"On behalf of both myself and my partner, Barry Adler, we want to extend our appreciation for all of your efforts and assistance that you provided us in concluding an innovative and complicated transaction."

"Marion Financial proved to be an extremely competent facilitator to resolve the legal and ethical issues allowing for a plan to over come the obstacles and provide a blueprint for what may become a solution for the professional members in the industry."

"On a personal level, your ingenious problem solving abilities were more evident in concluding this transaction that any I had ever seen in my 41 years of practicing law. At all times, you demonstrated the integrity which has been one of the guiding principals which we have adhered to in our industry."

"Your knowledge and experience in the field of acquisitions was well worth the expense incurred by our firm in having you advise and represent us. While I’m sure that you are doing other business for other companies, you caused us to have the feeling that we were the top priority on your list and your thoughtful and thorough work provided our firm with the confidence that we had the most competent representation available."

Irwin J. Eskanos
Eskanos & Adler, P.C.

“Tom, you and your team brought value to this process, a process that, at first, appeared to be overwhelming, but, as a result of your expertise and excellent counsel, was manageable, rewarding and very profitable.  This assistance and advice resulted in the best possible outcome from the transaction.”

“It was at all times a positive experience in dealing with you and Marion Financial Corp.  Newton & Associates would recommend Marion Financial Corp. to any company or firm who is interested in selling their company or growing their present company through acquisition.”

“Tom, thank you for all that you have done to ensure the very successful ownership transaction. I could not have imagined going through the search for a buyer, subsequent due diligence and closing of the deal without you. Words cannot describe the value of the experience, insight, and knowledge you brought to the table. You always looked out for Tom Faso's and my best interest.”

“There was also the intangible aspect of when you would bring sanity to a situation that at times seemed to border on the insane.”

“Early on in the process when it was realized a candidate's match was not right for philosophical conflicts and/or lack of chemistry you did not attempt to force the sale for the sake of a quick sale. Rather, you understood, and were supportive and patient as the quest continued for the best candidate to acquire Creditors Interchange, Inc.”

David G. Young
President
Creditors Interchange, Inc.
Buffalo, NY

"Tom, I am writing this letter to express to you how thrilled I am with your role in facilitating the Sallie Mae - Pioneer acquisition. I never imagined I would ever be writing a letter thanking someone for their assistance in selling Pioneer to a Fortune 500 company."

"I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome; it all happened because of your selflessness and dedication to your work. I applaud your integrity, professionalism, organizational skills, thoroughness and, most importantly, appreciate your availability to me and my team."

"It was a pleasure working with you – this endeavor could not have taken place without you. Bottom line - you made it happen."

Kathleen M. Balus
Pioneer Credit Recovery, Inc.

See additional comments by Kathy Balus.

"Thank you for assisting us in getting the right price - with the right partner."

"It was a privilege to work with someone who understood our objectives and was so well informed and decisive. Your tempo and timing in the rollout of the strategy is what made it succeed."

Bill Oppman & Steve Johnston
TRIAD

"You have a thorough knowledge of the industry and a true knack for handling all concerns in a professional manner, and your attention to detail was flawless."

"I do not know how anyone could better serve their client through those tense and frustrating times than you did for us at Romac."

"Do not leave this industry without him - or you will regret it."

Mack C. Jay
Romac Financial Services

"Throughout all the stops and starts, all the quirky hurdles relative to our particular situation, your evenhanded, calm and deliberate approach is what continually brought the parties back to the center. I don’t think it would have happened without you. You always seemed to offer the proper perspective on the given situation and were able to clearly articulate a solution to the problem at hand."

"I have done three acquisitions over the years but feel certain that the traits exhibited by you – fairness to all parties, attention to detail, exceptional and straightforward negotiating skills – will assist me in my future endeavors".

Thomas Giamboi
Municipal Services Bureau

"Given the circumstances of our situation, the work you did was phenomenal. Managing and mediating three distinct camps, as in our case, and concluding a transaction that is a win-win-win, is extraordinary."

"One of the reasons I selected your services was for your fine professional and ethical reputation in the industry. I certainly received much more than what I anticipated."

"Not only did I get a straight shooter with excellent judgment, but also a hard working, nose to the grindstone, thinking, unyielding and unflappable partner."

Tom Bellavia
Municipal Services Bureau

"It would be an understatement to describe this transaction as 'complex' and 'challenging'. Your expertise and keen sense of how to steer a transaction during the stormy period was absolutely crucial to the deal."

"I cannot say enough about the impact Marion Financial has had on our strategic development."

Paul E. Leary, Sr.
Collecto, Inc.

"Your patient and skillful assistance helped us to stay focused and reach the common target to mutual satisfaction and benefit."

"It was fun working together with you and whenever the occasion by chance arises we will be happy with a partner like Marion Financial."

Werner Scherer
Deutscher Inkasso-Dienst GmbH & Co. KG
Hamburg, Germany
An enterprise of the EOS Group

"I want to thank you for the excellent work you have done in consulting, advising, and negotiating the buyout of my partners in our collection, debt buying, and account receivable management business. I will state that this deal never would have materialized without your invaluable assistance. Throughout the process your integrity was relied on to overcome all issues surrounding the acquisition."

"Your help was not only highly professional but also very personal and sympathetic to the needs of all concerned. I cannot recommend enough the benefit of having a skilled and knowledgeable advisor in merger and acquisition transactions. You and your partners are truly the best in the industry."

Joseph R. Hawes
Ray and Jennifer Klein
Professional Credit Service

"We were extremely pleased and satisfied with your knowledge, business ethics and the manner in which you kept us focused. Due to your efforts we found the whole transaction process to move quickly, with very few delays, and most importantly we were able to keep our cost down because of your guidance."

"Your services proved to be invaluable to us, as we entered this endeavor totally unaware of what it would entail. Every step of the way, you were there to enlighten us."

"AMS would highly recommend Marion Financial Corp. to any company or firm who is interested in obtaining a business valuation, merger and or acquisition."

Paul L. Chausse
Applied Management Systems, Inc.

"Your advice and strategy helped bring an acquisition to fruition which had been previously 'dying on the vine'."

"Please share this…with any potential prospect thinking about listing their business with an M&A advisor. I am most delighted to recommend you."

Skip Quant
Creditwatch, Inc.

"Thank you again for your help in bringing our acquisition…to a successful conclusion. From the start, when you brought the seller to the table, through sensitive negotiations leading to the execution of the letter of intent, your professionalism, sober advice and tact played a critical role in bringing the parties together. I appreciate the contributions you have made, and continue to make, to our corporate development efforts, and look forward to completing many more transactions together."

Peter D. Waldstein
Argent Healthcare Financial Services, Inc.

"The personal service and dedication to detail you displayed throughout the entire lengthy transaction was a testament to why you have been so successful. You took some highly emotional negotiating situations and handled them with the ease and comfort of a consummate professional!"

"Tom, you were the best in every regard and without your knowledge, understanding and professionalism the transaction would never have taken place."

Jeff Wolf
Northern Credit Service, Inc.

"I wanted to personally thank you and the staff of Marion Financial Corp. for facilitating our acquisition of Transcontinental Credit Services, Inc."

"Your advice and counsel are of such value to our management team that we consider you an honorary member of our Board of Directors."

"…if our appreciation were currency, your coffers would be overflowing!"

"Chuck Bertrand's unique knowledge of this industry, combined with the time and patience he spent learning about the seller's needs allowed us to complete a merger that worked to provide great synergy for the benefit of two local agencies, their owners, clients and employees."

Scott M. Hall
Collection Recovery Services, Inc.

"Tom Edens, the president of Marion, was outstanding in estimating the value of the company and representing it on the national market."

"Tom Edens was my advocate, but still totally fair to the buyer. His insight into the thoughts and strategies of the buyers is phenomenal. His advice to me was invaluable. Mr. Edens is a tough but fair negotiator. In the final analyses I received a figure somewhat more than I had anticipated for my company."

David R. Earl
Coastal Adjustment Bureau

"Thank you for the outstanding job that you did on the…transaction. Your deal making skills, utilized in the transaction, were professional and aggressive."

Mahmud Haq
Compass International Services Corp.

"Tom was instrumental in the success of our recent sale. His understanding of the process including the personal aspects and impact upon the owners is, in my opinion, unparalleled."

"Throughout the sales process Tom and Marion showed themselves to be knowledgeable, thorough and were there at all hours to handle our questions and intercede with the buyer."

"If you are even thinking of selling or merging, my highest recommendation goes to Thomas Edens and Marion Financial Corp."

Douglas C. Jones
Bonded Credit Company

"From my initial contact with Chuck Bertrand through your unwavering focus to close this transaction, regardless of the many obstacles we collectively encountered, you have renewed my confidence, enthusiasm and trust in matters of which I could easily have been taken advantage."

"The areas that were most appreciated in this entire process, of which you are likely not aware, aside from the obvious of obtaining the asking price and the expectations of your knowledge and data base; were those of your never letting me out of my comfort zone, copious updates, relevant advice, diligent and detailed follow-up…"

"The most gratifying, and quite possibly, most complimentary area of this transaction is the fact that the buyer is equally as satisfied as I. There is no buyer or seller's remorse!"

Darryle Kifer
High Plains Merchandising, Inc.