SET Training - Banking and Fintech

Risk management, when aligned with business objectives, becomes a powerful strategic tool rather than a mere compliance function. Organizations that integrate risk management into their strategic framework can proactively identify potential threats, capitalize on opportunities, and ensure long-term sustainability. This article explores how businesses can achieve this alignment for greater impact and resilience. 1. Integrating Risk Management into Strategic Planning Risk management should be an integral part of strategic decision-making rather than an afterthought. Organizations should: Conduct comprehensive risk assessments during strategic planning. Align risk priorities with corporate goals to ensure balanced risk-taking. Use risk intelligence to enhance forecasting and decision-making. By embedding risk management early in the planning phase, businesses can anticipate potential pitfalls and develop contingency strategies that support growth. 2. Defining Risk Appetite and Tolerance A...

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), launched under President Donald Trump, claims to be slashing U.S. federal spending by eliminating fraud, cutting wasteful contracts, and shutting down entire agencies. Musk has promised $2 trillion in annual savings, yet government spending has remained virtually unchanged since Trump took office. Despite DOGE’s high-profile cuts—including the closure of USAID and reductions in diversity and inclusion programs—official Treasury data contradicts Musk’s claims, showing that federal spending has actually increased slightly, averaging $30 billion per day, up from $26 billion under Biden. One major challenge is that only about 10% of the budget is realistically within DOGE’s control. The majority of federal expenditures (about two-thirds) are mandatory spending on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, while another 10% is allocated to interest on national debt. Even if Musk eliminated all government fraud—estimated at $233 billi...

Introduction The rise of cryptocurrencies has introduced both groundbreaking financial opportunities and unprecedented challenges in law enforcement. With digital assets moving seamlessly across decentralized ledgers, criminals have found a new frontier for money laundering, fraud, and theft. However, a new generation of private investigators—armed with sophisticated blockchain analysis software and a keen eye for illicit transactions—is stepping up to combat financial crime in the crypto sphere. This article delves into the expanding field of cryptocurrency investigations, the tools at their disposal, and the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between regulators and criminals. The Appeal of Cryptocurrencies for Criminals Cryptocurrencies operate on decentralized blockchains, which provide transparency in transaction records but anonymity for users. This dual nature makes digital assets attractive to criminals seeking to move illicit funds without traditional banking oversight. The scale of th...

Tokenization is transforming asset management, finance, and data security by converting real-world assets into digital tokens on the blockchain. It enhances liquidity, security, and efficiency while reducing reliance on traditional financial intermediaries. As Web3 and blockchain adoption grow, tokenization is poised to become a fundamental pillar of the digital economy. Financial institutions, businesses, and investors stand to benefit from its programmability, composability, and operational efficiencies.  To understand tokenization's full potential, explore my Udemy course, 'Unlocking the Future: Tokenization Explained, ' and stay ahead in the evolving digital economy. Use this link: UDEMY COURSE

If dealmaking means wielding the threat of catastrophe to secure incremental gains, then Donald Trump has long mastered the art. His approach to global trade has been one of brinkmanship—leveraging the threat of tariffs to force concessions. His February 3rd move to grant Canada and Mexico a 30-day reprieve from a punishing 25% tariff on automobiles was a textbook example of this strategy. In exchange, he secured a modest but tangible boost in border security cooperation, including 10,000 additional Mexican troops and a reiteration of prior commitments. Was this "dumbest trade war in history" also the shortest? Investors seem to think so. When Trump initially threatened tariffs, the S&P 500 dropped 3%, only to recover more than half its losses after his deal with Mexico. But this optimism may be misplaced. The assumption that Trump’s trade aggression is merely a negotiating tactic underestimates its potential for long-term disruption. The reality is that his trade war may...

   It appears the Bank of England has accidentally launched a Black Friday sale on gold—except it’s not even Friday, and the discounts are driven by global panic rather than holiday cheer. With traders bracing for potential Trump tariffs, the rush to get bullion stateside has turned into a financial version of “The Hunger Games.” Normally, gold in the BOE vault behaves like a well-mannered aristocrat, aligning perfectly with London market prices. But now? It’s acting like a rogue street vendor, undercutting the market by more than $5 an ounce. That’s a big deal when you consider that previous fluctuations have been in the range of a few measly cents—barely enough to cover a vending machine snack, let alone shake up the gold market. Traders are queueing up for weeks just to withdraw metal, which raises the question: Is this gold or a hot new sneaker release? If this trend continues, we might see ticket scalpers outside the BOE vault, whispering, “Psst… wanna buy some gold?” ...

Donald Trump's latest brainwave about revisiting American expansionism caused the usual media meltdown, with everyone clutching their pearls over comments about Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal. By Wednesday afternoon, his aides were backpedaling faster than a unicyclist in reverse, trying to erase Trump's wild talk about a US military takeover of the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, under the radar, Elon Musk was playing the real-life version of "SimGovernment," dismantling parts of the American bureaucracy like a kid taking apart a LEGO set. Musk, who apparently decides his own conflict of interest status (because why not?), has shifted his sights from USAID and the Treasury to the agencies handling Medicare and Medicaid—programs that keep a significant chunk of the population from turning into real-life Oliver Twists asking for more. Musk’s grand plan to close down federal offices and slash funding has sparked protests nationwide, with people chanting, "Save our ...

Even if your company has never faced tariffs and has no direct dealings with China, Canada, or Mexico, prepare for potential impacts from the second Trump administration's tariff policies, as highlighted by PwC experts at the 2025 Tax Policy Media Breakfast. According to Chris Desmond, PwC’s US global trade services principal, tariffs could deliver "a big shock to the operating model" for unprepared companies. However, there's substantial uncertainty around which countries will be targeted, the scale of tariffs, their implementation timeline, and even their actual imposition. Krishnan Chandrasekhar, PwC US tax leader, emphasized the role of tariffs as negotiation tools, a dynamic exemplified by the rapid escalation and de-escalation of US-Colombia tariff threats on January 26. In this unpredictable environment, PwC recommends that business leaders engage in extensive scenario planning. Finance leaders should thoroughly understand how different tariffs could affect the...

This weekend, the streets turned into a scene straight out of a comedy caper as throngs of folks queued up at Barclays' ATMs, all in a bid to snag some 'free cash' thanks to a digital debacle in the bank's mobile and online services. Apparently, when Barclays' tech took an unscheduled nap, TikTok took the stage, turning a technical glitch into the latest treasure hunt! Imagine the chaos—people frantically tapping their phones, only to realize that the real action was happening at the cold, hard, cash-dispensing machines.  It's like the universe decided to give us a live-action version of "Monopoly: Bank Error in Your Favor, Collect £200." I bet there were some folks who thought they'd finally cracked the banking system only to find out they were just part of a viral dance with cash. And let's not forget the poor bank employees, probably thinking, "Well, we wanted to go viral, but not like this!" It's a reminder that in the digital...

Looks like Trump thought he could bully Canada with tariffs like he was shooing a goose off his golf course, but oh boy, did he pick the wrong country for his antics. After he announced his 25% tariff threat, Canadians, known for their politeness, got a bit... un-Canadian. At sports arenas, instead of the usual respectful silence during the U.S. anthem, fans decided it was time for a good old-fashioned jeer fest. Social media lit up faster than a bonfire with hashtags like #BoycottUSA, and whispers of selling off those sunny Florida getaways were heard from Vancouver to Halifax. But the real kicker? Canada's contemplating giving the U.S. auto industry such a cold shoulder it might just freeze over, threatening layoffs colder than a Winnipeg winter. And in the ultimate twist of fate, Ontario's decided to give Elon Musk's Starlink the cold boot, because apparently, even space isn't safe from this trade tiff. My Musings: This is less a trade war and more like watching C...