Wesley Wolf is the President of Wolf & Company.

1.Tell us about working as a housing, insurance and financing firm, and the work you’ve done over the years. Who are some of the clients you represent?

I started Wolf & Co. in 1993 and since then we’ve provided services to state and local governments, housing finance agencies, insurance companies, mortgage bankers, investment bankers and institutional investors in the areas of municipal finance. Some of our current clients include the California Department of Veterans Affairs, Cal Rural Home Mortgage Finance Authority, National Homebuyers Fund, the City of La Verne, and the County of San Bernardino.

2. How has the industry changed in California over time? How have new regulations and standards in this area impacted your practice?

The biggest change has been the dissolution of the redevelopment agencies. Now that they have been eliminated it will change how housing financing works in California.

I also feel that the Dodd-Frank Bill will help the financial advising and investment industry become more professional. Things like standardized tests will increase the professionalism of the advisors and brokers.

3. Tell us about a recent accomplishment or success story.

We recently helped refinance a hotel in South Carolina that helped create a lot of jobs. The hotel was able to use the savings from the refinancing for upgrades to the hotel, and that brought a lot of construction jobs to the area.

We’ve also been working with CalVet to help provide veterans with home loans and financing. Its a great service that not enough vets are taking advantage of. We just need to tell the vets who we are and let them know that this service is available to them.

4. How did you come to be focused on housing and financing? Was this an early passion or did you fall into it, and why?

I was a city administrator for the City of Hawaiian Gardens in 1979, and we did a mortgage revenue bond. This was my first experience involving housing and municipal financing, and I thought it was an unique side of city financing. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to switch careers, and go into the financing side.

5. Tell us about a hobby or activity you enjoy outside of work.

My main hobbies are fishing and reading. I enjoy reading history biographies and autobiographies. I’m currently reading a biography on Theodore Roosevelt called “The Bully Pulpit” by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

6. Anything else you want to talk about regarding these issues or Wolf & Co. in general?

We pride ourselves on customer service. That’s what separates us from the rest of the financial advisors. We’re in it for the long run. We’re not just there to do the job and be done with it and move on. We’re there to build a long-lasting relationship.