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Asset-Based Lending and How Small Businesses Can Leverage What They Already Own to Access Capital

US Business News Staff US Business News Staff on June 4, 2026

One of the most underutilized funding strategies available to small business owners is asset-based lending. Many businesses that struggle to qualify for traditional unsecured loans are sitting on substantial value in the form of equipment, inventory, real estate, or receivables. Asset-based lending allows those businesses to unlock that value and convert it into working capital without the need to meet the strict credit and cash flow criteria that conventional bank lending requires. For asset-rich but cash-constrained businesses, this approach can open doors that traditional financing keeps firmly closed and transform the balance sheet from a static record into an active funding engine.

The Core Concept Behind Asset-Based Lending

Asset-based lending is financing that is secured by specific business assets rather than relying primarily on the creditworthiness or cash flow projections of the borrower alone. The lender evaluates the value and liquidity of the assets being pledged as collateral and provides a loan or credit facility based on a percentage of that assessed value. Because the loan is secured by tangible assets, lenders can take on transactions that would be too risky under an unsecured lending framework, which directly benefits business owners with strong asset bases but complicated or imperfect financial profiles.

The most commonly used assets in asset-based lending include accounts receivable, inventory, machinery and equipment, commercial real estate, and, in some cases, intellectual property or brand value. The funding rate against each asset type varies based on its liquidity and ease of valuation. Receivables typically support the highest rates because they represent near-term cash inflows from known parties. Inventory and equipment rates depend on the type of goods and machinery involved and how readily they can be converted to cash if necessary.

For small business owners, understanding which assets they hold and how lenders value them is the starting point for evaluating whether asset-based lending can solve their capital access challenges. Many business owners are surprised to discover that the combined value of their equipment, inventory, and receivables supports significantly more funding capacity than their credit profile alone would suggest, opening up a meaningful capital pathway that pure credit-based evaluation would never reveal.

Industries Where Asset-Based Lending Creates Significant Opportunity

Asset-based lending is particularly well-suited to industries where businesses accumulate substantial physical assets as a natural part of their operations, making the balance sheet a rich source of fundable collateral.

Agricultural and Farming Operations: Farms and agricultural businesses hold significant value in land, equipment, livestock, and seasonal inventory. Traditional agricultural lenders often have rigid seasonal financing structures that do not match the actual cash flow patterns of individual farm operations. Asset-based lending allows farmers and agricultural businesses to access capital against the real value of their equipment and land holdings, funding planting seasons, equipment upgrades, and operational expansions without being constrained by the limited flexibility of conventional agricultural banking products.

Printing and Publishing: Commercial printing operations invest heavily in specialized equipment, including large-format printers, binding machinery, and finishing equipment that represents substantial value on the balance sheet. When these businesses need capital for new equipment, facility expansion, or operational scaling, asset-based lending against existing equipment values provides an accessible path that does not depend on credit scores alone. The equipment itself supports the financing, making approval significantly more accessible even for businesses with credit challenges.

Hospitality and Hotels: Hotel and hospitality businesses own or control significant physical assets, including real property, furniture, fixtures, and equipment. Asset-based lending allows hospitality operators to access capital against these holdings for renovations, technology upgrades, marketing campaigns, or expansion plans without the lengthy approval timelines associated with commercial real estate loans. The ability to move quickly on capital needs is particularly valuable in hospitality, where guest experience investments have direct and measurable impacts on revenue, occupancy rates, and competitive positioning.

Industrial and Heavy Equipment Services: Businesses that own and operate heavy equipment, whether in construction, mining, demolition, or industrial services, hold assets that lend themselves naturally to asset-based financing. Equipment financing and asset-based loans allow these businesses to leverage the value of their machinery to fund new equipment acquisitions, working capital needs, or business expansions without depleting operational cash reserves or waiting for slow-moving bank approvals that may not reflect the true value of the assets being offered as collateral.

Advantages of Asset-Based Lending Over Unsecured Financing

Asset-based lending offers several distinct advantages that make it a compelling choice for businesses that qualify based on asset value rather than credit profile alone. Understanding these advantages helps business owners recognize when asset-based lending is the right tool and when to prioritize it over other available funding options.

• Higher approval rates: Because the loan is secured by collateral, lenders can approve transactions that would be declined under unsecured criteria. Businesses with credit challenges but strong asset bases gain access to capital that would otherwise be unavailable to them.

• Larger loan amounts: Asset-backed facilities often support larger funding amounts than unsecured alternatives because the collateral provides the lender with a defined recovery path, enabling them to extend more capital with greater confidence.

• Lower cost of capital: Secured lending typically carries lower rates than unsecured options because the lender’s risk is mitigated by the collateral. For businesses with strong assets, this can translate to meaningfully better financing terms over the life of the facility.

• Flexible use of proceeds: Unlike some specialized financing products, asset-based loans typically allow the proceeds to be deployed toward whatever operational or growth needs the business has, providing maximum flexibility in capital deployment.

• Scalable as assets grow: As the business acquires more assets, the borrowing capacity of an asset-based facility naturally grows alongside them, creating a financing relationship that scales with the business rather than requiring a new underwriting process from scratch each time additional capital is needed.

What Lenders Evaluate in Asset-Based Transactions

Understanding what lenders assess in an asset-based transaction helps business owners prepare effectively and position their application for the best possible outcome. Lenders will evaluate the type and quality of assets being pledged, the current market value and liquidity of those assets, any existing liens or encumbrances on them, the business’s ability to service the loan from ongoing operations, and the overall financial health of the business, even where credit is imperfect.

Businesses that maintain clean records of their asset values, keep equipment well-maintained and properly insured, and have clear title to their holdings are best positioned to access favorable asset-based financing terms. A lender who can clearly see and verify the value of the collateral being offered is far more likely to move quickly and offer favorable terms than one who has to work through incomplete records or disputed ownership. Preparation in this area pays direct dividends in both approval speed and the quality of terms available.

For small business owners who want to understand how Fundivi and similar platforms are reshaping the way businesses think about capital access, how Fundivi is changing capital access for small businesses offers an in-depth look at the shift away from traditional credit-based lending and toward asset and revenue-centered models that better reflect the true financial strength of small businesses.

Fundivi: Asset-Based Lending Made Accessible for Small Businesses

For small business owners looking to use their assets to access working capital, Fundivi’s asset-based lending provides a streamlined, fully online approach that removes the complexity and friction traditionally associated with secured business financing. Fundivi’s platform is built to evaluate asset-based transactions efficiently, delivering decisions and funding on a timeline that matches the pace of actual business needs rather than the slow calendar of traditional secured lending.

The process begins with a straightforward online application where business owners provide information about their assets, business operations, and capital needs. Fundivi’s team evaluates the asset profile and structures a financing solution that reflects the actual value being pledged, designed to help business owners access the capital their asset base can support while keeping terms clear and aligned with the business’s ability to repay.

• Asset Focused Underwriting: Fundivi evaluates the value of your business assets alongside your revenue and operational profile, giving asset-rich businesses access to capital that a purely credit-based evaluation would deny.

• Fast Online Process: Fundivi’s fully online application and data-driven evaluation process is designed to deliver decisions and funding faster than traditional secured lending channels.

• Range of Asset Types: Fundivi works with businesses holding a variety of asset types, from equipment and inventory to receivables, so the full scope of a business’s asset base can be considered in the funding evaluation.

• Transparent Terms: All costs, rates, and repayment expectations are communicated clearly before commitment, so business owners can make fully informed decisions without worrying about hidden fees or unexpected terms.

Fundivi has been rated as a best-in-class funding platform by the editorial team at Business Loans IQ, a trusted independent resource that evaluates business lenders based on speed, accessibility, transparency, and genuine value delivered to small business owners. This recognition reflects Fundivi’s consistent track record of delivering asset-based financing to businesses that have been underserved or outright declined by conventional lenders who rely too heavily on credit scores alone.

For additional insight into how the alternative lending landscape is evolving and what the shift away from traditional broker-driven models means for small business owners, small business lending without brokers provides expert analysis of how direct lending platforms like Fundivi are creating better outcomes for business owners by removing unnecessary intermediaries and putting capital decisions directly in the hands of those who understand the business best.

Turning Existing Assets Into Working Capital

The equipment in your facility, the inventory in your warehouse, and the receivables on your books represent real capital value that does not have to sit idle while your business works to fund its next stage of growth. Asset-based lending turns the balance sheet from a static record of what you own into an active tool for generating the capital your business needs to operate, compete, and expand.

Platforms like Fundivi have made asset-based lending faster and more transparent than the traditional secured lending process, giving asset-rich business owners a practical reason to reassess the value already recorded on their balance sheets. For businesses weighing how to fund their next growth opportunity, that existing value is a financing option worth understanding alongside conventional credit-based lending.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. While we strive to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the content, we make no warranties or representations regarding the completeness, timeliness, or suitability of the information for any particular purpose. Readers should consult with a qualified professional before making any financial or business decisions.

U.S. Fund Managers Support Alternative Assets in 401(k)s

US Business News Staff 2 US Business News Staff 2 on June 4, 2026

Alternative assets in 401(k)s moved closer to becoming a broader option for retirement savers after a coalition of major investment firms and financial industry groups endorsed a proposal that would make it easier for workplace retirement plans to include private-market investments. The initiative has drawn support from large asset managers seeking wider access to private equity, private credit, and other nontraditional investment categories, while some industry participants have expressed concerns about investor protection, valuation challenges, and liquidity risks.

The proposal has emerged as part of a wider discussion over how retirement plans should evolve as private markets continue to attract increasing amounts of capital. Supporters argue that long-term retirement accounts may be well positioned to hold investments that are not traded daily on public exchanges. Opponents contend that introducing more complex assets into employer-sponsored plans could create additional challenges for plan sponsors and participants.

Industry Groups Seek Expanded Investment Options

A number of fund management companies and trade organizations have urged policymakers and regulators to provide greater clarity and flexibility regarding the use of private-market assets within defined-contribution retirement plans. These groups argue that current retirement portfolios are heavily concentrated in publicly traded stocks and bonds, potentially limiting access to investment opportunities available elsewhere in financial markets.

Private equity, infrastructure funds, private credit vehicles, and certain real asset strategies have become increasingly prominent among institutional investors over the past decade. Pension funds, university endowments, and sovereign wealth funds have allocated substantial portions of their portfolios to these asset classes in pursuit of diversification and long-term returns.

Advocates of the proposal maintain that individual retirement savers should have access to some of the same investment opportunities available to larger institutional investors. They contend that retirement plans, which often have investment horizons spanning several decades, are compatible with assets designed for long-term holding periods.

The latest push reflects broader changes across the investment industry as private capital markets continue expanding. Assets managed in private investment vehicles have grown significantly in recent years, attracting attention from asset managers seeking new sources of growth beyond traditional mutual funds and publicly traded securities.

While supporters emphasize expanded choice, they generally envision alternative investments being incorporated through professionally managed investment products rather than through direct participant selection of individual private funds.

Concerns Focus on Liquidity and Transparency

Not all participants in the retirement industry support the proposed changes. Several organizations and market observers have highlighted operational and fiduciary concerns associated with bringing less-liquid investments into workplace retirement plans.

One frequently cited issue involves valuation. Unlike publicly traded stocks, which have readily available market prices throughout the trading day, private assets may be valued only periodically. Determining accurate prices can be more complex because transactions occur less frequently and market information may be limited.

Liquidity represents another major concern. Many private investment vehicles require investors to commit capital for extended periods. Although retirement accounts are generally designed for long-term saving, plan participants may still need access to their funds under certain circumstances, including job changes, retirement distributions, or hardship withdrawals.

Critics also point to fee structures. Some private-market funds charge higher management and performance fees than traditional investment products commonly available in retirement plans. Fiduciaries overseeing retirement plans are required to act in participants’ best interests, making cost considerations a significant factor in investment selection decisions.

Regulatory oversight has also become part of the debate. Retirement plan sponsors often seek clear guidance regarding their responsibilities when evaluating complex investment products. Some industry participants believe additional safeguards may be necessary before broader adoption can occur.

These concerns have contributed to cautious implementation efforts despite growing interest from portions of the asset management industry.

Retirement Market Represents Significant Opportunity

The discussion carries substantial importance because of the size of the U.S. defined-contribution retirement market. Employer-sponsored retirement plans hold trillions of dollars in assets and represent one of the largest pools of long-term investment capital in the country.

Many large investment firms view the retirement sector as a potential avenue for expanding access to private markets. Traditionally, private equity and similar investments have been available primarily to institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals. Opening retirement plans to a wider range of alternatives could significantly expand the investor base for these products.

Industry participants note that retirement investing has undergone multiple transformations over recent decades. Target-date funds, which automatically adjust asset allocations as participants approach retirement, have become a dominant feature of many workplace plans. Supporters of private-market access suggest that alternative investments could eventually become one component of diversified retirement portfolios managed through similar structures.

Asset managers have increasingly developed investment products intended to combine public and private assets within a single portfolio. These structures aim to address liquidity requirements while providing exposure to less-traditional investments.

The retirement market’s scale means that even modest allocations to alternative assets could result in significant capital flows. As a result, the issue has attracted attention from investment firms, retirement plan providers, regulators, and employer groups alike.

Disclaimer: The content in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, investment guidance, or an endorsement of any products, services, or strategies discussed. Readers should not rely solely on this information for making retirement, investment, or financial decisions.

LocalSink Specializes in Marketing for Franchise Networks

US Business News Staff US Business News Staff on June 4, 2026

Las Vegas-based agency operates without contracts, gives clients full ownership of every asset it builds, and develops network-specific expertise across the franchise systems it serves.

LAS VEGAS, NV. LocalSink, a digital marketing agency for local service businesses, has built its practice around a focused choice: serving franchise networks exclusively rather than spreading itself across unrelated industries. The agency develops network-specific expertise inside each franchise system it joins and applies what it learns from one franchisee to the next within the same system.

A Different Path for an Agency

Most marketing agencies grow by widening their client list across unrelated industries. LocalSink has taken the opposite path. The company specializes exclusively in franchise networks, building network-specific expertise that can be replicated across every location in a system. Every process the team builds, every strategy it develops, and every lesson it learns applies to the next franchisee in that same network.

The approach is designed to compound over time. The more reps LocalSink completes inside a network, the more refined its playbook becomes for that network. New franchisees joining the agency benefit from lessons developed across earlier accounts in the same system.

“A full-service agency cannot grow without dropping its standards, except when it operates inside franchise networks,” said Will Troup, founder of LocalSink. “That insight changed everything. We don’t want to be everywhere. We want to be the deepest in the rooms that matter, so our clients win and keep winning.”

Built as the Answer to an Industry Problem

LocalSink was founded in response to a pattern its team saw repeatedly. Home-service and franchise business owners were being held hostage by their own marketing agencies. The familiar story involves a polished sales pitch, a cookie-cutter strategy, a black-box reporting dashboard, and a slow fade into unresponsiveness once the contract is signed. It usually ends with early termination fees and the loss of the website and campaigns the owner paid to build.

LocalSink was structured to make that story impossible. The agency operates with no contracts, gives clients full and permanent ownership of every asset it builds, and takes complete accountability for its work. If LocalSink isn’t earning a client’s business every single month, that client is free to leave and take everything with them.

What LocalSink Is Building

The company’s growth in the franchise space came through Paul Davis Restoration. A single franchisee found LocalSink on Facebook. The relationship led to referrals to additional offices, and word spread through the network without a dollar spent on advertising or a formal sales process. Today, LocalSink describes its work inside that network as its mastery phase, focused on consistent lead flow for the franchisees it serves.

The roadmap is to repeat that approach across additional franchise networks. The plan is to enter, learn, and refine, deepening expertise with each new system. LocalSink’s stated goal is to become a trusted marketing partner for franchisees across the networks it serves.

That ambition rests on a plain-spoken belief. The team’s view is that the strongest marketing agencies are the ones that care most about the work, not the ones with the biggest budgets.

How Clients Describe the Work

In an industry where business owners are often skeptical of big promises, LocalSink takes a measured approach to client communication. Clients describe an agency that responds quickly, walks them through the reasoning behind its work, and treats their success as the focus of every engagement. That approach is reflected in the company’s record of positive client reviews.

Why It Matters

LocalSink has no outside investors and no private equity backing. Its only path forward is making sure its clients win. The company views that as a feature rather than a constraint. Every decision, every dollar spent, and every hire has to serve one purpose: continuing to earn its clients’ business every month, not because a contract forces them to stay, but because the work earns it.

Learn More About LocalSink

LocalSink is a Las Vegas-based digital marketing agency that helps local service businesses make the phone ring. Specializing exclusively in franchise networks, LocalSink delivers Local Service Ads optimization, Google Business Profile management, Google Ads, local SEO, and video content, all without contracts and with full client ownership of every asset. Franchise owners can learn more by visiting the LocalSink website, exploring strategy and educational content on the LocalSink YouTube channel, or reading more about founder Will Troup at willtroup.com.

With a commitment to transparency, network-specific expertise, and client-first accountability, LocalSink aims to deepen its presence across the franchise systems it serves.

Arthritis in Charlotte: Exploring Alternatives to Cortisone

US Business News Staff US Business News Staff on June 4, 2026

By Dr. Goodman, DC + Dr. Bradberry, DC | ReliefNow Laser Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States, affecting 58.5 million adults according to the CDC. Many active adults and aging residents of Charlotte, Pineville, Matthews, Ballantyne, and Gastonia have cycled through cortisone injections and NSAID management while still searching for lasting joint improvement. ReliefNow Laser Charlotte offers a different option for these patients. The practice provides a non-surgical, Class IV laser therapy approach to joint care that focuses on the tissue itself rather than ongoing pharmaceutical management.

A landmark 2017 JAMA study found that cortisone injections produced significantly greater cartilage volume loss over two years compared to placebo. The treatment most commonly offered for arthritic joint pain was, in that study, associated with greater loss of the cartilage it was meant to protect.

Both Dr. Goodman and Dr. Bradberry have direct clinical experience with the musculoskeletal wear that athletic lifestyles and physical careers accumulate over time. Dr. Goodman, a CrossFit athlete and Spartan racer, understands joint health from a firsthand perspective. Dr. Bradberry, a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician whose career spans work with both Olympic athletes and weekend warriors, brings that sports-medicine background to everyday patient care.

What Is Osteoarthritis and What Is Happening to the Joint?

Osteoarthritis involves the progressive breakdown of articular cartilage, the smooth protective tissue covering the ends of bones. As cartilage degrades, subchondral bone is exposed, bone spurs form, and the synovial membrane responds with chronic inflammation that produces swelling, stiffness, and pain. The CDC reports that osteoarthritis affects more than 32.5 million U.S. adults. A 2019 study in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases found that osteoarthritis prevalence rose by 48 percent between 1990 and 2019.

What Does the Research Show About Cortisone and Long-Term Joint Health?

The landmark 2017 JAMA study on knee osteoarthritis found that patients receiving triamcinolone injections every 12 weeks had significantly greater cartilage volume loss over two years compared to those receiving saline. The American Geriatrics Society also flags NSAIDs in older adults as carrying significant gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and renal risks with long-term use. Taken together, this research raises questions about whether some common arthritis treatments may affect the very joints they are meant to manage.

How Does Class IV Laser Therapy Work for Arthritic Joints?

ReliefNow Laser Charlotte uses an FDA-cleared, Class IV near-infrared laser as part of its approach to joint care. This category of treatment, known as photobiomodulation, delivers light energy into tissue, and researchers have studied how that energy interacts with the cells involved in cartilage maintenance and inflammation. A 2014 systematic review in Lasers in Medical Science reported that photobiomodulation was associated with reductions in pain and improvements in function among knee osteoarthritis patients. A 2022 meta-analysis in Arthritis Research and Therapy described clinically meaningful benefits across multiple joint presentations alongside a favorable safety profile.

What Does Dr. Goodman’s Nutrition Training Add for Arthritis Patients?

Dr. Goodman’s post-graduate nutrition training adds a dietary and anti-inflammatory dimension to how the practice approaches arthritis care. Systemic inflammation, which is shaped by diet, metabolic dysfunction, and lifestyle factors, can contribute to arthritic joint degeneration. Considering the systemic inflammatory environment alongside joint-level treatment reflects a broader approach to care rather than focusing on a single modality.

How Does Laser Care Compare to Joint Replacement Surgery?

Knee replacement averages $30,000 to $50,000 in direct costs and requires 6 to 12 weeks of restricted mobility. BMJ Open research has documented persistent post-surgical pain in approximately one in five patients at three to four years. Non-surgical laser therapy does not involve that surgical recovery period, which is part of why some patients explore it before considering surgery.

More information about the practice is available through ReliefNow Laser Charlotte, and patient education videos are available on the ReliefNow patient education channel. ReliefNow Laser Charlotte is located at 460 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28209 and can be reached at 704-527-7246.

About the Authors

Dr. Eric Goodman, DC, studied at UNC-Charlotte and Palmer College, with post-graduate training in neurokinetic therapy, acupuncture, laser therapy, rehabilitation, and nutrition. He volunteers in his community with Habitat for Humanity, United Way, and the Rotary Club. Dr. Douglas Bradberry, DC, studied at the University of Florida and graduated with honors from Palmer College. He holds a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP) credential and has a background in Olympic sports medicine. Both are providers in the national ReliefNow network, co-founded by Dr. Robert Hanopole, DC.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any treatment program.

Michael J. Deegan and the Transition from Diocesan Leadership to Educational Consultancy Through MJDEEGAN Educational Consultants

US Business News Staff US Business News Staff on June 4, 2026

For decades, Catholic education in the United States has seen the rise and fall of structural shifts within Catholic educational policy. According to the National Catholic Educational Association, there has been a precipitous drop of two million students in Catholic school enrollment from the early 1970s until the early 2020s. Urban diocesan schools may have taken the brunt of the squeeze as tuition fees became the new reliance instead of parish subsidy. Changes in demographics, expenses, and the COVID-19 pandemic aftermath make the case for new models of governance and strategic planning. It is in this era of uncertainty that retired superintendents and diocesan leaders assume new positions as advisors and contribute their years of hard-won knowledge.

Against that national backdrop, Michael J. Deegan concluded his work as the Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of New York in 2023 and founded MJDEEGAN Educational Consultants. His tenure as superintendent from 2019 until 2023 began after decades of prior work in the same system. Rather than a break from Catholic schooling, the consulting practice is an extension of his work in governance, planning, and maintaining institutions in tuition-based schooling networks.

Deegan supervised 175 schools within New York City and seven surrounding districts, which meant tens of thousands were reached by his work. This experience has informed his advisory model, which encompasses curriculum development, management of enrollments, financial coordination, and representation to the public. This experience prepares Deegan to provide advisory services to Catholic education institutions and organizations concerned with assessing their long-term viability and alignment with mission.

The Catholic education consulting practice, in most cases, targets issues such as enrollment trends, governance structures, strategic planning, and financial forecasting techniques. According to national data, Catholic school enrollment declined by 6.4 percent during the 2020-2021 academic year, which represents the most significant one-year decline in enrollment records, as highlighted by the National Catholic Educational Association. Although there have been signs of recovery, most dioceses continue to experience uncertain demographics. In such conditions, advisory practices follow issues such as student enrollment, shared services, and the evaluation of grade configurations.

Deegan’s experience with tuition-based funding structures shapes this advisory role. Catholic schools derive most operating revenue from tuition, parish, and donor contributions. When economic downturns reduce family income or parish collections, schools face immediate budget gaps. Within the current post-COVID age, the Archdiocese of New York garnered 40 million dollars of philanthropic funding to stabilize its operations. The federal relief programs include the Paycheck Protection Program, Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools, Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Funds, E-Rate with the FCC, CARES Act, American Rescue Plan, etc. All these have had an impact on the current discussion of diversification.

A significant portion of Catholic education consulting works on the structures for governing. The structures for governing may include parish-based oversight, religious and lay boards, as well as mixed models for the diocesan system. As the superintendent, Deegan had to work with the following: the Office of the Superintendent provided recommendations, whereas individual schools retained the final authority in closure decisions, which were usually financially driven. These aspects have been analyzed in the advisory role, particularly during considerations involving consolidation and merger decisions by the diocesan systems.

Deegan received several awards over the years. In 2003, he received the St. Elizabeth Seton Compassionate Educator Award. He was also honored with the Joseph A. Bruno Award in 2005, which he co-accepted with Frank Siller of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. In 2006, Deegan received the Brother Edmund Rice Centennial Honoree award. He has since received the St. Dominic Legacy Award in 2019, the Iona College Arthur A. Loftus Outstanding Leadership Award in 2020, the Archbishop Stepinac Sequere Deum award in 2023, and the National Catholic Education Association Lifetime Achievement award in Leadership in 2023. Such awards often appear in the bio section when superintendents transition to job roles such as consultants.

Advisory work also involves alignment with the mission. Catholic schools have dual missions of academic and religious excellence, and a strategic plan might measure Catholic identity as well as fiscal goals. Competition might arise in larger dioceses to keep traditional parish schools afloat while responding to modern demographics. A consultant is often called in to provide outside expertise to weigh enrollment, staffing, condition, and community concerns, among other factors. Deegan’s fifty-year history within Catholic education, as a teacher to a diocesan leader, is a wealth of experiential understanding in providing opinion on these various concerns.

The establishment of MJDEEGAN Educational Consultants follows a pattern seen in other education systems where senior administrators transition to advisory capacities after retirement. In Catholic education, this practice reflects both institutional continuity and resource constraints. Dioceses facing enrollment declines or governance transitions often seek leaders with prior superintendent-level experience. While consultancy does not carry formal decision-making authority, it can influence policy discussions, especially when tied to nationally recognized leadership.

When he retired in 2023, he did not step away from the field. Rather, with MJDEEGAN Educational Consultants, he continued to influence the areas of Catholic system education, including the topics of governance, strategic planning, and sustainable financial models for the most tuition-dependent of systems. National data still indicates varying enrollments and recovery patterns following the pandemic.

Michael J. Deegan’s professional trajectory follows the paradigm shift from being a classroom teacher to occupying positions in diocesan administration across several decades, culminating in the role of a consultant. All these developments can be seen as part of the larger paradigm shifts within Catholic education over the last five decades or more. In this context, the work of Michael Deegan after his retirement could be seen as a continuation of his lifelong passion for Catholic education and administration of Catholic schools.

How The Lauren Ashtyn Collection Is Redefining Hair Toppers for Women Navigating Hair Changes

US Business News Staff US Business News Staff on June 4, 2026

By Kate Sarmiento

Most women do not have one dramatic moment where they suddenly realize something has changed with their hair. It usually happens in a way that feels easy to brush off at first. A ponytail starts looking a little smaller. A part seems wider in certain lighting. Styling takes longer, and somehow the end result still does not feel quite right. It is subtle until it is not.

That is exactly where everything started for The Lauren Ashtyn Collection.

Before the brand became known for luxury, hand-tied hair toppers and wigs made from 100% European Remy human hair, Lauren Ashtyn Guest was spending her days behind the chair listening closely to what women were actually saying and, just as importantly, what they were not saying. The real reason for the appointment often took a minute to come out. It was usually softer than a typical beauty concern and more personal than a routine hair conversation.

Sometimes it was thinning at the crown. Sometimes it was postpartum shedding that never really bounced back. Sometimes it was tied to hormones, stress, aging, or medical treatments that changed far more than expected. What stood out was not only the hair loss itself. It was how quietly women were carrying it.

That quietness says a lot. Hair changes are incredibly common, yet they are still treated like something women are supposed to manage privately. Even the signs show up in familiar, everyday ways, like a widening part or a thinner ponytail, which is exactly why so many women spend time second-guessing what they are seeing before they ever ask for help. By the time many women do start looking for answers, they are often overwhelmed by options that do not feel made for the stage they are actually in.

That in-between space became the foundation on which the brand was built. Not the before-and-after fantasy. Not the idea of becoming someone else entirely. Just the very real desire to feel like yourself again.

When Hair Changes, It Changes More Than Hair

One of the reasons hair loss can feel so emotional is that it rarely stays in the category of “just beauty.” Hair is tied to routine, identity, confidence, and the way someone moves through the world. It affects how long getting ready takes, what styles feel comfortable, and whether certain mirrors suddenly become less appealing than they used to be.

And yet, women are often expected to treat it like a small inconvenience.

That disconnect is part of what made Lauren’s perspective different. She was seeing women in real time, not in theory. She noticed how often clients tried to downplay what they were going through, even when it was clearly affecting them. She noticed how many of them were not looking for a reinvention. They were looking for relief. They wanted something that looked natural, felt comfortable, and did not force them into a version of beauty that felt unfamiliar.

That matters because the experience itself is more common than many women realize. Female pattern hair loss affects about one-third of women at some point in life, and thinning becomes even more common after menopause (Source: Harvard Health, 2024). Hormonal shifts, stress, illness, and other changes can also throw off the hair growth cycle, which is why what feels “sudden” is often part of a much bigger picture happening quietly over time (Source: The Well, 2026).

The problem is that many traditional solutions have been designed around extremes. Either the assumption is that there is still enough natural density to support conventional extension methods, or the suggestion jumps straight to a full wig experience that can feel emotionally and visually like too much, too soon.

For women living in that middle ground, the options can feel disconnected from what they actually need.

What kept coming up in those conversations was simple. They were not asking for something dramatic. They were asking for something that felt like their hair again.

Photo Courtesy: Lauren Ashtyn Collection

The Best Hair Solutions Do Not Announce Themselves

The best hair solutions are the ones no one can quite pinpoint, but everyone notices.

The Lauren Ashtyn Collection focuses on custom hair toppers, volume extensions, and luxury wigs designed to work with a woman’s real life rather than against it. The emphasis is not on chasing transformation for the sake of drama. It is on restoration, comfort, and wearability. Every piece is designed to blend seamlessly, move naturally, and feel believable in daylight, at dinner, in photos, and during all the little ordinary moments where confidence either holds up or falls apart.

That level of realism comes from a stylist-developed approach shaped by both professional experience and real client needs. Lauren’s background, along with the long-standing team around her, informs a process that takes fit, density, tone, cut, and lifestyle seriously. These are not afterthoughts. They are the point.

Clients can explore their options in the Spartanburg or Charleston signature salons, through free online consultations, or during one of the brand’s nearly 50 pop-up salon takeovers across the country. That flexibility matters because the experience of hair changes is already personal. The solution should not feel rushed, clinical, or one-size-fits-all on top of that.

The intention is simple. These pieces are not meant to overpower someone’s features or create an entirely different look. They are meant to meet a woman where she is. Sometimes that means adding coverage where thinning is most noticeable. Sometimes it means restoring shape and fullness in a way that makes styling feel enjoyable again. Sometimes it means looking in the mirror without overanalyzing every detail.

That ease carries further than expected. When women feel more at home in how they look, it often changes how they move through everyday life, from small social moments to bigger personal ones (Source: Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci., 2022). In that sense, a natural-looking hair solution is not just cosmetic. It supports a quieter kind of confidence that shows up over time.

What Lauren Really Built Was Reassurance

Not everything needs a bigger solution. Sometimes it just needs to be understood properly, and that is exactly what Lauren paid attention to early on.

What stood out was not just the gap in solutions, but how women were feeling as they tried to navigate it.

Women dealing with hair changes are often given advice that focuses only on appearance. Cover this. Hide that. Try this serum. Change your part. Use more volume spray. There is a lot of noise, but very little of it speaks to how the experience actually feels. What often gets missed is that hair changes can be disorienting, even when they are common. They show up gradually, but they affect something deeply familiar.

That is where the approach shifts.

Instead of treating it like something to fix quickly, the focus is on understanding what women are actually going through and offering options that feel aligned with that. Not exaggerated. Not overly complicated. Just thoughtful, personalized, and grounded in real-life use.

It also changes how the experience itself feels.

Conversations become easier. Decisions feel less pressured. There is room to figure out what works without feeling rushed into something that does not sit right. Over time, that kind of environment builds trust, not just in the product, but in the process.

That is why the community around the brand feels so strong. The consultations, salon experiences, and pop-up events are not just about finding a solution. They create space for women to share what they have been noticing, often for the first time out loud. There is a level of understanding there that makes the entire experience feel lighter.

In beauty, there is a difference between something that photographs well and something that lives well. The second one is what stays with people.

Find the Hair That Feels Like You

Hair changes can be quiet, but that does not mean they should be handled alone or with solutions that never felt right in the first place.

The Lauren Ashtyn Collection offers custom-crafted hair toppers, volume extensions, and luxury wigs designed to look natural, feel comfortable, and fit into real life with ease. With free online consultations, personalized support, a Spartanburg and Charleston signature salon, and pop-up salon experiences across the country, the brand makes it easier to find an option that feels like a return to yourself rather than a leap into something unfamiliar.

Explore The Lauren Ashtyn Collection and find a solution that feels polished, personal, and beautifully believable from the first wear.