The Five Most-Read Ask The Surety Pro Posts of Q1 2026
The Ask The Surety Pro video series exists for one reason: to give contractors the surety bond knowledge they need to make better decisions, strengthen their financial positioning, and compete more effectively for the work they want.
In Q1 2026, the series covered topics that matter to contractors at every stage of growth, from understanding how sureties read your balance sheet to building the kind of relationship that supports long-term capacity. Below are the five posts that resonated most with our audience during the quarter, and the reason each one is worth your time.
- How a Structured Owner Capital Infusion Can Increase Bonding Capacity
For growth-minded contractors, increasing single project and aggregate bonding capacity is often the key to unlocking the next level of opportunity. One of the most direct and controllable levers available is a properly structured owner capital infusion. Chris Ruck, Vice President at Anderson & Catania, explains how strategic capital contributions can immediately strengthen your bonding profile and what contractors need to get right for the infusion to count in the eyes of a surety underwriter.
If you are looking for a concrete action you can take to move your bonding capacity in the right direction, this is one of the most actionable episodes in the series.
Read it: acsurety.com/owner-capital-infusion-bonding-capacity
- Private Equity Deal Structure and Its Impact on Contractor Bonding
Private equity is investing heavily in construction, but how a transaction is structured can have a real impact on a contractor's access to surety credit, both at closing and well after the deal is done. Joe Catania, Co-Founder and CEO of Anderson & Catania, walks through what private equity firms and contractors should be thinking about to protect bonding capacity and support long-term growth after a transaction.
If you are involved in a PE transaction or considering one, understanding the surety implications before the deal closes is essential.
Read it: acsurety.com/ask-your-surety-pro-private-equity-deal-structure-impact-on-contractor-bonding
- How Sureties View A/R and Retention on Your Balance Sheet
One of the most common and misunderstood issues affecting bonding capacity is the way sureties evaluate accounts receivable and retention. What looks like working capital on paper is not always what a surety underwriter sees. Chris Ruck breaks down how aged A/R over 90 days and billed retention are treated when a surety reviews your balance sheet, and why strong backlog with slow collections can create real concerns about the liquidity your bond program depends on.
If your balance sheet shows strong numbers but your cash flow tells a different story, this episode is a must.
Read it: acsurety.com/ask-your-surety-pro-sureties-view-and-retention
- Why Respect Matters in Contractor and Surety Partnerships
The strongest surety relationships are built on more than financial statements. Respect for your leadership, your financial management, and the legacy you are building changes how a surety broker advocates for you with underwriters. Joe Catania and Chris Ruck explain what respect looks like in practice and why contractors who feel genuinely seen and supported by their surety team perform differently in the underwriting process.
Read it: acsurety.com/why-respect-matters-in-contractor-surety-partnerships
- Why Transparency Matters in Contractor Surety Partnerships
The contractors who build the strongest surety relationships are the ones who lead with transparency long before they ever need a bond. That means being open about financials, challenges, and ambitions, and having a broker who gives the same candor in return. Joe Catania and Chris Ruck walk through why honesty is not just a value at Anderson & Catania but the foundation on which every effective surety relationship is built.
Read it: acsurety.com/ask-your-surety-pro-why-transparency-matters-in-contractor-surety-partnerships
Why This Series Exists
The contractors who grow their bonding capacity and compete most effectively are not always the ones with the biggest balance sheets. They are the ones who understand how sureties think, show up to every conversation prepared, and have a broker who helps them tell their story clearly.
Ask The Surety Pro is built to give you that knowledge, one episode at a time. New videos post every week. Subscribe to stay current.