On May 16, 2023, I had the honor of participating in the FinTech Talents conference in London, a prestigious gathering of innovators in the FinTech industry. As a panelist in the discussion on “Utilising Embedded Finance to Mitigate the Cost-of-Living Crisis”, I had the opportunity to share my perspectives and contribute to the discourse around the contemporary challenges in our field.

In my discussion, I emphasized the importance of looking beyond just financial capital when considering solutions to help consumers navigate the ongoing crisis. I advocated for a more holistic approach that takes into account Social and Human capital, alongside Financial capital. This perspective, I believe, allows us to see consumers in their entirety, enabling us to offer comprehensive financial planning, educational planning, and career planning that cater to their unique circumstances.

This philosophy is at the heart of our work at Heartland Finance and wallet79. In our approach, we integrate Heartland’s financial services with a deep understanding of the individual’s social network their different types of capital. By doing so, we empower our customers to make informed decisions that can optimally leverage their diverse assets and capital.

The essence of my message was to challenge the traditional view of consumers as purely financial entities. Instead, I proposed a 360-degree perspective that considers their skills, experiences, social connections, and overall life circumstances. This perspective fosters personalized and effective planning strategies that equip individuals to navigate and potentially mitigate the cost-of-living crisis.

I saw the panel discussion as an opportunity to inspire industry professionals to recognize the value of Human and Social capital in addressing the cost-of-living crisis, and to demonstrate how Heartland Finance and wallet79 are already pioneering this approach.