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Hey, fintech fam! 💜

Today, beehiiv, the platform I use to write this newsletter, let me know I’ve written over 200,000 words for you this year. And we’ve hit 4 million impressions (!!). To put that in perspective, our newsletter subscribers could fill the entire city of San Luis Obispo, California.

Since the Femmy Awards, I’ve been deep in the trenches building something I’m beyond excited to share: a space for all of us to connect, collaborate, and continue nurturing the impactful relationships we’ve been fostering at our in-person events.

Introducing: The Academy of Fintech Community. Take a peek at our official membership community landing page. To make sure everyone has a chance to join us, I’m extending the deadline for Founding Membership applications until January 31.

Already in? Feel free to pass the link to anyone you think would be a great fit.

And speaking of building community, my book Fintech Feminists also makes a perfect holiday gift for friends or colleagues who are passionate about fintech and gender equity. Consider it a little festive reading for the new year!

Now, let’s dive into today’s story.

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INNOVATION

Why Fintech Should Double Down on This Sector in 2025

If you’ve been keeping an eye on fintech predictions for 2025, you’re likely seeing the usual suspects: AI, payments, and maybe some blockchain innovations. But let me tell you, wealth management is one area of fintech that’s got me excited right now. 

Maybe it’s because I spent years as a wealth tech reporter and now breathe it every day as an entrepreneur. 

Or maybe it’s because I was recently named one of the 20 people poised to shape wealth management in 2025 by Financial Planning—something that gives you a fresh lens on the space. 

But my obsession goes deeper than a title. Wealth management is ripe for disruption, and as more people start chasing wealth rather than just money, it’s time for fintech to step up and reshape the industry, moving beyond access and into mastery. 

As we move into 2025, one of the most promising areas for fintech innovation isn’t just about democratizing access to traditional investment options—it’s about shifting the very foundation of wealth creation. 

Investors are noticing. This year, wealth management startups pulled in nearly $1.8 billion—three times the funding they raised the previous year, according to Crunchbase.

This is significant, especially given the broader downturn in fintech funding.

Sure, we’ve seen the rise of robo-advisors and apps that make investing in stocks and bonds feel like second nature. 

But as these tools become oversaturated and ubiquitous, the next wave of wealth management will be all about educating and empowering high earners to truly leverage the tools of the ultra-wealthy, particularly by creating a community of wealth-builders and opening doors to alternative assets that can make a real impact beyond just a paycheck.

From Access to Mastery

Let’s face it: Much wealth management has already been “democratized.” 

Apps like Robinhood and Stash have taken financial advice and investment management out of the hands of high-priced financial advisors and placed them into the hands of the masses. 

Whether you’re a millennial with a few hundred bucks to invest or a Gen Z’er just starting out, getting started in the stock market has never been easier. Robo-advisors and low-cost platforms have made investing as simple as sending a text, making it possible for anyone with a smartphone to build their portfolio. 

However, what’s often left out of the equation is a critical piece of the wealth-building puzzle: the ability to make your money work for you in ways beyond traditional investment vehicles and the education to do so. 

The average person can buy stocks or bonds, but how many people are really investing in alternative assets—like private equity, venture capital, or private funds—that are reserved for the wealthiest 1%?

How many know that assets like these often outpace the returns of public markets over time?

The wealthiest individuals don’t rely on their salary to build wealth; they leverage their assets, diversifying into private markets and alternative investments that grow at a rate much higher than public stocks and bonds. 

This is where fintech has the opportunity to step in—by opening up these doors to a wider swath of individuals, especially those who are already high earners but lack access to these kinds of wealth-building tools.

Community-Driven Wealth Creation

What if wealth management in 2025 isn’t just about using automated tools for better portfolio management? 

What if it’s about creating a community of wealth-builders—individuals who have common goals and the desire to leverage the same kind of wealth-building tools that have historically been out of reach? 

This is where startups like Goodfin are leading the way with an edge.

Anna Joo Fee, the founder and CEO of Goodfin, has recognized this shift. Goodfin is not just an investment platform; it’s a space that enables a diverse group of high-potential individuals—especially founders, investors, and professionals—to access institutional-quality assets. 

These are the assets that have long been reserved for the ultra-wealthy—like blue-chip private equity and pre-IPO startups. Goodfin aggregates wealth from individuals to collectively knock on the doors of exclusive private wealth opportunities.

By doing so, it lowers the barriers to entry, giving members a chance to diversify their portfolios in ways they couldn’t before.

In this new wealth management ecosystem, the key isn’t just access—it’s the education and empowerment to truly build wealth, not just manage it.

By providing a guided, automated experience that still feels personal, fintech can teach individuals to leverage complex financial products—like private equity or venture funds—that many high earners still don’t fully understand. 

A high-earner making $300k a year might be doing okay financially, but without access to these sophisticated wealth-building tools, they’ll never see the kind of exponential wealth growth that can come from investing in private markets or owning stakes in tomorrow’s unicorns.

This next wave of fintech will likely focus on building personalized yet automated wealth-building experiences that provide access and encourage community collaboration and mutual growth.

A place where high earners can share investment ideas, get educational content tailored to their financial goals, and access curated, high-quality alternative assets—all within the same platform. I know I’d be interested.

Why It Matters for Fintech Founders

Anna’s story as a two-time fintech founder provides valuable lessons:

1. Embrace Risk: As Anna says, “Without risk, there’s no reward.” Starting Goodfin meant stepping away from a prestigious career as a lawyer and embracing uncertainty in entrepreneurship—but it also opened the door to innovation in a space primed for disruption.

2. Focus on Financial Inclusion: The wealth gap is not only a social issue—it’s a business opportunity. By offering access to private equity, venture capital, and other high-return investments, fintech can help a new generation build wealth and achieve financial freedom.

3. Diversity is Key: Anna’s journey highlights diversity's importance in products and teams. By diversifying, fintech can unlock growth potential and help more people become owners, creating lasting impact.

As Anna says, “Wealth is about owning.” Empower more people to become owners, and you’ve created the foundation for lasting impact.

Why Wealth Management Is A Key Area in 2025

Wealth management should be on the radar of every fintech founder for several reasons:

1. Massive Market Opportunity: Even though wealth tech has already started democratizing investing, a vast portion of the population still lacks access to high-quality investment tools and knowledge.

   Fintech can fill this gap by focusing on the intersection of financial education and automated wealth-building tools.

   Companies that tackle these problems will tap into a growing pool of people who want to build wealth outside of a paycheck but lack the time or resources to navigate the complexities of private equity and alternative assets.

2. Generational Wealth Transfer: As the wealth transfer continues, especially with the “feminization of wealth,” there’s a shift in how individuals, particularly women, are thinking about money.

   They’re not just looking to save or grow their wealth incrementally; they’re looking for opportunities to create generational wealth.

   Fintech can meet this demand by offering products and services that help users build wealth across multiple generations, using tools like private equity and impact investing to unlock exponential returns.

3. A Focus on Long-Term Wealth Creation, Not Just Short-Term Gains: The current crop of wealth tech apps tends to focus on short-term market gains—whether that’s through daily trading or monthly investing. But what if fintech focused on longer-term wealth-building strategies?

   The ability to invest in alternative assets and build a portfolio that includes real estate, startups, and private funds could fundamentally change how people build wealth, especially high-income earners who have money to invest but haven’t yet been shown how to make it grow exponentially.

4. Diverse Clientele Seeking More Personalized Wealth Management: As we see an increasing push for diversity and inclusion in the wealth management industry, fintech has the ability to take this seriously.

   The traditional financial services industry has a poor track record when it comes to representing diverse communities, especially women and people of color.

   But with a fintech approach, you can personalize offerings and target underrepresented groups, empowering them to build wealth and take advantage of opportunities that were once out of reach.

As we look to 2025, the future of wealth management is poised for disruption by fintech—especially in areas that go beyond traditional stocks and bonds.

The next frontier in this space isn’t just about democratizing investing; it’s about creating communities of wealth-builders who are empowered to leverage alternative assets and sophisticated wealth-building strategies that have historically been exclusive to the wealthy. 

Suppose fintech seizes these opportunities and integrates them with the capabilities of AI and automation. In that case, we will witness a fresh wave of investors—knowledgeable, empowered, and eager to create wealth that surpasses mere paychecks.

The real question is not whether fintech can undergo this transformation but rather who will lead it.

My bet is on entrepreneurs like Anna Joo Fee.

_{WTF ELSE?}

• Fintech Zest AI secures $200m from Insight Partners

• MoneyLion joins Gen Digital following $1B acquisition

• AI, embedded finance, or payments: Which FinTech trend will define 2025?

• Trump's Finance Focus: Fintech leaders now in government spotlight

• AI in financial services survey shows productivity gains across the board

_{I WANT IT, I GOT IT}

• 📰 Today’s Read: This article where veteran entrepreneur Sheila Lirio Marcelo says women over 50 spent decades navigating careers, families, and crises—learning empathy, patience, and resilience along the way. In business, these qualities are superpowers.

• 🍿 Today’s Watch: I love seeing two powerhouse women interview each other. I found this "Actors on Actors" interview with Angelina Jolie and Cynthia Erivo inspiring. Is this how my podcast should be?

• 🌍 Today’s Giving: As 2024 winds down, I’m proud to partner with SafePlace International, celebrating the graduation of their largest class of LGBTQI+ leaders across Africa. These Dream Academy graduates are creating economic impact in their communities despite facing discrimination and violence. Your gift, matched until year-end, can help fuel this incredible work—click here to invest.

_FINTUNES

🎵 Tinashe - Needs

Securing a place in my top three songs of the year is this vibey track, which I undoubtedly played on repeat during countless hours of writing my book.

_{LET’S CONNECT}

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That’s all for now! See you Thursday!

Love,

Nicole 💜