Business

Cobalt Advisors Complaints Already Starting For Debt Consolidation Loans

Published

5 years ago

May 24, 2020

Cobalt Partners: Can You Trust Them?

Cobalt Advisors and Credit 9 have joined Saxton Associates and Hornet Partners in flooding the market with debt consolidation and personal loan offers in the mail. The problem is that the terms and conditions are at the very least confusing, and possibly even suspect. The interest rates are so low that you would have to have near-perfect credit to be approved for one of their offers. Best 2020 Reviews, the personal finance review site, has been following Carina Advisors (also known as Corey Advisors, Pennon Partners, Jayhawk Advisors, Clay Advisors, Colony Associates, and Pine Advisors, etc.).

Consolidation loan occurs when someone decides to pay off several smaller loans with a single larger loan. You are lumping together all your payments into a single large payment. One of the benefits of the larger loan is a lower interest rate than smaller loans.

Moreover, the term on the larger loan is often longer which can lower the amount the person has to pay every month.

Most creditors offer consolidation as an easy solution for debt problems. While a consolidation loan can make it easier to control your debt because you only have a single payment to remember, it doesn’t address the main reasons why you got into the debt in the first place.

That being said, a consolidation debt is an efficient way to help you make short work of your debt and significantly improve your financial life. There are many kinds of consolidation loans for creditors to choose from. Make sure you select the right type of consideration loan for your particular financial situation.

Loan Consolidation for Students

Student loan consolidation is popular among students but it is important to have a college degree to qualify. The debtor can take all of their loans from previous years and consolidate them into a single loan. This will lock the interest rate to prevent it from rising over a long period of time. Moreover, student consolidation loans will stretch out over a longer time frame which will reduce the monthly payments, but it won’t save you from having to pay the interest.

Since you won’t be taking out any more student loans, this type of consolidation loan is a great option. Most people can only consolidate their federal loans, but this will make managing the loan much easier since they have to worry about a single payment every month.

If you want to learn more about the student consolidation loan, get in touch with the US Department of Education’s Direct Loan Program. These entities will help you consolidate the loan and lock in a fixed interest rate. You may even seek a payment forgiveness program. The consolidation must be done through the Direct Loan Program to qualify for repayment benefits.

Unsecured Consolidation Loans

Unsecured consolidation loans are unsecured loans that are offered by banks and credit unions. They are also known as signature loans. The interest rates on unsecured loans are lower than the credit card’s. Most people take out the loan for a certain period of time.

Despite its advantages, unsecured consolidation loans can offer a low-interest rate, but it may not be that great for many debtors. Moreover, it still doesn’t address the main reason why most people got into this problem in the first place: a spending problem.

Without addressing this issue first, you may ‘relapse’ and rack up more credit card refinancing vs debt consolidation, not to mention the fact that you still owe payments on the consolidation loan. If you decide to go this route, you should stop the use of your credit cards entirely.

You may have received unsecured consolidation loan offers in the mail. But it is searching in more credible sources to see if you can qualify for a better loan. Apply at your credit union ort local bank in addition to the offers in your mail. It is worth reading online reviews of the loan and the creditor offering the consolidation loan.

Home Equity Loan (aka Second Mortgage)

This type of consolidation is a home equity loan or a second mortgage. This gives people the option of borrowing against their property (or their home) and utilize this money to pay off their debts on credit cards that may have been accrued.

Because the loan is secured against the equity in the home, this option provides you with the lowest interest rates but also increases your risk of losing your property if you fail to make the payments on time. At the end of the day, most people end up going back into debt out of force of habit in just a few years’ time. Make sure to be weigh the pros and cons of this option before choosing it.

If you are thinking about home equity loans, make sure to stop using your credit cards completely before you accrue further debt on them. It is worth your time to thoroughly research all the different banks and companies that offer home equity loans. As a general rule of thumb, you may qualify for lower interest rates if you go through your credit union or local bank.

Is Consolidation Loan Going to Help Me Recover From Debt

While consolidation loan seems like a good option if you think about it, it is important to weigh all your options before signing up for it. As mentioned earlier in the article, most people are spendthrifts and end up back with crippling debt after having just paid their previous loan off. Using a consolidation loan requires discipline and access to a steady source of income.

This is a serious problem that can get even worse for you if you keep resorting to debt consolidation. In most cases, the best solution is to set up a personalized debt payment plan. This will help you identify your spending patterns and the complete breakdown of cash flow. A bird’s eye view of your finances will help you turn your finances around and get the best possible results.

If as a last resort, you do decide to go down the consolidation loan route, make sure to do your research into all the creditors near you. Whenever possible, look for ways to minimize the interest on your loan and secure the longest pay off time. Your goal should be to lower the interest rate to help you quickly pay off the loan without a hitch.

Finally, there are many budgeting apps that let you take full control of your budget. They provide insights into your spending and let you keep your money situation under control.

Business

Derik Fay and the Quiet Rise of a Fintech Dynasty: How a Relentless Visionary is Redefining the Future of Payments

Published

4 days ago

October 17, 2025

Matthew Wiles

Long before the headlines, before the Forbes features, and well before he became a respected fixture in boardrooms across the country, Derik Fay was a kid from Westerly, Rhode Island with little more than grit and audacity. Now, with a strategic footprint spanning more than 40 companies—including holdings in media, construction, real estate, pharma, fitness, and fintech—Fay’s influence is as diversified as it is deliberate. And his most recent move may be his boldest yet: the acquisition and co-ownership of Tycoon Payments, a fintech venture poised to disrupt an industry built on middlemen and outdated rules.

Where many entrepreneurs chase headlines, Fay chases legacy.

Rebuilding the Foundation of Fintech

In the saturated space of payment processors, Fay didn’t just want another transactional brand. He saw a broken system—one that labeled too many businesses as “high-risk,” denied them access, and overcharged them into silence. Tycoon Payments, under his stewardship, is rewriting that narrative from the ground up.

Instead of the all-too-common “fake processor” model, where companies act as brokers rather than actual underwriters, Tycoon Payments is being engineered to own the rails—integrating direct banking partnerships, custom risk modeling, and flexible support for underserved industries.

“Disruption isn’t about being loud,” Fay said in a private strategy session with advisors. “It’s about fixing what’s been ignored for too long. I don’t chase waves—I build the coastline.”

Quiet Power, Strategic Depth

Now 46 years old, Fay has evolved from scrappy gym owner to an empire builder, founding 3F Management as a private equity and venture vehicle to scale fast-growth businesses with staying power. His portfolio includes names like Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships, BIGG Pharma, Results Roofing, FayMs Films, and SalonPlex—but also dozens of companies that never make headlines. That’s by design.

Where others seek followers, Fay builds founders. Where most celebrate their exits, Fay reinvests in people.

While he often deflects conversations around his personal wealth, analysts estimate his net worth to exceed $100 million, with some placing it comfortably over $250 million, based on exits, real estate holdings, and the trajectory of his current ventures.

Yet unlike others in his tax bracket, Fay still answers cold DMs. He mentors rising entrepreneurs without cameras rolling. And he shows up—not just with capital, but with conviction.

A Mogul Grounded in Real Life

Outside of business, Fay remains committed to his role as a father and partner. He shares two daughters, Sophia Elena Fay and Isabella Roslyn Fay, and has been in a relationship with Shandra Phillips since 2021. He’s known for keeping his personal life private, but those close to him speak of a man who brings the same intention to parenting as he does to scaling multimillion-dollar ventures—focused, present, and consistent.

His physical stature—standing at 6′1″—matches his professional gravitas, but what’s more striking is his ability to operate with both discipline and empathy. Fay’s reputation among founders and CEOs is not just one of capital deployment, but emotional intelligence. As one partner noted, “He’s the kind of guy who will break down your pitch—and rebuild your belief in yourself in the same breath.”

The Tycoon Blueprint

The playbook Fay is writing at Tycoon Payments doesn’t just threaten incumbents—it reinvents the infrastructure. This isn’t another “fintech startup” with a flashy brand and no backend. It’s a strategically positioned venture with real underwriting power, cross-border ambitions, and a founder who understands how to scale quietly until the entire industry has to take notice.

In an age where so many entrepreneurs rely on noise and virality to build influence, Fay remains a master of what can only be called elite stealth. He doesn’t need the spotlight. But his impact casts a long shadow.

Conclusion: The Empire Expands

From Rhode Island beginnings to venture boardrooms, from gym owner to fintech force, Derik Fay continues to build not just businesses—but a blueprint. One rooted in resilience, innovation, and long-term infrastructure.

Tycoon Payments may be the latest chess piece. But the game he’s playing is bigger than one move. It’s a long game of strategic leverage, intentional legacy, and generational wealth.

And Fay is not just playing it. He’s redefining the rules.