Podcasts about pay later bnpl

New job, more income — now what? Hear how one listener is managing his Roth IRA, health savings account, high-yield savings, and more. Is it smart to use a Roth IRA like a savings account? How should you prioritize your money across savings, debt, and retirement after getting a higher-paying job? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola answer a listener's question about managing multiple financial goals and choosing the right accounts for short- and long-term needs. But first, they share their money hot takes, including Elizabeth's thoughts on Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) loans and Sean's interest in stronger pro-consumer protections in light of recent federal rollbacks. Then, they talk to listener Jake, who recently relocated for a new job and is navigating how to allocate his money now that he's earning a bigger paycheck. Jake wants to know if it makes sense to use a Roth IRA for savings and how to simplify or optimize his mix of bank accounts. They cover how to prioritize emergency savings, retirement contributions, and future goals like a home purchase, all while avoiding analysis paralysis and making the most of high-yield savings accounts. Inspired to navigate your finances with an advisor? Use NerdWallet Advisors Match to find vetted professionals today at https://www.nerdwalletadvisors.com/match  Learn more about NerdWallet Wealth Partners: https://nerdwalletwealthpartners.com/  Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: how to use a Roth IRA for savings, Roth IRA withdrawal rules, high yield savings account vs Roth IRA, best high yield savings accounts, what is a CD ladder, Buy Now Pay Later pros and cons, budgeting after a raise, how to prioritize financial goals, how to automate savings, how to manage multiple bank accounts, closing bank accounts and credit score, best place to save for house down payment, emergency fund vs Roth IRA, what to do after getting a new job, student loan repayment benefits, HSA contribution strategy, how to save for a house in 5 years, budgeting in high cost of living area, saving for short-term goals, pros and cons of online-only banks, how to overcome analysis paralysis in finance, Roth IRA vs high yield savings account, how to choose a bank, CFPB budget cuts impact, FTC click-to-cancel rule rollback, responsible use of debt, financial planning for tech professionals, credit score impact of closing bank accounts, reverse budgeting explained, safe ways to grow savings, how to build financial peace, using automation in budgeting, HSA vs IRA vs savings, debt vs savings prioritization, how to start a CD ladder, and when not to invest money. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charlie Youakim, CEO and Co-Founder of Sezzle, joins OPTO Sessions to discuss company's journey from startup to a leading public company in the fintech space, the evolution of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) model and record growth in the past 12 months.If you enjoyed this interview, consider subscribing to our Substack channel for more in-depth insights designed to help you invest smarter: https://optoforesight.substack.com/Create your Own Stock Index & Invest Smarter with OPTO Folios: https://optothemes.onelink.me/BZDG/ti2lb2fdLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/opto-invest-in-innovation-308416193/ X: https://twitter.com/OptoThemes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opto.themes?igsh=MXhwenU4dTk4aDBqMw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OptoThemes-----The content in this podcast is for informational purposes only. Opto Markets LLC does not recommend any specific securities or investment strategies. Investing involves risk & investments may lose value, including the loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should consider their investment objectives and risks carefully before investing. The information provided is not an endorsement of this product and is for information and/or educational purposes only.

Understand how Buy Now, Pay Later financing options affect your credit and learn smart strategies for using a six-figure inheritance wisely. How does Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) affect your credit score? What's the smartest way to invest or use an unexpected inheritance? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss the evolving credit implications of BNPL services and break down how to manage a money windfall responsibly. Joined by NerdWallet's Anna Helhoski and Jackie Veling, they begin with a deep dive into BNPL, including how it works, why it's becoming more prominent in credit reporting, and how it can either help or hurt your credit depending on your habits. Key takeaways include how new FICO scoring models treat BNPL loans, tips for avoiding pitfalls like loan stacking, and whether BNPL is a wise tool for building credit. Then, investing Nerd Alana Benson joins Sean and Elizabeth to help answer a listener's question about what to do with a $124,000 inheritance. They walk through thoughtful allocation strategies across emergency savings, debt payoff, investing, and even making room for some guilt-free fun. Topics include how timelines impact where you park your money, differences between IRAs and taxable brokerage accounts, when to use a robo-advisor, and how fees can quietly erode returns. Use NerdWallet's free expense ratio calculator to enter your initial investment, future contributions, time horizon and projected annual return in order to compare two expense ratios and find out how much you could lose by choosing the more expensive fund: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/mutual-fund-expense-ratios  Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: BNPL credit score, FICO 10 score, how to use BNPL responsibly, BNPL and credit bureaus, new FICO credit model, inheritance investing, what to do with a windfall, best way to invest $100k, pay off student loans or invest, CD vs high-yield savings, high-yield checking account, IRA contribution limits, Roth IRA or brokerage account, how to use a robo-advisor, best robo-advisors 2025, IRA vs brokerage, investing after inheritance, compound interest calculator, how to build credit, down payment savings tips, investing timelines, financial planning after inheritance, robo advisor fees, expense ratio impact, credit building strategies, high-yield CD rates, traditional vs Roth IRA, 457 plan investing, state employee retirement options, financial windfall tax strategy, 529 college savings plan, credit score and BNPL, and BNPL late payments impact. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) financing continues to grow in popularity. These short-term loans, which are typically 6 weeks and usually interest-free, appeal to consumers who want flexible payments and no credit card debt.Consumer advocates warn that BNPL services make it too easy for people to purchase items they can't afford, which can result in late fees and costly bank charges. Personal finance experts worry about the growing number of people who use BNPL to buy everyday items, such as groceries, gasoline, and food delivery services.In this episode, we discuss how BNPL works, the possible pitfalls, and the smart way to use these short-term loans.Related Consumerpedia Episodes:Episode 80: Debt Busters: Real-Life Success StoriesEpisode 50: Finding a Credit Card That's Right for YouAdditional Resources:Bankrate: About half of buy now, pay later users have experienced issues like overspending and missing paymentsNational Consumer Law Center: Risks and Advice for Buy Now, Pay Later BorrowersConsumer Financial Protection Bureau: CFPB Research Reveals Heavy Buy Now, Pay Later Use Among Borrowers with High Credit Balances and Multiple Pay-in-Four LoansNot a Checkbook member? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

"Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) can feel like a "treat yourself" pass, but it's not magic; it's psychology. This episode looks at why BNPL systems are so seductive, especially for those with financial instability or emotional trauma. We also look at actionable steps to manage BNPL use, such as identifying the emotions behind spending and addressing financial shame.Transcript: https://savvy-psychologist.simplecast.com/episodes/how-buy-now-pay-later-companies-use-psychology-to-hook-you/transcriptSavvy Psychologist is hosted by Dr. Monica Johnson. Have a mental health question? Email us at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com. Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.Links: https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologisthttps://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologisthttps://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsychhttps://www.kindmindpsych.com/

Buy Now, Pay Later providers like Afterpay and Zip have been hit with new government regulations. The new laws classify the products as a form of credit, requiring responsible lending obligations, credit checks and further protections for customers, but what does that mean for the roughly 40 per cent of Australians who use the products? - Ang mga kumpanyang nagbibigay ng Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) gaya ng Afterpay at Zip ay sakop na ngayon ng bagong batas. Pero ano ang epekto nito sa higit 40% ng mga Australyanong gumagamit ng ganitong paraan ng pagbabayad?

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services like Afterpay and Zip are now officially treated as credit products under new Australian regulations. From mandatory credit checks to tighter consumer protections, the reforms aim to curb rising debt and protect vulnerable users. While advocates welcome this long-overdue move, concerns remain about people juggling multiple BNPL accounts and falling into debt traps. With late fees historically making up a large share of revenue, the changes mark a major shift in how these services operate.

Alex shares a candid take on the risks behind the rise of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services like Klarna, Afterpay, and Affirm.Inspired by a recent LinkedIn post and his appearance on the Moneywise for Teens podcast, Alex breaks down why these easy credit options aren't always as harmless as they seem—especially for younger consumers.Learn how BNPL can lead to overspending, credit pitfalls, and long-term financial stress—and why “Save Now, Buy Later” is a far better mantra.Take a Survey for a Chance to WinHey friends—can you do me a quick favor? I'm running a short survey to get your take on my podcasts and ⁠⁠All the Fits That's News⁠⁠ newsletter. It only takes about 2 minutes, and your feedback will help shape what comes next.Whether you're a regular listener or just pop in occasionally, I'd really value your input. Bonus: you can enter to win a $20 Amazon gift card just for participating.The survey closes once we hit our target number of responses—or by June 30, 2025, whichever comes first.

Brittany keeps looking at a new couch online, and every time she goes to buy it she sees an option to "Buy Now, Pay Later," which made her wonder...should she? Here's what she found:Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) loans have become one of the go-to ways to get access to credit fast. Companies like Klarna, Affirm, and Afterpay make buying big purchases relatively easy by allowing people to pay in installments over time. But some Americans have taken to using this method for everyday items like groceries, and when BNPL service providers like Klarna partners with DoorDash so customers can "eat now, pay later"... it feels like a debt trap waiting to happen. And that's just scratching the surface.This... is Money Troubles.And for the past few weeks we've been looking into the ways everyday people are trying to make ends meet... and what it says about how our culture views labor, basic needs, or even our favorite pastimes.In this final episode, NPR Life Kit's Andee Tagle and author Malcolm Harris join Brittany to get into why Buy Now, Pay Later has become so popular and how 'cheap credit' may be another lifestyle subsidy for a new generation.You can hear more of Andee's and Life Kit's reporting on Buy Now, Pay Later here.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” — Luke 12:15In an age of instant gratification, getting what we want has never been easier, even if we can't afford it. But as “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL) services become increasingly popular, they're quietly reshaping our relationship with money, debt, and even contentment. Let's explore how these programs work, why they're spiritually and financially dangerous, and how Scripture invites us into a better way.What Is Buy Now, Pay Later?Originally used for large purchases like furniture or electronics, BNPL services now allow consumers to split nearly any purchase into multiple payments—even cheeseburgers. DoorDash, for example, lets customers finance their food in four installments. The convenience may seem harmless, but it can mask deeper issues.Companies like Klarna, Afterpay, Affirm, Zip, Sezzle, and PayPal offer these options at checkout. According to Experian, more than 80% of U.S. shoppers have used BNPL. The ease is attractive, but the long-term impact can be devastating.BNPL makes it seem like you're not going into debt, but that's exactly what's happening. Small recurring payments across multiple platforms add up fast, leading to overdraft fees, financial stress, and, in many cases, high interest rates—some as high as 36% for missed or extended payments.A $60 DoorDash meal split into four $15 payments doesn't seem bad—until you do it for every meal. Or take a $3,000 couch bought with a BNPL plan: one missed payment, and that couch could ultimately cost $8,000 due to fees and interest.Scripture's Warnings About DebtThe Bible doesn't shy away from warning us about the dangers of debt. Proverbs 22:7 tells us, “The borrower is the slave of the lender.” Debt isn't just a financial issue—it can become an emotional and spiritual burden, dividing our attention and devotion.In Luke 12:15, Jesus reminds us that “life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Yet BNPL feeds the lie that more stuff equals more satisfaction. Instead of trusting God to provide, we try to manufacture comfort and control through impulsive spending.Why are we tempted to buy now and pay later? Often, it's not out of need, but out of insecurity, impatience, or discontentment. Paul models a better path in Philippians 4:11–13: “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content...I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”True contentment doesn't come from a checkout screen—it comes from trusting the Lord to provide, even when the budget feels tight.A Better Way: Practical and Spiritual WisdomSo, how do we resist the pull of BNPL and grow in godly contentment?Practically:Build margin. Save up for purchases ahead of time.Budget for “wants.” Use a separate category or envelope system.Set spending limits. Use cash or debit card to help avoid overspending.Spiritually:Examine your heart. Ask: Am I trusting God, or just trying to feel better?Pursue contentment. Let God define your enough.Practice gratitude. Train your heart to see God's provision in what you already have.Freedom to Live GenerouslySaying no to unnecessary debt frees us to say yes to generosity. When we live with open hands and open hearts, we reflect the freedom we have in Christ—freedom from striving, fear, and scarcity. And that's far better than four easy payments.So next time you see a “Pay in 4” button, pause. Ask yourself: Do I really need this? Can I pay for it in full? And does this reflect trust in God, or just in a payment plan?Wise stewardship begins with contentment, and contentment begins with Christ.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:My husband and I are sending our son on a five-week mission trip to Scotland. We're debt-free and want our kids to stay that way. I'm hesitant to open a credit card, but what's the best, safest way to give him access to money while he's overseas?We recently sold our home at a profit, bought a new one, and are now debt-free. However, the new home needs repairs, and we still have a mortgage. Should we tithe on the profit from the home sale, or use those funds for the house needs?I'm a recently retired teacher with two annuities—one worth $19,000 and the other about $13,000. I've just opened an IRA and wonder if I should roll the annuities into it, or if there might be a better strategy.I've inherited a large amount of cash-valued property and need guidance on how to manage it wisely, especially to minimize potential tax liability.We paid off our home in October 2024. Do we need the deed and title to protect ourselves from fraud, or is it handled automatically?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Christian Credit CounselorsWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money (Pre-Order)Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

We're taking some time to highlight some of our best Gymsplain Episodes, like this one discussing the pros and cons of buy now, pay later or pay in four options popular on most websites! On this episode of Financially Naked: Stories from The Financial Gym, we'll be taking a closer look at Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) payment options. In the convenience and instant gratification age, these payment options have become more popular. BNPL options allow consumers to purchase products and services instantly while spreading out the payments over time. On the surface, they seem like a great option, but as with any financial tool, the pros and cons must be considered.  To have this conversation, two of our Certified Financial Trainers, Hector Lopez and Kylie Lipinksi, are here to explore how these apps work, their benefits, and the potential downsides you'll want to consider before using BNPL apps. Analyzing all aspects of these tools is crucial to make informed decisions about our financial well-being.  For more details check out our show notes here! If you want to work with a Certified Financial Trainer to help navigate your finances, schedule a free warm-up call today! If you have any ideas or questions for the show, send an email to trainerpodcast@fingyms.com.    

Fluid is a B2B Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solution based in Singapore, designed to simplify payment processes and improve cash flow for businesses. By integrating directly with ERPs, accounting systems, and e-commerce platforms, Fluid allows suppliers to receive payment upfront, while offering buyers flexible payment options. Fluid’s technology provides quick credit assessments and reduces the risks of late payments, helping businesses unlock cash flow and grow. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Trasy Lou Walsh, CEO, Fluid Financial, to find out more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this conversation, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt are joined by co-host of the Prof G Markets podcast with Scott Galloway, and host the First Time Founders podcast Ed Elson to discuss the economic challenges faced by Gen Z, including their financial struggles, housing affordability, and the rising costs of education. Ed highlights the generational wealth gap, the impact of debt, and the political engagement of Gen Z, emphasizing the need for action beyond social media advocacy. Together they delve into the disconnect between wealth and economic outcomes, particularly focusing on the impact of tariffs and taxation on different socioeconomic classes. They discuss the need for wealth redistribution through new tax policies and the challenges faced by younger generations in navigating financial landscapes. The conversation also touches on the importance of civic engagement and voting, as well as the growing epidemic of loneliness in society. Chapters:00:00 Introduction01:49 Understanding Gen Z's economic struggles06:22 Comparative analysis of the US, UK, and Canada08:34 Factoring in the housing affordability crisis13:29 The debt dilemma: Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)17:26 The rising cost of education in America21:35 Gen Z's political engagement and activism25:17 Tariffs, stocks, assets and wealth inequality27:38 Taxation and wealth redistribution31:23 The disconnect between wealth and economic outcomes34:08 Investing in stocks and not in crypto38:04 Seeing an opportunity in A.I.41:44 The power of voting and civic engagement44:33 Addressing loneliness and societal trends46:36 The time to turn it around is nowResearch/Links:Can Homes Become Affordable Without Prices Going Down?Trade War Chaos Drives Massive Volatility — ft. Gary Stevenson | Prof G MarketsWhy Tariffs Could Crush Canada's Economy — ft. Mike Moffatt | Prof G MarketsAverage Age Stat of a Home Buyer in America:AI vs. Gen Z: The Hiring War Has BegunExtended Cut: A$AP Rocky Gets Smoooth | KlarnaThe whole E.S.G. thingGuest:Ed Elson https://x.com/edels0nhttps://podcasts.voxmedia.com/host/ed-elsonHosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux Produced by Meredith Martin This podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation and brought to you by the Smart Prosperity Institute.

Joe Heck, CEO of Zip, joins me on the Tearsheet Podcast to discuss the evolution of alternative payment solutions in the US. Zip is a leading Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) company. Joe shares lessons from his 20 years of experience in consumer lending and fintech payment solutions. Heck brings insights from his previous leadership roles at Happy Money and TrueStage. Heck's background plays a role in his approach to financial services. Growing up in Flint, Michigan, he understands the challenges of paycheck-to-paycheck living. “There's a consumer base largely ignored by traditional financial systems,” Heck explains. “FICO doesn't serve them well, but they have a great ability to pay.” Zip focuses on providing financial flexibility to these consumers. It offers structured repayment plans that don't push them into revolving debt. According to Heck, “We win when the consumer wins. If they can't pay us back, our model doesn't work either.” The Big Ideas BNPL's Growth Potential in the US – With only 2% of payments currently in BNPL, there is significant room for expansion compared to markets like Europe and Australia. Financial Inclusion for Underserved Consumers – Zip is focusing on consumers who don't fit traditional credit models but have strong repayment potential. “We provide access when and where they need it,” says Heck. Strategic Partnerships Drive Accessibility – Integrations with Stripe and retailers like GameStop are making BNPL more available to consumers. A More Transparent Alternative to Credit Cards – Unlike credit cards that encourage revolving debt, BNPL provides structured, predictable payments. “We're not built in a way that traps consumers in debt,” Heck emphasizes. The Role of Cash Flow Management in BNPL's Future – Zip is investing in tools that help consumers manage unpredictable income streams, ensuring more repayment flexibility.

Is DoorDash really letting you finance your burger? Or is social media missing the bigger picture?In this episode, we break down the truth behind the DoorDash and Klarna Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) partnership. While headlines scream about people financing fast food, the reality is far more nuanced—and important to understand.You'll learn:o The full scope of DoorDash's services beyond restaurant deliveryo Why this isn't the first time BNPL has been used with DoorDash (hint: it started in Australia)o How Klarna's payment options actually worko The dangers of reactionary finance advice from social mediao Why using BNPL can lead to spending beyond your meansI also share my personal stance on BNPL, the importance of financial discipline, and why critical thinking is your best tool in a world of clickbait outrage.Whether you're new to personal finance or just tired of the noise online, this episode will help you stay grounded, informed, and in control of your money.Subscribe for more practical personal finance insights, myth-busting, and real talk about money.Articles Referenced:o https://about.doordash.com/en-au/news/dash-now-pay-later-doordash-launches-partnership-with-afterpayo https://www.axios.com/2025/03/20/buy-now-pay-later-doordash-klarna-bnplo https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/20/klarna-lands-buy-now-pay-later-deal-with-doordash-ahead-of-ipo.html**Support the Stream By Shopping at Our Store** Buy Your Financial Mirror Gear: https://www.thefinancialmirror.org/shop YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thefinancialmirrorRumble: https://rumble.com/TheFinancialMirrorFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefinancialmirr0rX: https://twitter.com/financialmirr0rInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefinancialmirror/Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/thefinancialmirrorIf you are in need of a Financial Coach, don't waste another day of being in debt, not planning for retirement, or simply wondering where your money went each month. Today is the day to take control of your finances and I can help, no issue is too big or too small. Contact me at https://www.thefinancialmirror.org/#DoorDash #Klarna #BuyNowPayLater #BNPL #PersonalFinance #MoneyTips #FinancialLiteracy #MoneyMindset #DebtFreeJourney #SmartSpending #BudgetingTips #FinanceMyths #MoneyAdvice #FinancialEducation #AvoidDebt #ConsumerAwareness #FinanceExplained #ViralFinance #DoorDashKlarna #FinanceTruths #MoneyTalks #SpendSmart

Klarna, the Swedish fintech powerhouse, is going public on the NYSE (ticker: KLAR).This marks a major moment for the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) space. This IPO will test whether investors believe BNPL is a smarter alternative to credit cards—or another form of subprime lending in disguise.A few years ago, Klarna was worth $46B in private markets. Now? It's eyeing a $15B-$20B valuation—a stark reminder of how fintech sentiment has shifted in a world of higher interest rates.7 Key Themes:1️⃣ Klarna is going public at a fraction of its peak valuation.2️⃣ AI-driven cost cutting (automated customer service, AI-powered CRM) is improving margins.3️⃣ Klarna's banking license is an advantage, but deposit growth is slowing.4️⃣ The US is now Klarna's largest market, but credit losses there are rising.5️⃣ Klarna is morphing into an advertising & payments platform (ads = 6% of revenue).6️⃣ Internal controls raise red flags (issues with user access, revenue recognition, and credit loss estimates).7️⃣ Insiders & VCs have already cashed out >$800M pre-IPO.Valuation Debate:

In this episode, we dive into how travel marketers are leveraging personalization, affiliate marketing, and influencer partnerships to create hyper-targeted customer experiences. We explore how cashback incentives, Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options, and AI-driven recommendation engines are transforming travel bookings. Plus, we break down the latest insights into European travel spending—who's cutting back, who's splurging, and how brands can adapt to shifting consumer behavior. Tune in to discover the strategies shaping the future of travel marketing and what it means for the industry in 2025!Are you new and want to start your own hospitality business?Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Boostly and join the discussion:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Want to know more about us? Visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stay informed and ahead of the curve with the latest insights and analysis.

BNPL: A Blessing or Budget Buster? With inflation on the rise, managing finances has become trickier than ever. Join hosts Harraz, Amirah, Aisyah, and Zuriati as they explore the world of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) schemes. Are they a helpful financial tool or a hidden trap? In this episode, we're joined by Mr Ahmad Huzaifah Bin Ahmad Izuddin, a Financial Consultant from Phillip Wealth Planner, to break it all down. From practical budgeting hacks and saving tips to expert insights on navigating BNPL responsibly, we've got you covered. Packed with real talk and a sprinkle of humour, this conversation is your ultimate guide to staying money-smart in today's world. Don't just spend—learn how to spend wisely! Tune in now and take charge of your financial future. #BNPL #BudgetSmart #FinancialFreedom #MoneyMatters #InflationHacks #SpendingWisely

In today's podcast episode, we are joined by Raj Date, who has served in a variety of roles at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, including as the acting head of the agency and as it's first-ever Deputy Director. He recently wrote a thought-provoking article in a new online publication, Open Banker, entitled “Banks Aren't Over-Regulated, They Are Over-Supervised.” Alan Kaplinsky, Senior Counsel in Ballard Spahr's Consumer Financial Services Group, leads the discussion, and is joined by Joseph Schuster, a partner in the Group. By way of background, Mr. Date described how bankers have almost uniformly complained to him that banks are over-regulated. Mr. Date responds to these complaints in his article as follows: At the time, in the still-smoldering ruins of the financial crisis, this struck me as bizarre. Banks are the beneficiaries of an array of government privileges: subsidized leverage (through insured deposits), liquidity (through the discount window and the home loan banks), exclusive access to payment rails (both through the central bank and bank-only private networks), and even choice of law (through federal preemption). Given all that, safeguards on capital, liquidity, credit exposure, market and interest rate exposure, cybersecurity, and consumer protection seemed like a fair trade to me. More than a decade later, I realize that those bank CEOs were not exactly wrong, they were imprecise: Banks are not over-regulated, but they are — quite dramatically — over-supervised.  Mr. Date makes the following points in support of his thesis that the banking industry is over-supervised: 1.       Bank examination tries to cover too many areas and, as a result, sometimes fails to see the forest through the trees. 2.       Bank examination obsessively focuses on process rather than substance.  That focus is evidenced by the supervisors' requirements that the banks document everything. 3.       It takes far too long for banks to receive examination reports after exams are completed, sometimes years later. The final exam reports are often anachronistic. 4.       Bank examinations often stultify bank innovation because supervisors' examinations are often critical of banks offering new products and services and this results in bank management being reluctant to innovate out of fear that they will be downgraded. 5.       Examiners' focus on process rather than risk itself has resulted in a bank management brain drain. Mr. Date then explains how the examination process should be changed. Mr. Date first calls for immediate changes even though the banking industry is largely thriving.   Mr. Date suggests the following approach in his article and during the podcast: The regulatory agencies are, probably justifiably, proud of their long histories of public service. But that pride breeds cultures that are strikingly conservative and resistant to change. As importantly, unlike private sector firms, they do not have the crucible of a profit imperative to burn away unproductive practices and orthodoxies. And it shows. It is not as though bank examiners cannot articulate the most important issues facing their regulated charges; it is just that they often just have no reason to stop working on things other than the most important issues. The only solution is strong top-down leadership that imposes ambitious goals. Without stretch goals that will feel strikingly out of reach at the outset, real change will not be possible. If it were me, I would set out, in a pilot with a handful of mid-sized banks, to structure a supervisory exam strategy that costs 75% less (in combined bank and agency costs) and is 75% faster from first-day letter to final report than today's norms.[9] I would embrace pilot uses of new technology tools in pursuit of those goals. And then I would iterate on those initial (almost certainly unsuccessful) results. This will be difficult, and even painful. But I very much believe it will be worth it. While acknowledging the issues with over-supervision, Joseph directs significant attention to the problem of over-regulation. He argues that modern regulatory practices have become more complex, restrictive, and less clear, creating barriers to innovation and access to credit. Joseph highlights how over-regulation stifles the development and availability of consumer finance products. Joseph explains how products like "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) face regulatory hurdles despite addressing consumer needs effectively. Joseph also discusses the potential negative impact of proposed changes to late fee regulations, warning that such measures could limit access to credit and push consumers toward higher-cost alternatives. Joseph criticizes the heavy-handed approach taken by regulators, such as the CFPB's issuance of circulars, which adds further uncertainty and complexity for institutions attempting to innovate in this space. Joseph advocates for a return to a more structured and transparent regulatory framework. He suggests that agencies recommit to the principles of the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), emphasizing the importance of notice-and-comment rulemaking. Drawing parallels to the Federal Reserve Board's process during the implementation of the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act, Joseph argues that meaningful engagement with the industry could lead to clearer regulations that balance consumer protection with innovation and operational feasibility. Joseph endorses Raj Date's call for clear and focused priorities in the supervisory process, and emphasizes that both banks and examiners benefit from a more straightforward understanding of the rules. Joseph concludes by warning against the trend of "regulation through enforcement," which undermines transparency and predictability, ultimately harming consumers and financial institutions alike.

Learn the pros and cons of layaway and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) and how to choose the best option for holiday shopping. What is the difference between layaway and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)? Which payment option is better for holiday shopping? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski discuss these two financing tools, how they work, and which might be the smarter choice for holiday shopping. Lauren Schwahn, a writer at NerdWallet who covers credit, debt, budgeting and money, joins Sean and Anna to break down the basics of layaway and BNPL, highlighting differences in payment timing, access to purchased items, and impact on credit. They also discuss when you'll receive your item, the repayment timelines, potential fees for missed payments. why BNPL appeals to Gen Z, and how either option can fit into a shopper's financial strategy. Plus: tips for avoiding pitfalls with BNPL, such as setting payment reminders and avoiding multiple loans. Then, Sean and Anna break down this week's money headlines, including the latest jobs report, the CFPB's crackdown on illegal junk fees, and the rise of market timing among investors. There are a lot of ways to invest money — high-yield savings accounts, CDs, bonds, funds and stocks are all options. To learn more, read NerdWallet's writeup on the best ways to invest money right now: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/the-best-investments-right-now  In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: buy now pay later, BNPL pros and cons, layaway vs BNPL, holiday shopping tips, budget-friendly shopping, buy now pay later risks, layaway payment plans, how BNPL works, shopping on a budget, avoiding holiday debt, payment plan comparison, layaway benefits, BNPL for Gen Z, holiday financing tips, budgeting for big purchases, holiday shopping savings, credit impact of BNPL, layaway financing, BNPL fees, installment payment plans, choosing BNPL or layaway, holiday gift financing, Klarna, Afterpay guide, Affirm payment plans, layaway history, BNPL for beginners, managing BNPL loans, credit card vs BNPL, smart financing options, how to use layaway, BNPL payment reminders, financing options for gifts, and understanding BNPL terms. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.

Welcome to a live recording of the Fintech Takes podcast, coming to you from Money20/20. In this limited series with Marqeta, we're diving into the aspects of fintech and financial services that we're most optimistic about heading into 2025. In episode 3, we tackle one of my favorite topics: Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL). Joining me are Rahul Shah, who leads core product at Marqeta, and Ahmed Siddiqui, who leads product and payments at Branch. I've called the demise of BNPL way too many times—my bad. The twist? BNPL isn't just surviving; it's thriving in both low and high-interest environments, proving it's no ZIRP-era fluke. Younger consumers aren't treating BNPL as a trend—they see it as standard. And it's not just for sneakers or makeup anymore—BNPL is expanding to all kinds of purchases. Why? Millions of Americans still lack access to traditional credit, and BNPL fills that gap. It's made small-dollar lending possible, scaling micro-transactions in ways we couldn't have imagined 50 years ago. Could BNPL push traditional credit to rethink its structure? As BNPL grows, will it promote financial health or push consumers toward overextension?  Tune in to hear why BNPL isn't replacing credit but pushing the ecosystem to adapt and innovate.  Transform your business with Marqeta's modern card issuing platform. Our open API platform allows businesses to instantly issue cards and process payments. Integrate end to end credit and payment solutions into your business processes using our modern card issuing platform. Learn more at marqueta.com Sign up for Alex's Fintech Takes newsletter for the latest insightful analysis on fintech trends, along with a heaping pile of pop culture references and copious footnotes. Every Monday and Thursday: https://workweek.com/brand/fintech-takes/ And for more exclusive insider content, don't forget to check out my YouTube page. Follow Rahul: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul-shah-a8415a/ Follow Ahmed: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddiquiahmed/ Follow Alex:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson

Are you keeping up with the changing payment preferences of your customers? From Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) to digital wallets, if your payment strategy isn't evolving, you might be missing out on where your customers want to be. Welcome to today's episode, where we're exploring the rapidly changing landscape of online payments with Will Mavromichalis, Director of Sales, Identity and Fraud at Kount, an Equifax Company. We'll dive into the technology and generational shifts impacting payment behaviors, and discuss how retailers can stay ahead of the curve while managing fraud risks. William Mavromichalis is a 10-year technology sales veteran and has been with Kount for the past five years. During his time at Kount, Will has held a variety of roles geared towards revenue growth and strategic partnerships. As a sales leader, Will is focused on growing the global footprint for Kount and Equifax by leading a team of seasoned account executives. While leadership is his passion, Will enjoys rolling up his sleeves with his team to solve the complex identity and fraud business challenges that merchants face on a day-to-day basis. When he is not working you can find Will spending quality time with his wife Kathryn, and two daughters Mila, and Viola. RESOURCES Kount website: https://kount.com/ Wix Studio is the ultimate web platform for creative, fast-paced teams at agencies and enterprises—with smart design tools, flexible dev capabilities, full-stack business solutions, multi-site management, advanced AI and fully managed infrastructure. https://www.wix.com/studio Register now for HumanX 2025. This AI-focused event which brings some of the most forward-thinking minds in technology together. Register now with the code "HX25p_tab" for $250 off the regular price. Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Are you keeping up with the changing payment preferences of your customers? From Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) to digital wallets, if your payment strategy isn't evolving, you might be missing out on where your customers want to be. Welcome to today's episode, where we're exploring the rapidly changing landscape of online payments with Will Mavromichalis, Director of Sales, Identity and Fraud at Kount, an Equifax Company. We'll dive into the technology and generational shifts impacting payment behaviors, and discuss how retailers can stay ahead of the curve while managing fraud risks. William Mavromichalis is a 10-year technology sales veteran and has been with Kount for the past five years. During his time at Kount, Will has held a variety of roles geared towards revenue growth and strategic partnerships. As a sales leader, Will is focused on growing the global footprint for Kount and Equifax by leading a team of seasoned account executives. While leadership is his passion, Will enjoys rolling up his sleeves with his team to solve the complex identity and fraud business challenges that merchants face on a day-to-day basis. When he is not working you can find Will spending quality time with his wife Kathryn, and two daughters Mila, and Viola. RESOURCES Kount website: https://kount.com/ Wix Studio is the ultimate web platform for creative, fast-paced teams at agencies and enterprises—with smart design tools, flexible dev capabilities, full-stack business solutions, multi-site management, advanced AI and fully managed infrastructure. https://www.wix.com/studio Register now for HumanX 2025. This AI-focused event which brings some of the most forward-thinking minds in technology together. Register now with the code "HX25p_tab" for $250 off the regular price. Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Michael Linford, the COO and CFO of Affirm joins CJ to delve into the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) business model and its rise to mainstream popularity. They discuss the importance of transparent, consumer-friendly financial products and how Affirm differentiates itself by avoiding the predatory practices common in traditional credit models. Michael explains how Affirm structures its fees and generates revenue. He sheds light on the company's approach to credit underwriting and the significance of short loan durations. The conversation also covers key metrics like customer acquisition and lifetime value, whether the merchant or end consumer should be the focus, and why Affirm doesn't rely on a North Star metric. Michael also shares his thoughts on the company's approach to managing economic swings, before sharing advice on balancing patience with ambition in one's career and the value of an engineering-based approach to problem-solving.If you're looking for an ERP head to NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/metrics and get a customized KPI checklist.—SPONSORS:Mercury is the fintech ambitious companies use for banking and all their financial workflows. With a powerful bank account at the center of their operations, companies can make better financial decisions and ensure that every dollar spent aligns with company priorities. That's why over 100K startups choose Mercury to confidently run all their financial operations with the precision, control, and focus they need to operate at their best. Learn more at mercury.com.Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust®; Members FDIC.NetSuite provides financial software for all your business needs. More than 38,000 thousand companies have already upgraded to NetSuite, gaining visibility and control over their financials, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you're looking for an ERP platform ✅ NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/metrics and get a customized KPI checklist.Maxio is the only billing and financial operations platform that was purpose built for B2B SaaS. They're helping SaaS finance teams automate billing and revenue recognition, manage collections and payments, and put together investor grade reporting packages.

Welcome back to Bank Nerd Corner, featuring yours truly and #1 among all bank nerds, Kiah Haslett, Banking and Fintech Editor at Bank Director. First up, we're breaking down the FDIC's latest proposed rule, which tightens the screws on custodial accounts. Spoiler alert: Kiah's got some strong opinions on whether smaller banks should be held to different standards in the Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) space—and trust me, she's not buying it. In BaaS, complexity is part of the deal—size doesn't matter. Just look at SVB's crash when it tried to level up its asset thresholds.  Next, we're diving into the flood of fintech “ecosystem standards” cropping up everywhere. Are these self-policed initiatives legit or just smoke and mirrors?  And don't miss Kiah's spicy rant about Mercury joining the Coalition for Financial Ecosystem Standards (CFES) and claiming they "take compliance seriously." Instead of owning up to their growth obsession, they should be saying, "We messed up, but now we get it—compliance matters!" It's time for fintechs to be accountable for their remediation efforts. Compliance isn't just lip service—step up and pay up. We'll round it off with two burning questions: What exactly qualifies as a “bank service company,” and do fintech innovations like Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) and Earned Wage Access (EWA) count as loans?  The answers might surprise you, but one thing's for sure—getting your paycheck faster shouldn't come with a price tag. Sign up for Alex's Fintech Takes newsletter for the latest insightful analysis on fintech trends, along with a heaping pile of pop culture references and copious footnotes. Every Monday and Thursday: https://workweek.com/brand/fintech-takes/ And for more exclusive insider content, don't forget to check out my YouTube page.   Follow Kiah: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khaslett/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/khaslett   Follow Alex:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson

This podcast features Nandan Sheth, CEO at Splitit, a financial technology company that powers the next generation of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) through their merchant-branded Installments-as-a-Service platform. Splitit solves the challenges businesses face with traditional BNPL by unlocking BNPL at the point of sale for card networks, issuers and acquirers - all through a single network API.In this episode, Nandan and Blythe Masters (a Founding Partner at Motive Partners) discuss exactly how Splitit differentiates its offerings from traditional BNPL products and how they are going to continue evolving in this space with support from Motive Partners and their unique and differentiated Investors, Operators, and Innovators model to drive value creation.---The information contained in this podcast is intended for discussion purposes only. It is not a recommendation, offer, or a solicitation for the purchase or sale of a security or any services of Motive Partners. All investing involves risk and there is no guarantee that past performance will be indicative of future results.The views and opinions expressed in the podcast are as of the date of recording, reflect the views and opinions of the persons expressing them, and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Motive Partners. Motive Partners makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of any information provided and undertakes no obligation to update, amend, or clarify the information in the podcast, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Any securities, transactions, or holdings discussed may not represent investments made by Motive Partners. It should not be assumed that securities, transactions, or holdings discussed (if any) were or will be profitable, or that the recommendations or decisions made in the future will be similar or will equal the performance of the securities, transactions, or holdings discussed herein.This podcast may contain forward-looking statements that are based on beliefs, assumptions, current expectations, estimates, and projections about the financial industry, the economy, Motive Partners or Motive Partners' investments.  Nothing in the podcast should be construed or relied upon as investment, legal, accounting, tax or other professional advice or in connection with any offer or sale of securities. 

“Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL) products emerged relatively recently as a new approach enabling consumers to enjoy the ability to make a purchase and then pay for it over time. Today's episode, during which we explore the evolution of BNPL products and important recent developments in BNPL regulation, is hosted by Alan Kaplinsky, former practice leader and current Senior Counsel in Ballard Spahr's Consumer Financial Services Group, and features Ballard Spahr Partners Michael Guerrero and Joseph Schuster. We first discuss the structure and mechanics of BNPL products, and the benefits they afford to consumers, merchants, and creditors. Next, we turn to a discussion of regulators' reactions to BNPL, specifically the activities of the CFPB leading up to its new interpretive rule, effective July 30th, which equates BNPL products with credit cards and characterizes BNPL providers as card issuers or creditors, thus subjecting them to the constraints and requirements of the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and Regulation Z. We then explore the CFPB's BNPL interpretive rule in detail, including an analysis of the concerns raised by the CFPB in connection with BNPL offerings; the CFPB's introduction of the “digital user account” concept and other theories to bring BNPL into the purview of TILA and Regulation Z; and the complexities and uncertainties now faced by BNPL providers as they struggle to comply. We conclude with a look at the possibilities of a legal challenge to the CFPB's BNPL interpretive rule, given recent Supreme Court decisions, and state law considerations for BNPL providers.

Today's edition of Financial Matters we unpacks the popular yet sometimes controversial topic of "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) services. These services have revolutionized how we shop, offering immediate gratification with deferred payment plans. But what are the true costs and benefits? How do they impact your financial health? Join us as we unpack the intricacies of BNPL, helping you to make informed decisions about whether it's a smart financial move or a potential pitfall. Tune in  for insights and tips to navigate the world of Buy Now, Pay Later responsibly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a rollercoaster ride for shareholders of Zip, and now the question becomes, is it back?In today's episode, we take a look at Zip, one of Australia's leading "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) companies. Joining us in the second half is Jonathan Higgins, Head of Research at Unified Capital Partners and Co-founder, who provides expert insights into Zip's investment potential and the broader BNPL market.In this episode we cover:The history of the BNPL industry, and Zips part in itZips recent stock performance and market perceptionAn overview of their product rangeThe company's financial scorecardThe global BNPL industry and market dynamicsThe bull case and bear caseWhat the future holds for Zip_______Thanks to Superhero for proudly supporting this series. Superhero Super has given us the control we want to manage our super. Superhero Super is primed for performance with a wide range of investment options including professionally managed portfolios, thematic, and direct investments accessible in an intuitive app.Download Superhero's easy-to-use app and start tailoring your super today.Remember, Superhero does not provide financial advice, so consider whether their product is right for you. Superhero Super is a sub-plan of OneSuper, which is issued by Diversa Trustees Limited as trustee.Read their PDS and TMD and download the Superhero app at superhero.com.au.—------Have an investing question?Ask via our website and we'll answer it on the podcast.Join the conversation in the Facebook Discussion GroupOr get put in touch with a professional financial advisor by filling out this formWant more Equity Mates?Sign up to our email to keep up with business news Watch Equity Mates on YouTube—------In the spirit of reconciliation, Equity Mates Media and the hosts of Equity Mates Investing acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today. —------Equity Mates Investing is a product of Equity Mates Media. This podcast is intended for education and entertainment purposes. Any advice is general advice only, and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances, needs or objectives. Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement. And if you are unsure, please speak to a financial professional. Equity Mates Media operates under Australian Financial Services Licence 540697. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Short term financing through buy now, pay later (BNPL) programs may seem alluring. However, there are some things you need to know before jumping in. To name a few - credit score impact, limits, and interest rates are just some of the considerations to think about. Kimberly Palmer, Personal Finance Expert at NerdWallet joins Cassidy Clement, IBKR's Senior Manager of SEO and Content to discuss. 

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Ownit AI. Ownit AI helps brands and retailers win Google search by answering their shopper's questions online. Learn more at ownit.co.Here are today's top headlines:Shopify's stock experienced a significant downturn following the e-commerce platform's announcement of a weaker revenue outlook for the current quarter. The rise of "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) platforms like Affirm and Afterpay may present challenges for economists and financial analysts due to the presence of "phantom debt," largely invisible within traditional credit reporting systems. Grocery Outlet reported a 7.4% year-over-year increase in net sales in Q1 2024, with comparable store sales up by 3.9%. However, the discount grocer continues to face challenges stemming from system changes implemented approximately eight months ago, leading to disruptions in operations and finances.Stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights. Be careful out there!

Lex chats with Libor Michalek, the President of Affirm, a buy now, pay later (BNPL) company. Michalek discusses his early experiences with the internet and how it shaped his understanding of technology and its potential in the financial services industry. He explains how Affirm was founded with the goal of building honest financial products that improve people's lives, and how the convergence of e-commerce, mobile technology, machine learning, and access to consumer information enabled the company to create a credit product that aligned with consumer interests. Michalek also discusses the challenges of building a technology-driven finance company, the performance of Affirm's loans compared to credit cards and personal loans, and the company's approach to competition and future growth. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Affirm's Website: https://bit.ly/3Qo2DvILibor's LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4bfsQVk Topics: fintech, buy now pay later, BNPL, e-commerce, machine learning, loans, credit,  credit cards, paymentsCompanies: Affirm, Thinking Machines Corporation, PayPal, Amazon ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 

BNPL – a discussion of the pros and cons, and is BNPL right for you. Show notes and transcript at: What is Buy Now Pay Later or BNPL? A Simple Explanation for Kids & Beginners BNPL – a discussion of the pros and cons, and is BNPL right for you. Show notes and transcript at: ... Read More

https://youtu.be/mi9zJgZT9AwIn this conversation, Dror Birzon, a payments expert from BlueSnap, discusses the challenges and opportunities in the payment industry. He highlights the importance of converting users into buyers and the role of AI in payment workflows.Dror also emphasizes the need for localization in international expansion and the significance of alternative payment methods. He explores the growing trend of social commerce and the impact of shoppable videos.Additionally, we've discussed the integration of online and offline commerce and the future of e-commerce and payment methods.TakeawaysAI is being used in payment workflows to personalize user experiences, prevent fraud, and improve conversion rates.Localization is crucial for international expansion, including using local payment methods, languages, and currencies.Alternative payment methods, such as buy now, pay later (BNPL), are gaining popularity and can increase conversion rates, especially for high-ticket items.Social commerce and shoppable videos are emerging trends that provide additional storefronts and enhance the user experience.The integration of online and offline commerce, as well as the utilization of local acquiring, can optimize payment structures and improve success rates.Chapters00:00 Introduction to BlueSnap02:00 Passion for the Payment Industry02:51 Changes in the Payment Industry03:42 AI in Payment Workflows04:02 AI Use Cases in BlueSnap06:12 Fraud Prevention with AI08:42 Challenges in Payment Structure09:33 Converting Users into Buyers10:27 Localization for International Expansion12:25 Alternative Payment Methods13:25 Localization of Payment Factors15:27 Localization for a Complete Solution18:18 Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)20:18 Social Commerce and Shoppable Videos24:15 Merging Online and Offline Commerce25:27 Video as a Conversion Tool27:10 Future of E-commerce and Payment Methods28:20 Utilizing Local AcquiringDror's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dror-birzon-7817a53Looking to elevate your e-commerce game with shoppable videos and social commerce? visit Vimmi at www.vimmi.net

A comprehensive BNPL vs credit cards comparison, so you know the differences and decide what’s right for you. Show notes and transcript at Buy Now Pay Later BNPL vs Credit Cards: A Simple Comparison for Kids & Beginners A comprehensive BNPL vs credit cards comparison, so you know the differences and decide what’s right for ... Read More

I explore the rapidly evolving world of retail payments with Karna Crawford, Chief Marketing Officer at Marqeta. Our conversation centers around the intriguing insights from Marqeta's 2023 State of Payments report, mainly focusing on the burgeoning trend of embedded finance technology and its implications for retailers and consumers alike. The discussion begins with an exploration of embedded finance trends and consumer behavior. Karna shares key findings from the report, highlighting the growing consumer confidence in digital banking and the notable shift towards mobile wallet usage. An eye-opening statistic reveals that 72% of consumers now feel confident enough to leave their wallets at home, relying solely on their phones for payments. As we approach the holiday season, the conversation shifts to holiday shopping trends and credit card usage. Karna sheds light on the critical role of credit cards and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) schemes in holiday purchases. This segment also touches on the broader economic concerns affecting consumer spending habits, offering a nuanced view of the challenges and opportunities facing retailers. We also discuss retailer opportunities with embedded finance and loyalty programs. Karna explains how personalized payment methods can not only drive traffic and purchases but also how optimizing rewards programs using consumer data can foster deeper loyalty and more meaningful relationships with customers. Karna also highlights the potential impact of AI in the payments industry. She discusses how predictive credit cards, powered by generative AI and machine learning, could revolutionize the application process and enhance the rewards experience, offering a glimpse into a future where technology seamlessly integrates with consumer finance.

On this episode of Wealth Wednesday we discuss CNBC make article that review what Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) is and the pros and cons of using BNPL vs. Credit Cards.

EP315 - 2023 Turkey5 Recap with Salesforces Rob Garf Episode 315 is a recap of Turkey5 (The five days from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday) 2023 with Rob Garf, Vice President and General Manager, Retail at Salesforce. This is Robs' Six time on the show, having previously been on episodes 110, 248, 282, 299, and 313. Jason and Scot discuss the "Turkey 5" with their guest Rob Garf, VP and GM for retail at Salesforce. They analyze data from various sources to provide insights into the holiday shopping season. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, e-commerce grew 7.75% in Q3, while total retail only grew 2%. Jason emphasizes the need for e-commerce to grow at least 7.7% in Q4 to stay on track. Adobe's data shows that Black Friday sales were up 7.5% and Cyber Monday sales were up 12.4% from the previous year. The speakers also discuss data from BigCommerce, MasterCard, and Salesforce, highlighting growth in online sales on Cyber Monday and Black Friday. Rob Garf adds his observations on retail industry trends, noting an increase in demand and robust pricing. He mentions a rebound in demand in Europe, excluding the UK, and highlights retailers' focus on profitability and inventory levels. The discussion then turns to Amazon's innovative advertising approach during a Friday NFL game, where shoppable ads were displayed via QR codes. Jason believes this strategy will benefit Amazon, as it monetizes viewership and reinforces the brand. Discounting played a significant role in driving demand during Cyber Week, with retailers offering an average of 30% off. Consumers were patient, waiting for attractive deals, while retailers managed their inventory and discounting strategies well. The luxury category, however, did not perform as strongly, with only a slight increase or even a decrease in sales. The hosts touch on the resale market and the growing popularity of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options and mobile wallets. They discuss the potential impact of mobile wallets on shopping behavior and note that BNPL resonates with new consumers and has replaced layaway. Finally, the hosts mention the passing of Charlie Munger and the filing of an IPO by Xi'an, encouraging listeners to support the show and announcing more holiday shopping data and reports on Salesforce.com. 0:00:46 Introduction to the Jason and Scot Show 0:05:04 Black Friday: First Sales for Vendors 0:14:06 Softness in Consumer Electronics and Toys Market 0:14:55 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Impact on Holiday Season Shape 0:16:32 Retailers' Inventory Management and Positive Growth Forecast 0:17:47 Retailers analyzing profitability and customer profitability. 0:18:29 Increase in Demand and Robust Pricing 0:22:34 Amazon's Innovative Advertising and Potential Profitability for Holiday 0:26:27 Discount rates over Cyber Week in comparison to previous years 0:29:04 Retailers' management of inventory and transparency in discounting strategy 0:31:52 Consumer behavior and the rise of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) 0:33:32 Mobile wallets and the impact on checkout process and shopping experiences 0:35:26 Buy Now, Pay Later Growing and Replacing Layaway 0:37:22 Charlie Munger's Passing and Xi'an's IPO Announcement Throughout this episode make liberal use of real-time data from Salesforce Shopping Insights HQ, which tracks how 1.5+ billion consumers are shaping shopping trends. You can see a real-time holiday dashboard, powered by Tableau so you can interact with the data yourself on the Salesforce Holiday Insights page. Episode 313 of the Jason & Scot show was recorded on Tuesday November 28th, 2023.  http://jasonandscot.com Join your hosts Jason "Retailgeek" Goldberg, Chief Commerce Strategy Officer at Publicis, and Scot Wingo, CEO of GetSpiffy and Co-Founder of ChannelAdvisor as they discuss the latest news and trends in the world of e-commerce and digital shopper marketing. Transcript Jason: [0:23] Welcome to the Jason and Scot Show. This is episode 315 being recorded on Tuesday, November 28th. I'm your host, Jason Retail Geek Goldberg, and as usual, I'm here with your co-host, Scot Wingo. Scot: [0:39] Hey, Jason, and welcome back, Jason and Scot Show listeners. Vigilant listeners will remember that we promised you a delicious turkey five Introduction to the Jason and Scot Show [0:47] sandwich starring none other than Rob Garf, VP and GM for retail at Salesforce. And that's what we're delivering today. Rob was here way back on episode 313 on November 8th. And he is back here today to tell us what happened during the Turkey 5. Welcome back, Rob. Rob: [1:05] Thanks for having me, Jason, Scot. Always a pleasure and look forward to getting into some of this really fun data. Scot: [1:12] Yeah, this is your record sixth time. So your old hat here. Before we jump in, we do want to just kind of set the table, keeping with the post-Thanksgiving, theme with some leftovers. I saw what you did there. Yeah. And we, meaning Jason and his army of interns, have gathered a bunch of data from other sources. So we just want to give listeners that, and we know you have your own data, and we want to paint a complete picture. So, Jason, give us the quick and dirty rundown of other data that we've seen out there covering the holiday period so far. Jason: [1:46] Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's do it. And side note, Rob, we're going to keep making you come back till you get it right. Rob: [1:50] I appreciate it. I'm here. Jason: [1:52] I'll do what you need. Awesome. So, super quick reminder, Q3 data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, e-commerce for the quarter grew 7.75%, over, the previous year. year, total retail only grew 2% from the previous year. And so if you take e-commerce out of total retail, brick and mortar in Q3 2023 only grew 1.08%, so lower than traditional. So when you come into the beginning of Q4 and holiday in particular, in my mind, e-commerce has to grow at 7.7% just to stay at par. And brick-and-mortar has to grow more than that one percent. [2:37] So, and I like to start with the lesser data and work our way up to the gold standard, very best data we have, which is, of course, the Rob Garth. So our friends at adobe which have a different data set but similar methodology and slightly different definition so you can't perfectly compare apples to apples, they said black friday sales were nine point eight billion in the us which is up seven point five percent from the year before so that would basically be right at that par i was just talking about, they said cyber monday was up to twelve point four percent and that was hot off the press so i wasn't able to do the math on what growth rate that was. They said for the whole month of November year to date, that they see November up 4.6% from last year. So kind of below that par. These are all numbers Adobe is giving for e-commerce. [3:26] And of particular note, and I know we'll talk about this more, they've seen a significant uptick in use of Buy Now, Pay Later services, and they've seen deeper discounting than we saw last year. Now, Shopify is really out there with a big news cycle. And I don't want to say they won up Salesforce, but they bought the sphere in Las Vegas and broadcast their data on the outside of the sphere, which visually is, is super cool. But their data isn't so useful because they don't report same store sales. They had a, you know, some unknown basket of merchants that sold a bunch of stuff last year, and they had some unknown basket of merchants that sold more stuff this year, and we don't know if the same merchants were here this year and last year or if they added a bunch of merchants or, or if this is true growth. So, so while the Shopify numbers are interesting, if you're investing in Shopify, they don't tell us a lot about what's happening in the e-commerce world. I did see a super interesting quote from Harley Finkelstein, who's the president of Shopify, and it's possibly, possibly that he just misworded this, but he was excited after Black Friday and he said 17.5, thousand. So $17,500. [4:41] Vendors made their first sale this Black Friday weekend. So I took that to mean, not that they launched on Friday just in time for Black Friday, but that this was their first Black Friday where they sold anything. So that's 17.5 thousand new merchants. [4:58] And then he said, in total, 55 thousand merchants set their all-time daily record on Black Friday. Black Friday: First Sales for Vendors [5:05] And while those two numbers sound impressive, if you kind of think about it for a second, you go, wait, the vast majority of merchants on Shopify that are B2C are going to sell their record. Cyber Monday hasn't happened yet, so take that out of the equation, are going to set their all-time record on Black Friday. So not surprised, you would expect the vast majority of all merchants to set their Black Friday record. And 17.5 thousand of them are new. So what that says is there's only 37 thousand merchants that are a year old on Shopify that sold more this Friday than last year on Black Friday. And that's, I guess, less than I would expect based on the usual reports we get from Shopify. So that, I'll just record that as a moment and our stock analysts that cover Shopify listening on the call can weigh in on that one. [5:58] BigCommerce, a slightly weirder data set. They saw an outlier, they saw 14% growth, but again, random, they're not trying to report at the industry, they're just reporting their clients. And then a particularly interesting one to me is MasterCard. I have a love-hate relationship with MasterCard. Unlike all the rest of you, MasterCard gets a set of data for stores and retailers, so they try to forecast what happened in retail, which is super valuable. Historically, I've seen some weird deviations from MasterCard that make me cautious about their numbers. But this year, they reported Black Friday, they did not report Cyber Monday. Their Black Friday number was up 8.5% year over year for eCommerce. [6:39] Which is at the high side of the mean for all these other datasets. And they reported that on Friday, total retail sales were up 2.5%. But if you back eCommerce out of that number, brick and mortar was only up 1.1%. So basically, I would call all those numbers par with our Q3 numbers. So, that kind of sets the table. Scot, take us through what we learned from Salesforce. Scot: [7:11] Yeah. So, a million questions, Rob. Let's start with, it seems like one of the biggest interesting battle royales is, A, why was Rob's face not on the sphere? And then B, it seems like one of the data sets is saying Cyber Monday is much bigger than Black Friday. And then in your pre-show, you had said you guys are seeing Black Friday exceed Cyber Monday. So let's start there. Which was bigger? Rob: [7:37] Yeah. Well, first of all, I lost the coin flip and Astro or Cody, which are critters in Salesforce world, won. So they got their faces along with Einstein on the sphere a couple of weeks ago during F1. So I'm still going for it next year, but we'll see what happens. But I digress. Let's get into the numbers. So yeah, we are seeing, you called it a battle royal. I appreciate any reference to 1980s wrestling, by the way. So thank you very much, but let's not go down that path. That could be a whole other podcast. But what we are seeing is, as you mentioned, a battle between Cyber Monday and Black Friday for supremacy. [8:19] And they are going back and forth. What we found in our data in 2019, Black Friday eclipsed Cyber Monday and has remained there, especially outside of the United States. And so we're seeing big growth and, you know, partly what's contributing to that is not only Alibaba, which has been in place for some time, but Timu and Xi'an, which I know you gentlemen like to talk about. So regardless what I think, two things based on all the data that you provide, and I appreciate the broad perspective that you share here, is people are actually buying. They might not be buying as much as they were in the past and throughout the pandemic, but But there is demand. And you know, I think that's important because when we look at our numbers and just to put it out there for Cyber Monday, and we can bounce around here wherever you'd like to go, is we chalked our number at 12.6. [9:13] Billion in the United States, and that's a growth of 3%. And I'll call it a healthy growth of 3%. And the reason being is, for the first time in five quarters, we saw growth being generated by increased consumer demand and not just merely higher prices, which is our indicator for inflation. And just to put it in perspective, let me talk about Black Friday here, because you mentioned the battle that's happening here. We saw 16.4 billion in online sales for Black Friday in the US, and that was up 9%. And so, as I mentioned, what this shows us is people are buying. What it's also showing is that there's a high concentration of online sales for those two days. And sure, you two gentlemen are laughing because that's been that way since Cyber Monday was coined in 2005, but there has been a smoothing out of demand, particularly around Cyber Week or cyber five for the last several years, but there's been a stark shift back to those two prominent days. Jason: [10:27] So interesting on the top line numbers, one of the, you mentioned that you're, you're seeing items increase, not just prices, right? Which kind of opens the whole specter of, of it's, we're not just seeing growth for from inflation, right? Are there any categories that you're like going into the holiday? It was like, hey, the growth was in essentials and food and things like that. And discretionary items like apparel and electronics and toys were not doing well. Did you guys see, like, are people opening their wallets on discretionary items or are sales continuing to be these kind of essentials and affordable luxuries? Rob: [11:06] Yeah, it's a mixed bag. And I do want to underscore your point, Jason, around. Growth being generated by more volume and not just higher prices. So that's exactly what we saw. 3% growth when you're seeing 9% increase in inflation is a tough equation to, be profitable and to work out in the consumer's favor. But in this case, we are seeing more demand. And the demand, as I mentioned, is a mixed bag. On one hand, we are seeing really nice growth in areas like makeup and health and beauty, skin care. We're also seeing nice growth in active apparel and active footwear as well. I categorize that actually as comfort. In uncertain times when consumers certainly are looking to really take control of their household balance sheets, oftentimes you migrate to comfort. You know, you can talk about comfort food, but this is just comfort gifting and comfort what you put on your body, both clothes and literally on your skin. And so we are seeing nice growth there where actually, if you think about it over the last 12 months, those categories have been hit a bit in terms of the growth curve. [12:20] And what you're seeing on the other side actually is luxury is softening a little bit, which which I think is important to note because for the last, I mean, gosh, through the pandemic and after, luxury was one of the most, no, not one of the most, was the most resilient categories. And we're starting to see a bit of breaking down, especially around the aspirational luxury side. So we're going to keep an eye on that. I will mention one other thing, actually, as it relates to categories that are doing well in the holiday and that is food and beverage and gifting, you know, in terms of. What people look to for comfort and experiences, they are gifting chocolate, they're gifting wine, they're gifting various gift baskets. We saw really strong growth, even starting, you know, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and working its way through the entire holiday. Jason: [13:22] Interesting. One category or two categories that come up a lot, like coming into holiday, electronics had been in a pretty big swamp, like for the whole pandemic. And I'm curious, I've seen conflicting data about whether electronics are back or whether they're still soft. Traditionally, electronics would be one of the fastest movers for holiday. Rob: [13:43] Of course, of course. Yeah, I mean, consumer electronics, toys, right? Those two are still pretty soft. I think you really though need to put it in perspective in terms of the astronomical growth we saw on those categories over the last four years. I haven't done the math. You're really good at this, Jason. So I'm gonna put you to task maybe on your next LinkedIn post, but I am willing to wager, and I'm not a betting person, so I'm not really willing Softness in Consumer Electronics and Toys Market [14:07] to wager, but I'd love to see the CAGR of those categories over the last four years. I'm guessing they're in really strong, like high team growth, which any retailer would be happy with that on a given holiday time period. So there is a bit of softening, but I think it's really important to understand it in context with the growth that they've seen over the last several years. Scot: [14:32] Cool. Um, so, you know, with these good showings and Cyber Monday and Black Friday, what's that mean for the rest of the season? Are you guys like doubling your forecast, tripling or, and what's that mean for the shape? We talk a lot about the shape of the holiday. Any, any, any changes to your thoughts on those? Rob: [14:49] Yeah. The shape or the anatomy. I've been asked this by a lot of retail executives because they're being asked by their board, like, are you sandbagging us? Black Friday and Cyber Monday Impact on Holiday Season Shape [14:59] We need to really relook at this forecast. We crawled through the data over the last couple of days just to look through our model and see if we could see the data in different ways through different lenses. The reality is what we're seeing is that Black Friday and Cyber Monday were taking market share from the bookends of the holiday, from earlier on and later on, right before the shipping cutoff date. And so for the last five years or so, we have been seeing a smoothing out of demand for the seven days that we define as Cyber Week, Tuesday before Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday. And Thanksgiving became a really strong and important day, especially on the mobile device, especially as consumers. [15:47] Either being distracted or inspired, whichever you want to think about it, on the couch after Thanksgiving meal, looking at social. [15:54] But we've seen a snapback of the higher concentration of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. So it's not like there's incremental sales, and that's what I think you were getting at, right? I don't think there's incremental sales that we can now account for. We're still staying to our forecast of 1% growth in the US for November and December. That's how we define holiday and in the US and we're looking at 4% growth globally, really led by Europe. And I want to just put a caveat on this. Not only again, are we seeing that growth come from increased demand, but retailers have gotten smarter. Retailers' Inventory Management and Positive Growth Forecast [16:33] I don't know if it's smarter, but they were very deliberate going into this holiday starting six months ago about managing inventory levels and margins. So there's been a lot of talk about how are we going to handle shipping? How are we going to handle our return policies? And also, how are we going to think about our open to buys? And so I think most retail executives, especially on the merchandising side, are feeling pretty good because they're working their way through the inventory, which by the way, as you know, has been a big glut over the last couple of years, especially in 2021, when so many products were stuck in the port of LA. I mean, that just created this bullwhip effect that we're still just getting our arms around now and getting over the hump. And so that's my long way of saying is we're not reforecasting. We still feel positive with that 1% and 4% growth in U.S. and global, respectively, because. [17:24] Retailers are taking a very close look at overall profitability and this concept of customer profitability as well. Scot: [17:32] Yeah. You'd said, so it seems like the curve was kind of flattening out and now it's like steepening again it's like kind of coming in at the edges and in kind of like shaping up in the middle part of the bell curve which is like the that, Retailers analyzing profitability and customer profitability. [17:48] cyber week. Is that that's right. Okay. Rob: [17:51] That's really good. Yeah. It's kind of snapped back. Right. Yeah. Definitely. Yeah. Scot: [17:56] It's going to make that sound. Rob: [17:58] Where's the sound effects in turn? Are they there? Are they on call? Can we get that bullying? Jason: [18:02] I'll be adding that in post. Scot: [18:06] You had said something that kind of piqued my interest. You said people are kind of, you know, I may be rephrasing this wrong, but you said kind of demand is back. Like I knew it almost felt like you were saying before there was, you know, people were shopping, but it didn't seem like, you know, a new increase in demand. And now it is because you're seeing robustness in pricing and stuff. Is that say a little bit more about that? I'll make sure I understand what you were saying. Increase in Demand and Robust Pricing Rob: [18:32] Yeah, you got it. So yes. And I, again, and don't think retail executives are doing backflips and thinking that we're getting back to roaring double-digit, growth coming out of the holiday. But what this is an indication, and by the way, we're seeing this as a leading indicator in Europe, let's exclude the UK, which is probably in the same rebound curve as the United States and Canada, but you take continental Europe and who are about two, maybe three quarters ahead of us in terms of the rebound, we're seeing inflation settle, the average selling prices settle down and people are buying more. So we're seeing average orders volume higher. We're seeing slight uptick in units per transaction, only slight. But the order piece is super interesting. We're seeing traffic. We're seeing continued really strong traffic. People are just really being diligent and patient and shopping a lot and looking for the best deals. And we'll have to talk about that in terms of what discounting patterns we saw as well. So that's my long way of saying Scot is people are buying more, they're doing it. By still making trade-offs. So there is a sense of let's load up on some essentials while we're getting good deals. [19:57] Let's look for travel, entertainment, like experiences. And you have to also think of the adjacent categories like luggage, as an example, if you're going on a trip, do you need something new to put your clothes in? And though they are, again, increasing, as I mentioned. So as I think about the sentiment, even with a 1% in the US growth, 4% global is what we're forecasting for the full holiday, retailers are feeling good about that. They want to exit this holiday on a really good foundation of profitability, a really good foundation on inventory levels. And most every retailer I'm talking to has a growth mindset. They're thinking about customer acquisition, finding new ways to do that because customer acquisition costs are still off the charts, but also loyalty, finding new ways to create stickiness, looking for adjacent categories, adjacent services, looking for partnerships to supplement what they're doing organically. And I mean, this would take us down a whole other path, but they're leaning into data. They're leaning into AI to better understand who those consumers are and what they're likely to buy and making sure they're able to create profitable customers. How was that soapbox? I just rattled off too much, too fast. Jason: [21:13] So hopefully you were able to digest it. But you kind of, you glossed over what they're really looking at is just selling ads to brands. Rob: [21:18] That's fair. Thank you. I could have just said that. You're right. That's a very good point. And yeah, we could, I love your take actually, seriously, given that on Amazon's move for the football game on Friday. Jason: [21:31] Yeah. So that's a great point. And maybe just to catch up listeners that might not have followed it. Something very different and unique for this year is that the NFL, you know, normally they have a Thursday game and they have Sunday games and a Monday night game. On Thanksgiving, they have Thursday day games during Thanksgiving. This year, they added a Friday game for the first time. And the sponsor of that Friday game was Amazon. It was broadcast on Amazon Prime, and Amazon actually had shoppable ads via QR codes in the broadcast, all sort of innovative, cool, new stuff. [22:11] The early read is that the viewership was pretty good for the Friday game. There's no history, so we have nothing to compare it to. I would argue fewer people are going and standing in line at brick and mortar stores for door busters. You know, the little bit of data we do have on brick and mortar shows that, like, there wasn't a huge, huge spike in in-store shopping. I feel like Friday has become more of an online shopping day, Amazon's Innovative Advertising and Potential Profitability for Holiday [22:36] which means people are home more, which means there's an opportunity to watch a football game. I kind of don't imagine that the interactive ad formats, like, you know, we're high volume and really move the needle, but they're innovative. And I do think that that Friday game is likely to be a new tradition as the holiday shopping season goes from an omni-channel thing to an online thing. At least that's my POV. Rob: [23:03] Yeah, I am super interested in your point of view given how close you are to this. So I guess I'm gonna put you on the spot. Wow, look at me, I'm totally turning the table here, but this has been on my mind. And actually, interestingly enough, over the weekend at a party, somebody who's not in like retail, you know, he shops. That's the extent of it. He pointed out what Amazon did and thought it was really clever. So what did I hear? Like, did they spend a hundred million dollars for that? Regardless, do you think they made the money back going to your point, Jason, on selling ad space in there and kind of even if it's a break even and or they're gaining more prime members, it was a good day for Amazon? Jason: [23:42] Yeah, I am pretty confident it was a good day for Amazon. Like, one thing to remember is Amazon has a better model for monetizing eyeballs than anyone else, right? So, like, if you're Coca-Cola and you sponsor a football game, you're trying to get eyeballs and the only way you have to monetize those eyeballs is to get them to drink more Coke. Rob: [24:03] Right. Jason: [24:04] If you're Amazon, here's what you do. You get a bunch of eyeballs. You try to sell them something that you make money on. And after you do that, you sell ads to other people for more than you paid. And they try to sell something to that person, right? And so, you know, the combination of the ad revenue that Amazon generates and the top of funnel, and bottom of funnel benefit that Amazon gets, again, they're building their brand. Your friend that was just talking to you, he wasn't talking about a particular product he was shopping for. The brand he remembers is Amazon, right? And so you got that Amazon top of the funnel benefit, which is valuable and important. Amazon probably sold some stuff to people. So you got that Amazon bottom of funnel benefit. And then we know Amazon sold a bunch of ads, which is, you know, a huge, huge driver of incremental profit. So yeah, I definitely think we can call Amazon a winner there. I think when it all settles, we're also going to see that it was just a pretty good sales day for Amazon as well. Rob: [25:09] Yeah, I bet you're right. Yeah. The last point and then we can move on and by the way, welcome to episode one of the Rob Garf podcast, is the fact that I mean, knowing Amazon, those ads that you're getting are personalized in terms of them understanding who you are and even if it's a different size or a different brand or a different you know, whatever, even what they know about what's in your shopping cart, what you bought in the past. So anyways, it sounds like, as I would have suspected, you're pretty bullish about it and I am too. Jason: [25:37] So yeah, I do want to cover something just kind of fundamental. So, so we rebounded a little bit and we got bigger sales on, on Friday and Monday. Potentially we might've just pulled some sales in that were going to happen later in the month per your, your comments about not wanting to re-forecast. Did we partly pull those in by giving deeper discounts than we usually give? Like what, what did you see from a discounting standpoint and what does that say about potential profitability for Holiday? Rob: [26:03] Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So we actually looked at this going into the Holiday and we went back to 2019 and I have the team look at discount rates starting in November 1st for 2019, 2021, and 2023, what we had anticipated for this year. And what we saw and actually came true is we saw discount rates over Cyber Week hover just north of where they were in 2019. Discount rates over Cyber Week in comparison to previous years [26:31] Don't forget, 2021, there were the lowest discount rates that we've seen because the product just wasn't there. So retailers, it was the first time they won the game of Discount Chicken. The short answer is yes. Retailers did discount the heaviest they have all year, right around 30% on average. And I think that's important. It's on average. I mean, we've all seen discounts of 40%, 50%, really creative discounting strategies. And so that definitely drove demand. I mean, going back to the consumer, while they're buying more, they're making trade-offs and they were really diligent. [27:09] They were really patient and they waited and they waited and they ultimately saw the attractive deals starting in earnest on Black Friday. They weren't even that great on the Monday, Tuesday, I'm sorry, the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thanksgiving, Thursday until Black Friday, and then they started to buy. So they held out and they ultimately purchased those attractive deals. In terms of margin, I think we're doing okay. And the secret here is when we looked at the data, given all the inflation that happened, And actually, consumers are still, even with these deep discounts, paying more than they were in 2019. The optics are there. They're feeling like they're getting a good deal, but the reality is they're still spending more. So I think they'll be okay. And there wasn't this protracted discounting that did happen. And because they manage their inventory well, the retailers, and their discounting strategy as well, I don't think they're going to be forced with the hail Mary discounts that you often see right before the shipping cutoff date. So I think that retailers actually managed it pretty well. I give them credit too, by the way, what we saw in our data as well is retailers were a lot more transparent around their discounting strategy. [28:23] Many were offering price match guarantees. If they saw, you know, the consumer saw the price for less, and they were also much more transparent around their return policies as well. So people felt a little more comfortable buying earlier, even if the prices weren't exactly where they wanted it. So the long of it is, or the short of it, whichever way I look at it, is there were healthy discounts. Consumers took advantage of them. I'm still feeling more positive, especially than I have from last year, about margins. Scot: [28:57] Cool. You said something I want to dig into, and then I want to pivot to be in PL. You said luxury was a little soft. What do we make of that? Retailers' management of inventory and transparency in discounting strategy Rob: [29:06] Yeah, and like I said, it's had a run, like I haven't seen before in any one category. I mean, don't get me wrong. Consumer electronics really strong and some other categories in the pandemic home looked really strong as well. But it continued after the pandemic, both in store and online. What we saw compared again, just to put in perspective, three percent increase on Cyber Monday in the U.S., nine percent increase in Black Friday in the U.S. [29:34] There was a tick low beyond flat for luxury. What it also showed is they started to. [29:41] Discount more than they typically do. You think of luxury, they're going to hold their really price and be sensitive around preserving their brand and their margins. And we were seeing that tick up as well. I think the ultra luxury is still alive and kicking, no problem. It's more of that aspirational luxury. One area that I think is really important to point out is the resale market. More and more luxury brands are playing in the luxury market game. I'm sorry, the resale market game, because they realize people are doing it anyways, and they might as well offer that in many cases on their own website. So like Coach as an example, Canada Goose as an example, have the capability to exchange product, which then allows existing customers to likely buy something at a higher price point. And then if the product is in good enough shape, they're able to resell it and allow for aspirational shoppers to actually access that brand and buy it where they might not have been able to in the past. So yeah, I'm not overly concerned about luxury. I mean, the brands are so strong and there's so much loyalty there, but it just does show that in the aspirational space, people are trading down to a degree. [30:55] You know, they're trading down for value in the resale market. In many cases, they're trading down for vintage. It's amazing to see how many, you know, sneaker brands and specific models are hot that we all remember from our high school days. And you know, even the younger generations like to save the world a little bit as well. Scot: [31:14] Yeah. So I guess what I'm getting at is, do we think the consumer's rolling over and that's kind of the BNPL question too, because one way to read BNPL increasing is people are under financial stress. So they're stretching out payments. Another way is, you know, seeing all this data and it's always sponsored by one of the BNPL providers. So I'm never sure how to take it, but it shows that, you know, millennials and Gen Zers like, they don't like open credit. And it's weird because my kids have this perspective too. I thought it was like, I thought it was totally made up and then they're like, oh no, I, you know, I hate having like these credit cards with big limits. And I'm like, well, if you don't use it, it doesn't matter. It just makes them Consumer behavior and the rise of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) [31:52] nervous for some reason. And do you think it's a generational thing or is it a little sign of softness on the consumer? And maybe the luxury is another indication that it feels like the consumer is rolling over a little bit or you don't see that. Rob: [32:06] Yeah, I mean, I think it is a bit generational to your point. I don't have those data's points to substantiate what you're describing. But a lot of what I learned is from my 17-year-old and 14-year-old because they're right in the smack dab of purchasing and trends and so forth. Don't worry, we have a lot more data at Salesforce to back this up, billions and billions of shoppers. But in any case, the anecdotes definitely help provide a full commentary. But we saw an outpay later over Cyber Week increase 7%. So that's healthy. It's a little slower than we've seen in past. What we're also seeing, and it started last year, is it's on lower and lower price point merchandise. So that also speaks to the adoption as well. It's not just on the big ticket items. I think if I zoom out for a moment as well, mobile wallets were really strong. Mobile wallets were really strong. We saw about a 50% increase year over year in that. Now, of course, it's a smaller base than traditional credit cards and debit cards. But still, it's showing the adoption because it's really breaking down the friction in the checkout process. But we keep a close eye on buy now, pay later, because you're right. It could be an indication, especially as consumers look to buy lower price merchandise, that it might be a softening in the market. But we're not quite there in proclaiming that. Scot: [33:25] You said a mobile wallet. That is catnip for retail geek, so I'll get out of his way. I bet he has a million questions. Jason: [33:32] Yeah, no, Scot knows I love a good mobile wallet and I'm sure everyone's already heard this, Mobile wallets and the impact on checkout process and shopping experiences [33:37] but I have a hypothesis that some of the popular shopping behaviors we see in Asia aren't as popular here because we don't have as good a penetration of mobile wallets and that if you have mobile wallets, it makes certain experiences like shopping on social media and things like that easier because it only requires one hand instead of three hands. So I'd be curious, do you guys think you're seeing more mobile wallet users, or do you think you're seeing more transaction from the existing users, or do you have the ability to? To see between those two? I suspect I just asked you a question you're going to now have to go do research on. Rob: [34:17] Nick Neumann We may have that based on some of the primary research we do. We don't have access to personally identifiable information, so we can't see by user. But my thesis there is it's both. There are more people adopting mobile wallets because they see the convenience and the friction that's removed. And then once that happens, they're buying more. I think you go back to the Amazon example, part of why that's probably a home run for them is because it's a lot easier for somebody to buy in that form factor than let's say Roku or other Verizon user interfaces that you don't have a wallet associated with it. I didn't go through the shopping process on the Friday NFL game, but I can only imagine it was much easier than having to do it through other types of media. So I think that, yeah, I agree by the way, with your hypothesis that, you know, embedded commerce or shopping at the edge has been a bit stunted because, the wallet piece is not there or as accessible as it is in other countries. Buy Now, Pay Later Growing and Replacing Layaway Jason: [35:30] Yeah. Two things I'll just throw out there on buy now, pay later. I mean, I do, I think it, it legitimately resonates with the new crop of consumers. And so I think it's growing for all the reasons that the Buy Now Pay Later people claim it's growing. But I would, there's two accelerators that are just kind of convenient in there. Holiday used to be a big time for this payment method that the youngsters on the call wouldn't have heard of called the layaway. And almost no retailer that I'm aware of has brought back layaway, like they all retired it in the last several years, largely because Buy Now Pay Later has replaced it. And so, you know, layaway is most popular around holiday. So, you know, to the extent that buy now pay later is the digital version of layaway. It kind of makes sense that you would see a spike over a holiday. Also, digital is growing much faster than brick and mortar. Buy Now, Pay Later is disproportionately online. So that, you know, is another reason you would expect Buy Now, Pay Later to spike. One thing that's a little alarming slash interesting to me is that Buy Now, Pay Later gets used for a wider range of purchases and merchandise than LayAway did. Like, LayAway tended to be big ticket items, your kid's aspirational toys, but Buy Now Pay Later gets used for food and consumables and things that economically you would argue probably don't want to be financing something that you need to rebuy every month. Rob: [36:52] Yes. Jason: [36:53] So I'll just throw that out there on Buy Now Pay Later. We are coming up on our allotted time. I do have two other pieces of news that just kind of interrupted the Turkey Five news cycle. And one of them I'm super sad about, and it's actual breaking news that happened while we were recording this show, Charlie Munger just passed away at 99. Rob: [37:13] Oh, wow. Scot: [37:14] That's terrible. Jason: [37:15] Warren Buffett's partner, and I just, I feel like, very admirable person. I've learned a lot. He and Warren Buffett, like, are super generous with sharing Charlie Munger's Passing and Xi'an's IPO Announcement [37:23] all this thought leadership, and I just want to say best wishes to all his family and loved ones. Seems like you had an amazing life. Rob: [37:31] Yeah, I echo your sentiment. Jason: [37:33] Yep. And then in the middle of Cyber 5, you guys teased this a couple of times talking about Xi'an. and Xi'an disclosed that they filed an IPO. So that came out yesterday. It's a confidential IPO, so we won't actually see the prospectus until probably 2024 sometime. Okay. And the theory is that it's going to be, because of their not super transparent ownership structure and their Chinese ownership, it's gonna have extra regulatory scrutiny. And so the reason you'd file a confidential IPO is so you could start talking to regulators and negotiating what you're gonna do and what you're gonna disclose. And so they're probably working through all that stuff to then do the public IPO later. But it's, I'm excited for when that gets disclosed because there's a lot of speculation about how big Shein is and how profitable or unprofitable their model has been. And we're gonna be able to do away with all that speculation and get some real certified data. Rob: [38:38] I can't wait to listen to that show when you dissect that. It will be super interesting to see where they're allocating the investment and the capital. Beyond, obviously, hiring people, but what parts of the business. Jason: [38:51] I totally agree and that's going to be a great place to leave it because we have used up our allotted time. Rob, so grateful and congratulations on being our first six-time guest. And as per usual, if you enjoyed this episode or it was useful to us in any way, the two ways you can reward us are to do a giant enterprise contract for all your marketing services with Salesforce.com or, you can leave a five-star review on iTunes for Scot and I. So, you know, those are the two paths, choose whichever one makes most financial sense to you, but appreciate it if you do one or the other. Rob: [39:29] Yeah. And if I could say too, I know we're running up against time, but I want to give a big, sincere thank you. Obviously we just came out of Thanksgiving, so I want to show my gratitude. You know, it's amazing. Anytime I'm on the show, the people that reach out to me, not only talking about the show, but how much they've learned from you. And so for you to trust me and providing my perspective and Salesforce perspective means a lot and just thanks for being such good friends. Scot: [39:56] Robert Leonard Jason said, no, but I overrode him just so you know the history. I thought, you know, Jason's like, I'm the retail geek. We don't need any Garfies in here. Rob, remind us where could people go? You guys will be updating your data. I assume, you know, this is the last time you'll be on for this year, but I'm sure you'll be publishing more data as we get deeper in the holiday. Where do people go to see that? Rob: [40:19] Jason Cosper Yeah, we have our Shopping Insights HQ on salesforce.com. We will be updating the information. We'll do a mid-season report right around the shipping cutoff window, and then we'll do an all-wrapped-up just around the beginning of NRF. So keep an eye out. Scot: [40:34] Awesome. Well, thanks, everyone, and until next time... Jason: [40:38] Happy commercing!

In this episode, Darren Franks chats with Chris Govender, Co-founder and COO of Rentoza.  ✔  Subscription model flexibility explained

In this episode of Fintech Layer Cake, Paul Kesserwani (Cushion Founder & CEO) sits down with Reggie Young as they dive deep into the intricate dynamics of the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) industry. They explore its evolution, regulatory frameworks, consumer behavior, and the pivotal role of companies like Cushion in simplifying bill payments and credit building amidst the complexities of BNPL.

In today's episode, I sit down with Ian Barrell, Partnerships & Business Development Manager at DivideBuy, a frontrunner in the burgeoning consumer finance industry. Join me in a conversation that dissects the rapidly expanding landscape of consumer financing while shedding light on the technological innovations that are setting DivideBuy apart. We explore the unique selling points of DivideBuy, focusing on their dedication to merging technology with retail finance. The discussion pivots to the importance of ethics and responsibility in lending, emphasizing DivideBuy's commitment to making prudent and informed lending decisions. As we delve deeper, the conversation takes an exciting turn toward DivideBuy's recent acquisition by Zopa. Ian unravels the synergistic opportunities this merger opens up, from leveraging Zopa's underwriting capabilities to infusing new technological advancements into their portfolio. This union aims to redefine the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) concept by incorporating comprehensive credit checks and affordability assessments. Ian talks about the 'installments as a Service' model. This modern take on consumer financing offers businesses an edge, allowing them to integrate seamlessly with DivideBuy's solutions, enhancing their customer experience. They also discuss potential avenues for the company, including the possibility of venturing into subscription and rental services. Don't miss out on this eye-opening discussion that concludes on a lighter note as Neil and Ian share a musical recommendation that perfectly encapsulates the zeitgeist of our times.

In this episode Yaacov Martin, Co-Founder and CEO of Jifiti, provides an in-depth look into the explosive growth of the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) industry. A game-changer in the field, Yaacov's insights will forever change the way you perceive financing significant purchases, from furniture to medical procedures, and even distance learning. More than just a business model, the BNPL industry represents a key bridge between merchants, consumers, and banks - a bridge that Jifiti is leading the way in building.Dive into the heart of the revolution with us as Yaacov details Jifiti's journey through the trials of integrating BNPL into retail ecosystems. But this is not just about financial transactions and business models - it's about people. Yaacov illuminates the importance of fostering a family-like atmosphere within a company, sharing his own personal and business passions along the way. So, whether you're intrigued by the BNPL industry trends or looking for advice to make your mark in the space, this episode is packed with expert insights you won't want to miss.

On this episode of Financially Naked: Stories from The Financial Gym, we'll be taking a closer look at Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) payment options. In the convenience and instant gratification age, these payment options have become more popular. BNPL options allow consumers to purchase products and services instantly while spreading out the payments over time. On the surface, they seem like a great option, but as with any financial tool, the pros and cons must be considered.  To have this conversation, two of our Certified Financial Trainers, Hector Lopez and Kylie Lipinksi, are here to explore how these apps work, their benefits, and the potential downsides you'll want to consider before using BNPL apps. Analyzing all aspects of these tools is crucial to make informed decisions about our financial well-being.  Resources 8 Buy Now, Pay Later Companies for Your Business (2023)  BFF-Approved Credit Builders BFF-Approved Credit Cards Soft vs. hard credit checks: What's the difference? For more details check out our show notes here! If you want to work with a Certified Financial Trainer to help navigate your finances, schedule a free warm-up call today! If you have any ideas or questions for the show, send an email to trainerpodcast@fingyms.com.      

Is the convenience of buy now pay later checkout options all that it's cracked up to be? Keep listening to learn the pros and cons of buying now and paying later.  Links:  Follow our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages! Learn more about Triangle Credit Union Transcript:  Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast.   When online shopping, you might have noticed an option to check out with Afterpay, Klarna, or Affirm. These are the most well-known Buy Now, Pay Later providers.   Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) is a way to finance purchases so that you can pay for them in weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly installments rather than paying in total at the time of purchase.   This system is similar to layaway where purchase payments are split up into more manageable amounts; however, unlike layaway, with BNPL, you get your products upfront and make the payments after.   Every Buy Now, Pay Later servicer operates a little differently. Some will require 25% of the cost upfront with the remaining 75% split between 3 payments over the following 3 weeks, while others allow for zero-down payments.   If you're considering Buy Now, Pay Later, weigh out the pros and cons first to see if you should avoid it or not.  Pros of BNPL: 0% Interest Rate: Many BNPL providers offer a 0% interest rate which allows you to pay the total balance without accruing any extra interest.   Easier Approval: Typically, BNPL doesn't require a hard credit check so compared to credit cards, getting approved for a Buy Now, Pay Later program is much easier and doesn't affect your credit score.  Cons of BNPL: Multiple BNPL Agreements: Every time you use Buy Now, Pay Later (even if you use the same provider with multiple purchases) you will need to set up new agreements with their own terms and payment due dates which can make it difficult to keep track of all your purchases.   Making Purchases You Can't Afford: By splitting a purchase up into smaller amounts, you may get the impression that the total cost is not as much as it actually is. Although the individual payments are affordable, the problem arises when you finance multiple purchases at the same time. If you're not careful, these payments can add up to more than you're expecting.   Potential to overdraft: Having frequent automatic payments scheduled to come out of your checking account has the potential to lead to overdrafts.   Continued Payments Even with Returns: If you choose to return an item that you bought via Buy Now, Pay Later, you may still have to make payments for a bit. While you should eventually get your money back, it may take time for the merchant to let the lender know you returned the item. If the lender hasn't been informed by the time your next payment is due, you will need to make the payment to avoid the lender marking it as a missed payment.   Whether you should avoid Buy Now, Pay Later is dependent on your financial situation and financial discipline.   BNPL is a great option as a one-time solution to finance a big purchase such as a piece of furniture that costs a couple hundred dollars. You'll be able to easily keep track of the term and bi-weekly/monthly due dates since it is only one item.   However, BNPL could be detrimental to your finances if you get into the habit of financing all your purchases.   Overall, it's important to make sure you're aware of the pros and cons, understand how BNPL works, and make the decision that is right for you.  If there are any other tips or topics, you'd like us to cover, let us know at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org.  Like and follow our Making Money Personal FB and IG page and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on social media to share your thoughts.   Thanks for listening to today's Money Tip Tuesday and be sure to check out our other tips and episodes on the Making Money Personal podcast.   Have a great day! 

In today's episode, we dissect the booming Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) loans trend that's causing ripples from Wall Street to Main Street, and the potential fallout of this fast-paced credit mania. Simultaneously, we accompany Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his European tour, as he shops for military support to fortify Ukraine against Russian aggression. His 'shopping basket' boasts contributions from France in the form of light tanks, armored vehicles, and air defense systems, while the UK brings long-range attack drones and formidable Storm Shadow cruise missiles to the table. To round off this thrilling narrative, we dive into a bizarre twist of events where Russian aircraft are caught in a hazardous game of friendly fire. Four Russian jets have been inexplicably shot down by their own side, leaving us to ponder whether this is a mere mishap or indicative of deeper chaos within Russian ranks. Tune in as we untangle this complex web of modern finance, international politics, and battlefield blunders in our latest podcast. Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@unspokentruthofficial --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unspokentruthofficial/message

Stay connected with The Lending Link! Subscribe and follow our listening and social platforms, plus access exclusive GDS Link offerings here: https://linktr.ee/thelendinglink On this episode of The Lending Link, we delve into the rapidly growing world of Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services. With the BNPL market expected to reach a staggering $467.34 billion by 2026, this innovative payment option is changing the way consumers approach shopping and financial management. Our guest, Liz Pagel, SVP and Consumer Lending Business Leader at TransUnion, shares her passion for BNPL, how it may further financial inclusion, and the challenges of accurately defining it in credit reporting. Rich and Liz also provide valuable insights into the current state of BNPL lending and the efforts being made to improve the industry, including: • Overcoming BNPL challenges, such as updating infrastructures and educating lenders on dispute handling • The evolution of underwriting in the BNPL space and the move towards traditional methods, using dynamic credit models and fraud checks • The role of open-banking data in BNPL credit reporting • Promoting women in management roles within the FinTech space and the industry's progress in promoting women into senior-level positions Don't miss out on this informative discussion on the future of BNPL services. Tune in now! Show Notes In this episode, we take a deep dive into the world of Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL). Access the resources below to learn more about this topic:

The CFPB's growing interest in and scrutiny of BNPL comes at a time when the BNPL industry is experiencing rapid growth. That makes it imperative for both companies currently offering BNPL products and companies considering whether to enter into the BNPL market to be aware of the practices that are likely to receive increased CFPB scrutiny and how future CFPB initiatives involving BNPL could impact the industry. After providing an overview of the report, we discuss its key findings, the discrete consumer harms and risks identified by the CFPB, how the CFPB might use its supervisory, regulatory, and enforcement authority in the BNPL market and the likelihood of such use, and state law enforcement and other state activity involving BNPL. Alan Kaplinsky, Senior Counsel in Ballard Spahr's Consumer Financial Services Group, hosts the conversation, joined by Michael Guerrero, John Culhane, Lisa Lanham, and Michael Gordon, partners in the Group.

Ever wonder if you should use a buy now pay later (BNPL) offer or how they actually work? Laura interviews Bill Walsh, Chief Customer Officer with Sunbit about the growing BNPL industry and tips for using modern financing options wisely. Here are a few topics Bill and I cover on this week's show:The two primary types of BNPL offers you can use.How a BNPL purchase compares to using a credit card.Sunbit's survey results that reveal the effect of inflation on essential purchases.Types of purchases you should and shouldn't make using any BNPL offer.What to consider before choosing the best financing option.How using a BNPL option affects your credit health.Where you can find local merchants that offer BNPL for necessary purchases, such as auto repair, dental work, eye care, and veterinary services.Money Girl is hosted by Laura Adams. Find Money Girl on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more personal finance tips.Money Girl is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/money-girl-newsletterhttps://www.facebook.com/MoneyGirlQDThttps://twitter.com/LauraAdamshttps://lauradadams.com/ 

"Klana is all built beautifully around the consumer. … but many merchants also want a B2B checkout and here Klana decided to partner with the leading provider in the space [Billie.io]."Matthias Knecht, Co-Founder Billie.io The Founder “I was raised in Germany, with a stint at Columbia University before moving to McKinsey. After working for them,” says Matthias (https://de-DE_.linkedincom/in/-matthiasknecht), “I left and started Zencap.” This company was eventually acquired by Funding Circle where he spent only one year of his time there; then on into Billie — together with cofounder Christian. "Hiring is currently one of our main challenges. Our doors are wide open."Matthias Knecht, Co-Founder Billie.io Subscribe Here We are always sharing new resources with you. Find all of our options below. We want to make sure that we provide what's best for your growing team, so please take a look at these additional ways in which can help! https://linktr.ee/startupradio The Startup Billie's business is disrupting the B2B market by allowing consumers to buy now and pay later. Their investors include Klana — one of Europe's largest Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) companies for this sector with over 50 million clients across 500+ brands worldwide!The company also integrates seamlessly into Klana's systems so that all client transactions can be done through Billie's platform while still enjoying advanced features such as payment encryption and loan pre-payment options which not only make financial services more accessible but give buyers peace of mind when making large purchases or taking out short term loans. Website: https://www.billie.io/ Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/billie-io Twitter: https://twitter.com/billiegmbh LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/billie.io/ Venture Capital Funding Billie is one of the most successful startups in Germany and they have raised more than 140 m US$ from investors like Creadum, Global Founders Fund (Rocket Internet), Dawn Capital, Speedinvest, Klana, Tencent, and Picus Capital. It sounds like Billie may become soon a unicorn with all these hints being dropped about their future success. Learn more at www.medium.com/startuprad-io