ConnexPay Launches Payment Valet to Streamline B2B Payments
ConnexPay unveiled Payment Valet, a managed services platform that automates the last‑mile of B2B payments. The solution centralizes payee network management, delivery fulfillment, preference portals, and branded support, handling payouts via virtual cards, ACH, and checks. It targets vertical SaaS firms in construction, field services, and property management, as well as fintechs and insurers seeking scalable disbursement tools. ConnexPay processes over $10 billion annually, positioning reliability as a growth differentiator.
MedImpact Acquires SRS Benefit Partners and MSL Captive Solutions
MedImpact Holdings announced the acquisition of MHW Benefit Partners (formerly SRS Benefit Partners) and MSL Captive Solutions, firms that specialize in alternative risk financing and captive insurance for medical stop‑loss and employee‑benefit programs. The deal expands MedImpact’s service suite beyond...
After the Petrodollar
In 1974 Henry Kissinger secured an informal pact that required Saudi Arabia to price oil exclusively in U.S. dollars, creating the petrodollar system that channeled massive dollar surpluses into Treasury securities. The arrangement underpinned America’s ability to run large fiscal deficits...
Fed’s Favorite Core Inflation Measure Hit Multi-Year High Before War
U.S. core inflation accelerated to a 3.1% year‑over‑year increase in January 2026, the fastest pace in nearly two years. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released the data after a delay caused by the prolonged government shutdown. This measure, the Fed’s...
Daily Memo: US Eases Russian Oil Sanctions
The United States announced a 30‑day suspension of sanctions on Russian crude that is currently at sea, aiming to cushion the economic repercussions of the war in Iran. The temporary relief covers roughly 100 million barrels of Russian oil in transit,...
US Economy Gets Sharp Downgrade In Stagflationary GDP Update
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis revised fourth‑quarter 2024 GDP growth to roughly 0.5% annualized, half of the initially reported rate. The slowdown coincides with persistently high inflation, reinforcing concerns of a stagflationary environment. Business leaders across diverse sectors report...
Developing “High Performance Habits” With Brendon Burchard
Brendon Burchard, high‑performance expert, delivered a Vistage presentation on building habits that enable CEOs to thrive amid rapid change. He argues that top leaders shift from a strengths‑focused mindset to asking, “What must I do to serve?” expanding capabilities rather...
Building Resilient Trading Frameworks in an Uncertain Market Era
Brian Ferdinand, Portfolio Manager at EverForward Trading, stresses structured frameworks to manage execution risk amid heightened market uncertainty. The firm’s system evaluates liquidity, volatility and cross‑market signals before authorizing exposure, embedding predefined risk parameters into every trade. This disciplined approach...
Confirmed, Vast Data Raised $1 Billion at $30 Billion Valuation
Vast Data announced a $1 billion financing round, pushing its valuation to roughly $30 billion. The round was split evenly, with $500 million of new capital and $500 million of secondary‑market liquidity for early investors. The funding underscores the market’s confidence in Vast Data’s...
EDF Pulse Ventures Partners with Mara and NJJ to Support a New Phase of Exaion’s Development
EDF Pulse Ventures completed a transaction giving it a 64% stake in French HPC provider Exaion after regulatory clearance, while NJJ Capital acquired a 10% interest in Mara France, the partner that facilitated the deal. The agreement expands the Exaion...
Data Is the Only Moat
The article argues that as AI tools make software creation faster and cheaper, traditional moats based on engineering talent are eroding. Real‑world, human‑generated data emerges as the primary sustainable competitive advantage for SaaS founders. The author illustrates this with Podscan,...
The Labor Problem Healthcare Won’t Solve with Recruiting
Hospital labor now consumes roughly 60% of operating costs, driven by a deepening nursing shortage and soaring travel‑nurse expenses that reached $11.6 billion in 2022. Margin pressures forced many systems to allocate up to 40% of nursing budgets to agency contracts,...
QTR & Adam Taggart: Private Credit, Valuations, Favorite Sectors
In a recent interview with Adam Taggart, the author warned that market optimism masks deepening fragilities, especially in private credit. He highlighted rising redemptions and gating in private credit funds as a precursor to a broader credit event. While equity...
Managing the War Economy
The article argues that the West is ill‑prepared for a modern war economy, especially in critical‑metal supply chains. It highlights that the United States has produced virtually no tungsten or antimony in the past year, while the EU retains a...
European Insurance M&A Activity Rises 14% in 2025: FTI Consulting
European insurance M&A activity climbed 14% in 2025, reaching 789 announced transactions across brokers, MGAs, service providers and carriers. The United Kingdom and Ireland saw a 23% year‑on‑year decline, yet remained the region with the most deals at 219. Continental...
Building Trust Before Scale: A Founder-to-Founder Conversation on Brand, AI and Health
Epic Life’s founder Ben Davies partnered with Koto’s James Greenfield early on to embed brand and trust before building their AI‑powered health companion. They argue that while AI functionality can be duplicated, a credible brand and identity are hard to...
The Blue Owl in The Coal Mine – Private Credit: The New Subprime?
Blue Owl, a $300 bn private‑credit manager, froze withdrawals from a retail fund and sold $1.4 bn of loans in February 2026, sending its shares down nearly 60% in a year. The episode highlights rapid growth of private credit to $3 tn, driven by...
Internship Competition Turns Fierce
The traditional summer internship calendar is being upended in Charlotte, where major employers now open their recruitment windows months ahead of the usual January kickoff. Coca‑Cola Consolidated, the region’s largest bottler, reported more than 6,000 applications for a handful of...
When It Comes To Energy Dependence On Other Countries, Americans Have An Easy Choice
The post argues that the United States should prioritize domestic oil and gas, especially Canadian supplies, over reliance on China for energy security. It highlights how Middle‑East conflicts, such as the recent Iran war, make imported crude volatile. The author...
Academia and the “AI Brain Drain”
In 2025, the four biggest tech firms poured $380 billion into AI tools, a figure projected to rise to $650 billion this year, with a large share earmarked for elite talent. Packages such as a $250 million four‑year deal for a single researcher...
ICB Mergers and Clusters: What They Mean for Continuing Healthcare
A wave of Integrated Care Board (ICB) mergers and clustering is set to roll out across England, with many consolidations taking effect in April 2026 and further changes slated for 2027. The reforms aim to cut ICB operating and programme...
Short-Term Pairs Trade Favours the Dollar
The market is adjusting to heightened geopolitical risk after coordinated US‑Israeli strikes on Iran, which have effectively shut the Hormuz Strait and intensified regional drone attacks. These developments are pushing oil prices higher for a longer period, bolstering the U.S....
Respect: A Free Untapped Advantage
The article highlights how disrespect erodes employee commitment, with nearly 80% reducing engagement when they feel undervalued. It frames disrespect as a driver of learned helplessness and outlines seven concrete ways leaders can demonstrate respect, from actively describing others' viewpoints...
CREi Women of Influence: Aviva Sonenreich Honored for Outstanding Leadership in Commercial Real Estate
Aviva Sonenreich, Managing Broker of The Warehouse Hotline, was honored as a 2026 CREi Women of Influence. The award recognizes her leadership, innovation, and mentorship across commercial real estate, digital platforms, and industry events. Sonenreich also heads the nationally ranked...
The AI SEO Checklist For Restaurants
AI‑driven search engines like ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity no longer rely on traditional SEO signals such as meta tags or backlinks. Instead they pull from third‑person, recommendation‑style content and trusted mentions across the web. For restaurants, this means they can...
The Demonic Policy Strangling the British Economy
The United Kingdom’s “triple lock” pension rule forces state pensions to rise faster than wages, regardless of economic conditions. This automatic uplift adds a growing burden to the nation’s fiscal balance as the population ages and pension outlays swell. Despite...
The Macroeconomic Consequences of Undermining Central Bank Independence: Evidence From Governor Transitions
An IMF study of 132 central‑bank governor transitions across 28 economies finds that politically motivated appointments erode independence and alter macro outcomes. Such governors are linked to higher, more volatile inflation and cause professional forecasters to anticipate dovish policy. Following...
‘Time-Is-of-the-Essence’ Clauses in Private M&A Agreements
The Delaware Supreme Court’s *Thompson Street Capital* ruling applied the equitable doctrine “common law abhors a forfeiture” to a seller’s failure to meet notice‑of‑claims deadlines in a private‑company merger. In response, researchers found that roughly 20% of 4,200 examined private...
She Tried to Build Her Own Lean Coaching AI. Then She Subscribed to Mine.
A senior continuous‑improvement coach at a community hospital subscribed to the Lean Hospitals Coach after failing to build a custom AI tool. The platform combines Lean problem‑solving structure with Socratic coaching, catching errors like solution‑laden problem statements in real time....
How To Position Yourself For A Promotion This Year
Securing a promotion now hinges on visibility, networking, and strategic communication as much as on performance. Professionals must actively showcase achievements, take on cross‑functional projects, and build relationships with managers and senior leaders. Continuous upskilling—particularly in AI and future‑ready competencies—aligns...
Explainer: How Iran Turned Hormuz Into a Geopolitical Checkpoint
Iran has systematically transformed the Strait of Hormuz into a de‑facto geopolitical checkpoint, deploying naval mines, missile batteries and heightened patrols to control one of the world’s most vital oil arteries. The move coincides with escalating regional tensions and a...
Germany's Industrial Collapse: Degrowth And Ideology At Work
Germany’s industrial heartland in Baden‑Württemberg is experiencing a sharp decline, with trade‑tax revenues halving and major manufacturers cutting thousands of jobs. The article attributes the downturn to aggressive green policies and state subsidies that divert capital from private investment. Election...
Selling Your Company
The article advises founders selling a company to avoid exclusive negotiations and instead generate a competitive bidding environment. It recommends leveraging investment banks or directly contacting potential acquirers to discover market‑clearing prices. The piece cites examples like Microsoft’s LinkedIn deal...
Ascot Appoints Shanelle Burke as US Chief Financial Officer
Ascot announced Shanelle Burke as its U.S. Chief Financial Officer, elevating her from the controller role she has held since 2020. Burke brings more than two decades of insurance finance experience, including senior positions at Markel, Alterra USA, and KPMG....
Ohio State Quickly Finds a President
Ohio State University appointed Ravi Bellamkonda as president, bypassing a traditional national search after Ted Carter resigned amid scandal. The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the internal hire, citing Bellamkonda’s experience as executive vice president and provost. He will earn...
Transworld Shipping Lines Reports Loss for Q3 Amid Aging Fleet Challenges
Transworld Shipping Lines posted a Rs 25 crore net loss for Q3 2025, a sharp reversal from a Rs 15 crore profit a year earlier. Revenue slipped to Rs 132 crore and EBITDA collapsed to Rs 8 crore as four of its twelve vessels near the end of...
An Experiment
The author notes LinkedIn’s ever‑shifting distribution algorithm and questions the long‑standing Monday‑Wednesday‑Friday posting rhythm. A new theory suggests Tuesday‑Wednesday‑Thursday may yield better reach, prompting the writer to restructure their posting schedule accordingly. Starting next week, primary LinkedIn posts will follow...
Quick Thoughts on GitHub CTO’s Post on Availability
GitHub’s CTO Vlad Fedorov detailed three recent availability incidents—a Feb. 9 database overload, a Feb. 2 security‑policy‑induced failover, and a Mar. 5 Redis failover that left writes disabled. The post explains how a new AI model release, a reduced cache‑TTL, and peak traffic...
Why the MM Theorem Is Not a Special Case of the Coase Theorem
A new paper argues that the Modigliani‑Miller (MM) theorem and the Coase theorem are conceptually distinct and neither is a special case of the other. The authors highlight that MM relies on strong‑form market efficiency, no taxes and fixed investment,...
Remote Employee Is Doing Child Care Instead of Working, Should I Buy a Cake for a Jerk Who’s Retiring, and...
The Ask a Manager column answered four distinct workplace dilemmas: a remote employee appearing to juggle childcare during work hours, whether to provide a retirement cake for a disliked senior colleague, sharing photos of an aerial‑silks hobby, and coping with...
BREAKING: In Stunning Move, Donald Trump Moves to Reward Putin as Oil Prices Skyrocket
Former President Donald Trump announced a temporary suspension of U.S. sanctions on Russian oil, aiming to flood the market with cheaper crude and curb the surge that pushed Brent toward $100 a barrel. The move follows recent U.S. military actions...
The Coming SPV-Pocalypse
Special purpose vehicles (SPVs) are increasingly used to invest in private companies, allowing investors to sidestep disclosure requirements and often layering high fees and opaque valuations. Recent Bloomberg coverage and two Delaware lawsuits expose fraud risks and the difficulty of...
Dire Strait & The Home Front
Oil prices rebounded to roughly $100 a barrel, dragging U.S. equities and bonds lower as the conflict between Israel, the U.S., and Iran intensifies. The S&P 500 has slipped 4.4% from its January 27 peak and the Nasdaq 6.4% from...
156. Is Your Firm ACTUALLY Profitable?
Fractional CFO firms often mistake personal earnings for firm profitability, especially when bookkeeping and tax services bleed cash. A simple 30‑minute gross‑margin autopsy reveals that high‑margin CFO retainers are subsidizing low‑ or negative‑margin bookkeeping work. By isolating revenue and cost...
Next Up: Food Inflation
Rising energy costs are pushing nitrogen fertilizer prices higher as natural gas, the primary feedstock for the Haber‑Bosch process, spikes. The price surge cascades through urea, ammonium nitrate and ammonia, inflating the entire fertilizer supply chain. Higher input costs translate...
When A Cooling Economy Meets a Hot War
Recent data show the US labor market losing momentum while consumer spending eases, indicating a cooling domestic economy. Simultaneously, heightened tensions with Iran have pushed oil prices higher, adding inflationary pressure. Legal challenges over tariff revenue and growing Wall Street...
Pono Capital Four, Inc. (PONOU) Prices Downsized $120M IPO
Pono Capital Four, Inc. (NASDAQ:PONOU) priced a downsized $120 million initial public offering, with units slated to begin Nasdaq trading on March 13, 2026. The SPAC, led by CEO Dustin Shindo and CFO Gary Miyashiro, seeks a merger with a company that offers...
Can Engineering Management Scale to 50 Direct Reports?
Meta’s Reality Labs is piloting an ultra‑flat engineering org where a single manager oversees up to 50 engineers, relying on AI agents for status updates, meeting attendance, and one‑on‑one check‑ins. The experiment aligns with Zuckerberg’s “Year of Efficiency,” aiming to...
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT): Our Calculation of Intrinsic Value
Caterpillar’s discounted cash flow model estimates an intrinsic share price of about $182, far below the current market level near $707, indicating a roughly 74% negative margin of safety. The analysis applies a 10% discount rate, 3% terminal growth, and...
Organizational System
The article advocates a human‑centric organizational model that treats employees as whole people rather than interchangeable resources. It outlines core principles—dignity, autonomy, purpose, psychological safety, equity, wellbeing, clarity, learning, and empathy—and maps them to concrete design levers such as role...