May 16, 2025

Embedded Finance & Integration Into Non-Financial Platforms

Businesses across industries are undergoing digital transformation, and embedded finance is one of the main trends fueling this evolution. Simply put, embedded finance allows non-financial platforms to integrate financial services seamlessly into their existing offerings. From enabling payments to offering insurance or loans, this integration redefines customer experience and creates new revenue opportunities. Understanding the Rise of Embedded Finance The …

Continue reading
May 8, 2025

Students Shine Bright Through the Paid for Grades Program in 2025

If there’s one thing that warms my heart every year, it’s seeing the incredible achievements of students who participate in the Paid for Grades program. This year has been no exception, with ninth-grade students from four Pinellas County high schools earning an impressive $135,000 for their hard work and achievements! $135,000 in Rewards for 2025 Like I stated, those rewards …

Continue reading
April 16, 2025

Navigating the Stablecoin Landscape in Modern Finance

As I write, the cryptocurrency market is in a bit of a downturn. But, the prospects of a crypto bear market haven’t necessarily deterred interest in stablecoins. Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency designed to minimize price volatility by linking their value to a stable asset, such as a fiat currency (like USD) or a commodity (like gold). Compared to …

Continue reading
April 2, 2025

The Rise of AI-Powered Wealth Management

Artificial intelligence is redefining virtually every industry. Wealth management is no exception. Traditionally governed by large institutions and resource-heavy operations, wealth management is undergoing a dramatic transformation thanks to AI. Startups and small teams are now able to leverage cutting-edge technology to perform tasks that once required armies of analysts and advisors. AI-powered wealth management encompasses all use of artificial …

Continue reading
March 19, 2025

Navigating AI Bias in Finance: The Role of the FTC in Ensuring Fairness

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing many industries, and finance is no exception. From expediting loan approvals to enhancing fraud detection, AI is transforming how financial institutions operate. The potential of AI in finance is immense: Greater Efficiency: Automation leads to faster financial processing and reduced operational costs. Improved Decision-Making: By analyzing vast amounts of data, AI offers actionable insights that …

Continue reading
March 6, 2025

Payment Trends 2025: What Should Payments Professionals Keep Top of Mind?

In 2024, the payments industry witnessed quite a whirlwind. Record-breaking travel and retail sales sums, the highest volume of ransomware attacks ever seen, and more. As we sail into 2025, it’s time to assess the trends and developments that will shape the payments landscape and outline what businesses need to do to stay ahead. The FTC’s “Click to Cancel” Rule …

Continue reading
February 19, 2025

Open Banking 2025: What’s the Landscape Look Like? What to Expect Going Forward

For the past year, the financial landscape has revolved around two influential technologies: open banking and genAI. Open Banking has been a hot topic due to the evolving discussions triggered by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s introduction of Rule 1033, which focuses on the ownership and control of customers and their data. Gen AI has been the other driving force, …

Continue reading
February 5, 2025

What is the CFPB’s Final 1033 Ruling? How Does it Impact Open Banking?

Open banking is a growing trend in the financial industry, which I’ve discussed a few times before here. The idea is to promote data sharing between banks and third-party providers. And, a new ruling from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has significant implications on this front. The CFPB recently released their final ruling on Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank …

Continue reading
January 21, 2025

The Power of ‘Test and Learn’ in Driving Innovation in 2025

Rapid advancements in AI are bringing new opportunities to the fintech space… as well as a lot of uncertainty. As we move into 2025, we’re seeing a total reshaping of how financial services are delivered. We’re seeing innovative solutions and the disruption of traditional practices. However, the wave of change also creates a landscape where businesses face constant challenges in …

Continue reading
January 8, 2025

Holiday Shopping Boom of 2024 May Lead to Increased Returns & Chargebacks in Q1 2025

The 2024 holiday shopping bonanza broke all records. We saw consumers worldwide spend $1.2 trillion online, as revealed in a Salesforce report on Monday. $282 billion of that total came from the United States alone. However, with this surge in holiday sales, merchants should also expect a correlating increase in product returns and disputed transactions, indicating a tough Q1 2025 …

Continue reading