Bryan Jaskolka - Member of the Business Council for Banking and Trade Finance
Bryan Jaskolka stands as a testament to innovation, resilience, and strategic foresight in the private mortgage lending and investment industry. As the founder and Chief Executive Officer of CMI Financial Group, he has catapulted the company to the forefront of the Canadian non-bank financial services market, specializing in originating, underwriting, funding, and servicing private mortgages end-to-end for mortgage brokers and investors.
Bryan's entrepreneurial journey commenced in a rather unconventional manner. At the tender age of 22, while still pursuing university education, a life-threatening accident rendered him bedridden. This period of enforced introspection became the crucible for his future endeavors. Leveraging the burgeoning potential of the internet within a largely traditional mortgage industry, he identified a niche for modernization. With a modest investment of $1,000, Bryan founded CMI in the basement of his childhood home, initially as an online mortgage brokerage. His innate entrepreneurial spirit was evident early on, having started his first business at 16, a venture that won him seed money from a national contest for young entrepreneurs. This foundation in web design and development, coupled with a foray into website hosting, equipped Bryan with a robust understanding of digital business models, a key factor in CMI's future success.
Under Bryan's leadership, CMI evolved from a small family-run brokerage to a comprehensive lender, funding and overseeing more than $2.5 billion in mortgages for Canadians excluded from conventional lending. His innovative approach includes developing proprietary software to streamline the mortgage approval and funding process, launching mortgage investment corporations (MICs) to facilitate fundraising, and ensuring CMI's presence on investment trading platforms to scale the distribution of its MIC funds. These strategic initiatives have earned CMI and Bryan numerous accolades, including being named the 2022 Private Lender of the Year and Bryan receiving the Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2021 by CanadianSME National Business Awards.
Bryan's foresight into the evolution of the private lending industry is profound. He has witnessed and contributed to its transformation, integrating fintech innovations to enhance efficiency and customer experience. Looking ahead, Bryan envisions private lending gaining further mainstream acceptance, driven by a combination of regulatory changes and the increasing demand for alternative financing solutions.
Bryan's journey is a powerful narrative of overcoming adversity, embracing innovation, and relentless perseverance. His advice to budding entrepreneurs in the industry is to view rejections as stepping stones and to continually reinvest in their ventures. His management of setbacks, viewing challenges as hidden opportunities, has been a cornerstone of his success.
Beyond his professional commitments, Bryan indulges in wine collecting, fine dining, and global travel, pursuits that reflect his appreciation for the finer things in life and a keen sense of global culture. His story is a compelling blend of entrepreneurial prowess, innovation, and strategic vision, positioning him as a distinguished member of the International Trade Council’s Business Council in Banking, Finance, and Trade Finance. His contributions to the industry not only underscore his personal achievements but also highlight his commitment to shaping the future of private mortgage lending in Canada and beyond.
