Episodios
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Yasmin Farahi and Lucia Constantine from the Center for Responsible Lending discuss the promises and perils of Earned Wage Access programs. Discover how these fintech products operate, the financial traps they can create, and the regulatory debates shaping their future.
Related Links:
A Loan Shark in Your Pocket: The Perils of Earned Wage Advance
Paying to be Paid: Consumer Protections Needed for Earned Wage Advances and Other Fintech Cash Advances
Not Free: The Large Hidden Costs of Small-Dollar Loans Made Through Cash Advance Apps
CFPB Proposes Interpretive Rule to Ensure Workers Know the Costs and Fees of Paycheck Advance Products
House of Representatives Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Inclusion Subcommittee Hearing “Modernizing Financial Services through Innovation and Competition.” Statement for the Record Ram Palaniappan, CEO, EarnIn October 25, 2023
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Justin Sherman is the founder and CEO of Global Cyber Strategies, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, and an adjunct professor and senior fellow at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, where he founded and leads its data brokerage research project. He joins Lee to discuss how data brokers obtain and use sensitive data, the role they play in financial services, and the current regulatory landscape attempting to address these practices.
Lee’s X: @leereiners
Justin’s X: @jshermcyber
Related Links:
CFPB Launches Inquiry Into the Business Practices of Data Brokers | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov)
Prepared Opening Remarks of CFPB Director Rohit Chopra at the Aspen Institute on Abuse and Misuse of Our Personal Data | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov)
CFPB Takes Action to Curb Unchecked Worker Surveillance | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov)
How to surveil a federal regulator - POLITICO
Fed, intel and military groups warn data broker practices may threaten national security - Nextgov/FCW
Microsoft Word - Duke Team Response to CFPB RFI on Data Brokers.docx
Data Brokers and the Sale of Data on U.S. Military Personnel - Tech Policy @ Sanford | Tech Policy @ Sanford (duke.edu)
The U.S. Needs Controls on Data Brokerage | TechPolicy.Press
Examining data broker Equifax’s relationships with millions of employers - Tech Policy @ Sanford | Tech Policy @ Sanford (duke.edu)
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Dan Berkovitz and Laurian Cristea discuss the regulatory and ethical challenges surrounding political event contracts. They explore the history, recent legal developments, and the future implications of betting on political outcomes, especially as the CFTC tightens its stance on these controversial markets.
Lee’s X: @leereiners
Related Links:
CFTC proposed amendments to its rules concerning event contracts in certain excluded commodities: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/07/05/2024-14610/event-contracts
Elections Bets Go Live on Kalshi After CFTC's Court Loss: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/securities-law/betting-on-us-congress-elections-outcome-green-lit-by-judge
US appeals court clears Kalshi to restart elections betting: https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-federal-court-upholds-ruling-letting-kalshiex-list-election-betting-contracts-2024-10-02/
Statement of Chairman Rostin Behnam Regarding CFTC Order to Prohibit Kalshi Political Control Derivatives Contracts: https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/SpeechesTestimony/behnamstatement092223
A Mystery $30 Million Wave of Pro-Trump Bets Has Moved a Popular Prediction Market: https://www.wsj.com/finance/betting-election-pro-trump-ad74aa71
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Ed DeMarco is president of the Housing Policy Council and former acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. He discusses the rise of nonbank mortgage companies and what the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s recent report on nonbank mortgage servicing gets right and what it gets wrong. Ed also offers his thoughts on the FHFA’s Title Insurance Waiver Pilot Program, Freddie Mac's proposal to purchase second mortgages, and the CFPB’s inquiry into junk fees in mortgage closing costs. Finally, DeMarco shares his views on Kamala Harris’ housing policy proposals and their potential impact on the housing market.
Lee’s X: @leereiners
Related Links:
FSOC Report on Nonbank Mortgage Servicing: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2331
Director Sandra Thompson's Statement on Title Acceptance Pilot: https://www.fhfa.gov/news/statement/director-sandra-thompsons-statement-on-title-acceptance-pilot
FHFA Announces Conditional Approval of Freddie Mac Pilot to Purchase Second Mortgages: https://www.fhfa.gov/news/news-release/fhfa-announces-conditional-approval-of-freddie-mac-pilot-to-purchase-second-mortgages
CFPB Launches Inquiry into Junk Fees in Mortgage Closing Costs: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/cfpb-launches-inquiry-into-junk-fees-in-mortgage-closing-costs/
Housing Finance Quick Takes video series: https://www.housingpolicycouncil.org/hfqt
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Graham Steele is the former Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He discusses insights from his latest paper for the Roosevelt Institute, "The End of Banking History? Finishing the Unfinished Business of Financial Reform." From the impact of the 2018 deregulatory “tailoring” project, which weakened post-crisis reforms, to the cascading failures of regional banks like Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in 2023, Graham laid out his view on why the current regulatory framework is falling short and what needs to change.
Graham’s X: @steelewheelz
Lee’s X: @leereiners
Related Links:
The End of Banking History? Finishing the Unfinished Business of Financial Reform: https://rooseveltinstitute.org/publications/the-end-of-banking-history/
Remarks by Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions Graham Steele at the George Washington University Law School Business & Finance Law Program: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2029
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Kathryn Judge is a professor at Columbia Law School and Aaron Klein is a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. They discuss the origins of the Federal Home Loan Banks, the role they played in propping up failing banks in the 2023 regional banking crisis, and their ideas for how the FHLBs can be reformed to better fulfill their public mission to promote housing and community development.
Kate Judge’s X: @ProfKateJudge
Aaron Klein’s X: @Aarondklein
Lee’s X: @leereiners
Related Links:
Comment Letter on FHLB Mission Statemen, Kathryn Judge and Aaron Klein: https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Klein-Judge-FHLB-mission-statement-comment-FINALpdf.pdf
Forum on the future of the Federal Home Loan Bank system: Highlights from the Brookings and BU Law event, Aaron Klein, Cornelius Hurley, and Harrison Fregeau: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/forum-on-the-future-of-the-federal-home-loan-bank-system-highlights-from-the-brookings-and-bu-law-event/
How to fix the Federal Home Loan Banks, Kathryn Judge and Aaron Klein: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-to-fix-federal-home-loan-banks/
FHLBank System at 100: Focusing on the Future, Federal Housing Finance Agency: https://www.fhfa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-01/FHLBank-System-at-100-Report.pdf
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John Coates is the John F. Cogan, Jr. Professor of Law and Economics at Harvard Law School and author of “The Problem of Twelve: When a Few Financial Institutions Control Everything.” According to John, a problem of twelve arises when a small number of institutions acquire the means to exert outsized influence over the politics and economy of a nation. In this episode, John discusses insights from his book and how the concentration of corporate power in the hands of a small group of institutional investors, specifically index funds and private equity funds, undermines our democracy.
Lee’s X: @leereiners
Lee’s Website: www.leereiners.com
Related Links:
The Problem of Twelve: When a Few Financial Institutions Control Everything: https://www.amazon.com/Problem-Twelve-Financial-Institutions-Everything/dp/B0BW67PX7B
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Art Wilmarth, Professor Emeritus of Law at the George Washington University Law School, reflects on the regional banking crisis of spring 2023 and how decisions made by regulators to resolve Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, First Republic Bank, and Credit Suisse reveal that we have still not solved the Too Big to Fail problem.
Lee’s X: @leereiners
Lee’s Website: www.leereiners.com
Related Links:
The FDIC’s resolution plan for failed megabanks is an empty promise: https://www.americanbanker.com/opinion/the-fdics-resolution-plan-for-failed-megabanks-is-an-empty-promise
Regulators should reject big-bank arguments against stronger capital requirements: https://thehill.com/opinion/4715182-regulators-should-reject-big-bank-arguments-against-stronger-capital-requirements/
We Need a New Glass-Steagall Act to End the Toxic Symbiosis Between Universal Banks and Shadow Banks, Which Professor Corrigan Has More Fully Revealed: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4794680
Statement by Martin J. Gruenberg, Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on Title 1 Resolution Plan Feedback Letters for 8 U.S. GSIBs: https://www.fdic.gov/news/speeches/statement-martin-j-gruenberg-chairman-federal-deposit-insurance-corporation-title-1
Martin J. Gruenberg, Chairman, FDIC Lessons Learned from the U.S. Regional Bank Failures of 2023 Florence School of Banking and Finance: https://www.fdic.gov/news/speeches/martin-j-gruenberg-chairman-fdic-lessons-learned-us-regional-bank-failures-2023
US regulator criticises Swiss handling of Credit Suisse as ‘unhelpful’: https://www.ft.com/content/9fb79310-b8e4-47d8-99cf-a7630eae59e7
FDIC Board of Directors Approves Final Revised Rule to Strengthen Resolution Planning for Large Banks: https://www.fdic.gov/news/press-releases/fdic-board-directors-approves-final-revised-rule-strengthen-resolution-planning
Overview of Resolution Under Title II of the Dodd-Frank Act: https://www.fdic.gov/sites/default/files/2024-04/spapr1024b_0.pdf
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Eric Spitler, former Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs at the FDIC, discusses his paper on the history of bank runs and how he would reform deposit insurance to address the weaknesses revealed by last spring’s regional banking crisis.
Lee’s X: @leereiners
Related Links:
Yelling 'Fire' in the Financial Theater: Bank Runs in the Social Media Age and the Threat to Financial Stability: https://scholarship.law.unc.edu/ncbi/vol28/iss1/5/
The Deposit Insurance Funds as an Early Resolution Tool: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4897571
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Danny Cullenward is a distinguished Senior Fellow with the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. He joined Lee to discuss the current state of voluntary carbon credit markets and efforts in the U.S. and abroad to regulate carbon credits.
Lee’s X: @leereiners
Related Links:
Danny’s website: https://www.ghgpolicy.org/
Webinar: What Role Will Carbon Removal Play Under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement? https://youtu.be/jovH809dhg0?si=e96ktXxTcRcKJvRd
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Sean Vanatta is a lecturer in US Economic and Social History at the University of Glasgow and author of the new book "Plastic Capitalism: Banks, Credit Cards, and the End of Financial Control." Sean sits down with Lee to discuss the history of credit cards in the United States and how this history informs current policy debates, including Capital One’s proposed acquisition of Discover and the Credit Card Competition Act.
Lee’s X: @leereiners
Sean’s X: @SeanVanatta
Related Links
Plastic Capitalism: Banks, Credit Cards, and the End of Financial Control: https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300247343/plastic-capitalism/
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Jonah Crane, a partner at Klaros Group and former Treasury Department official, breaks down the recent collapse of fintech company Synapse, which has left thousands of customers without access to their funds. Crane also reflects on the regulatory response and the broader impact Synapse’s failure will have on Banking as a Service.
Lee’s X: @leereiners
Jonah’s X: @JonahCrane
Related Links
Klaros Group: https://www.klaros.com/
Does BaaS have a future: https://www.klaros.com/post/does-baas-have-a-future
Nearly $109 million in deposits held for fintech Yotta’s customers vanished in Synapse collapse, bank says: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/21/synapse-collapse-nearly-109m-in-yotta-customer-deposits-vanish.html
Abrupt shutdown of financial middleman Synapse has frozen thousands of Americans’ deposits: https://apnews.com/article/synapse-evolve-bank-fintech-accounts-frozen-07ecb45f807a8114cac7438e7a66b512
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Prometheum is the one firm that other crypto firms love to hate. This is because the firm’s founders and co-CEOs, brothers Aaron and Ben Kaplan, have consistently and publicly argued that most cryptocurrencies are investment contracts subject to SEC registration requirements. In this episode, Aaron Kaplan joins Lee to discuss the process Prometheum followed to receive regulatory approve to operate an alternative trading system and special purpose broker dealer, which allows the firm to offer trading, clearing, settlement, and custody of digital asset securities. Aaron also addresses the frequent criticisms leveled at his firm and offers his thoughts on the future of the digital asset industry.
Lee’s Twitter: @leereiners
Related Links
*Prometheum Receives First of Its Kind Approval From FINRA to Clear and Settle Digital Asset Securities: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240110419249/en/Prometheum-Receives-First-of-Its-Kind-Approval-From-FINRA-to-Clear-and-Settle-Digital-Asset-Securities
*Prometheum Announces Custodial Services for Ether (ETH), Opens Account Sign Up For Institutional clients: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240207966185/en/Prometheum-Announces-Custodial-Services-for-Ether-ETH-Opens-Account-Sign-Up-For-Institutional-Clients
*SEC may be forced to declare Ethereum a security after controversial new launch: https://fortune.com/crypto/2024/02/07/sec-prometheum-ethereum-broker-dealer-gary-gensler-coinbase/
*Blockchain Association Calls for Investigation into SEC Approval of Prometheum Ember Capital as Special Purpose Broker-Dealer: https://theblockchainassociation.org/blockchainassociation-calls-for-investigation-into-sec-approval-of-prometheum-ember-capital-as-special-purpose-broker-dealer/
*‘Crypto Communism’? Not in America: https://www.wsj.com/articles/prometheum-digital-asset-crypto-china-wanxiang-tuberville-eab5629b
*U.S. Senator Tuberville Asks DOJ, SEC to Investigate Crypto Broker Prometheum:
https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2023/07/10/us-senator-tuberville-asks-doj-sec-to-investigate-crypto-broker-prometheum/
*Testimony of: Aaron Kaplan Co-CEO and Founder, Prometheum, Inc. Before the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee: https://docs.house.gov/meetings/BA/BA00/20230613/116085/HHRG-118-BA00-Wstate-KaplanA-20230613.pdf
*Agriculture, Financial Services Republicans Demand Sec Clarify Position Regarding Prometheum’s Custody Of Ethereum’s Ether: https://agriculture.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=7749
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Well Fargo was an iconic and respected American Brand. But then, in September 2016, in a settlement with the City of Los Angeles, the OCC, and CFPB, it was revealed that approximately 5,300 Wells Fargo employees had been terminated between 2011 and 2016, for sales practice violations that included opening over two million unauthorized deposit and credit card accounts. Earlier this year, Kevin Wack published a 5-part series in the American Banker that shed new details on the scandal. Kevin came on the show to talk about how the series came together and what his reporting uncovered. He also provides an update on what has happened to some of the senior executives involved in the scandal and shares his thoughts on the enduring lessons the Wells Fargo scandal provides.
Leave questions and comments at [email protected]
Lee’s Twitter: @leereiners
Related Links
*Alarm bells, arrogance and the crisis at Wells Fargo: https://www.americanbanker.com/news/alarm-bells-arrogance-and-the-crisis-at-wells-fargo
*How Wells Fargo's Aggressive Sales Culture Took Root: https://www.americanbanker.com/news/how-wells-fargos-aggressive-sales-culture-took-root
*Wells Execs Stuck to the Script as Evidence of Sales Abuses Mounted: https://www.americanbanker.com/news/wells-execs-stuck-to-the-script-as-evidence-of-sales-abuses-mounted
*Deal to put ex-Wells Fargo executive behind bars sends tough message: https://www.americanbanker.com/news/deal-to-put-ex-wells-fargo-executive-behind-bars-sends-tough-message
*The Rise and Fall of Wells Fargo with Dick Kovacevich: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7f2D7PL9ZM1zLlnNCneK0L
*Wells Fargo Unauthorized Account Openings: A Case Study for Bank Board Directors: https://sites.duke.edu/thefinregblog/2017/04/26/phony-accounts-scandal-a-case-study-for-bank-board-directors/ -
James Wigginton has thought deeply about economic power and the role cooperatives can play in ensuring Web3 lives up to its stated potential of sharing ownership with users in digital networks. James joins Lee to discuss how cooperatives can be used by Web3 firms to engage with their users, strengthen digital networks, and remain compliant with securities laws. James also talks about the potential for sports fans to own a part of their favorite teams by allowing cooperatives to take minority stakes in teams.
Leave questions and comments at [email protected]
Lee’s Twitter: @leereiners
Related Links
*Cooperatives: An Ownership Model for Digital Networks: https://media.orrick.com/Media%20Library/public/files/insights/2023/cooperatives-path-to-compliance-for-web3.pdf
*Can fan-owned cooperatives change the relationship between fans and owners for the better? https://theathletic.com/4783026/2023/08/17/fan-cooperatives-sports-ownership/?access_token=13946098
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Alicia Seiger is a lecturer at Stanford Law and the managing director of Stanford’s Sustainable Finance Initiative. And Marc Roston is the founder of investment advisory firm MNR Capital and a senior research scholar at Stanford University’s Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance. In this episode, Alicia and Marc offer their perspective on the problems with the current method of corporate carbon counting, known as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. They also break down a new carbon accounting methodology they’ve developed called Emissions Liability Management, or ELM.
Leave questions and comments at [email protected]
Lee’s Twitter: @leereiners
Related Links
*Carbon Accounting and Emissions Liability Management:
https://sfi.stanford.edu/carbon-accounting-and-emissions-liability-management
*Settling Climate Accounts: Navigating the Road to Net Zero:
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-83650-4
*Accounting for Climate Change: https://hbr.org/2021/11/accounting-for-climate-change -
Tony McLaughlin is Managing Director for Emerging Payments & Business Development at Citi Treasury & Trade Solutions. In this episode, Tony offers his thoughts on the latest developments in payments, including stablecoins, central bank digital currency, and FedNow. He also breaks down an exciting new project he’s been working on, called the Regulated Liability Network (RLN). RLN envisions a regulated Financial Market Infrastructure that could deliver an interoperable network of all facets of the sovereign currency system: central bank money, commercial bank money, and e-money (and in the future, regulated stablecoins).
Leave questions and comments at [email protected]
Lee’s Twitter: @leereiners
Related Links
*The Regulated Liability Network Whitepaper https://regulatedliabilitynetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/The-Regulated-Liability-Network-Whitepaper.pdf
*Regulated Liability Network U.S. Proof of Concept Findings https://www.rlnuspoc.org/home#subpage/introduction/section/w3rk7
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Joe Davis is chief economist at Vanguard as well as the global head of Vanguard Investment Strategy Group. In this episode, Joe offers his thoughts on what’s driving inflation, how the Federal Reserve is likely to respond at their upcoming policy meeting and beyond, and how investors can insulate their portfolio from inflations pernicious effects. Joe and Lee also reflect on key lessons learned from the last 15 years of economic policymaking.
Lee’s Twitter: @leereiners
GFMC Twitter: @DukeGFMC
Related Links
*Ukraine and the Changing Market Environment* Vanguard https://advisors.vanguard.com/insights/article/ukraineandthechangingmarketenvironment
*Why Do We Think That Inflation Expectations Matter for Inflation? (And Should We?)* Jeremy B. Rudd
https://doi.org/10.17016/FEDS.2021.062
*Will Inflation Stay High for Decades? One Influential Economist Says Yes* Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/articles/inflation-high-forecast-economist-goodhart-cpi-11646837755
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Ari Redbord is the head of legal and government affairs for the blockchain intelligence firm, TRM Labs. Prior to joining TRM Labs, Ari held public sector roles involving cryptocurrency and national security at the Department of Justice and U.S. Department of the Treasury. In this episode, Ari and Lee break down President Biden’s executive order on cryptocurrency.
Ari Redbord’s Twitter: @ARedbord
TRM Labs Twitter: @TRMLabs
Lee’s Twitter: @leereiners
GFMC Twitter: @DukeGFMC
Related Links
*Executive Order on Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets* https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/03/09/executive-order-on-ensuring-responsible-development-of-digital-assets/
*FACT SHEET: President Biden to Sign Executive Order on Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets* https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/03/09/fact-sheet-president-biden-to-sign-executive-order-on-ensuring-responsible-innovation-in-digital-assets/*Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials on the President’s New Digital Assets Executive Order* https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2022/03/09/background-press-call-by-senior-administration-officials-on-the-presidents-new-digital-assets-executive-order/
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Barbara Haya directs the Berkeley Carbon Trading Project. Barbara joins Lee to explain what carbon offsets are and the considerations that must be addressed to ensure that offset credits entering into commerce reflect real, verifiable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, Barbara details why most offset programs issue more credits than they should, and recent policy efforts to bring greater integrity to the voluntary offset market.
Barbara’s Twitter: @Barbara_Haya
GFMC’s Twitter: @DukeGFMC
Lee’s Twitter: @leereiners
Related Links:
*POLICY BRIEF: The California Air Resources Board’s U.S. Forest offset protocol underestimates leakage* by Barbara Haya https://gspp.berkeley.edu/faculty-and-impact/working-papers/policy-brief-arbas-us-forest-projects-offset-protocol-underestimates-leaka
* Measuring Emissions Against an Alternative Future: Fundamental Flaws in the Structure of the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism* by Barbara Haya https://gspp.berkeley.edu/faculty-and-impact/working-papers/measuring-emissions-against-an-alternative-future-fundamental-flaws-in-the-
Barbara Haya directs the Berkeley Carbon Trading Project. Barbara joins Lee to explain what carbon offsets are and the considerations that must be addressed to ensure that offset credits entering into commerce reflect real, verifiable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, Barbara details why most offset programs issue more credits than they should, and recent policy efforts to bring greater integrity to the voluntary offset market.
Barbara’s Twitter: @Barbara_Haya
GFMC’s Twitter: @DukeGFMC
Lee’s Twitter: @leereiners
Related Links:
*POLICY BRIEF: The California Air Resources Board’s U.S. Forest offset protocol underestimates leakage* by Barbara Haya https://gspp.berkeley.edu/faculty-and-impact/working-papers/policy-brief-arbas-us-forest-projects-offset-protocol-underestimates-leaka
* Measuring Emissions Against an Alternative Future: Fundamental Flaws in the Structure of the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism* by Barbara Haya https://gspp.berkeley.edu/faculty-and-impact/working-papers/measuring-emissions-against-an-alternative-future-fundamental-flaws-in-the-
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