork? I need to be on that side of the transaction.’”
This realization led him to become a licensed loan originator at just 18. “I thought, if I could do just 15 of these loans a year, I’d be making more than my dad ever did,” he says. He never looked back, using his natural hustle and ability to build relationships to create long-term success in mortgage lending.
From Conventional Lending to Private Money
For over two decades, Bill thrived in the conventional mortgage industry, leading companies like Skyline Home Loans and Capital Line Financial. But in 2017, he saw a massive opportunity in private lending and made a bold move into the business-purpose lending (BPL) space.
“It was a very, very big risk,” he admits. “I had spent 20 years in the same industry with a strong foundation, but private lending had real margins and far fewer restrictions than conventional lending. I saw an opportunity to build something unique.”
Today, as the CEO of CV3 Financial Services, Bill helps real estate investors and mortgage brokers access financing solutions that fuel their business growth. “Private lending is about empowering investors to scale their portfolios and seize opportunities that conventional lenders wouldn’t touch.”
The Power of Relationships, Trust, and Execution
Bill surrounds himself with smart, hardworking individuals who share his commitment to excellence. “You better love what you’re doing,” he says. “If you don’t love what you’re doing, you’re never going to be awesome at it.”
The Purpose Behind Unconventional
Bill’s motivation for launching this podcast is simple: to share real, unfiltered stories about success, failures, and the road to financial independence. “Anybody that has a successful storefront has had some carnage behind the storefront,” he says.
For those in the real estate industry, these stories offer critical lessons on navigating challenges, making strategic decisions, and identifying opportunities in any market. “If I’m still learning after 38 years in this industry, then there’s always room for growth,” he explains. “Every investor, every deal, and every challenge offers something new.”
With a lineup of experienced real estate investors, lenders, and entrepreneurs, Unconventional provides listeners with actionable insights to help them scale their businesses, build wealth, and take calculated risks. “If they can do it, I can do it. And so can you,” Bill says.
Stay tuned for more incredible stories by following CV3 Financial on social media @CV3financial and subscribing to The Unconventional Podcast on all your listening platforms. And as Bill likes to say: “Dare to be Unconventional”