Equifax Advisors Maria Urtubey, Emmaline Aliff, Tom O’Neill, Jesse Hardin, and Dave Sojka share what they’re hearing directly from Equifax lending customers across industries. From student loan repayment impacts to shifting auto lending dynamics and tariff uncertainty, the team highlights the questions lenders are asking, the insights uncovered in one-on-one advisory sessions, and the recommendations that have resonated most in 2025. 

Economist Shandor Whitcher of Moody’s Analytics delivers our macroeconomic update.

What is this episode about?
This episode of the Market Pulse Podcast brings together Equifax Advisors Emmaline Aliff, Tom O’Neill, Jesse Hardin, Maria Urtubey, and Dave Sojka to share what they are hearing in one-on-one customer advisory sessions.

What are lenders most concerned about in 2025?
Advisors discuss the resumption of student loan payments, the ripple effects of tariffs, shifts in auto lending, and how these issues vary across industries such as credit unions, banks, and fintechs.

How are customers using Equifax advisory sessions?
Advisory conversations allow lenders to bring their own portfolio challenges to the table and get tailored insights—turning market data into actionable strategies.

Equifax Senior Advisor Tom O’Neill sits down with Ian Wright, Chief Strategy Officer at IXI, to unpack the shifting landscape of consumer wealth in a post-COVID economy. Drawing on exclusive IXI data, they explore how total U.S. household assets have grown to over $66 trillion—while the median household has actually lost ground. The conversation dives into the shrinking mass affluent segment, the rising influence of retirees, regional trends in affluence, and how financial institutions can better target high-potential markets. 

Economist Justin Begley of Moody’s Analytics delivers our macroeconomic update.

In this episode:

·      Post-COVID wealth trends and overall asset growth

·      The shrinking mass affluent segment and rise of the “barbell effect”

·      Disparities in wealth distribution across income tiers

·      Differences in financial outcomes by age group (Gen Z, Gen X, retirees)

·      Geographic variations in wealth concentration

·      Stock market and investments as primary drivers of wealth growth

·      Declining deposit levels and implications for banks

·      K-shaped economic and credit recovery

·      Strategic marketing approaches for targeting affluent households

·      Outlook for deposits and investments through 2025–2026

Host Emmaline Aliff is joined by economist Amy Crews Cutts, President at AC Cutts and Associates, and a panel of Equifax experts—Maria Urtubey, Tom O'Neill, and Dave Sojka—to unpack the latest signals from both hard and soft economic data. From shifting consumer sentiment to rising tariffs and the ripple effects on credit, lending, and affordability, the team explores the impact on consumers as we head into the second half of the year.

Host Olivia Voltaggio is joined by Shandor Whitcher, Economist at Moody’s Analytics, for a timely check-in on the U.S. economy. They discuss the recent shift from early-year optimism to growing uncertainty driven by shifting trade policy, rising jobless claims, and inflation concerns. Shandor breaks down the latest GDP and consumer credit data, explores warning signs from small businesses, and shares the top economic indicators he’s watching for the rest of the year.

Resources:

• CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody’s Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts, and analysis.
• Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions.
• Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at [email protected]

In this Small Business Month edition, experts from Fiserv and Equifax unpack how small businesses and consumers are responding to ongoing economic uncertainty. Darryl Tyndorf, Director of Economic and Analytical Insights at Fiserv; Mike Spriggs, Head of Consumer Insights at Fiserv; and David Adams, Head of Commercial Product Marketing at Equifax dig into a range of topics, from shifting spending patterns and tariff impacts to the rise of side hustles and cautious optimism.

Resources:

• CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody’s Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts, and analysis.
• Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions.
• Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at [email protected]

Equifax advisors Jesse Hardin, Dave Sojka, Tom O'Neill, and Maria Urtubey explore the disconnect between positive hard data and declining consumer sentiment, rising concerns over tariffs, and their disproportionate impact on households and businesses. They dig into leading indicators to watch—like delinquency rates, employment trends, and consumer spending—and offer practical recommendations to help lenders and businesses navigate uncertainty. 

Resources:

•  CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody’s Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts, and analysis.
• Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions.
• Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at [email protected]

With President Trump’s administration in full swing, we’re joined by Shandor Whitcher, economist at Moody’s Analytics, to break down key economic trends shaping the year ahead. Get the latest on inflation, labor market dynamics, and the Federal Reserve’s approach to interest rates, along with the impact of global trade policies, emerging technologies and more. 

Resources:

•  CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody’s Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts, and analysis.
• Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions.
• Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at [email protected]

The Equifax Advisory Team dives into predictions for 2025, exploring key economic themes such as tariffs, immigration reform, and the ongoing housing affordability crisis. The discussion also touches on potential policy impacts from the new administration and how unexpected events could shape economic outcomes.

Resources:

•  CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody’s Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts, and analysis.
• Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions.
• Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at [email protected]

The Equifax advisory team reviews the U.S. economy in 2024, discussing key developments and their implications for lenders and consumers. Jesse Hardin, Em Aliff, Tom O'Neill, Dave Sojka, and Maria Urtubey explore interest rates, inflation, housing, labor trends, and consumer credit.

The Federal Reserve's rate cuts aimed to cool inflation and support affordability, yet high borrowing costs persisted, impacting home purchases and refinances. The labor market showed resilience, with steady job creation, but challenges like rising unemployment and slower hiring added complexity. Consumer behaviors reflected cautious optimism as high credit card rates and rising debt levels strained budgets.

The panel revisits their 2024 predictions and look ahead to 2025’s economic landscape.

Resources:

•  CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody’s Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts, and analysis.
• Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions.
• Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at [email protected]

Host Tom O'Neill sits down with Equifax’s Chief Strategy Officer, Ian Wright, to discuss strategies for growing and protecting deposits in today’s competitive financial landscape. With traditional banks, fintechs, and neobanks all vying for deposit share, how can institutions gain a competitive edge? Ian shares insights on leveraging financial data to identify valuable customer segments, including young affluents and high earners, and how banks can nurture loyalty with targeted strategies.