THE DREAM TO TRANSFORM AN INDUSTRY

As the dust settled from the financial ruins brought on by the Great Recession of 2008, trust in the banking industry—especially in the subprime sector—was at an all-time low. And rightfully so. This catastrophic financial collapse, which nearly bankrupted the United States, was not just another routine economic downturn. Instead, it was a reckless free-market free-for-all, fueled by the greed of major banks and financial institutions with one singular objective—more, more, more.

The buildup to this massive collapse spanned years, as self-proclaimed "masters of the universe" financiers exploited a poorly regulated and practically unpoliced subprime credit market. The result? A devastating financial storm that left countless innocent bystanders as collateral damage, victims of predatory lending practices.

Our family and business were among those heavily impacted by the crisis. We owned and operated a modest auto finance company that had thrived for years. However, like so many other blue-collar entrepreneurial businesses, we were forced to face the music in 2008. The financial turmoil led to the unfortunate closure of our family business, leaving us with nothing but debt, defaulted loans, and hard lessons learned.

As we reflected on our situation, we realized we had been mere middlemen in a crisis that had been years in the making. Determined never to leave our financial future in the hands of others, we made a promise to ourselves—not only to rebuild stronger than before but also to play a role in transforming the industry's culture for the better.

Our first order of business was to achieve financial independence. We embarked on a five-year journey to build our financial war chest, starting from the ground up—literally. What began with collecting and recycling cans evolved into full-scale cleanouts, scrapping, and wholesaling materials. Through sheer grit, relentless effort, and sacrifice, we amassed just enough capital to open the doors to Universal Leasing LLC . With that, Finance 5 was born.

We carefully curated an inventory of affordable, reliable vehicles and developed a bulletproof purchasing plan that emphasized trust, dedication, and affordability. From this, we created the Universal Leasing Five-Star Advantage:

1. Financing reliable, quality pre-owned vehicles
2. Low initial down payments starting at just $555
3. Affordable monthly payment plans
4. Easy approval terms, regardless of credit history
5. Personalized vehicle searches to find the right fit for each customer

We believe we can reshape the auto industry—not as just another dealership, but as a service-driven company. We understand that those impacted by financial hardships, whether in 2008 or beyond, deserve a second chance. If our family could rise from adversity, we knew we could help car buyers do the same. Finance 5 is the foundation upon which a new era of auto financing can grow.