A recent Wall Street Journal article entitled “The Problem for Small-Town Banks: People Want High-Tech Services” struck a chord for me. It recounts the story of a Bank of America branch in Monticello, New York, that was purchased by the National Bank of Delaware County, a community bank with just a handful of branches.

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 seems that just about everything today relies upon computers, and as a result, computer programming services is a booming industry. For bankers, despite the risks, there is a lot of opportunity to be found within the rapidly growing computer programming services industry.

We noticed an interesting article in the August 15 issue of American Banker regarding community banks that are forming dedicated healthcare lending teams. In recent years, the healthcare industry had seemed risky to many banks as Medicaid reimbursements have been declining and concerns about the future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA,...

Despite the credit risks inherent to commercial equipment rental and leasing companies — such as intense competition, cyclicality, and high regulation — building an industry niche with well-managed firms in this industry may be profitable for your bank. Well-run firms achieve high equipment utilization and are good at keeping repair...

A hot topic in the news lately has been tariffs and the resulting “trade wars” they can create. In March, the Trump administration announced that as of July 6, tariffs of 25 percent would be levied on imported steel and 10 percent on imported aluminum. 

They say that beach bodies are made during the winter, and most fitness centers DO experience higher membership growth right after the winter holidays as people make their New Year’s resolutions to lose weight or exercise more. But despite the seasonality of the industry, fitness centers are thriving in the U.S.

Americans have a lot of STUFF. For many people, they have more than can be contained within the confines of their home, which is why the self-storage industry has been booming. Yet a recent article (firewall-protected) in American Banker explores whether the storage industry remains secure or is headed for a downturn.

School may be out for the next few months, but thankfully for America’s working parents, most of the nation’s 60,000 child care centers will still be providing year-round care for infants and children.