From the course: Top 10 Skills for FinTech Analysts

Understanding of financial technology

From the course: Top 10 Skills for FinTech Analysts

Understanding of financial technology

- FinTech companies are disrupting traditional financial services by offering innovative products and services that are often more convenient and cost effective for consumers. As a FinTech analyst it's important to have a strong understanding of the technology used by these companies to evaluate their products and services effectively. This may involve understanding the technical capabilities of these products and how they compare to those offered by competitors. It may also involve understanding the underlying technologies that enable these products, such as blockchain or artificial intelligence. Robinhood is an online brokerage firm that allows individuals to buy and sell stocks and other financial assets. Since it's founding in 2013 the company has disrupted the traditional brokerage industry by offering commission-free trading and a user-friendly mobile app that makes it easy for individuals to invest in the stock market. One of the main ways that Robinhood has changed the FinTech landscape is by making investing more accessible to a wider audience. Prior to Robinhood, many brokerage firms charge high fees for trades, which made it more difficult for small investors to participate in the stock market. By offering commission-free trading, Robinhood has made it more affordable for individuals to invest in the stock market which has helped to democratize investing and make it more accessible to a wider audience. In addition to making investing more accessible, Robinhood has also helped to drive the trend towards mobile investing. The company's mobile app has been praised for its simplicity and ease of use, which has helped to increase the popularity of mobile investing. Overall, Robinhood has played a significant role in changing the FinTech landscape by making investing more accessible and driving the trend towards mobile investing. The company's success has also inspired the development of other commission-free brokerage platforms further disrupting the traditional brokerage industry. Now, it's not easy to generalize the views of FinTech analysts on Robinhood as opinions may vary depending on the individual analyst and the specific context in which they are evaluating the company. However, FinTech analysts would likely consider various factors when evaluating a company like Robinhood, including its financial performance, business model, competitive landscape, and potential risks and opportunities. Some FinTech analysts may view Robinhood positively citing its strong financial performance, disruptive business model, and popular mobile app as its key strengths. They may also point to the company's strong brand recognition and loyal customer base as assets. On the other hand, some FinTech analysts may be more skeptical of Robinhood citing concerns about the company's business model and regulatory risks. For example, some analysts may question the sustainability of the company's commission-free trading model as it relies on generating revenue from other sources such as selling user data and earning interest on customer deposits. There may also be concerns about the company's ability to navigate a potentially more heavily regulated environment in the future. It's the role of the FinTech analyst to determine whether partnerships like this are a good strategic fit. So understanding the technology that drives these apps and these new services is key to success.

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