7 Online Fintech Preparatory Programs

Prepare for financial transformation with in-depth insight into global payment innovations and open banking initiatives, and the impact they have on business opportunities.

Understand how FinTech has become the ally that can help financial services streamline the process and adapt to changes. The Harvard VPAL FinTech online short course explores how FinTech is changing and creating new financial services opportunities. As you progress on the six-week course, you’ll gain the necessary skills to evaluate the key players who are driving innovation, analyze the impact that FinTech will have on financial ecosystems, and understand how the industry has created the need for regulatory frameworks.

It seems like almost every week you see a new report on the impact of FinTech. Some reports proclaim that up to 30% of Financial Services industry’s current jobs will become redundant in the coming years due to FinTech. Some reports comment that FinTech has shaken up the highly regulated industry and is benefiting the end consumer. But no one seems to be disputing that FinTech is redefining the Financial Services industry as we know it. Venture Capitalists, as well as Corporates, believe so. They are investing in FinTech startups and initiatives. As per a recent KPMG and CB Insights report, $19.1 Bn flowed in the FinTech sector just in 2015. That’s a 106% jump compared to 2014.

Explore the fintech revolution transforming the financial industry and consider the challenges of disruptive financial technology.

The JOBS Act, or otherwise known as the Crowdfunding Act, has been passing into law since 2012 with the most recent development, Regulation CF, enacted in May of 2016 which has opened up investing in privately-held businesses to the average investor. Previously, only the wealthiest individuals that had $200K or more in annual salary or $1MM+ in net worth, could partake.

After a relatively late start, the InsurTech sector has seen increased funding and interest in 2015 and Q1 2016. The need for better user experience, demand for different on-demand insurance products by Millennials, increase in data from sensors and IoT present huge potential for Insurance sector disruption in health insurance, life insurance and property and casualty insurance sectors. But at the same time, regulatory nuances in these sectors present challenges for startups unfamiliar with the insurance industry. Recent partnerships between established global Insurance firms and InsurTech startups is showing a potential way forward for this evolving industry.

Traditional wealth management/ PFM world was shaken with the advent of so-called “robo advisors” in recent years. ‘Robo-advisor’ is a generic term used to describe a new class of investment advisory service that is offered online, is automated and based on algorithms.