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How to Forge a Career in Fintech

On December 24, 2020

Fintech companies offer innovative solutions to financial problems. They help banks to improve their customer service and be more flexible. Due to the growing popularity of the fintech industry, their jobs can be very rewarding. But what does it take to forge a career in fintech?

Start Small, Learn and Grow

Fintech is a booming industry, meaning that there’s more to be discovered. As a result, there’s a lot of opportunities in this industry. It helps to get into the industry with some experience in the financial sector.

However, it’s not necessary. A person with a law degree can learn on the job and become an expert in no time. Therefore, one shouldn’t procrastinate. If they think this is the industry for them, they should go for it. They can start at the bottom and work their way up.

What’s Fintech All About?

Fintech is an interesting industry because an individual works in two vast industries: technology and finance.

An example of an emerging fintech trend is open banking. Here, the bank allows tech startups to facilitate customer service and transactions through an app. The customer has to consent before using the app. Once the customer agrees, the bank discloses that person’s banking details to the startup.

Any person that works for the bank or startup is already involved in the fintech industry. That’s how easily one can find themselves working in the fintech industry.

Skills Required

There are three sets of skills that are important in the fintech industry: software and hardware engineering, finance, and communication.

A person with coding skills can work in the product development department. Their work will be to code programs or applications that can be used to improve the financial sector. The person with finance skills helps the coders comprehend what the app is supposed to do. The person with communication skills will help to monetize the fintech solution.

Finally, the fintech industry can be very demanding. If one wants to succeed, one has to consider work and personal life. They have to be in perfect balance. Too much work can leave a person feeling exhausted and unmotivated. Therefore, it’s always good to think about one’s health and happiness.

Benefits of FinTech for Small Companies

By Jacob Parker-Bowles

On October 3, 2018

In FinTech, Jacob Parker-Bowles

Financial technology, known as FinTech, is changing the way many small business owners run their companies. Struggling to find financing from lenders and strict regulatory compliance is leading many smaller companies to focus on FinTech. Instead of relying on traditional lenders to help support their companies, many entrepreneurs are now turning to affordable solutions from financial technology companies.

FinTech Product and Service Offerings

FinTech companies offer a range of solutions for small companies. Business owners have access to lending, foreign exchange services, and digital business solutions. Many finance experts agree that the rise of FinTech is not just a passing fancy, but a real shift in the way small business owners generate revenues and profit. A report from the World Economic Forum suggests that FinTech will change the entire business environment.

From invoicing solutions, peer to peer lending, and supply chain financing, FinTech companies are gaining a real market presence in the business world with their low-cost solutions. Additionally, these companies are not hamstrung by the regulations that many traditional banks face.

One of the largest gaps FinTech companies fill is lending solutions. Traditional banks often turn away small business owners seeking smaller loans. By offering so-called “micro-loans,” FinTech companies provide a critical lending solution for smaller companies that need less than $50,000. The Small Business Administration considers any loans of $50,000 or less as “micro-loans.”

Many FinTech companies also offer strategic invoicing and expense solutions. In many cases, small business owners have free access to these solutions using easy to download apps.

Other FinTech Solutions

Lending and tracking invoices are only two of a countless array of solutions offered by FinTech companies. Property management companies can accept payments from tenants using the solutions. Additionally, loans are available to help some of the costs of repairs and security deposits that many residents struggle with while property management companies still receive those funds upfront.

Many experts agree that FinTech for smaller companies is still in its infancy. Adopting FinTech as the primary source of business solutions for entrepreneurs is still a challenge. However, many experts do agree that FinTech companies have found a niche by providing services to smaller companies that largely go unrecognized by bigger banks.

Unusual Uses For Blockchain Technology

By Jacob Parker-Bowles

On July 3, 2018

In FinTech, Jacob Parker-Bowles

One block at a time, blockchain technology is revolutionizing the way the world sees commerce—as well as a slew of different sectors that one might not even imagine. In a world where many people across various industries are seeing the massive potential of this technology, here are some of the most interesting ways it’s being employed.

Voting

As the global geopolitical situation grows increasingly volatile by the day, many are working on ways to institute blockchain technology into the voting system. Providing a way to keep votes safe, experts believe that blockchain will play a significant role in the future of voting.

Worker Productivity

With many employees now distracted by a plethora of time-sucking devices and applications, blockchain technology designed to monitor their progress is now in the midst of being developed.

Digital Art

For those who are budding O’Keefes and Picassos, it might be time to turn to the blockchain in order to monetize some artwork. With a startup laying out its vision for “crypto collectibles,” it seems more and more likely that the next great artist may be discovered as a result of blockchain technology.

Selling Solar Power

A new startup in Brooklyn is allowing the owners of solar panels to profit from their excess energy by selling it to others who’d like to use it. With no power company in the middle, an app allows neighbors to compensate one another by being green.

Dental Records

As we all know, there is a multitude of very important uses for dental records. Because blockchain provides a secure method of distributing data, one token is taking on the dental industry with a vengeance, promising to allow healthcare professionals to relay important information to one another.

CryptoKitties

If you aren’t in the position to take a pet into your home, think about getting your hands on some CryptoKitties! Powered by the blockchain, this game even offers virtual pet owners the opportunity to breed cats. With prices shooting up to over $100,000 for just one cat, this craze doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.

Rewards Programs and Loyalty Points

For those who are sick of having to track their loyalty points with different companies, blockchain technology may offer a convenient and exciting way to keep everything in one place.

Pros and Cons of Wearable Technology

By Jacob Parker-Bowles

On May 10, 2018

In Jacob Parker-Bowles

Wearable technology: Snapchat Spectacles, Fitbit fitness tracker, Apple Watch, Google glasses.

The concept of wearable technology has been a sought-after market since creative minds put it in mainstream media (yes, I am referencing movies).

One out of six consumers in the U.S. currently owns and uses wearable technology, according to multiple sources. Whether its a watch that allows them to make a phone call or a bracelet that tracks your calories burned, Americans are all in when it comes to technology of the future.

Although the successes of wearable tech are far more discussed than the failures and its impact is further reaching than ever, it remains essential to consider the pros and cons of wearable technology for citizens.

Pro:

Convenient. As a society, one of the top things we look for is convenience, which is one of the most significant selling points of wearable technology. You can easily monitor your progress of exercise or steps are taken without giving it one bit of attention. Other wearable technologies take the convenience even further. For example, the Apple Watch allows users to learn essential news stories, check messages and keep themselves informed with a glance at their watch.

Useful. In 2014, Rackspace and Goldsmiths released a survey that found wearable tech increased the productivity of employees by 8.5% and increased with overall level of job satisfaction by 3.5%. It is suggested that combining wearable tech with particular applications could improve a variety of businesses processes.

Hands-Free User Experience. This aspect is one that is often mentioned when selling products. As we get busier and busier as a society, improvements to wearable tech allow us to do more than ever before. In specific enterprise settings, such as manufacturing and oil and gas companies, hands-on products are very profitable.

Con:

Expensive. The prices for an individual piece of wearable technology are jaw-dropping. For instance, the cheapest version of the Apple Watch costs around $350 and the current Fitbits go from $100 to $250 depending on the features included. The expense of the tech is immediately called to question by the longevity of the products.

Data Accuracy. One of the biggest critical critiques of wearable tech, such as the Fitbit, is the accuracy of its data. There needs more development in the accuracy of each’s physiological measurements, as well as better positioning for sensors to analyze data.

Charging. This is the #1 top issue with wearable technology. Currently, device manufacturers are researching ways to extend battery life, while also looking for a natural charging solution. It seems that the answer to these issues will be wireless charging, which can hopefully lead to actual waterproof tech.

The Push for More Online-Only Banking

By Jacob Parker-Bowles

On October 25, 2017

In FinTech, Jacob Parker-Bowles

The Push for More Online-Only Banking

While it is a fact that some people will always prefer a brick and mortar service to manage their banking needs, it is also true that more and more people are choosing online banking as a more viable alternative. For many, the benefits of online banking result in customers being split between banking with institutions that offer online banking along with brick and mortar services but also turning to banks that operate entirely without a physical location. If you are unsure about whether the benefits of online-only banks can outweigh those of traditional banks, let me give you some facts, and you can decide.

Convenience

The most straightforward reason for the popularity of online banking is ease of use. Online banking affords the user the ability to bank wherever there is an internet connection. A customer’s phone, laptop, or tablet can instantly become the portal that connects them to their bank. With online banking, there is no need for a commute, and there are no lines to brave in wait of a teller. Also, internet banks are not restricted to banking hours. With the use of personal devices, the internet banking customer can virtually enter their bank 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Better Account Rates

Internet banks have much lower operating costs than conventional banks. Many times these savings are passed on to customers in the form of more favorable account rates. For the most part, banking customers receive higher rates of return on savings and checking accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. This interest can cause accounts to grow exponentially, which means better long-term gains for customers.

Better Loan Rates

The savings enjoyed by internet banking customers does not end at savings account rates. Loan interest rates are also affected. Those who utilize online banks tend to get better interest rates for mortgages, mortgage refinances, auto loans, and loans for personal use. This can dramatically reduce the amount of interest these customers must pay back over the lifetime of the loan.

Relief From Fees

Disgruntled bank customers have lamented for many years about the cost of fees associated with brick and mortar banks. These fees are numerous and, despite numerous customer complaints, have only seemed to increase. Traditional banks regularly increase ATM fees, overdraft fees, monthly maintenance fees, and other fees, which make it more and more expensive for a customer to spend their own money. Internet banks have much fewer charges associated with their usage, and some do not charge their customers at all. In fact, some online-only banks will pay you back for any ATM surcharges you accrue by using their competition’s ATMs.

Customers looking to switch to an online bank should be careful to appraise the security of these banks identically as they would with a traditional bank. This means any bank considered must be insured at the very least. Insurance is essential for a bank to have, because it allows for customers to receive all of their money in the event of a drastic situation, such as a bank robbery or bankruptcy.

While it is clear that brick and mortar banks are in no danger of becoming extinct within the next decade, it is clear is that online banking will only become more popular as time progresses. Banks with no physical address will become more prevalent because of the perks they offer, while physical banks will struggle to keep up.

Fintech Around the World

By Jacob Parker-Bowles

On September 21, 2017

In FinTech, Jacob Parker-Bowles

Fintech, short for financial technology, is a commonplace term in first world economies such as those of the United States and Europe. Even if you don’t work in the finance sector, you are probably familiar with it. It makes its way into the news all the time with hyperbolic speculation about how fintech will be the ultimate disruptor of traditional banking, overturning archaic legacy systems. It’s true that financial technologies have shaken up traditional financial markets to a certain extent, but exactly how much and in what ways varies across the globe.

To get a sense of how much the fintech sector is disrupting markets, we should look at stock investments in the major fintech markets around the world, on both a macro and micro scale. Overall, fintech has taken the world by storm. According to statistics collected from the 2017 FinTech Adoption Index, the average adoption rate of fintech products around the world is 33 percent- up from 15 percent in 2015. Even in emerging markets such as India, Brazil, China, Mexico, and South Africa, the adoption rate is about 50 percent. Fintech funding around the world totaled $49.7 billion between 2010 and 2015, and $25.8 billion in 2016 alone. As of 2016, there were approximately 1,400 fintech companies throughout 54 countries.

In the macrocosm, it is clear that fintech is a dominant and growing force, but to understand its impact on a deeper level, one should examine regional trends. Here is how the fintech sector plays out across European, U.S., and Asian markets, based on recent data from GP Bullhound and CB Insights.

United States

The United States is a hotspot for fintech activity, representing nearly half (46%) of all global fintech startups valued at $1 billion or more (or unicorns, in finance speak). The United States exhibits a fairly consistent trend over recent quarters where the volume of fintech deals being made is decreasing while the amounts are increasing. The reason for this trend can be attributed to a shift toward large-scale private investments, which could affect the supply of venture capital funding to other startups.

Europe

Fintech investments in European markets, in contrast to the purely capitalist United States, tend to be smaller and more regulated. Only one European fintech investment as of the second quarter of 2017 exceeded $50 million in value. Although the volume and value of investments have decreased since the first quarter of the year, investments follow a pattern according to the European financial year, whereby investors seeks to capitalize on early-stage fintech startups before the end of the fiscal year. Additionally, traditional banking models in the UK are starting to give way to technology-driven ones, as can be seen in ClearBank, the first UK clearing bank built on cloud technology rather than legacy systems.

Asia

The Asian fintech market has experienced rapid growth in the second quarter of the 2017 fiscal year, with deal value and volume both experiencing five-quarter highs. The reason for the spike in Asian fintech markets can be explained by huge investments in financial technologies alongside traditional financial institutions. Rather than disrupting traditional institutions, fintech businesses in Asia tend to supplement the existing infrastructure.

It’s easy to make generalizations about fintech and the effect it has on traditional financial markets around the world, but when we take a step back and examine how it plays out across key markets, it becomes apparent that fintech has a long way to go before it becomes the ultimate disrupter of financial markets people speculate. For now, it exists within a highly volatile market where traditional systems such as legacy banks continue to exist alongside fintech startups, many of them gradually morphing their financial offerings.

How Retailers Are Retaining Relevancy

By Jacob Parker-Bowles

On June 7, 2017

In FinTech, Jacob Parker-Bowles

It’s not hard to spot the decline in brick-and-mortar stores. If you were alive in the 90s, you probably remember lounging with a book and listening to the CDs in Borders, testing out the gadgets in Sharper Image, checking out the flat-screen TVs at H.H. Gregg, picking out your next VHS for movie night at Blockbuster, and trying on sneakers at Sports Authority. None of these stores exist today. Even shopping malls are gradually becoming obsolete, with many closing a vast majority of their retail stores and becoming these cavernous, eerie ghost towns.

As more and more retail stores switch to e-commerce only or become acquired by other retailers, the ones left standing will have to get creative and come up with ways to retain their relevance in a tech-dominated world where 79 percent of U.S. consumers shopping online and 42 percent ranking convenience as an important factor for shopping online versus traveling to a store, according to a study from Pew Research. Online shopping grew at a rate of 12% year-over-year since 2009 compared to 4.5% for retail sales according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s monthly retail report.

When technology is the name of the game, the most logical thing retailers could do is utilize it to appeal to a tech-driven society- and that is exactly what some retailers are starting to do. According to leading technology research and consulting firm, Gartner, “traditional stores will have a place in the future with a new model that will blend the digital with the physical.” Enter, artificial intelligence (AI).

Artificial intelligence is the use of machines to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. AI has both amazing potential and also some concerning implications- if we continue to outsource human tasks to robots, will we reach a day when there is no longer the need for human labor? Thankfully, that day has not yet arrived, and maybe it never well. AI is just starting to manifest in the form of personal assistants like Amazon Echo and Google Home.

One of the ways brick-and-mortar retailers are competing with online retail is by collecting customer data through video surveillance. Online vendors have always had an advantage over physical retailers in combatting cybercrime in that they store all of their customers’ data. Now, facial recognition technology and floor-level cameras allow retailers to predict the age and gender of customers and even analyze customer reactions to products. Retailers like Walmart and IBM are already implementing this technology.

Another way retailers are employing data and AI to stay on the cutting edge is through in-store help. Target plans to equip all associates with technology that will enable them to deliver superior customer service by searching inventory across the company, setting up shipping, and taking payment from the customer mobly. Lowes is taking it one step further by launching robots to assist customers on the floor, keep track of inventory, and analyze shopping patterns.

A final way retailers can take advantage of AI is by leveraging the internet to obtain key data about customers and make their shopping experience more personalized. By monitoring trends among shoppers, retailers will have a better idea of what to sell and how to attract customers.

Technology ultimately encroaches upon every corner of human life, albeit at a slower place in some parts of the world, and it is the difference between institutions that succeed and those that fail.

Fintech: Startups vs. Big Banks

By Jacob Parker-Bowles

On May 31, 2017

In FinTech, Jacob Parker-Bowles

Fintech is taking control of the future of finance across the world. There are multiple aspects of financial technology that will be shaping the way we handle the exchange of money. Whether it be transactions from smartphone or advancements in accounting, fintech has full control of how we manage finances in the 21st Century.

Adapt or Die

With apps already out like Venmo, large corporations are trying to get ahead in the technological race to adapt fintech. Apple has already begun to get a leg-up on the fintech world by releasing Apple Pay. The accessibility of money has been demanded by consumers and Apple is listening. Big banks are starting to find they may be losing the battle against financial technology if they do not adapt. While this may be bad news for traditional small banks, large financial corporations are beginning to invest in fintech start-ups.

The advantages for big banks to invest in these start-ups are due to their ability to have fast innovation and edge. As well, financial technology allows users to make decisions that are more precise and fast. Why would customers stay at slow financial institutions when they have the ability to utilize resources like one-click loans or secure credit card processing?

A Mutual Relationship

Banks have viewed the growth of financial technological companies as a threat to their business and industry. Yet, there is a great opportunity between large financial corporations and fintech companies trying to gain traction. Large banks need the innovation that these start-ups have and the start-ups need the financial support and tracking that the banks can give them. Partnerships between the industries could prove beneficial for both.

Essentially, it comes down to both parties finding a middle ground to benefit from one another. The heart of fintech comes down to innovation, collaboration, and openness. If banks do not realize this and change their business model, they may end up on the sidelines while small start-ups take their place.

Across The Globe

Countries like Brazil have started to see the effects of banks not collaborating with new fintech businesses. Many large banks such as Itau and Banco Bradesco has slowly been closing their physical banking centers due to the changes in the industry.

India’s banks, which dominate the country’s financial landscape, also have a grim outlook. An online payment company, Paytm, announced a $1.4 billion invest while large banks are struggling to keep up.

Convenience Over Customer Service? How Online Banks Appeal to a Changing Clientele

By Jacob Parker-Bowles

On May 8, 2017

In FinTech, Jacob Parker-Bowles

There is an unfortunate tradeoff with the implementation of new technology: the more advanced technology becomes, the less personalized our world is as a result. When simple jobs can be performed by robots, as many now can, there’s no need to invest the money into human labor. At certain restaurants, people can place their orders via iPads. You can pay your friends back through an app on your phone without having to travel to an ATM to take out cash. You can book an entire vacation from your phone. You can place an order online without the need to talk with a human until your food arrives at your doorstep. Luckily, the need and desire for human interaction in the way we conduct business still exists, so technology has not eclipsed customer service entirely. But it seems that things could be headed in that direction, and banks are one sector where we can already see that trend.

Without that crucial customer service element, what remains to retain customers? As paradoxical as it may sound, banks are attracting new customers by keeping them away. “Banks are finding new growth opportunities through online and mobile channels, proving once more that consumers are increasingly attracted to the convenience and speed of mobile and online solutions,” says letstalkpayments.com.

When so many people, especially the millennial generation, turn to their phones for just about everything, it only makes sense that banks would tap into that lucrative channel, prioritizing convenience over customer service. Bank transactions dropped off by nearly 50 percent between 1992 and 2012, as online and mobile capabilities came into play. In order to retain customers, banks have had to play by new rules to appeal to a changing clientele.

Some banks are combining new technologies with traditional banking elements to appeal to a younger generation. For example, Savings Bank of Danbury in Connecticut just opened a new branch, and they pulled out all the bells and whistles to cater to tech-savvy millennials. Instead of a person, a large screen recounting the bank’s history in an ongoing loop greets customers as they walk through the door. The new branch features lounges with iPads and laptops where customers can interact with bank staff through technology, rather than face-to-face in a traditional teller line.

According to Martin J. Geitz, president of Simsbury Bank, the millennial generation are outgrowing the baby boomer generation, and as such are coming to define the economy. Says Geitz:

We are now embarking on the threshold of the millennial generation driving the economy as so many are entering the workforce and their demands and tastes for products and services will really define what banks offer and other consumer-driven products. The millennial generation grew up with a smartphone in their pocket. They have a different relationship with technology than we do. It’s important that we provide functionality at their fingertips.

Banks are offering a variety of features that allow customers to conduct all of their finance needs remotely, without ever setting foot in a bank. For instance, people can now transfer money to one another through cardless ATMs and checks can be deposited through an app on one’s phone just by taking a picture of it. In fact, there is an entirely new breed of banks that’s risen up in response that is moving away from brick and mortar locations entirely, operating solely online. An example of an online bank is Simple, aptly named for its mission to make the banking process as simple and convenient as possible. The bank gained more than 100,00 customers in its first two years and was promptly snatched up by Spain’s second largest bank, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA).

For the time being, brick and mortar banks are here to stay. They may not be the grand, pillared buildings of years past, with imposing high ceilings and marble floors, but nonetheless, there is a large fraction of the general populace that doesn’t fully embrace or understand technology, and still desires a certain degree of customer service. Mobile banking technology will continue to expand, but it will need to do so in such a way that combines the service of traditional banks with the convenience of online banking.

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The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Finance

By Jacob Parker-Bowles

On March 30, 2017

In FinTech, Jacob Parker-Bowles

You’ve probably heard of the word fintech before, short for financial technology- just about everyone has these days. It’s usually a trending hashtag on Twitter. However, for those outside the finance sector, your understanding of what financial technology actually is and how it affects the industry may be somewhat limited. I don’t mean to insult anyone’s intelligence here; I simply mean that unless you actually keep up with trends in the finance industry, it would be difficult to have a firm understanding of the technologies that are being applied to it, as they’re constantly evolving.

Up-and-coming financial technology companies have the user in mind, as they work to optimize the user experience and streamline financial transactions through artificial intelligence. Artificial Intelligence, often abbreviated AI, can be thought of as a group of related technologies training machines to respond to and simulate the human brain. These related technologies include: “natural language processing (improving interactions between computers and human or ‘natural languages), machine learning (computer programs that can ‘learn’ when exposed to new data) and expert systems (software programmed to provide advice).” While this is all well and good for everyday people who just want to simplify their finances, banks are being forced into a position where they will have to either respond and adapt, or fail.

The financial landscape is rapidly changing, and it isn’t sticking around for stragglers. According to BBC News, “Machines are now responsible for most of the activity on Wall Street.” The stock market floor of a few years ago, with traders frantically shouting and signaling to make deals on commodities, is not the floor of today. Computers can respond in a matter of nanoseconds, whereas the average human response time is half a second. When it comes to stocks, every millisecond matters, so machines and high efficiency traders trained in these machines have started to take the place of traditional traders.

With Wall Street already responding to changing technology, it’s only a matter of time before banks and financial services will be forced to respond as well. As the latest Technology Tool for Today (T3) conference demonstrates, a number of finance companies are eager to jump on the bandwagon. Fidelity’s eMoney conducted a live AI demonstration of an interaction between Alexa and eMoney’s eMX personal finance platform in which Alexa could answer questions such as how much is in one’s bank account. EMoney also showed off a new virtual reality 3D financial planning experience where users can learn how to manage their finances through an online guide and communicate with an advisor afterwards through a video session- all from the convenience of home. Another fintech company, Redtail Technology, introduced a newer, more user-friendly version of their CRM software.

While AI presents a major disruption to business across multiple industries, the finance industry realizes its incredible potential. The finance industry is very much user-dictated, so any technology that will enhance the customer experience and make them more likely to trust in a bank’s services cannot really be a bad thing. Banks will simply need to rise to the challenge, because as research suggests, AI could double economic growth rates in 20 countries and increase labor productivity by 40 percent by 2035. According to Forbes:

Artificial intelligence provides banks, capital markets firms and insurers with an enormously powerful set of tools to transform and streamline some of their most fundamental financial processes. The challenge for many, however, is not only to identify and adopt the best AI technologies but to reshape and rethink their operating model and talent development to take advantage of AI’s transformative capabilities.