Michael Ryan

Michael D. Ryan learned the importance of detail when dealing with numbers as the son of an accountant. That attention to precision carried over into his professional life, but he knew that starting a business was more than just numbers. When he founded Innovative Financing Solutions (IFS), he focused on helping people and how his skills allowed him to do just that.

IFS is a lender consulting and business advisory firm that Ryan, president and CEO, founded in 2009. The company specializes in developing and implementing government-guaranteed loan programs for community financial institutions and credit unions in approximately 24 states, from New York to Florida and west to Texas.

“IFS’ mission is to provide customized and innovative financing strategies and solutions to our lender and business clients, enabling them to meet their financing challenges and to achieve their business and financial goals, resulting in long-term and mutually rewarding and profitable relationships,” the company said. “Everything we do must enable our client to achieve their business and financial goals.”

Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from West Chester University and an MBA in finance from St. Joseph’s University. Before founding IFS, Ryan was executive vice president and chief lending officer of a Philadelphia-based community financial institution. He has more than 30 years of commercial lending and credit experience.

He makes sure IFS operates by following a set of shared organizational values. Those values are: Cooperation and Teamwork, Integrity/Ethics, Quality, Security/Confidentiality, Service, Staff Morale and Motivation, Trust/Openness, and Visionary and Principled Leadership.

“I learned early on when starting IFS that it would be critical to bring on top talent that will fuel the company’s growth for years to come,” Ryan said. “These team members must be motivated, respected and treated fairly at all times to ensure their individual growth, happiness and success. Accordingly, we developed IFS’ Shared Organizational Values that would pave the way for the future of all at IFS.”

IFS received the Philly 100 Award in 2020 and was named one of the fastest-growing private companies in the Greater Philadelphia area. The company is an associate member of the New Jersey Bankers Association and is recognized as an Endorsed Service Provider.

“I plan to continue to grow IFS into a nationwide consulting firm with the goal of being the best in our industry and influential among our clients and associates,” Ryan said. “IFS will continue to grow as an industry leader by hiring new talented team members and focusing on delivering only the finest service. The firm will continue to support local charitable organizations and continue to provide knowledge and expertise to our bank association members at no charge.”