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Economic overview Figure 1: Key indicators and trends Source: Nasdaq Economic Research, FactSet AI stocks dominate market returns after strong performance Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a big topic in the market these days. The benefits are so great that some openly wonder if there is a bubble in AI. However, the data shows that over the past few years, stock returns (Figure 2, bars) have been driven primarily by revenue (Figure 2, circles) and not by multiple business expansions. The Nasdaq-100® is home to the Magnificent 7 stocks as well as Broadcom and AMD, making it the major stock…
Human capital is one of the most important bloodlines of any company, and building a people-first culture is key to keeping it healthy. Dorothy Walter, CFO of Alpine Investors, shares how the company unlocked growth and achieved success by focusing on human development and talent retention. In this conversation with Jack McCullough, she explains why empathy in leadership goes a long way in maintaining a strong team and shaping the next generation of financial leaders, how to use AI and automation to your company’s advantage and what she learned about persistence from cycling across the United States. Listen by clicking…
It's more important than ever that, as Warren Buffett suggests, “investing in your skills” is the best way to deal with disruption. With that in mind, here are my annual picks for the top eight business books of 2025. They're built around the four decisions every company needs to get right to scale: people, strategy, execution, and finance, with a bonus category of personal health and leadership. What I think about it is that reset #1 Business Book of 2025. This book is so insightful that I added it to my list of top 12 business books of all time.…
Most rewards programs fail for one of two reasons. One is that the design is not aligned with the strategy or the company is not using the program to communicate and clarify priorities. Boards and compensation committees focus a lot on the first issue, such as metrics, targets, peer groups, and composition, and less on the second issue. In Parts 1 and 2 of this series, we discussed how employee value propositions (EVPs) are built not just on compensation, but on the complete employee experience, from culture to flexibility to meaning. But wages are never neutral. Money tells us what…
From anti-money laundering regulations and cybersecurity controls in digital banking to ESG reporting and third-party vendor oversight, U.S. financial institutions face strict guidelines and expectations for their operations. As a result, CFOs at these institutions are under tremendous pressure to ensure they have adequate audit capabilities and are audit-proof. says Patrick Farrelly, managing partner of the U.S. Capital Region office at UHY LLP, a global accounting and advisory firm headquartered in London, England. Farrelly, who is also a managing director at UHY Advisors, is based in Albany, New York. In these roles, Farrelly provides accounting and advisory services to public…
AI has entered the era of “demonstration.” The past 18 months of experimental frenzy with PoCs, pilots, and demos has given way to tougher questions from CEOs, boards, and investors. What is the impact? Why haven't we seen any revenue yet? Are we looking in the right place? Most companies don't, according to AWS Innovation Strategists Saeed Hoda and Glenn Holland. And the problem isn't technology. That's the strategy behind it. Hoda and Holland spoke at CFO Leadership's recent AI in Finance forum in a session dedicated to addressing this very issue. “Today is about building an AI strategy that’s…
American corporate directors ended 2025 on an unexpectedly optimistic note. The Director Confidence Index is a quarterly poll that comes after three consecutive quarters of slump to five-year lows. corporate director In a survey of U.S. public company board members' business confidence, the Diligent Institute rose 23% in December, rising from 4.9 out of 10 to 6.0, finally entering “good” territory. A better understanding of how tariffs are impacting businesses and the economy, lower interest rates and increased capital spending are the most common factors directors share to explain this recovery. “[There’s] There is an expectation that companies will be…
Despite, or perhaps because of, the ongoing digital revolution, the CFO role is entering its most human era yet. As AI accelerates predictions, automation streamlines reporting, and data becomes instantly accessible, technical proficiency is no longer the primary differentiator for financial leaders. In 2026, leadership will be what separates the strong CFOs from the truly great CFOs. It's the ability to build trust in moments of uncertainty, develop the next generation of financial leaders, influence strategy beyond the numbers, and make sound decisions when data alone doesn't provide certainty. The year ahead will reward CFOs who combine financial rigor with…
Carissa Kell, chief financial officer at software provider Finastra, said CFOs must have a strong voice on a wide range of topics affecting their organizations, including cyber resilience, generative AI, open banking, open finance and more. Kell shares her perspective on today's CFO priorities, investing in AI, and why storytelling is an important skill. HDoes the CFO have a role in cyber resilience? CFOs play a key role in cyber resilience, working closely with CISOs and other technology leaders to ensure sufficient financial resources are allocated to cybersecurity efforts. In addition to addressing technical debt, CFOs play a key role…
As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes industries at unprecedented speed, boards are faced with the challenge of guiding their organizations through significant technology and workforce transitions. In this environment, modern CHROs have become essential strategic partners who connect the dots between what AI can do and how companies can effectively leverage it faster, better, and smarter. CHROs play a key role in guiding the adoption of AI, while serving as trusted advisors to help boards understand how AI will impact the organization's capabilities, culture, risk, and long-term competitiveness. AI is a critical competitive necessity that, if implemented properly, can drive productivity,…