Victor Ciardelli, CEO and founder of Guaranteed Rate, is an innovative entrepreneur who after recognizing the outdated methods of the mortgage industry, identified the need for a technology-based, streamlined approach. His ideas led to his founding of Guaranteed Rate in June 2000. The mortgage company’s offering of low rates and fees, an easy-to-understand process and transparency behind home loan costs resonated with home buyers, and positioned Guaranteed Rate to become Chicago’s largest independent mortgage lender within three years of its opening.