The problem of inequity for minority communities in America has many faces, with access to financial services still lagging concerningly behind. Black and Latinx households make up more than 60% of the nation’s unbanked, and nearly half of underbanked households, according to FDIC surveys. Efforts to foster greater inclusivity provided a focal point to the recent Washington … [Read more...] about Could FinTechs Bridge the Inclusion Gap?
FinTech and Crypto: 7 Years On
This post marks the seventh anniversary of FinTech Rising. I wrote the first posts while attending the 2014 Sibos* conference in Boston. The biggest thing I learned at that conference was the emergence of bitcoin into the mainstream financial system. As I wrote in that first FinTech Rising post, "Throughout the conference, the line on Bitcoin went something like this: It may … [Read more...] about FinTech and Crypto: 7 Years On
Stablecoin: A Faster Future?
Could stablecoin be an idea whose time has arrived? The industry remains niche in terms of overall value, but as more competitors test the ground to enter the field - including large central banks in some countries like Sweden - the conversation has rapidly developed into what could be suggested to be an inevitability. Stablecoins - in this case, cryptocurrency tied directly … [Read more...] about Stablecoin: A Faster Future?
September FinTech in Review: ESG and the Evolving Shape of Crypto
Our Week in FinTech columns for September covered themes of trends here to stay: ESG investing and the constantly-evolving face of cryptocurrency. Sustainable investing continues to be a major theme in the markets, and looks more and more like a model that all advisors need to learn inside and out to continue to play a significant role going forward. People want to know … [Read more...] about September FinTech in Review: ESG and the Evolving Shape of Crypto
Three FinTech Themes in Payments, Wealth, and Crypto
The top three FinTech categories I follow provided insights into three themes marking the evolution of markets and money: The high cost of U.S. payments, especially for low-income people. The development of new software tools that make it easier for retail and institutional investors to reach their financial goals. The ongoing drama unfolding as crypto-finance … [Read more...] about Three FinTech Themes in Payments, Wealth, and Crypto
ESGs: Investing with Impact
Many investors may never have heard the term ESG, but in terms of what it stands for, it’s exactly what an overwhelming number of them are looking for from their portfolios. It’s more than just the latest FinTech trend – in fact, it’s been around for decades, under a variety of names from Socially Responsible Investing in the 90s to a host of others, but behind all the jargon … [Read more...] about ESGs: Investing with Impact