The Pace of Change- Don’t Just Brace Yourself, Equip Yourself
I think we can all agree that the pace of change impacting credit union operations in 2020 was- without the risk of hyperbole- unprecedented. Branches closed for extended periods. Employees performed core duties from home that conventional wisdom long held were impossible to move off premise.
What’s So Special about SPACs?
My barometer for when an arcane finance topic has crossed into the mainstream tilts when my twentysomething artist daughter asks me about it. We’ve already had two such events this year- first came the “short squeeze” around the GameStop fiasco. Now we have Special Purpose Acquisition Corporations (SPACs), which even Hollywood celebrities are suddenly embracing as the “it” investment vehicle.
What Makes SPACs So Special?
Glen chats with Wall Street veteran and Forbes contributor Jeff Gapusan about the meteoric rise of SPACs and the sudden appeal of this obscure (until recently) investment vehicle. Als
The Future (and Past) of Cash
Like virtually every aspect of life, the COVID-19 pandemic has altered our relationship with cash- perhaps permanently in some aspects, but temporarily in others. This makes it an intriguing time for an industry conference titled The Future of Cash. I’m sure some snarky folks will quip that cash has no future.
Hacking a Tesla? Or a Credit Union?
“Recovering hacker” Alissa Knight shares her frightening first-hand experience breaching dozens of mobile banking apps and other Internet of Things embedded systems. Also- Ant Financials’ lower valuation and the UK’s Buy Now Pay Later reckoning.
Car Buyers and Rule Makers
Credit Union Journal editor Aaron Passman discusses the trends he’s watching in the credit union space- including unexpected car shopping, states revamping regulation, and the ongoing hunt for scale. Plus the latest twists in the GameStop/Reddit saga.
The GameStop Aftermath- What to Watch For
If I gave you a tip in early January on a stock that proceeded to triple in price in less than a month you’d be pretty happy, right? That’s hardly the prevailing attitude about GameStop, however. Of course, this is because the until-recently disregarded stock was briefly up more than twenty-fold in the interim.
Placing WallStreetBets on GameStop
John and Glen have very different views on the causes and impacts behind the investment activity roiling GameStop, AMC, and other stocks. Their spirited debate considers whether Robinhood is really robbing the rich and if there are any good guys in this battle, among other issues.
Where Will the SolarWinds Blow Next?
For a few weeks in December the SolarWinds software breach was big news. Like so many events these days, however, it was soon crowded out of the headlines- which I suspect is just fine with security experts, who prefer to combat these threats outside the glare of attention.
Consumers Want Digital- But What Does That Mean?
Glen speaks with Karl Dahlgren about BAI’s annual Banking Outlook and some potential disconnects between consumer and industry focus areas. Also, the latest on Affirm, Plaid, Walmart’s fintech foray, and changes at the CFPB and OCC.