The financial industry offers a wide range of economic services. These include banks, credit unions, and credit-card companies. Depending on the sector, the services provided may range from payments to money management. If you want to learn more about the different types of financial services, continue reading this article. It will give you an overview of the different types of financial services and their respective benefits. It will also help you make the right decision for your financial future.
Money management
Besides investment advice and portfolio management, money managers play an important role in the corporate world. These professionals invest capital in different assets like stocks, bonds, and commodities. They also provide brokerage services and other financial services, such as ETFs and mutual funds. Some of the world’s largest financial services companies provide these services, including Vanguard and BlackRock. These companies manage around $1.9 trillion in assets. Besides providing investment advice, money managers also provide retirement services.
Insurance
Insurance is a subsector of the financial services industry. Its primary purpose is to protect individuals and businesses from the risk of death and injury. It also covers liabilities and lawsuits. There are several different types of insurance agents, including insurance brokers and life insurance agents. An insurance agent works for an insurance carrier, while a broker works for an insured. Brokers shop around for the best possible insurance policies. Underwriters determine the risk of insuring a client’s assets. They also advise investment bankers on the potential losses associated with loans. Reinsurance is a type of insurance that protects insurers from catastrophic losses.
Payments
The future of payments in financial services is a bright one. The vast majority of organisations in the sector are well-capitalised, have large technology divisions, and hold massive amounts of customer data. This is the perfect storm for The Great Convergence, and this sector is no exception. Apples, Facebooks, and data are poised to overtake financial services organisations. But how? This panel discussion will explore what the future holds for payments.
Investments
While the majority of financial services-focused PE firms are based in North America, there is a growing trend for PE firms to invest in Asia and Africa. This trend is largely due to the need to expand business in emerging markets, which is where many of the investment opportunities exist. The key areas of growth in the financial services industry are niche banks, electronic payments, and insurance. Here are some examples of companies that are a good fit for PE investments:
Credit card networks
There are four main credit card networks: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. These companies are responsible for processing transactions worldwide and are associated with certain credit card brands. They are also responsible for setting the terms and conditions that consumers and merchants must follow when using their card. However, not every merchant will accept all four networks. Hence, it is important to check whether a specific store will accept a particular network before you choose one.