EB5 Investors Magazine Volume 4 Issue 1 | Page 74

TOP 10 Michael Schoenfeld EB5 Affiliate Network Michael Schoenfeld is a Managing Partner at EB5 Affiliate Network (EB5AN), a national leader in EB-5 Consulting, which owns 15 Regional Centers across 21 states. He has been part of the EB-5 community for more than three years, transitioning from private equity in New York City. Schoenfeld, in conjunction with other private sector veterans, founded EB5AN EB-5 BUSINESS PLAN WRITERS to provide full-service EB-5 solutions and offer professional guidance throughout the EB-5 process. EB5AN partners with sponsors across asset classes to provide creative and insightful EB-5 solutions. Given his expertise, Schoenfeld is frequently asked to speak at industry events including, most recently, the EB-5 Investors Conference in Las Vegas in January 2016 and the NES Conference in Miami in February 2016. Prior to founding EB5AN, Schoenfeld worked for AEA Investors, a leading middle-market private equity firm which manages $6 billion. Illustrative completed transactions include the $2 billion LBO of 24 Hour Fitness, a leading fitness club operator, and the firm’s investment in Brand Networks. Previously, Schoenfeld also worked for the Boston Consulting Group, among the top management consulting firms in the world. Schoenfeld’s background allows him to bring an institutional focus to EB-5 projects. EB5AN prides itself on delivering best-in-class products by leveraging institutional work ethics and skill-sets groomed by institutional finance, management consulting, and corporate law to provide solutions meeting sponsors’ needs and exceeding expectations. In addition to business plan development, EB5AN partners with clients to provide project guidance to ensure projects are structured in the most effective way. The team leverages their extensive EB-5 experience, an on-the-ground team in China, and their private sector experience in business strategy, investment evaluation, and securities and immigration law to provide informed, professional advice and guidance. Schoenfeld enjoys working in the EB-5 space because of the unique combination of investment, immigration, deal structuring, and deal execution. He is a strong supporter of the EB-5 program not only because of the proven economic stimulation for the United States, but because it provides an opportunity to help individuals realize life-changing immigration benefits. working in the immigration sector since 2009. Shepin also offers business plan writing services to immigration visa applicants who are seeking L-1A and E-2 visas Shepin is a naturalized citizen of the U nited States and is fluent in English and Russian. He founded successful start-ups in Russia, Hungary, Switzerland and in the United States. This extensive entrepreneurial experience allows him to provide his clients with a practical advice while working on business plans or advising visa applicants on immigration investments.   As EB-5 requirements have become more stringent and complex, they are creating new challenges in the industry. Shepin Finance, Inc. prides itself on the preparation of very comprehensive business plans, each typically containing 50-75 pages, that meet and exceed the requirements. He has complete confidence in the quality of his company’s plans, and provides clients with a full money-back guarantee that is very popular with immigration investors. Not only have requirement for EB-5 plans become stricter, so has the Securities and Exchange Commission’s supervision of those who work in the EB-5 industry.  It is now required that anyone providing advice on the selection of an EB-5 investment must be a licensed advisor. In 2015 Shepin successfully met all licensing requirements and received the designation of independent Registered Investment Advisor. This title requires Shepin to provide all clients with investment recommendations that are in the best interests of each client. As a Registered Investment Advisor, Shepin provides due diligence analysis of various EB-5 investment projects and direct investments. He works in partnership with immigration attorneys to provide investment advice to EB-5 clients, and has extensive experience with direct investment businesses using EB-5 capital. He has worked with clients across the United States, advising them on different projects. Profile Profile Andrew Shepin Shepin Finance Inc. Andrew Shepin, Ph.D. in Economics, is the managing director of Shepin Finance Inc. located in the Greater Chicago, Illinois area. His expertise revolves around business plan writing services for projects and direct EB-5 investments, and providing quality financial advice for immigration investments. He provides complete business plans and has been 72 EB5 INVESTORS MAGAZINE