Lender Relationships. SBA Expertise. One Advisor From First Call to Funding.
HelmPoint Advisory is an independent SBA advisory. I work for you — the operator — not for a lender. My job is to make sure the financing fits the business, not the other way around.
Built for Operators Who'd Rather Run the Business Than the Bank.
Hi — I'm Wade Stringfield, founder of HelmPoint Advisory. I started this practice after years of watching small business owners wrestle with SBA paperwork at the wrong lender. The part nobody warned them about wasn't the rules — it was the structure: how the deal gets packaged, which lender it gets taken to, and who walks it through underwriting. I've spent over 20 years in banking with more than half that time working exclusively in SBA lending. As an employee, I've seen firsthand how this program is deployed across the spectrum of financial institutions — community banks and credit unions, regional and national banks, and non-bank lenders. I've participated in every part of the process: intake, structuring, underwriting, committee presentations, approval, and reporting.
SBA programs are standardized — but the lenders aren't. Two banks looking at the exact same deal may price it differently, request different documentation, and underwrite to different appetite. Pick the wrong lender and you waste 90 days waiting for a "no." Pick the right one and you close on time at the rate you needed.
This isn't a portal that hands you a generic form. I'm the one structuring your application, deciding which lender it goes to first, and chasing the closing checklist down with the bank's underwriter — until your loan funds.
What This Actually Does for Your Business.
You don't need a "loan introduction." You need someone who treats your business like a business — not a credit file.
That means reviewing your deal personally, telling you what's fundable before you spend a dollar on appraisals or environmental reports, and structuring the financing around how your company actually runs. Cash flow, seasonality, owner compensation, customer concentration, real estate strategy — it all has to fit, or the loan you close costs you for the next 25 years.
I use modern tooling (secure client portal, e-sign, smart checklist) so you're not faxing things at midnight — but the strategy work is human and one-on-one. Every deal gets the same: a real conversation about the business, an honest read on what's fundable, and execution that doesn't drop the deal at week six.
Who I work with
- Operators buying owner-occupied commercial real estate ($500K–$10M+)
- Buyers acquiring a business, executing a partner buyout, or managing a transition
- Established businesses refinancing high-cost debt or funding growth capital
- Owners who got declined elsewhere and want a real second read on the structure
- Sellers preparing a business to be SBA-financeable before they list
No BPO scripts. No generic intake. One advisor who's seen your kind of deal before — and knows how to make the financing fit the business.
Why I Get It
Before launching HelmPoint Advisory, I spent years working with small to medium-sized businesses across industries — manufacturers, professional services, hospitality, healthcare, trades. I've seen what happens when owners take the first loan offered instead of the right one. That's why this exists: to make sure the financing fits the business — not the other way around.
Work With Me — It's Simple
Start the Conversation
Schedule a free 15-minute call, or fill out the intake form so I can scope the deal. I'll tell you on that first call whether SBA fits and what program is the best path.
Send Me Your Documents
I'll send a personalized checklist tailored to your deal type. Upload everything through the secure client portal — tax returns, financials, debt schedule, purchase agreement, business plan if needed.
I Package, Match, and Close It
I build the lender package, take it to 2-4 SBA lenders most likely to fund the deal, bring back term sheets, and coordinate with the chosen bank, the CDC (for 504), the title company, and the closing attorney all the way to funding.
Client Testimonials
"My original lender pulled out three weeks before closing. HelmPoint had two replacement term sheets in 10 days and we still hit the seller's deadline."
"I'd been told 'no' twice on the 504 because of how the entity was structured. They restructured the application and we got approved with a third lender at a better rate."