Last Updated on October 20, 2020 by admin
A whole bunch of miles away from Cleveland, Steven Muszynski found a house away from house on Sundays within the fall.
Whether or not it was in Houston or Atlanta as he started his skilled profession, Muszynski would sit at his native Browns Backers membership, encompass himself with full strangers and immerse himself within the type of neighborhood that reminded him of house. For these three hours, it wasn’t a lot totally different than if he have been watching together with his mother and father at their house in Lyndhurst or throughout city in his pal’s yard viewing the sport on a projection display.
In between the sacks, touchdowns and celebrations, Muszynski contemplated what was subsequent as he got down to launch his personal firm. Irrespective of the thought, Muszynski stored coming again to Cleveland, first figuratively after which in a literal sense.
“For lots of people it is about your upbringing, your neighborhood and your folks,” mentioned Muszynski, whose mother and father have been within the stands for the Browns’ 1986 AFC Championship sport in opposition to the Denver Broncos. “I might watch the video games, seize a drink and also you’d have a great time. I’d take into consideration Cleveland and I might take into consideration the neighborhood.
“The entire thought course of was I am from Cleveland, I care concerning the Cleveland neighborhood and I wish to spend money on Cleveland and I wish to begin an organization in Cleveland.”
That is precisely what he did, and his rising enterprise is positively impacting the neighborhood the way in which he envisioned since its formation in 2013.
Muszynski is the CEO and Founding father of Splash Monetary — a Cleveland-based, main pupil mortgage refinancing market and expertise platform that companions with credit score unions and banks to ship on its mission: to assist folks get monetary savings on their pupil loans. Muszynski, an Ohio State College Honors Faculty graduate, needed to “make a splash” — therefore the identify — and it is occurring within the place which means most to him.
“We named ourselves that once we regarded on the market and noticed pupil loans have been holding folks again,” Muszynski mentioned. “They are not permitting folks the liberty to go on and dwell their life — whether or not that is residing their life with out the fixed strain to suppose every part you are doing must pay again your debt or residing your life to make the alternatives you wish to make.
“Individuals are holding off having kids or shopping for a house. There are lots of issues folks aren’t doing as a result of their pupil mortgage debt is holding them again. The entire concept is by serving to folks get monetary savings or permitting them to exit and make a greater influence of their neighborhood or life. We have seen it firsthand how rewarding it may be.”
The amount of cash Splash Monetary prospects can save is determined by the quantity of debt they carry. Whatever the dimension, the financial savings could make a direct distinction, as Splash’s pool of credit score unions and banks can present rates of interest as little as 1.89 p.c APR (variable) and a pair of.eight p.c APR (fastened).
“For those who’re capable of save a pair hundred bucks, it could possibly go a good distance,” Muszynski mentioned. “It is the distinction between with the ability to take a trip and never. It may be the distinction between many, many alternative issues somebody has occurring of their life. It is also the distinction between truly getting permitted for a house.”
As a proud companion of the Browns, Splash Monetary is trying to develop its collaborations within the Cleveland space and showcase the influence and advantages of refinancing pupil loans. Within the coming years, Splash is trying to double its workers, which at present sits at 75, and proceed to develop its pool of lenders, which can, in flip, present even higher charges for Splash Monetary’s valued prospects.
“As an organization we care about three issues: Saving folks essentially the most cash they will on pupil loans, doing it as quick as doable and making the method as straightforward as doable with a great expertise,” Muszynski mentioned. “Cash and our progress permits us to try this by re-investing in expertise, hiring folks, making the method quicker and on-boarding extra lending companions.
“It actually permits us to proceed to spend money on progress in Cleveland.”
Muszynski has labored from his house workplace for months in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, however the momentum at Splash Monetary continues to construct. A miniature Browns helmet on his close by windowsill serves as a every day reminder of what it means to make an influence within the place and for the individuals who imply essentially the most to you.
“The Browns on this city do not stand only for soccer. They stand for neighborhood,” Muszynski mentioned. “You concentrate on these reminiscences and the historical past of the franchise and people get handed down from technology to technology. Whereas the staff hasn’t been nearly as good as folks would want and nearly as good because the Browns would want over the previous few years, the fan base is unimaginable. It is as a result of it stands for neighborhood.
“That is actually why the partnership is essential to us and what we have been in search of. We’re a community-based product that may assist folks get monetary savings. The Browns are one of many main organizations on this space, if not the main group that represents the neighborhood.”