Power100, the only unbiased third-party platform that ranks the best leaders and partners in the home improvement industry using a proprietary 5-layer ranking system, is spotlighting Edward Meister, Co-Founder and CEO of Pure Finance Group, for a leadership quality that is easy to talk about and hard to practice: real respect for the people you serve.
Many vendors in home improvement talk about contractors as accounts, leads, or volume. Edward Meister talks about them as business owners doing one of the hardest jobs in the American economy. When he was asked what mistakes he sees contractors make, he did not start with a list of mistakes. He started with credit.
“A ton of credit to all the home improvement leaders out there because what they do is very hard,” said Edward Meister. “It’s a very challenging business to execute day in and day out. And I have a tremendous amount of respect for that, whether they’re just starting or whether they’re at scale.”
That respect is not a line he saves for interviews. It is a value he expects every person at Pure Finance Group to carry into every call, every approval, and every conversation about money.
“That kind of reverberates all the way through our company,” he said. “I think that’s an important thing, to have much, much respect for the challenges and what our customers face every day. And these guys are really good at what they do.”
For contractors, this changes what a finance partner feels like. Instead of a vendor that talks down to them or treats them as a transaction, they get a team that understands the pressure of payroll, crews, material costs, homeowner questions, and growth plans, and that shows up ready to help.
“Ed takes care of his clients, of course, but he’s more than that,” said Greg Cummings, CEO of Power100. “He’s a partner and a resource for anyone that has the pleasure and opportunity to talk to him about what he knows.”
Edward Meister, Co-Founder and CEO of Pure Finance Group
To understand why Edward Meister’s respect matters, it helps to remember what contractors deal with every single day.
A home improvement owner is a salesperson, an operator, a recruiter, a project manager, a customer service lead, and a financial planner, often before lunch. They manage crews who depend on them for steady work. They walk into homes where every situation is different and every homeowner has their own budget, timeline, and worries. And they have to do all of this while keeping enough cash moving to make payroll on Friday.
None of that is easy, and none of it stops. That is what Edward Meister means when he says it is “very challenging to execute day in and day out.” He is not describing one hard week. He is describing the normal life of a contractor.
He also makes a point that many people in finance miss. That respect applies whether a company is “just starting or whether they’re at scale.” The new owner trying to land the first few big jobs and the established company running multiple locations both earn the same level of respect. The challenges look different, but the effort and risk are real at every stage.
For Power100, that understanding is what separates great partners from ordinary ones.
One of the most telling parts of Edward Meister’s view is that he does not see himself as the only expert in the room. He sees the relationship between Pure Finance Group and its contractors as a two-way exchange.
“I think I learn a lot from them, and I try to be able to pass any kind of knowledge base I have because I have a little bit of a different background,” said Edward Meister.
That “different background” is deep. Before co-founding Pure Finance Group in 2018, he built his career in leadership roles at Wells Fargo, working across payments, sales, innovation, and consumer lending. He understands how banks think, how credit decisions are made, how interest rates move, and how lenders read a company’s books. Contractors understand how to sell, build, and deliver for homeowners. When those two kinds of knowledge meet, both sides get better.
He is also quick to show humility. Right before sharing advice, he made a point of saying he does not see contractors as people making mistakes he would never make.
“There’s one thing I could say that I wouldn’t say it’s a mistake or anything, because I make plenty of those myself,” he said.
He does not lecture. He shares, and because he speaks to contractors as peers, they listen.
This is also why Greg Cummings describes Pure Finance Group differently from many fintech companies that chased fast sales and quick exits.
“You’re a partner to your clients and you grow sustainably,” said Greg Cummings of Power100.
Respect for contractors is easy to claim. The proof is in how a company treats them when they need help.
At Pure Finance Group, 100% of client calls go to live people. The company uses AI in its phone routing to make its team more productive, but not to replace the people who answer. Edward Meister has been clear that contractors need a resource who can talk them through real situations, not a system that simply hands out data.
“We work more as like a resource for them,” said Edward Meister. “We’re not just answering the phone and providing data. We’re kind of helping talk people through situations where they have real questions.”
When you respect how hard a contractor’s day is, you do not make them fight through a phone menu while a homeowner waits at the kitchen table. You make sure someone knowledgeable picks up and helps solve the problem.
That same respect shapes the company culture behind those calls. Edward Meister and his partners built Pure Finance Group around a simple principle: people over profits. The company invests in its team, gives people room to grow and make real decisions, and has kept long tenure across much of its staff. Those experienced team members understand contractors because they have worked with them for years.
Hailey Hunt, Account Executive at Pure Finance Group, sees that relationship every day.
“Frontline relationships matter,” said Hailey Hunt. “When a contractor calls us, they should feel like they’re talking to someone who knows their business, understands their goals, and is ready to help them win the next job.”
The most valuable thing a respectful partner can do is tell the truth, even when it is not what everyone else is saying. For Edward Meister, one of those truths is about growth.
“Sometimes growth needs to be defined,” he said. “In today’s age, it’s grow, grow, grow. The faster you grow, catches all the headlines. Everybody needs to grow. Everybody wants to grow, right? But having a really clear-cut strategy on defined growth, I think, is critically important. And inside of that strategy is plan B and plan C if growth doesn’t go as planned.”
This is not anti-growth advice. Edward Meister leads one of the fastest-growing private companies in the Mid-Atlantic. His point is that growth should have a shape. Contractors should know where they are going, why they are going there, and what they will do if the plan does not unfold on schedule.
He sees one gap more than any other: owners underestimate what growth will actually cost.
“If I’m going to open up six or seven new locations and I was running a system in this market in this way, can it a hundred percent be replicated the same exact way across scale in all these different areas?” said Edward Meister. “Sometimes it can, sometimes it will, but it doesn’t happen right away. But what’s underestimated is the cost and the time horizon to get those other places up to where they need to be. And what ends up happening sometimes is it drags on profit.”
A system that works beautifully in one market can take far longer and cost far more to rebuild in another. New hires need training. New crews need time to gel. Marketing has to start from scratch. Meanwhile, the original business is carrying the weight.
“The devil’s always in the details on time horizon and unexpected expenses, what it costs to grow,” he said. “Sometimes it’s ahead of schedule, but I like to tend to say prepare that it’s not going to be. And if it is, then boom. If it isn’t, then you’re ready.”
He finished the thought with the warning that matters most: “Assuming 100% of the time it’s going to work the way you planned, and it doesn’t, and you don’t have a plan for that, that’s when things can get a little troubling.”
That is what respect looks like in a financial conversation. Edward Meister does not tell contractors to slow down because he doubts them. He tells them to plan carefully because he wants their hard work to last.
Edward Meister calls himself “a risk manager at heart,” and his advice to contractors reflects it. One of his most practical recommendations is also one of the simplest.
“I highly recommend that people get credit when you don’t need credit,” said Edward Meister. “Go to the bank if you have a relationship with the bank, get a line of credit. If you don’t use it, it’s not a big deal, but you really don’t want to get a line of credit when you need it. Banks are not built to give it to you.”
When Greg Cummings asked whether a contractor can get a line of credit at the moment they need it, his answer was short: “Probably not. Get it now.”
He is careful to frame this as preparation, not fear. “It’s not doom and gloom,” he said. Slowdowns are a normal part of any economy, and the companies that handle them well are the ones that got ready while times were good. “I’m an optimist,” he added. “You may never need it. That’s great.”
He also encourages contractors to look at their whole capital structure, not just one source of cash.
“Have a backup plan. Don’t have everything contingent on one component to make sure your company cash flows,” he said. “If one of those little legs of the stool gets kicked out and you don’t have a backup plan for it, then everything goes out the window.”
Another piece of advice comes straight from Edward Meister’s banking background, and it is something many contractors never hear until they are sitting across from a loan officer.
“Sometimes there’s even just a disconnect with how you’re running your books compared to what the bank wants,” he said. “It’s not that you’re not running a great company and it’s not profitable. It’s just the bank is going to assess it differently.”
This is a perfect example of respect in action. He starts from the belief that the contractor is running a good company. The problem is not the business. The problem is that the business is not always presented in the language lenders use. Pure Finance Group helps customers close that gap so they can walk into a bank prepared and show what they have really built.
“We help customers with that all the time,” said Edward Meister.
Edward Meister’s respect for contractors also shows in the way he shares his own playbook. He does not keep the strategy that built Pure Finance Group to himself.
“I’ve always had the vision that we’ve grown the most in down markets,” he said. “Like if you’re an investor, you want to go all in on buying stocks and different things when they’re down. When things get a little choppy, that’s when you go in for the kill.”
The key is that backup plans and reserves are not only for bad times. A line of credit or reserve capital can also fuel growth when the moment is right.
“If you’re growing with no reserves or no backup capital or no facility, you’re running yourself a little bit thin,” he said. “On down markets, you can still grow at the same pace and capture much more market share when other people are retreating. And it’s pretty prudent strategy. You just got to hold the course.”
He also believes teams deserve to know their leaders have a plan. He tells his own team that the company’s strategy has barely changed in five to six years. Tactics shift, but the direction holds. Contractors who lead their own teams the same way can build that same confidence.
Respect for contractors only works if it runs through the whole company. Edward Meister has built a leadership team at Pure Finance Group that brings it into every part of the business.
Todd Pramov, Director of Home Improvement Sales, sees each contractor as someone building something bigger than the next job.
“Every contractor we work with is building something bigger than a job calendar,” said Todd Pramov. “Our role is to give them sales and financing support that keeps their growth plan moving forward.”
Tony Prestandrea, Managing Partner, ties partnership to the hard moments.
“The strongest partners are the ones who show up for the hard conversations,” said Tony Prestandrea. “We’re here to help contractors build businesses that last, not just close a few more deals this month.”
Jim Affeldt, Director of Operations, focuses on removing friction from the contractor’s day.
“Operational excellence is invisible when it’s done right,” said Jim Affeldt. “Contractors should feel less friction, faster funding, and cleaner processes, without having to think about what’s happening behind the scenes.”
Stacey Hoback, Director of Payment Sales, connects respect to the cost of doing business.
“When contractors trust their payment systems, they can focus on serving customers,” said Stacey Hoback. “We work to make every transaction faster, simpler, and more affordable for the businesses we support.”
Carsten Erner, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, who joined the company in July 2025, helps turn numbers into clear decisions.
“Good data should make decisions easier, not more confusing,” said Carsten Erner. “We use analytics to give contractors clearer insight into how financing, payments, and cash flow are really driving their growth.”
They are joined by Jamie DeMersman, Chief Payments Officer; Sarah Croteau, Director of Marketing; and Michael Frascella, Senior Sales Director of Payment Solutions for Home Improvement. Each one reflects the same idea Edward Meister set at the top: contractors do hard work, and they deserve a partner that makes it easier.
Pure Finance Group Team
Respect also shapes the products Pure Finance Group builds. The company’s integrated platform brings customer financing and payment processing together, so contractors do not have to juggle separate systems to sell a job and get paid for it.
Contractors can offer homeowners flexible monthly payment plans with terms up to 20 years, use soft credit pull pre-approvals that do not affect the homeowner’s credit early in the process, and accept credit card, debit, ACH, and eCheck payments. Funds can arrive the same day, including weekends, which matters a great deal to owners managing payroll and material costs.
In May 2025, Pure Finance Group partnered with U.S. Bank to add Avvance, a real-time point-of-sale lending solution, giving contractors instant decisions, same-day funding, and loans up to $25,000 funded upfront, with no credit impact during pre-approval.
“At Pure Finance Group, we’re committed to giving contractors every tool they need to close more sales and deliver a better customer experience,” said Edward Meister.
Most of the contractors the company works with are established operators, with its sweet spot sitting roughly between $20 million and $100 million in annual revenue. These companies do not need to be convinced that financing matters. They need a partner who helps them make and keep more money while offering it. That is the level of conversation Edward Meister and his team are built for.
Contractors notice when a partner respects them, and they say so. Brandon Nieves, a contractor partner, put it plainly.
“I have partnered with at least 8 home improvement lenders over my career and I can strongly say that Pure Finance Group has been the absolute best,” said Brandon Nieves. “Their rates and dealer fees are unbeatable, their portal is flawless and the customer service and dealer support are second to none.”
Another customer summed it up in one line: “Looking for a reliable and trustworthy financial partner? Look no further than Pure Finance Group.”
The results show what happens when a company leads with respect. Founded in Laurel, Maryland, in 2018, Pure Finance Group grew to 13 states by 2020 and 46 states by 2022. It now supports more than 20 home improvement service and product segments and has helped more than 40,000 homeowners access financing.
In 2026, Inc. ranked Pure Finance Group No. 99 on its Inc. Regionals: Mid-Atlantic list, the third straight year the company has been named among the region’s fastest-growing private companies.
“Our growth hasn’t been about chasing trends. It’s been about solving real problems in the market,” said Edward Meister.
That line connects directly to his advice for contractors. He grew Pure Finance Group the way he tells contractors to grow: with a defined strategy, steady execution, and a plan for the hard times.
Edward Meister’s respect for people does not stop at contractors. Inside Pure Finance Group, family comes before the company. He gets up at 4:35 every morning so he can be present for his twin 13-year-olds, coaching one child’s sports team and staying active in the other’s.
“If you never get in between a team member’s family and their job, they will love their job,” said Edward Meister. “My team needs to see me doing it. If I can say whatever I want, but if I don’t lead by example, they’re not going to buy into the message.”
Leaders who respect their own people’s lives tend to respect their customers’ lives too.
Power100 exists to help every homeowner in the country find the right people to work on their home and get it done right the first time. That mission depends on finding not only great contractors but also great partners who help those contractors succeed.
Edward Meister fits that standard. He respects how hard contractors work, and he has built that respect into Pure Finance Group’s culture, service, and products. He learns from his customers and shares what he knows. He gives honest advice about defined growth, the real cost of expansion, backup plans, and getting credit before it is needed. And he has built a national, three-time Inc. regional honoree by following the same careful strategy he recommends.
“I admire so much how you built your company and the fundamentals, the values, the patience, the precision,” Greg Cummings told Edward Meister.
For contractors who want a finance partner that understands their world, treats them as peers, and helps them grow the right way, Edward Meister and Pure Finance Group show what respect looks like in practice.
Many vendors say it, but few back it up. At Pure Finance Group, the proof shows up in practical choices: 100% of client calls go to live people, the team works as a resource rather than a call center, and Edward Meister shares honest advice about growth, credit, and planning. Contractor partners also describe the company’s customer service and dealer support as “second to none.”
It means the team starts from an understanding of how hard a contractor’s day is. Instead of making owners wait in phone menus or fight through slow approvals, Pure Finance Group offers live support, soft credit pull pre-approvals, same-day funding including weekends, and financing and payment processing in one platform. The goal is to remove friction so contractors can focus on homeowners and crews.
No. He has said he has tremendous respect for home improvement leaders “whether they’re just starting or whether they’re at scale.” While the company’s sweet spot is established contractors doing roughly $20 million to $100 million in annual revenue, it works with companies both larger and smaller.
Because careful growth lasts longer. Edward Meister is not against growth. He leads a fast-growing company. His advice is to define growth with a clear strategy, plan for the real cost and time it takes to expand, and keep a plan B and plan C ready if things do not go as expected.
He avoids calling it a mistake, but the most common gap he sees is underestimating what growth costs. When a contractor opens several new locations, the system that worked in one market may take longer and cost more to rebuild elsewhere. That delay can drag on profit. His advice is to plan as if expansion will take longer than expected, so you are ready either way.
Because banks are not built to lend when a company is under pressure. He recommends opening a line of credit while business is good. If it is never used, there is little downside. If the market tightens, it can protect cash flow, and it can even help fund growth when competitors pull back.
Yes. Edward Meister has pointed out that there is sometimes a disconnect between how contractors run their books and how a bank evaluates them, even when the company is profitable and well run. With his background in banking at Wells Fargo, he and his team help customers think through their finances and capital structure so they are better prepared for those conversations.
Pure Finance Group offers customer financing and payment processing in one integrated platform. Features include flexible monthly payment plans with terms up to 20 years, soft credit pull pre-approvals, credit card, debit, ACH, and eCheck processing, same-day funding including weekends, and real-time point-of-sale lending through U.S. Bank Avvance with loans up to $25,000 funded upfront.
Power100 uses a 5-layer ranking system that looks beyond marketing claims to leadership, culture, customer experience, and long-term impact. Edward Meister stands out for building real respect for contractors into every part of his company, from live support to honest financial advice. Pure Finance Group stands out for combining financing, payment processing, and same-day funding in one platform, backed by steady growth and strong contractor feedback.
Pure Finance Group is a leading provider of financing and payment processing solutions for home improvement professionals. Founded in 2018 and based in Laurel, Maryland, the company serves contractors in 46 states across more than 20 home improvement segments and has helped more than 40,000 homeowners access financing. Its integrated platform lets contractors offer flexible financing to homeowners while streamlining payment collection through same-day funding, including weekends, and reduced processing costs. By combining innovative technology with a partner-first approach, Pure Finance Group continues to drive consistent, sustainable growth for its clients and its business.
Power100 is the nation’s premier CEO ranking and media platform for the home improvement industry. Using a proprietary 5-layer evaluation system, Power100 identifies and celebrates the top CEOs, companies, and strategic partners driving innovation, customer satisfaction, and leadership excellence across the country.
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Power100 is the nation's premier CEO ranking and media platform for the home improvement industry. Using a proprietary 5-layer evaluation system, Power100 identifies and celebrates the top CEOs, companies, and strategic partners driving innovation, customer satisfaction, and leadership excellence across the country.
