THE FUTURE OF FINANCE
By Jodi Ireland
ey future leaders! If you’re reading this guide, you’re already thinking ahead about what comes next after high school (or even college). Maybe you’re considering a career in business or finance, but associate those industries with stuffy suits, huge skyscrapers, and endless spreadsheets. And none of those associations holds any appeal whatsoever.
enhances the delivery and use of financial services. Fintech takes everything a traditional bank does and makes it faster, less expensive, and available on your phone 24/7. What fintech looks like in the real world: • Payment apps: Sending money instantly to a friend using Zelle, Venmo or another app? Thank fintech! • Robo-advisors: Automated investment platforms like Wealthfront and Betterment that manage your money using smart algorithms, often for much less than a human advisor. They use AI to analyze your goals and risk tolerance and build a portfolio for you. • Super apps: These platforms , primarily used in Asian countries , consolidate your banking, investing, budgeting, and insurance into one digital command center for a more seamless financial life. The big takeaway? Fintech is democratizing finance. For decades, only the super-rich had access to sophisticated investment tools and financial advice. Now, thanks to low-cost digital platforms and zero-commission trading (you don’t pay a fee every time you buy a stock), anyone with a smartphone can start investing. This accessibility has reduced the advantages that traditional, massive financial institutions once held.
We get it! But here’s a little secret. The world of finance is undergoing a massive, rapid, and incredibly cool transformation — one driven entirely by technology and putting individuals firmly in control. The foundations of how we save, spend, and invest continue to evolve. While this shift is rocking the boat for massive banks, it’s also making it easier to invest according to your values. If you love tech, solving problems, or learning how global change happens, check out a future in finance. THE FINTECH REVOLUTION: YOUR PHONE IS THE NEW BANK “Fintech” is a mashup umbrella term that combines “financial technology.” It refers to any technology that automates or
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