Raised amidst the Appalachian landscape, Tom harbored a lifelong ambition to carve out a successful career in business. For him, the business realm served as the key to breaking free from the pervasive generational poverty surrounding him. As the son of a coal miner, Tom diverged from the traditional college path, opting instead to ascend the corporate ladder through roles in sales and management. It wasn't long before he recognized his innate talent for turnaround management, strategically revitalizing unprofitable companies, stores, or departments.

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Having accumulated a robust resume through various challenging roles, Tom leaped into entrepreneurship, establishing his financial services firm. Armed with 18 state and federal licenses covering life and health insurance, property and casualty insurance, mortgages, and securities sales, Tom, alongside his wife, dedicated themselves to aiding families in crafting efficient financial and investment strategies to achieve their goals. 

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In 2006, Tom and his wife seized an exciting opportunity, relocating their family and business from the rural confines of Ohio to the bustling market of Houston, TX. Despite the initial promise, no one anticipated the financial crisis that would hit their business the following year, resulting in the loss of everything they had diligently worked for. Undeterred, Tom pivoted into a new venture as a real estate professional. Starting from scratch, he amassed an impressive portfolio of over 400 rental units and engaged in numerous transactions involving houses and commercial properties. 

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The year 2014 marked a significant milestone as Tom joined forces with Donald Sutton to co-found Investor Loan Source (ILS). Since then, ILS has successfully closed over 2,100 loans, exceeding $1 billion in loan volume. In 2018, Tom and Donald launched The ILS Funds, a strategic move to expand loan volume and enable passive investors to pool their resources in private lending systems. Currently overseeing over $118 million in investor capital, The ILS Funds have consistently delivered substantial returns since their inception. 

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Tom, alongside his wife Melissa, with two decades of companionship, continues to call Texas home, surrounded by their four adult children and eleven grandchildren, some actively contributing to the family business. In his leisure time, Tom, an avid hunter, creates lasting memories with his family on his exotic game ranch in central Texas. Fueling his passion for sharing wealth-building knowledge, he ardently believes in teaching others the art of real estate to set the stage for the next generation's success. As the former host of the acclaimed radio show, "The Real Estate Rush Hour," Tom remains committed to traversing the country, addressing various conventions and mastermind groups, all while fulfilling his duties as the CEO of the ILS group of companies.