May 2023

Australia led the buy now pay later innovation and popularised the payment method globally during the pandemic outbreak. Ever since, the payment method has been used by millions of customers globally, transacting billions of dollars in value every year. The flexible payment solution is a lifeline for many even today, as rising inflation and subsequent surge in product prices in creating havoc.

After leading innovation in the sector, Australia is now leading the way in regulating the fast-growing market. Authorities, in May 2022, announced the country will regulate buy now pay later services as consumer credit products under the new laws. It means that the new regulations would force providers to carry out checks before extending short-term loans to consumers.

• The Australian government has been seeking to regulate the fast-growing sector for a while now. In November 2022, the Treasury released three different options for regulating the BNPL sector in Australia, which also included regulating the payment solution under the existing credit laws.
• The move to regulate comes on the back of a litany of issues reported to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), which largely concentrate on the fact that unacceptable levels of unaffordable lending were taking place in the Australian BNPL sector.

Australia, along with the United Kingdom, is among the two countries that have sought to regulate BNPL services as a standard credit product. Under the new laws, BNPL providers in Australia will not only have to get the credit license to extend short-term loans to consumers but will also put providers like Afterpay and Zip Co under the watch of ASIC.

The regulatory proceedings are expected to hurt the operations of players like Afterpay and Zip, which are competing with conventional banking institutions to garner market share in Australia. As a part of a wider review of the sector, ASIC also revealed that it had asked Humm Group to suspend new sign-ups in Australia. While the Humm Group is cooperating with the regulators, the inability to register new users will further hurt the firm, which is already struggling amid the soaring interest rates.

While the payment method ballooned during the pandemic outbreak and consumers in large numbers flocked towards flexible payment methods in the form of BNPL, the last few quarters have been difficult for the overall market. In Q1 2023, many of the leading names such as Affirm, Latitude, and Openpay collapsed in Australia.

• Affirm, in March 2023, announced that the firm is quitting operations in Australia. The announcement comes a month after the firm laid off 19% of its workforce. Growing competition and a rising interest rate environment are among the factors that have forced the firm to exit Australia.
• Latitude Group, in February 2023, also revealed that it has scrapped the BNPL offering in Australia. The firm launched LatitudePay in September 2019 when the payment method was surging in popularity among consumers. The firm cited uncertainty around the regulatory environment as the reason behind the takedown.
• In 2023, Openpay became the first major player in the Australian BNPL market to fall, after the firm entered into receivership. Declining cash flow, increased cost of borrowings, and bad debts were among the factors that have led to the fall of Openpay in the Australian market.

Furthermore, with the growing pressure on investors who are willing to see profits from their investments, some of the leading players like Zip are also retreating from their global expansion plans. Zip, in Q1 2023, revealed that the firm is backing down on its expansion plan, either by selling or winding down operations in 10 of the 14 global markets where it operates. The firm had already announced its exit from markets like the United Kingdom, Singapore, and the Middle East.

Read More – Affirm losses grow in FQ3’23; firm cites bank failures and rising interest rates

PayNXT360 expects these trends to further continue from the short to medium-term perspective, as the interest rate environment continues to dampen the margins for BNPL providers in Australia. The regulatory changes mean the compliance burden will also increase on these firms. This, coupled with the growing competitive landscape and entry of big global giants, means that the weaker names will continue to collapse in the Australian BNPL market in 2023.

• Apple, which unveiled in Pay Later service in March 2023, has a strong presence in the Australian payments market. Apple Pay, for instance, has a strong market penetration in Australia. PayNXT360 expects Apple to build the Pay Later service on top of its Apple Pay solution. The strong market penetration in the Australian market means that Apple is set to give tough competition to market leaders such as Afterpay, Zip, and Klarna in 2023.

Although some of the big names have collapsed in the sector and the market is projected to remain under pressure in H2 2023, the strong demand for flexible payment services means that the market will continue to grow in Australia. According to PayNXT360 estimates, BNPL payments are expected to grow by 20.5% on an annual basis to reach US$14.24 billion in 2023. The market, from 2023 to 2028, is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 10.9%. As a result, the gross merchandise value will increase from US$11.8 billion in 2022 to reach US$23.93 billion by 2028.

Read More – Klarna continues to move beyond a buy now pay later service with a suite of new feature launches in 2023

Read More – Strategic alliances lead to new BNPL solutions in 2023

The data indicates that there is plenty of headroom for growth in the Australian BNPL market. With the introduction of new laws, the market is also expected to grow at a sustainable pace by following the norms of responsible lending. This will also help the firms in reducing the bad debt problem, which has been long plaguing the BNPL market in Australia.

As the co-managing partner at Hauser Private Equity with almost four decades of industry experience, Mark Hauser knows a thing or two about the financial world. Born in Cincinnati to former pro football player Art Hauser, Mark would navigate the financial world after graduating from Miami University of Ohio with a Degree in Finance.

Most recently enjoying the categoric rise of Hauser Private Equity, Mark has taken time out of his day to tackle some of the most common and pressing options in the financial world: credit card fraud.

Let’s buckle up and explore the realities of credit card fraud while understanding the dangers that the crime can provide, all backed by knowledge from Mark Hauser.

What Is Credit Card Fraud?

Credit card fraud is a term that refers to several types of crime that involve the illicit use of a credit card. Fraudsters can take advantage of a stolen, canceled, or otherwise revoked credit card to obtain something valuable. As an example, a credit card thief can get a cash advance or make a purchase, sometimes without even having the card in their possession!

While working at Mark Hauser Equity, Hauser had to maintain awareness of the many ways that credit card fraud can impact consumers in every financial bracket. A criminal can adopt an individual’s identity to use it to commit other crimes, thus harming the original victim even more.

Different Forms of Credit Card Fraud

While credit card fraud can be reduced to the illicit use of a credit card, the truth is that there are many more subtypes of fraud than we have explored already. Determined criminals can get creative in the way they take advantage of fraud opportunities, so watch out for the following potential outcomes.

• Stolen/Lost Card – If you forget your card at a payment terminal or simply drop it from your wallet, an opportunistic individual could take advantage. This is one of the most common forms of credit card fraud.
• Cloned Card – Mark Hauser acknowledges the frustrating challenges that technology can impose, pointing to card skimmers and cloned cards as a significant issue for consumers. Fraudsters can use a scanning machine to clone an individual’s card effectively.
• New Account – Potentially the most damaging type of fraud out of them all, new account fraud includes the utilization of a person’s private information to open a new credit card in their name, running up the limit and ruining their victim’s credit score along the way.

Minimizing Credit Card Fraud

Ultimately, Mark Hauser acknowledges that financial fraud is here to stay and that we have to take some ownership over how we prevent ourselves from becoming victims. To best offset potential credit card fraud, it is essential to stay alert for card skimmers, avoid public WiFi for card purchases, and always keep your eyes on your card.

Options trading is a financial strategy that allows investors to buy and trade options contracts. These contracts allow trading an underlying security at a predetermined price but do not require the investor to do so. The investor who buys the option contract has a long position, while the one selling it has a short position. Options can provide considerable leverage and potential return on capital, but they can also be risky.

Options trading for retirement can be a powerful tool to help you build your nest egg. When you buy options, there is a potential for higher returns, but it’s essential to understand the risks before investing. Here are some excellent tips and strategies to help you make intelligent decisions as you trade for retirement:

Start early

The earlier you start to buy options in Singapore for retirement, the more time your shares and investments will have to grow. Starting sooner than later also allows compounding interest to work in your favour. Any profits you make can be reinvested into the markets, potentially earning even more significant returns.

Understand the risk/reward ratio of different strategies

Options offer traders a range of strategies with varying degrees of risk and reward, including covered calls, long puts and bull spreads. It’s essential to understand the different strategies and how they work in various markets before you start trading options for retirement.

Create a diversified portfolio

Options can be used to create a diversified portfolio of investments. You should develop an investment strategy that fits your risk tolerance and goals and spread your trades across multiple markets to reduce risk. For example, if you have a long-term strategy, you may want to buy call options on broad-market indices like the S&P 500 or Nasdaq Composite Index. Alternatively, if you prefer shorter-term trades with higher rewards potential, buying put options on commodities such as oil and gold could be beneficial for your strategy.

Monitor the markets

Options trading for retirement is a dynamic process, and you should always watch the markets. Staying current with market news will help you anticipate significant price movements and adjust your positions accordingly. You should also keep track of expirations, as options expire after a certain period.

Take advantage of leverage

One of the main advantages of options trading is the potential to make gains using relatively little capital compared to other types of investments. Leverage can increase returns without investing more money upfront. However, it can also significantly increase losses, so use caution when leveraging your trades.

Manage risk wisely

Risk management is essential when options are trading for retirement. You should set stop-losses to limit losses and manage your positions so you don’t overexpose yourself to risk.

Other investment options that will help build your retirement portfolio

Options trading is a powerful tool for building your retirement nest egg, but it’s not the only option. Investors can diversify their portfolios with traditional investments, such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.

Stock investing allows investors to buy or sell shares of publicly traded companies on the stock market. Stocks provide potential long-term growth and are often considered a better bet than options regarding risk/reward ratio. However, stock prices are volatile, so it’s important to research companies before investing.

Bonds are debt securities issued by corporations or governments. They generally offer low returns because they have fixed coupons and maturities but tend to be less risky than stocks or options. Investors looking for stability should consider investing in high-quality bonds from reliable issuers.

Mutual funds combine stocks, bonds and other securities into one package, allowing investors to diversify their portfolios with minimal effort. Investing in mutual funds can provide access to various investments while reducing portfolio volatility and increasing returns over time.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) also provide an opportunity for diversifying your retirement portfolio. REITs allow investors in Singapore to pool their money together to invest in real estate without owning the property. REITs can generate income through rental payments or capital gains from selling the properties at a higher price than when they were purchased.

Conclusion

Options trading for retirement can be a great way to grow your nest egg, but it’s essential to understand the risks involved. Leverage and volatility can pose significant risks if not managed properly, so it’s essential to understand how options work before diving into the markets. It would help to consider diversifying your portfolio with other investment strategies such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds. By taking a disciplined trading approach to investing and managing risk wisely, you may be able to generate consistent returns over time and secure your financial future.