by Joe Rulison | Jan 20, 2020 | Banking Relationship, Banking Trends, Budgets, Cash Management Practices, Data & Technology, Fintech, Liquidity Analysis, News, Predictions, Time Horizon
Just imagine if you could look into a crystal ball and see the future. The power of this knowledge could help guide you to make better decisions, avoid the potholes, and allow you to make money that otherwise would go unnoticed.
Just imagine the ability you’d have to alter the future and its outcome.
Just imagine the edge that knowledge would give you, especially if you had the ability to alter the outcome well in advance.
Just imagine if during each calendar quarter you could assess your previous predictions and use that information to chart the course of the next quarter with 95% accuracy.
Just imagine what all of this could mean for you, your office, and those you serve.
For most of us, this would only be wishful thinking or pure science fiction.
At three+one® all this is now a reality!
With the development of our new technology and the rollout of our cashvest® MC forecast model, the ability to predict the future is now possible. The letters “MC” represent the initials of our data analyst, Manel Chaib, the designer and developer of the proprietary cashvest® forward–liquidity–forecast model.
The MC forecast model will take a 24–month-longhistorical look at each financial transaction and determine the future patterns 120 days into the future with 95% accuracy or better. In one case, the MC model was within $163.00 of daily liquidity on a budget of over $360 million looking out 120 days.
Just imagine, knowing the future of your liquidity down to a few dozen dollars in advance—120 days to be exact.
The power of such knowledge will allow you to determine:
• The time horizon on future cash for investment.
• The need (or lack of need) in borrowing money for upcoming cashflow/liquidity needs.
• The ability to determine budget surpluses or gaps down to the dollars and at what point of time.
• The leverage in advising your bank(s) on the value of your cash deposits and if there is an upcoming cash need—with no unexpected surprises.
• No need to hold on to uninvested cash for “just–in–case” circumstances.
• The power of your forecasting your entities liquidity (quantitative & qualitatively) for rating agencies.
This is exciting news and yes, it’s possible. The technology to look into the future exists right here at three+one. 
Let our proprietary cashvest® MC forecast model become your crystal ball. The power of looking forward will provide great sources of comfort and revenue that can truly alter the future of your entity.
by Joe Rulison | Jan 14, 2020 | Budgets, Cash Management Practices, Data & Technology, Fintech, Liquidity Analysis, News, Time Horizon, vlog
If you still think cash flow is the same thing as your liquidity, you may not be maximizing the value of all dollars in deposit. Our cashvest® tool is the answer to additional revenue. Liquidity is an exact data science; harness that data to put your cash to work and earn greater interest income for your taxpayers or higher-ed entity.
by Joe Rulison | Jan 7, 2020 | Budgets, Cash Management Practices, Data & Technology, Fintech, Liquidity Analysis, Time Horizon
Deviled eggs are deviled eggs, right? Well not until you taste the deviled eggs prepared by Rochester executive sous chef Carl Cubiotti. The moment your senses kick in and you see, smell, and taste something so very incredible, you won’t be able to stop with just one. They are truly an extraordinary appetizer.
I share this short story because it relates to cash. Most define cash as money that’s great to set aside. They appreciate the fact they have it and want to keep it handy in case the need arises.
However, once finance officials put cashvest® to work, they’ll have a whole new appreciation for the value of cash and the revenue this asset can generate. Once they experience this new flow of revenue, they can’t stop there.
As we enter a new year, the ability to proactively manage your entity’s cash should be seen as a priority. Every single dollar you oversee should be earning marketplace rates. Many financial officials tend to read the second half of the previous sentence – ‘earning marketplace rates’ – and tell themselves, yes, we’re doing that, but they overlook the first words: ‘Every single dollar.’ Understand, cashvest® is a fintech tool that provides actionable data on every single dollar and transaction of each of your accounts to maximize your financial resources. In the past, this technology simply did not exist, and this operation was virtually impossible to conduct.
This is a good time to have a conversation with your banker(s). With cashvest®’s liquidity analysis and data tools, the time value of all cash will give you and your bank(s) the confidence to take advantage of the short-term rates.
Yes, the devil truly is in the details. Over the last 12 months, three+one® has developed an innovative liquidity forward forecast model with over 95% accuracy of what cash you need and when you’d need it. As a result, all cash will be generating revenue and be available when you actually need it—not when you think you may need it.
With the help and guidance of cashvest®, you’ll finally be able to realize the true value of all your cash. And that will have you coming back for more and more.
Just like Chef Carl’s unforgettable deviled eggs.
by Joe Rulison | Dec 31, 2019 | Banking Trends, Cash Management Practices, Data & Technology, Fintech, Liquidity Analysis, News, Predictions
Over the last several years, I have provided an upcoming outlook on economic and banking trends that will affect public and higher Ed entities. With an average predictability ranging from 50% to 75%, my desire is to spur conversation on a marketplace that deserves attention—and has a major impact on the U.S. economy.
The top ten trends I see developing in 2020 are:
1.) Do not expect an economic recession in the U.S. throughout the new year.
2.) Expect U.S. economic growth to range between 2.0% and 3.0%, with low inflation and continued strong consumer spending. An increase in U.S. manufacturing output and productivity will occur, coupled with higher job growth, thanks to new trade deals from late 2019 and into 2020.
3.) Green initiatives will gain momentum in the public and higher Ed marketplace, with strong lending-and-leasing support from the major financial institutions.
4.) Short-term interest rates will remain steady with no expected rate changes to occur by the Federal Reserve. Longer-term rates will rise to reflect a more normal spread between the 1-, 10-, and 30-year yields.
5.) Expect bank earnings to be challenging, with lending and deposit rates reflecting little change. The use of online banks will become more prevalent in public finance. We’re already seeing U.S. corporations exploring the use of “internet-only” banks and, I believe, with higher interest rate opportunities, cheaper bank fees (due to lower overhead), and superior technology, more governments will utilize the advantages being offered by these internet-only banks.
6.) Digital currency will continue to gain attention. China has publicly announced the development of its own digital currency and the U.S. Treasury Department has established a Financial Stability Oversight Council Working Group on Digital Assets which will attempt to clear the muddy waters of digital-asset exploration and regulation. This will have no direct impact on public entities in 2020, but along with blockchain, will change the financial marketplace forever.
7.) Technology will lead the way for public entities and higher Ed to conduct transactional business with those they serve. In addition, there will be greater demands by the public for transparency, response time in addressing inquires, and requests involving financial, social, and economic priorities.
8.) A higher rate of real estate reassessments should offset a slower percentage of tax-rate increases.
9.) Deeper conversations and advanced planning will occur within higher Ed institutions around the enrollment challenges expected in 2026, due to the lower birth rates in 2008 and 2009. This will also lead these institutions to think differently on how to attract and retain a more diversified student body.
10.) Finally, our cashvest® and rfpPrep® offerings will continue to bring additional value to those public entities and higher Ed institutions who use them.
Note: Over the past six years, these platforms have saved our clients over $250 million.
At three+one®, we are excited about what the new year will bring to all the clients and communities we serve nationwide. Continued innovation of liquidity analysis and data, forward-thinking technology, and personal relationships will drive amazing results throughout the year. And beyond.
Our best wishes to you and those you serve. Happy New Year!
by Joe Rulison | Dec 16, 2019 | Budgets, Cash Management Practices, Data & Technology, Fintech, Liquidity Analysis, Time Horizon, vlog, Winter Blog Series
We love giving gifts & making wishes come true. This holiday season we celebrate the $150M delivered by cashvest® to public & higher-ed entities just like yours. Happy Holidays from all of us at three+one®!
by Joe Rulison | Dec 10, 2019 | Banking Trends, Budgets, Cash Management Practices, Data & Technology, Fintech, Liquidity Analysis, News, Predictions
Last month, I had the opportunity to attend a New York State Community College Business Officers Association (CCBOA) conference where John Zogby, founder of John Zogby Strategies, made a startling statement. He said that, due to rapid developments in medicine, biogenetics, and technology advancements, “The first person to hit the age of 300 is already born.”
While the age of 300 may seem farfetched and hard to comprehend, the underlying challenges of dealing with any significantly aging population has many consequences, coupled with changing demographics.
From social security, to Medicare, to state and local pension systems as well as nursing homes, our entire “golden years” financial infrastructure is based upon retirees living to age 85 or so. If lifespans really do extend to triple digit levels, these systems will require a complete reconstruction of income vs expenses. This will pose challenges well beyond any forecasts currently floating between Wall Street, Washington,D.C. and Main Street.
The ability to deal with such longevity issues will require strong leadership, realistic solutions, and hard decisions, given the financial strains and stretched resources that are sure to ensue.
We see a great example already underway as several major medical centers are looking to repurpose the vast square footage of old shopping malls into spacious orthopedic and ambulatory facilities. Done right, there would be adjacent restaurants and shops for family members to take advantage of during lengthy waiting periods. This is a sign of new trends that may well do away with traditional hospital facilities with their overcrowded waiting rooms, stale coffee, and limited “hospital-food” options.
Trends like these flow through the thinking here at three+one® every day. We’re constantly seeking new, innovative technologies for those that serve the public. The ability for public and HigherEd entities to plan for these lifestyle changes and their effects on one’s liquidity, now and into the future, will require serious discipline and forward thinking.
Even if living to 300 never happens, it’s clear a lot more of us will have three-digit lifespans. It’s not just federal and state governments that have to be concerned about our aging population. Entities like yours will need to be proactive in serving the needs of longer-living Americans and their families. It’s good to know that we’ll be here to ease your efforts.
