James P. Forrest, Managing Director

Managing Director, Affiliated Financing Services

Managing Director for 10 years… experienced in placing debt in 20 categories of commercial financing…

Reputation for assembling and managing a team of specialists who get even the difficult financing jobs done

13 years experience with major commercial banks… accomplished speaker …

Represents borrower's best interest, not the lenders.

Drawing from his network of financial, business and accounting sources, Jim Forrest assembles the team best qualified for each project and is the client's primary contact during the entire process.

Affiliated Financing Services, Ltd. provides clients of CPA and law firms a 'one-stop' shop for 20 categories of commercial financing. These include lines of credit, equipment, commercial real estate, private debt placement, mezzanine financing and debt restructuring for businesses with annual sales of $1 million to $50 million.

Jim worked for six years with American National Bank & Trust in Chicago as a relationship Banking Officer and in new business development with small law firms and commodity brokers.

In seven years with First Oak Brook Bancshares, Inc., representing three of their independently chartered and operated banks, he outsourced asset based and equipment loans to businesses with challenging credit situations to sell them cash management services. This is how he built a broad referral network to fund even challenging loans.

Frank J. Bonfiglio, Equipment Leasing Advisor

Founder of FFC known an innovator in equipment leasing

…reputation for efficient, personal customer service from start of  transaction to finish…

Started Vanguard Financial Service Corp. which grew to net receivables of $200 million in eight years… average growth 65% in last three years… ROE over 21% four consecutive years…

FFC leases equipment for start-up, fast growing and middle market companies in amounts ranging from $10,000 to $5 million.  They also provide vendor financing for companies with a product or service that sells better with off balance sheet leasing or as a financed transaction.

Frank Bonfiglio's firm offers three dynamic approaches to equipment financing: Standard Agreement with 12 to 84 month terms, competitive lease and flexible purchase options; Master Lease  permitting customers to buy equipment from different vendors with various delivery dates; Municipal Lease Purchase which affords municipalities a one dollar purchase option and includes necessary non-appropriation language.

Prior to starting Focus, Frank founded Vanguard Financial Service Corporation which in eight years grew to a team of 70 with headquarters in Illinois with offices in Michigan (3), California, Massachusetts and Texas.

In 1995, Vanguard had over 20,000 accounts, annual equipment acquisitions of $133 million and Net Lease Receivables of $200 million.

Benjamin W. Cannon,Leveraged Equipment Lease Advisor

Former President  Comdisco's International Group…

20+ year international background covers operations, marketing, leasing and legal experience with Fortune 500, venture-backed and mid-size companies…

Senior Chrysler

Attorney in $1.5  billion bailout…

American Bar Association and Illinois, Michigan and Ohio Bar Associations… MBA Michigan State... JD, Notre Dame/Wayne State

Ben Cannon has placed more than $7 billion USD of leveraged transactions in 25 years of international financial management.

He started his career in corporate law: GM, Unisys,Senior Attorney with Chrysler Financial Corporation(participated in the $1.5 billion Federal bailout) and Deputy General Counsel for CF Industries.

Joining Comdisco, Inc.in 1981 as Assistant General Counsel,he was made Presidentof Comdisco International, responsible for all non-US subsidiaries, a year later.  Under his direction, revenues increased 300% and earnings 200% between 1982 and 1986.

While Marketing Vice President of Comdisco's Capital Equipment Finance Division (1986-90), equipment financed rose from $150 million to $1 billion annually.  In his two years asVice President-General Managerof the Venture Capital Group, $150+ million was invested.

As VP-General Counsel for LDI Corp. (1992-94), directing marketing, business alliances and joint ventures, he contributed $5 million to the bottom line.  As a Business and Marketing Consultant since 1995, his projects rangefrom structuring leveraged and venture capital leases to developing one the country's most visited Internet sites.

Allan R. Carroll,Mortgage banking Advisor

Over $1 billion in conventional and tax exempt financing… 

Recently placed $50 million in Tax Exempt loans in Illinois and other states... 

20-year track record as innovative, highly respected mortgage banker and Finance consultant to Illinois Municipalities … reputation for hands-on involvement from start to finish of projects

Conclude toughest projects with no unnecessary delays or fees

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President Allan Carroll and Vice President Stanley Schwartz are the principal commercial Real Estate Advisors to Affiliated. They are considered by many as two of the finest mortgage bankers in Chicago.  Both have extensive personal and professional contacts with institutional funding sources in the Midwest for construction, mini-perm and end-mortgage transactions of more than $1 million.

Their role is to provide financing alternatives for Affiliated clients and actively participate in every stage of transactions.  Under their guidance, our real estate projects proceed smoothly and are usually closed without unnecessary delays and fees. 

Carroll Financial Group, Inc., formed in 1980, has financed over $1 billion in Industrial Revenue Bonds, commercial and income producing real estate.

Mr. Carroll has more than 38 years experience in lending, investments and insurance and graduated with B.A. from Tufts University. 

Mr. Schwartz was President of a chain of 27 retail stores, a decorated officer in the U.S. Army Finance Corps, and graduated with B.A. and M.B.A. degrees from Northwestern University.

Alison J. Harkins,Credit Analyst and Business Planning Advisor

Analyzed 300 proposals a year as Commercial Loan Analyst...  has drafted 200 business plans in 3 years…

Has created innovative, analytical tools to assess company strengths and needs...

Developed business plan that generated $3 million operating capital for struggling company…

Works effectively with attorneys, accountants and consultants.

Alison Harkins, whose responsibility includes developing client business plans, is experienced in Business & Strategic Planning, Financial Statement Analysis, Financing Alternatives, Deal Structuring and New Business Development. 

A graduate of the University of Arizona College of Law, she started her career as an Analyst with First National Bank of Arizona.  She became skilled in workouts during Arizona's banking crisis.  By cutting problem loans by 10% in one year, she saved the bank millions.

Alison joined CIBBank, Hillside, IL in 1995 as Assistant Vice President,Commercial Lending. She reorganized the Credit Department, developing systems to ensure loans over $125,000 were properly analyzed.

One of a number of analytical tools she developed was an action-planning model designed to help clients reverse negative cash positions and quickly implement targeted marketing campaigns.

James E. Ward,Business Risk Advisor

Four National Council Awards, three Chairs of Champions, eight Production Growth Awards… Bronze & Silver Sales Achievement Awards…

Five Man of the Year Awards…

Eight National Leader Corp Awards…

Qualified for President's Cabinet with Equitable Life...

Chicago and National  Association of Life Underwriters… Million Dollar Round Table…

SEC Equity Qualified…

Phi Delta Kappa

Business risks that can be minimized only if they are known to exist. Our best financing package is enhanced in the eyes of the lender when all business risks are discussed and responsibly managed. 

Jim Ward has handled RiskManagementfor the Chicago Sun Times and advised companies such as the Cellular Division of Ameritech Mobile and Landmark Mortgage Company on employee benefit programs, insurance, investment programs and sales training.

As a Registered Representative for Equitable/AXA Advisorsfor 27 years, Jim specializes in Estate Planning, Corporate/Group Health & Executive Compensation Plans and Corporate Risk.  He has won numerous Equitable Life achievement awards. 

After serving as a U.S. Marine in Korea, Jim worked as an Industrial Photographer with Honeywell and Chief Photographer with the Freeport Journal Standard, where he received two first place awards from the Illinois Press Photographers Association.

Jim was an Administrative Assistant with the Illinois Department of Economic Development, a District Sales Managerfor Continental Airlines for the State of Michigan and the Providence of Ontario, Canada and Account Executive selling national TV ads for Metro Media.