Evan Wilkoff Looks to the Future

With extensive experience in asset-backed and structured finance, Evan Wilkoff is a proven leader in developing profitable businesses and platforms. As Executive Vice President of Ascentium Capital LLC from 2010 to 2021, he was responsible for all capital markets and treasury activities. During his tenure, Evan designed and implemented a diversified funding strategy that included a robust asset-backed security issuance program, multiple credit facilities from money-center banks, and various syndication sources. Origination volume exceeded $2 billion in under five years and $8 billion in ten years.

Evan oversaw all aspects of Ascentium’s asset-backed securities issuance program, issuing $3.4 billion across 12 transactions, and oversaw portfolio sales totaling $1.4 billion to 57 purchasers, generating 5+% gains. He also set up and managed an offshore reinsurance company that generated significant net underwriting profits for Ascentium’s forced-placed insurance product.

Evan Wilkoff identified, recruited, and helped acquire, build, and integrate three successful business platforms: truck finance, a direct-to-end-user call center, and a micro-ticket point-of-sale equipment finance division. Before joining Ascentium, Evan tripled annual revenues as the Director of Commercial Asset Finance at Wells Fargo Securities and managed bank relationships, negotiated senior warehouse lines, and developed a syndication strategy as Vice President and Treasurer of CoActiv Capital Partners, Inc., LLC.

As co-founder of Cavalier Funding, LLC, Evan built a small, full-service specialty finance company from scratch, developing a proprietary pricing model that maximized profits while minimizing risk. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from The University of Virginia.

We recently had the opportunity to connect with Evan Wilkoff to learn a little more about his career in corporate finance and his plans for the future.

What has been your most satisfying moment in business?  

One of the most fulfilling moments of my professional career was when I played a pivotal role in the senior management team that drove the remarkable growth of Ascentium, a finance company where I worked for many years. As a team, we successfully grew the business into a multi-billion dollar enterprise, a significant achievement that brought immense satisfaction and pride to us all.

After ten years of tireless efforts and dedication to the company, we eventually sold it to a large regional bank, marking the end of another phase of our collective efforts. The successful sale was a validation of our hard work, and it served as an affirmation that we had made a real impact in the industry. The satisfaction that came with this accomplishment has stayed with me and motivates me to continue pushing the limits in my professional endeavors.

How do you bring ideas to life?   

I firmly believe that collaboration is the key to bringing ideas to life. Assembling a diverse team with a wide range of skills and experiences is crucial to not only generating fresh perspectives and ideas but also ensuring that the idea can be executed successfully. I have found that working with individuals who have a track record of success in their respective areas of expertise can be particularly effective in bringing ideas to fruition.

However, simply having a talented team is not enough. It’s important to create a culture of openness and constructive feedback, where everyone feels comfortable contributing their ideas, however new and different they may be, and giving honest feedback. This allows us to iterate and refine our ideas until they are ready to be brought to market.

In addition to teamwork and communication, I also believe in the power of action. I encourage my team to take calculated risks and not be afraid to fail, as failures can be valuable learning experiences. I have “failed” in business many times, from designing business plans that fizzle to hiring people that don’t work out to losing money on new ventures. Luckily I have been able to learn from each of these missteps and utilize those lessons as my career unfolds.

By creating a culture that values action and experimentation, we can quickly test and iterate on ideas, ultimately bringing them to life in the most efficient and effective way possible.

What does the future hold for you?  

In considering the future of my business, I am excited to build upon my past successes and pursue new opportunities within the ever-evolving specialty finance industry. I am keenly aware of the macroeconomic changes taking place in the marketplace and am dedicated to leveraging this knowledge to drive growth and success.

While my next endeavor may not mirror my past experiences exactly, I am confident that it will leverage the strengths of my proven team and capitalize on current market opportunities to ensure success. I am committed to remaining agile and adaptable in the face of changing market conditions and am excited to explore new ways to innovate and drive growth in the years ahead.

What are you most excited about?

I am extremely excited about the prospect of reinvigorating my personal and professional network and diving headfirst back into the game. The opportunity to connect with old colleagues, meet new professionals, and form valuable partnerships is one that I relish. Building a robust network is key to unlocking new opportunities and taking on exciting new challenges. The prospect of forging new relationships and leveraging existing ones to achieve success is one that fills me with anticipation and enthusiasm. I am eager to put in the hard work and dedication necessary to cultivate a thriving network that will enable me to achieve my goals and surpass my own expectations.

Thank you to Evan Wilkoff for sharing some of his insights and inspiration with our audience.

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