1. Tinder for Banks
Swipe right, this is big money! Bank of America’s Merrill Lynch division has shifted towards a Tinder-esque strategy. Financial advisors can connect their LinkedIn accounts or upload a professional profile in order to connect with people that need help managing their money. If their profiles prove to have a high level of credibility, show desirable experience, and appeal to the consumer, a swipe will make them an advisor. Traditionally, the banking sector has often been conservative, in part due to regulations, when it comes to embracing new technology. Will Merrill Lynch change their name to Merrill Match-Maker?
(Source: Gartner)
2. Amazon: 3rd Largest Ad Player
World domination is in sight for Mr. Bezos. Amazon just passed Verizon, stealing and securing 3rd place for the largest advertising platform. At this point, only Facebook and Google are ranked above, with Google having a 37.1% share of the digital advertising market and Facebook claiming 20.6%. Amazon’s big advantage over these two is buyer data, providing insight to understanding if advertising actually led to someone purchasing. The only thing stopping Jeff Bezos may be federal and global regulation, which is one reason why Amazon’s headquarters will most likely land in Washington D.C. You heard it here first.
(Source: AdAge)
3. Insurance Requires Wearables
Life insurance company John Hancock sent out the following memo yesterday: those who have a policy with the company are required to wear devices that monitor fitness, eating habits, and general health. This is just one of the multiple initiatives that John Hancock has been trending towards since 2015. So, what do these wearable devices look like? The new and improved Apple Watch Series 4 is one great example. Also, Fitbits will have the capability to provide health data that John Hancock policyholders must submit to obtain and keep insurance coverage. There’s obvious market growth for both sides of the deal, since the fitness-watch industry is set to reap the benefits and John Hancock will get their data in a “timely” manner as well. Is this 1984 in 2018? With “Big Brother” looming in the near future, we have you covered with our book What Happens in Vegas Stays on YouTube.
(Source: The Hustle)
