Market Pulse

Equifax

Market Pulse is a monthly podcast by Equifax, in partnership with Moody’s Analytics. Equifax hosts bring you interviews with industry experts on the latest economic and credit insights that can help drive better business decisions. Whether you’re in financial, mortgage, auto or another service industry, we help make sense of the latest economic conditions that impact you. This podcast series supplements our Market Pulse webinars, which occur on the first Thursday of each month.

  1. 3D AGO

    MBA Annual25 Day 2: Tri-Bureau, Triggers & Tooling Up

    Recorded live at MBA Annual25 in Las Vegas, host Rebecca Kritzman and guests Ashley Sellers, Elaina McFarland, and Bobby Deery break down what lenders are asking for right now: AI-driven workflow efficiency, expanding use of soft-pull strategies, and dual processing to analyze Vantage Score alongside existing scores.  Who are the speakers? Rebecca Kritzman – SVP, Experience & Partner Marketing, EquifaxAshley Sellers – VP, Mortgage Sales, EquifaxElaina McFarland – Leader, Solution Sales Experts (Credit & Verification), EquifaxBobby Deery – SVP, Product, Credit Division, EquifaxTogether, they explore the intersection of innovation, compliance, and customer trust. What were the major insights from Day Two? AI and Automation in Workflows: Lenders are adopting AI to streamline process flows and improve efficiency from application through close.Rising Interest in Dual Processing: Many lenders are testing Vantage Score alongside existing models to compare outcomes and assess portfolio risk.Soft Pull Momentum: Equifax’s soft-pull tools are helping lenders pre-qualify borrowers and protect consumers’ credit scores, especially under the new trigger law.Voice of the Customer: Product teams are incorporating direct lender feedback to guide new innovations such as income qualify and telco/pay-TV/utility data integrations.Education and Clarity: With rapid industry change — from FICO model updates to 1B vs. 3B credit reporting — customers are asking for clear, data-driven guidance.  What challenges did attendees highlight? Widespread uncertainty dominated discussions — from pricing implications and trigger-law timing to confusion around single- vs. tri-bureau models. Customers expressed concern about misinformation and asked for help educating both lenders and consumers on what these changes truly mean. What recommendations did Equifax leaders share? Stand up dual-score processing to compare outcomes between Vantage and FICO models.Collaborate with Equifax product teams to provide feedback that shapes future solutions.Audit your process flows to align products (credit, verification, income qualify) with milestones that deliver the most value.Prioritize education and communication — both internally and with consumers — to navigate market shifts confidently.

    16 min

  2. 3D AGO

    MBA Annual25 Day 1: Data, Innovation & the Future of Mortgage Lending

    Recorded live at MBA Annual25 in Las Vegas, host Rebecca Kritzman, SVP of Experience and Partner Marketing at Equifax, sits down with Emmaline Aliff, Tom Ciulla, and Chris Mock to unpack the biggest themes from Day One — from innovation and data-driven lending to the industry’s ongoing dialogue around tri-merge vs. single-bureau credit models. Who are the speakers? Rebecca Kritzman – SVP, Experience & Partner Marketing, EquifaxEmmaline Aliff – Leader, Equifax AdvisorsTom Ciulla – SVP, Enterprise Alliances, EquifaxChris Mock – VP Mortgage Verification Services, EquifaxTogether, they bring perspectives from marketing, data strategy, sales, and economic analysis.   What are the major takeaways from MBA Annual25 Day One? Optimism and Energy: Attendees are feeling energized by collaboration and the potential for industry innovation.Tri-Merge vs. Single-Bureau Debate: Executives discussed the implications of recent announcements on credit models and what they mean for lenders and low-to-moderate-income borrowers.Data-Driven Decisions: The Equifax team emphasized how expanded data, tri-bureau perspectives, and new credit indicators help lenders make more responsible, inclusive lending decisions.Balancing Innovation and Safety: Many sessions focused on adopting new technologies without compromising trust or consumer protection.Industry Alignment: Across meetings, Equifax was recognized for leadership in data innovation and responsible lending.  Why is innovation such a key theme this year?Rapid regulatory shifts, market uncertainty, and announcements about credit scoring models have pushed lenders to explore new data sources, smarter automation, and more personalized credit insights. The conversation centered on how innovation can serve both lenders and consumers — improving efficiency while promoting fair access to credit.     What challenges did the speakers highlight?The group noted miscommunication and uncertainty around policy changes and data use. They stressed the need for industry education, transparent communication, and data-backed decision-making to reduce fear and misinformation.     What gives them hope about the mortgage market?Every guest emphasized a shared sense of responsibility and care within the industry — a collective commitment to helping people live their financial best through responsible, data-driven lending.

    21 min

  3. OCT 14

    Market Pulse Index: A Holistic View of Consumer and Market Health

    As the U.S. government shutdown delays key economic data, the Equifax Advisors team steps in with deeper insights. Host Emmaline Aliff is joined by Jesse Hardin, Tom O’Neill, and Maria Urtubey to unpack the indicators that matter most when visibility is limited—and to debut the Market Pulse Index, a new holistic measure capturing the intersection of credit, income, assets, and financial behavior across populations. Economist Justin Begley of Moody’s Analytics delivers our macroeconomic update. In this episode:   What is the Market Pulse Index? The Market Pulse Index is a new measure developed by Equifax Advisors that combines multiple financial dimensions—credit performance, income, debt, assets, and affluence—into one holistic view of consumer and market health. It helps lenders and policymakers understand economic conditions beyond single metrics like CPI or GDP. Why is the Market Pulse Index important right now? With the U.S. government shutdown delaying key data releases, traditional indicators such as the jobs report and GDP updates are unavailable. The Market Pulse Index fills this gap by integrating real-time, multi-source data to reveal trends in affordability, financial durability, and consumer well-being. How does the Market Pulse Index differ from other metrics like CPI or GDP? Unlike single-dimension indicators, the Market Pulse Index combines hard data (credit, income, assets) and soft data (consumer sentiment) to provide a multi-layered view of economic conditions. It can reveal disparities across populations, regions, and credit tiers—helping decision-makers identify who’s thriving and who’s struggling. What is the K-shaped economy and how does it relate? The K-shaped economy describes uneven recovery patterns—where high-income consumers see wealth gains while lower-income groups face rising debt and affordability challenges. The Market Pulse Index captures these differences, offering a clearer picture of financial resilience across demographic groups. How can lenders and businesses use the Market Pulse Index? Organizations can use the Market Pulse Index to: Track aggregate consumer health across income, geography, and age groupsIdentify emerging credit risks and opportunitiesAdjust lending and pricing strategies based on holistic insightsImprove risk management and marketing segmentationIf you have questions or suggestions for future podcasts, please reach out to riskadvisors@equifax.com.

    36 min

  4. SEP 18

    What Lenders Need to Know About a Fast-Changing Regulatory Landscape

    Host Jesse Hardin sits down with Stephanie Gunselman, head of Federal Government Relations at Equifax, for a wide-ranging look at how Washington is shaping the future of lending and credit reporting. From a cooling labor market and inflation to evolving priorities at the CFPB, they explore the latest legislative and regulatory developments — including open banking, data privacy, AI governance, medical debt rules, and more. Whether you’re a lender, policy watcher, or data-driven strategist, this conversation will help you prepare for the policy shifts that could impact your business in 2025 and beyond. Economist Justin Begley of Moody’s Analytics delivers our macroeconomic update.

    35 min

  5. AUG 29

    What’s on Lenders’ Minds in 2025? Insights from Equifax Advisors

    Equifax Advisors Maria Urtubey, Emmaline Aliff, Tom O’Neill, Jesse Hardin, and Dave Sojka share what they’re hearing directly from Equifax lending customers across industries. From student loan repayment impacts to shifting auto lending dynamics and tariff uncertainty, the team highlights the questions lenders are asking, the insights uncovered in one-on-one advisory sessions, and the recommendations that have resonated most in 2025.  Economist Shandor Whitcher of Moody’s Analytics delivers our macroeconomic update. What is this episode about?This episode of the Market Pulse Podcast brings together Equifax Advisors Emmaline Aliff, Tom O’Neill, Jesse Hardin, Maria Urtubey, and Dave Sojka to share what they are hearing in one-on-one customer advisory sessions. What are lenders most concerned about in 2025?Advisors discuss the resumption of student loan payments, the ripple effects of tariffs, shifts in auto lending, and how these issues vary across industries such as credit unions, banks, and fintechs. How are customers using Equifax advisory sessions?Advisory conversations allow lenders to bring their own portfolio challenges to the table and get tailored insights—turning market data into actionable strategies.

    39 min

  6. JUL 31

    Consumer Wealth Trends: What Financial Marketers Need to Know

    Equifax Senior Advisor Tom O’Neill sits down with Ian Wright, Chief Strategy Officer at IXI, to unpack the shifting landscape of consumer wealth in a post-COVID economy. Drawing on exclusive IXI data, they explore how total U.S. household assets have grown to over $66 trillion—while the median household has actually lost ground. The conversation dives into the shrinking mass affluent segment, the rising influence of retirees, regional trends in affluence, and how financial institutions can better target high-potential markets.  Economist Justin Begley of Moody’s Analytics delivers our macroeconomic update. In this episode: ·      Post-COVID wealth trends and overall asset growth ·      The shrinking mass affluent segment and rise of the “barbell effect” ·      Disparities in wealth distribution across income tiers ·      Differences in financial outcomes by age group (Gen Z, Gen X, retirees) ·      Geographic variations in wealth concentration ·      Stock market and investments as primary drivers of wealth growth ·      Declining deposit levels and implications for banks ·      K-shaped economic and credit recovery ·      Strategic marketing approaches for targeting affluent households ·      Outlook for deposits and investments through 2025–2026

    26 min

  7. JUL 24

    What the Latest Economic Signals Reveal About U.S. Consumers

    Host Emmaline Aliff is joined by economist Amy Crews Cutts, President at AC Cutts and Associates, and a panel of Equifax experts—Maria Urtubey, Tom O'Neill, and Dave Sojka—to unpack the latest signals from both hard and soft economic data. From shifting consumer sentiment to rising tariffs and the ripple effects on credit, lending, and affordability, the team explores the impact on consumers as we head into the second half of the year.

    38 min

  8. JUN 12

    A Midyear Check on the U.S. Economy with Moody’s Analytics

    Host Olivia Voltaggio is joined by Shandor Whitcher, Economist at Moody’s Analytics, for a timely check-in on the U.S. economy. They discuss the recent shift from early-year optimism to growing uncertainty driven by shifting trade policy, rising jobless claims, and inflation concerns. Shandor breaks down the latest GDP and consumer credit data, explores warning signs from small businesses, and shares the top economic indicators he’s watching for the rest of the year. Resources: CreditForecast.com is a joint venture between Equifax and Moody’s Analytics. Get actionable consumer credit, economic and demographic data, forecasts, and analysis.Register for Market Pulse webinars to get relevant economic and credit insights to help your business make more confident decisions.Learn more about our Market Pulse podcast, and contact us at marketpulsepodcast@equifax.com

    12 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
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About

Market Pulse is a monthly podcast by Equifax, in partnership with Moody’s Analytics. Equifax hosts bring you interviews with industry experts on the latest economic and credit insights that can help drive better business decisions. Whether you’re in financial, mortgage, auto or another service industry, we help make sense of the latest economic conditions that impact you. This podcast series supplements our Market Pulse webinars, which occur on the first Thursday of each month.

Information

  • Creator
    Equifax
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2021
  • Show Website
    Market Pulse

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