Over the past few years, a new generation has entered the workforce armed with degrees, creativity, and ambition—only to find the job market unwelcoming. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and multiple independent labor trackers, 2025 has brought the slowest hiring pace since the Great Recession. Challenger, Gray & Christmas recently reported that U.S. companies announced over 946,000 job cuts this year, the highest total since 2020. Tech, media, and finance—once reliable landing spots for graduates—lead those layoffs.
At the same time, the average time for recent college graduates to find full-time employment has stretched to more than six months, and nearly 45% of graduates are underemployed, working in jobs that don’t require their degree. These realities have led thousands of talented young professionals to pursue alternative paths—most notably, becoming content creators.
But while content creation offers freedom and creative expression, it’s often uncertain, competitive, and slow to monetize. That’s why a growing number of entrepreneurial thinkers are discovering a new hybrid career—one that rewards creativity and communication but also offers stability, recurring income, and professional respect:
Commercial Finance Consulting.
Why Content Creators Make Excellent Consultants
At its core, consulting is communication—and in the field of commercial finance, your success depends heavily on how you connect with small business owners and referral partners. Content creators already have the essential toolkit for that success:
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Storytelling: Just as a YouTuber or blogger learns to tell engaging stories, a finance consultant must present complex funding solutions in relatable, educational ways.
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Consistency: Regular posting and publishing—key to growing an audience—is also critical to building a referral network and maintaining top-of-mind awareness.
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Branding: Modern finance consultants must think like marketers, crafting a professional brand that stands out in a crowded marketplace.
As one IACFB instructor explains, “Factoring brokers and consultants who treat their websites and blogs like media platforms—producing content weekly—are the ones who build lasting pipelines of business.”
Commercial Finance Consulting: The Business Behind the Content
Commercial finance consulting focuses on helping businesses access alternative funding sources outside of traditional bank loans. Consultants and factoring brokers connect business owners with lenders offering:
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Accounts receivable financing (factoring)
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Purchase order and trade finance
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Equipment leasing and SBA loans
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Merchant cash advances and asset-based lending
What makes this field so attractive is its low startup cost and residual income model. Brokers and consultants earn commissions—often monthly and recurring—on the clients they refer to lenders. That means that, over time, your past marketing and networking efforts continue to pay dividends.
Even more appealing for today’s content-savvy generation, content creation is the marketing engine that drives success. Every blog post, LinkedIn article, or YouTube video explaining business financing builds trust and authority—while generating organic leads from entrepreneurs searching for help.
Training and Support from IACFB
Unlike many “guru-driven” industries, commercial finance consulting offers formalized training and community through the International Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (IACFB).
The IACFB provides:
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Comprehensive online courses (Factoring 101, 202, and advanced programs)
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Access to the Commercial Finance Consultants Magazine
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PAL and PAL+ membership programs with professional websites and marketing tools
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Ongoing mentorship and broker support
With a modest investment, even part-time consultants can launch a professional business backed by proven systems and tools—including ready-made websites, direct marketing templates, and educational materials.
Economic Reality: Why Now Is the Time
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Layoffs: Challenger, Gray & Christmas reports 946,000 job cuts so far in 2025, up nearly 20% from last year.
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Hiring slowdown: Employers announced plans to hire just 205,000 workers this year, the lowest number since the Great Recession.
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Underemployment: 44–46% of recent college graduates are working in roles that don’t require a degree.
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Cost of living: Inflation remains elevated, squeezing incomes and pushing many young professionals to seek side gigs or new revenue streams.
These indicators show that traditional employment is becoming less reliable, while the need for alternative finance—especially for small businesses in cash flow stress—is rising sharply. That creates an opportunity for well-trained, media-savvy consultants.
Why This Pivot Makes Sense
Content creation and commercial finance consulting aren’t as different as they might seem. Both require communication, education, and trust-building. But consulting offers something content creation alone rarely does: predictable, residual income.
You can still use your storytelling skills, digital marketing experience, and creative energy—but now, every post, article, or video you produce drives real business relationships and commissions.
If you’re one of the many talented creators searching for financial stability and meaningful work, consider commercial finance consulting as your next act. You’ll still be a content creator—only now your audience will be business owners, lenders, and referral partners who can change your life as much as you help change theirs.
For more information on training, visit the IACFB Academy or explore Commercial Finance Consultants Magazine for insights, tutorials, and examples from successful brokers already living this new creative-professional hybrid lifestyle.