Written by: Meghann Collard • June 1, 2020• Home Pinecrest

Making Moves in Miami

Long-time favorite neighborhood lender and financial planner has come home to Pinecrest.

Servicing ours and surrounding areas for over 15 years, Stewards of Capital CEO, John Lopez, tells us about their recent relocation from original headquarters in Coral Gables to new digs here in Pinecrest. “The purpose of this move was to be closer to home; to service ‘my’ community,” says John.

When John and company first blazed onto the mortgage scene in 2005, setting up shop in The City Beautiful was a no-brainer. But as his family grew, a move to the safe-harbour suburbs was inevitable, and with it, came a community client base and loyal following. “It just didn’t make sense to have both our clients and ourselves commuting in the same direction to make a meeting,” says John. Client centricity has always been part of the ethos at Stewards of Capital. With reduced commute and a more efficiency-minded office, John’s able to focus more on running the company; doing the tasks that nobody sees like keeping up with regulations, administration and the nuances of running business.

Adaptability rings in as another asset keeping Stewards of Capital consistently at the top of their game, and also a key player in their recent transition. A lot has changed since 2005 (think Carrie Underwood winning American Idol, or iPod nanos). Stewards has stayed strong through the global recession as well as the shift to financial technology (Fintech) solutions. “We’ve had to transition from an environment of grand marble conference rooms and sit-down signings, to digital documents and independent lenders while still maintaining the lowest rates and the highest personal attention,” explains John. “But our small size, the fact that we don’t have to answer to anyone bigger, means we can shift gears very quickly.”

Whatever they’re doing must be working, as the vast majority of their clients are repeat or referral. Most everyone at Stewards of Capital, including John, brings a financial license and the ability to wear multiple hats to the table. “We approach lending from an investment point of view,” tells the CEO. While offering products like mortgages or loans, they also provide financial planning and wealth management, helping their clients manage the bigger picture and optimize assets versus liabilities.

Now more than ever, the ability to offer holistic financial planning is coming into play. “This is not the same as the 2007-2008 crisis. Today, there’s a lack of liquidity, but companies are still doing fine. Low interest rates are keeping banks healthy, and reserves have grown. Plus loans and loan regulations have drastically improved,” explains John. “The only thing that’s changed for us right now is people are coming to work in shorts. If it weren’t for the fact that everything was closed, I might think we were headed to the beach every day after work. The good news is, we’re still getting calls and still able to help our customers, whether through home refinancing, investment advice, personal loans, or otherwise.”

So what’s next for Stewards of Capital? John is looking forward to continued growth and expansion in the next 5-10 years. His sights are set on a few east coast hubs, including Georgia and New York. In the meantime, he is enjoying the opportunity to service clients from their new Stewards of Capital & Company office space just down the road.

Stewards of Capital & Company is located at 8603 S Dixie Highway, Suite 218, Pinecrest, FL 33134. For more information or questions, please call 305-448-5550, or visit stewardsofcapital.com.

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