Ep.101 | No-Fee Lending, Investor Confidence, and Market Strategy with Reaza Ali

In this episode of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan MacNeil and Neal Andreino sit down live at the Canadian Mortgage Summit with Reaza Ali, National Broker Relations Manager at Fisgard Asset Management—one of the largest private lenders in Canada.Reaza shares his career journey and provides an inside look at Fisgard’s growth from Western Canada into Ontario, their unique no-lender-fee first mortgage model, and their strategic focus on residential lending over commercial and construction projects. He also dives into investor relations, capital preservation, and why managing risk and exits is critical in today’s volatile market.Whether you’re a broker, investor, or industry professional, this conversation offers valuable insights into how one of the country’s leading lenders balances growth with stability.Show Notes:00:00 – Live from the Canadian Mortgage Summit00:44 – Introducing Reaza Ali & Fisgard Asset Management02:00 – Reaza’s career journey into lending05:20 – Fisgard’s 30+ year history & expansion into Ontario07:15 – The no-lender-fee first mortgage explained09:30 – Renewal terms, penalties & borrower transparency12:20 – Why exit strategies & capital preservation are crucial15:40 – Investor base: 2,500+ investors backing $400–600M in mortgages18:45 – Average loan sizes & mortgage breakdown20:30 – Why Fisgard pulled back from commercial & construction lending22:06 – Lending markets across Canada: BC, Alberta & Ontario25:00 – Market slowdowns, affordability & investor protection27:30 – Risk management, data-driven decisions & investor trust30:40 – Urban vs rural lending focus32:29 – Reaza on what he values most in the industry—and what he’d change36:00 – Bonus: Toronto Blue Jays playoff talk Resources:Keystone Capital GroupCPLP Instagram: @cplpodcastKeystone Instagram: @keycapgroupFind Neal On:Instagram: @neal.andreinoLinkedIn: Neal AndreinoFind Ryan on:LinkedIn: Ryan MacNeilE-mail: [email protected]