Fintech Hustle

Author: Sam Kilmer & Cornerstone Advisors

Join host Sam Kilmer, fintech advisor, in unscripted conversations with top fintech industry leaders. No planned corporate talking points, no scripts, no pitches. Just useful advice and insights. To keep it lively, Sam often brings co-hosts like author/researcher Ron Shevlin, former American Banker editor Mary Wisniewski, and former Bank Director President Al Dominick.
Be a guest on this podcast

Language: en-us

Genres: Business, Investing

Contact email: Get it

Feed URL: Get it

iTunes ID: Get it

Get all podcast data

Listen Now...

2025 in Fintech: The Best Insights from Fintech Hustle Podcast
Episode 9
Monday, 17 November, 2025

Host Sam Kilmer looks back at the year’s most quoted hallway moments—packed with real-world takes on AI (purposeful, not buzzwordy), stablecoins (watch the fiat on/off-ramps), data activation (from “we have it” to “we use it”), and go-to-market alignment. Highlights include an AI reality check from a startup CEO, pragmatic stablecoin guidance from an investing leader, compliance and fraud implications for the AI era, organizing sales + marketing around bookings, and why community FIs must aim for personalization beyond product silos. Plus a few road-warrior stories (Grace Potter sighting, sun-safe merch) to cap a big year.LinksSam Kilmer (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/samkilmer/Fintech Hustle (Cornerstone site): https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/fintech-hustle/Key Moments00:04 Flashback setup: a “greatest-hits-ish” reel—AI, stablecoin, data, GTM 01:23 AI culture shift: a CEO’s take on leaders who hoped to “retire before it hits” 03:06 Stablecoin sanity check (rooftop chat): focus on fiat ↔ stablecoin conversions now 05:07 AI’s compounding edge: “It’s the dumbest it will ever be today”—early adopters win on efficiency, profitability, M&A leverage 07:18 Purposeful AI: define the outcome first (ops efficiency, intimacy, personalization), then pick the tech 08:25 GTM org design: marketing + sales co-own accounts and bookings; content ≠ handoff forms 10:48 Data to action: banks have data—now align strategy, frontline, and offers to actually use it 12:03 Sign-off: community, road notes, and gearing up for 2026’s guest slate