[144] Velocity Financial, Inc. SEC Filing

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

IZEA Worldwide, Inc. (ticker: IZEA) filed a Form 4 on 1 July 2025 reporting that director Daniel R. Rua received 5,882 shares of common stock on 30 June 2025. The shares represent payment of Q2 2025 director fees valued at $15,000, calculated at the closing market price of $2.55 per share on the grant date. The restricted-stock award vested immediately and was acquired at $0 cash cost. Following the grant, Rua’s direct beneficial ownership increased to 85,259 shares. No derivative securities, sales, or additional transactions were disclosed, and the filing was made under Rule 10b5-1.

Positive

• Director increased ownership by ~7%, underscoring alignment with shareholders and confidence in IZEA’s prospects.
• Cash-conserving compensation structure supports liquidity while incentivizing the board through equity exposure.

Negative

• Minor share dilution from issuance of 5,882 new shares, though impact on total float is immaterial.

Insights

Insider Trading Analyst

TL;DR: Routine fee-in-stock grant; marginally positive insider alignment, financially immaterial.

The acquisition is compensation, not an open-market purchase, but it still raises the director’s stake by roughly 7%, signaling continued alignment with shareholders. At $15k, the dollar value and potential dilution are negligible relative to IZEA’s market cap. Because there is no sale, the transaction avoids negative sentiment often linked to insider disposals. Overall impact on valuation or liquidity is minimal.

Corporate Governance Expert

TL;DR: Stock-based board fees conserve cash and promote equity culture; standard governance practice.

Paying director fees in immediately-vesting stock is common among micro-caps to preserve cash while aligning board incentives. The 10b5-1 designation indicates pre-arranged, rule-compliant issuance, limiting legal risk. No unusual clauses or staggered vesting suggest straightforward governance. Investors should view this as neutral to slightly positive, reflecting prudent cash management without creating complex equity instruments.

Form 144 Filer Information	UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Form 144 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF SECURITIES PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
FORM 144

144: Filer Information

Filer CIK
Filer CCC
Is this a LIVE or TEST Filing?	LIVE TEST
Submission Contact Information
Name
Phone
E-Mail Address

144: Issuer Information

Name of Issuer

SEC File Number

Address of Issuer

Phone

Name of Person for Whose Account the Securities are To Be Sold

See the definition of "person" in paragraph (a) of Rule 144. Information is to be given not only as to the person for whose account the securities are to be sold but also as to all other persons included in that definition. In addition, information shall be given as to sales by all persons whose sales are required by paragraph (e) of Rule 144 to be aggregated with sales for the account of the person filing this notice.

Relationship to Issuer

144: Securities Information

Title of the Class of Securities To Be Sold	Name and Address of the Broker	Number of Shares or Other Units To Be Sold	Aggregate Market Value	Number of Shares or Other Units Outstanding	Approximate Date of Sale	Name the Securities Exchange
Common	Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services 1 New York Plaza 8th Floor New York NY 10004	4716	87434.64	36491520	07/01/2025	NYSE

Furnish the following information with respect to the acquisition of the securities to be sold and with respect to the payment of all or any part of the purchase price or other consideration therefor:

144: Securities To Be Sold

Title of the Class	Date you Acquired	Nature of Acquisition Transaction	Name of Person from Whom Acquired	Is this a Gift?	Date Donor Acquired	Amount of Securities Acquired	Date of Payment	Nature of Payment *
Common	01/15/2024	Restricted Stock Awards	Issuer			4716	01/15/2024	N/A

* If the securities were purchased and full payment therefor was not made in cash at the time of purchase, explain in the table or in a note thereto the nature of the consideration given. If the consideration consisted of any note or other obligation, or if payment was made in installments describe the arrangement and state when the note or other obligation was discharged in full or the last installment paid.

Furnish the following information as to all securities of the issuer sold during the past 3 months by the person for whose account the securities are to be sold.

144: Securities Sold During The Past 3 Months

Nothing to Report

144: Remarks and Signature

Remarks

Date of Notice

Date of Plan Adoption or Giving of Instruction, If Relying on Rule 10b5-1

ATTENTION:

The person for whose account the securities to which this notice relates are to be sold hereby represents by signing this notice that he does not know any material adverse information in regard to the current and prospective operations of the Issuer of the securities to be sold which has not been publicly disclosed. If such person has adopted a written trading plan or given trading instructions to satisfy Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, by signing the form and indicating the date that the plan was adopted or the instruction given, that person makes such representation as of the plan adoption or instruction date.

Signature

ATTENTION: Intentional misstatements or omission of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001)

FAQ

How many IZEA shares did director Daniel Rua acquire?

He received 5,882 shares of restricted stock on 30 June 2025.

What was the value of the stock award reported in the Form 4 for IZEA?

The award was valued at $15,000, based on a $2.55 closing price.

Did the restricted stock granted to Daniel Rua vest immediately?

Yes. The filing states the award vests immediately on the grant date.

What is Daniel Rua’s total IZEA shareholding after the transaction?

After the award, he beneficially owns 85,259 shares directly.

Was any cash paid for the shares in this IZEA Form 4 filing?

No. The shares were granted at $0 cash cost as director fee compensation.

Does the filing involve any derivative securities?

No derivative securities were reported in Table II of the Form 4.