The FasterFunds Lending Team
From Left to Right: Christy, Crystal, Liz, Bryan, Suzanne, Scott, Rachel, Casey, Emily & Don
The central people our customers work closest with are Suzanne, Bryan, Crystal, Emily, Casey, Liz, Don, Scott and Christy. Below is a little bit about each one and what their role is on our St. Louis hard money lending team.
Suzanne Luther
Loan Manager
Suzanne helps lead FasterFunds Lending with a clear focus: protecting the company while helping borrowers win. As Loan Manager, she oversees operations, reviews every deal, and makes sure the team stays aligned and moving forward.
She has deep roots in the St. Louis real estate community and brings years of investing experience to every loan decision. Suzanne has walked thousands of properties — and there’s no house too scary or too far gone for her to walk through with confidence.
Whether she’s underwriting a deal, walking a property, or caring for her two daughters, Suzanne approaches everything with the same mix of heart and grit. Borrowers trust her to be their second set of eyes — someone who genuinely wants them to succeed while making sure the numbers make sense. She takes pride in offering honest, practical guidance and only greenlighting projects that have real potential.
Bryan Schroeder
Founder/ Relationship Manager
Bryan founded our family of companies in 2002 with the launch of FasterHouse. Before that, he spent 8 years as a real estate appraiser, occasionally dabbling in investing until he made the leap to full-time real estate entrepreneur. Since then, he’s sold multiple successful businesses, including an education platform, a real estate brokerage, and a buy-and-flip company, to name a few. He’s navigated booming markets, weathered downturns, and helped shape the St. Louis investing community along the way. He is a true visionary — always thinking several steps ahead and building with the future in mind.
Bryan is a single-family home guy through and through. Whether it’s wholesaling, rehabbing, or building a long-term rental portfolio, he loves every aspect of the single-family space. His real passion, though, is hearing about other people’s goals and helping them figure out how to achieve them through real estate.
When he’s not strategizing big moves for the company, Bryan enjoys traveling — especially to Sedona, where he owns two vacation rentals. His love for the area has rubbed off on the whole team, and everyone at FasterFunds has taken turns staying there with their families. It’s become a retreat, a reset, and a reminder of why we all do what we do.
Crystal Moore-Merriweather
Loan Processor and Director of Marketing
Crystal plays a big role at FasterFunds Lending, managing both the borrower experience and the company’s brand. As our Marketing & Processing Manager, she blends creativity with precision — from handling loan documentation to leading social media efforts and supporting our weekly and monthly Buyers Club events.
With a background in property management and over a decade of marketing experience, Crystal brings a deep understanding of real estate and a love for connecting with people. She’s passionate about bringing ideas to life and showcasing real investor wins through stories that resonate.
Outside the office, you’ll find her listening to podcasts, traveling, or hunting for hidden gems at her favorite thrift stores. Whether she’s helping a borrower get to the closing table or crafting our next campaign, Crystal brings energy, heart, and hustle to everything she does.
Emily Herndon
Underwriter/ Rehab Funds Liason
Emily plays a pivotal role in our lending process, underwriting both borrower approvals and construction disbursement requests. She also walks nearly half of the properties we lend on — meeting borrowers on site, reviewing the scope of work, and assessing the condition firsthand to help make smart lending decisions.
From reviewing new applications to analyzing rehab budgets and funding milestones, Emily ensures each loan is based on solid numbers and sound judgment; protecting both the borrower and FasterFunds Lending.
With over 15 years of experience as a Realtor and Real Estate Appraiser Trainee, Emily brings a sharp eye for detail and a strong grasp of property values. She also approves draw requests, verifying that completed work aligns with the plan before funds are released — helping borrowers stay funded, accountable, and on schedule.
Originally from Jefferson City, Emily now lives in St. Charles with her husband, Mick. Together, they own multiple rental properties and understand firsthand what it takes to succeed in real estate investing — giving her a unique edge in every deal she helps evaluate.
Casey Samuels
Relationship Manager
Casey isn't your average relationship manager. Sure, he brings over 4 years of experience as a seasoned real estate investor, with a knack for acquisitions that practically makes him a market whisperer. But that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Casey's got a passion for the game, and we don't just mean real estate (although he excels there too). When he's not strategizing the perfect property deal, you might find him unwinding with a well-played round of golf – and yes, he believes a good cigar enhances the experience (just don't expect him to puff between swings!).
But here's where things get interesting: Casey also has a unique background working alongside financial guru Robert Kiyosaki, having shot and edited his videos! It's this diverse perspective that makes Casey such a valuable asset to our team – and to you, our borrowers. He understands the intricacies of the market, the thrill of the investment, and the importance of clear communication.
So, whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, Casey is your guy at FasterFunds Lending. He's got the expertise, the drive, and the passion to help you navigate the world of real estate and secure the funding you need.
Christy Muschany
Controller
Christy has been managing the books at FasterFunds Lending since 2021, keeping our finances organized, accurate, and audit-ready. With a sharp eye for detail and a deep understanding of real estate lending operations, she ensures every transaction is recorded correctly and every dollar is accounted for.
From reconciliations to reporting, Christy helps keep our financial systems running smoothly behind the scenes — allowing the rest of the team to focus on funding deals and supporting borrowers. Her reliability, precision, and calm approach make her an essential part of the FasterFunds team.
Outside of work, Christy loves spending time with her teenage daughter, traveling from place to place to cheer her on at band competitions. Whether she’s crunching numbers or hitting the road, Christy shows up with dedication and heart in everything she does.
Don Lauman
Property Inspector
Don is a trusted part of the FasterFunds Lending team, serving as the Property Inspector for all active rehabs. Within the first month of your project, Don will reach out to schedule a time to walk the property, check on your progress, and take photos to document the transformation. His monthly visits are a key part of our draw process and help keep everyone on the same page.
With a long and diverse career at Coca-Cola behind him, Don wasn’t ready to slow down after retirement. He found his stride in real estate, combining his work ethic and attention to detail with a genuine curiosity for how investors bring distressed properties back to life.
He enjoys seeing the before-and-after progress and often strikes up a conversation if you’re on-site during his visit. Friendly, reliable, and observant. Don plays a quiet but essential role in helping FasterFunds support your project every step of the way.
If you see Don walking a property, be sure to say hello. Don’t be surprised if he’s already snapping the perfect progress shot.
Rachel Mendoza
Leader of Buyers Club
Rachel has worn just about every hat at FasterFunds and that’s no exaggeration. With years of experience across our lending company and former umbrella of businesses under FasterHouse, she knows the inner workings of real estate from every angle. Today, she leads Buyers Club, our investor networking community that meets monthly in person and weekly on Zoom and Facebook; helping connect, educate, and empower real estate investors across the region.
Beyond Buyers Club, Rachel is our in-house systems expert and go-to IT problem solver. Whether it’s troubleshooting tech, optimizing internal workflows, or making sure our platforms are running smoothly, Rachel keeps the wheels turning behind the scenes.
She’s also a real estate investor and landlord herself, giving her a strong connection to the community she serves. Whether she’s hosting an event, answering questions, or helping someone get started, Rachel brings passion, knowledge, and real-world experience to the table.
When she’s not chasing after her two boys, you’ll find her tending to her farm animals or enjoying time in the saddle — combining her love for real estate, family, and the country lifestyle she’s built.
LIZ Hackbarth
Disbursing & Loan Specialist
Liz wears many hats at FasterFunds Lending, Disbursing & Loan Specialist are two. She’s your go-to person if you need to update your rehab budget, submit documents, or have questions about using the disbursing software. You can also reach out to Liz to setup ACH payments for your loan. With her attention to detail and friendly approach, Liz helps keep projects moving smoothly from start to finish.
Outside of work, you’ll find Liz enjoying a good book by the lake, taking road trips with her family, or exploring new restaurants around town. If you ever need a recommendation on where to eat next, Liz is your girl.
Scott Hood
Disbursing Project Manager
Scott brings over ten years of experience in project management and maintenance and as a real estate investor himself, he knows firsthand what it takes to keep a rehab on track. If you need insight on your project or help clarifying your budget breakdown, Scott is the guy who will reach out, dig in, and make sure everything adds up.
When he’s not reviewing budgets or supporting borrowers, you’ll likely find Scott out on the golf course or exploring the local food scene. He’s a true foodie who enjoys discovering new restaurants and flavors around St. Louis. And when game day hits, you can count on him to be cheering for his Kansas City Chiefs.