Sitting outside on my deck this morning, I caught sight of a small lizard zooming by. It first changed colors to match the wood railing, somehow managing to sneak right past my dog, Finley. A quick jump into the bushes and the lizard was suddenly bright green, blending with the leaves. I couldn’t help but think of a recent conversation...

2020 has been one of the toughest years for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) in history. Many saw a ray of hope in the U.S. government's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). But when SMB owners called their bankers for assistance in applying, far too many were unable to get the support they needed and expected to keep their businesses...

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted nearly every aspect of people’s lives. Countless small to medium-sized business (SMB) owners also are struggling to stay afloat as they deal with closures, layoffs, and supply chain issues. There’s little doubt this pandemic is going to impact these SMBs in both the short- and long-term.

I’m continually amazed by what you can do with new technology, applications, digital solutions, and system integrations in banking and beyond. But I’ve discovered that, for some business bankers, high-tech is becoming problematic. Today, next-gen business customers want high-tech banking options, and it’s time to get on board unless you...

There is arguably no one busier than a small to mid-sized business (SMB) owner. Because they are wearing so many different hats, SMB owners often don’t have the time to concern themselves with news about their own industry. But when you send them news and engage with them about these relevant topics, it can help them think more broadly...

There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of niches that small businesses fill within this country. (On Vertical IQ, we cover over 450 of these sectors.) Yet, despite this enormous variety, there are certain aspects of running a small business that many of these companies have in common: concerns about capital and cashflow,...

As the senior sales associate at Vertical IQ, I am always interested in learning about the new sales strategies and tactics that are being used by banks and bankers; it gives me insights into ways that the industry intelligence on Vertical IQ can be better integrated into their processes. To that end, I recently attended the 2019...

One of the fascinating things about working for Vertical IQ is learning about the structures of industries and why they have evolved that way. At the heart of what we analyze are the numerous facets that drive revenue—and factors that make businesses within that sector succeed or fail. Indeed, it’s every advisor’s job to understand how...

Two members of the Vertical IQ team and I attended the 2018 Exit Planning Summit in Nashville last week because many exit planning experts need and appreciate industry research. Having been a business banker for many years, and then personally being involved with founding and selling several successful businesses, I’ve had first-hand...

It wasn’t so long ago that a business banker could get by based on their personality, some basic knowledge of the local economy, and maybe one or two unique bank product offerings. But those days are now in the rearview mirror as clients and prospects have come to expect more from their banker. This is why we decided to write our latest...