Finance

Planful’s New Product Innovations Enable Finance Automation, Collaboration, and Innovation

Published

2 years ago

May 15, 2024

New Technology, Ideas, and Strategies Shared at Perform24 Support Finance, Accounting, Marketing, and HR Leaders Go Beyond to Drive Peak Financial Performance

SAN FRANCISCO, May 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Planful Inc., the pioneer of financial performance management cloud software, announced today, as part of the Perform24 theme to “Go Beyond,” an array of product advancements tied to three key pillars: Automate, Collaborate, and Innovate. The company unveiled the future of Planful AI, new Planful for Workforce and Planful for Marketing capabilities, connectors with Snowflake and Microsoft Power BI, and more. The company also debuted the Solution Hub, an all-new searchable collection of pre-built solutions, open for anyone to explore, and for customers to configure. With these advancements, Planful is bringing increased value to large and fast-growing organizations and supporting their business leaders in driving peak financial performance.

“Achieving successful financial performance management requires a highly-collaborative effort and organizations who treat it as a team sport will thrive and outperform their competitors,” said Steve Welsh, Chief Product Officer, Planful. “Planful’s purpose-built product delivery and vision is an intentional result of working with our customers to make that team effort easier, faster, and more connected by unlocking the data teams need to make confident decisions.”

Innovate: The Future of Planful AI

The company announced the extended vision for Planful AI and significant investments that will bring its first generative AI experience to customers later this year. Finance and business leaders will have access to a unified suite of Planful AI solutions that include:

Operational automation that anticipates tasks and processes, recommends next steps, and gathers insights into how a process is running and if a reminder is needed to complete data inputs for a forecast
Analytics and decision support for both simple and complex, time-consuming scenario analysis that anticipates tasks to uncover variances and the meaning behind the numbers, while also suggesting next steps to further the analysis when business leaders are evaluating key business decisions

These new generative AI capabilities will complement the company’s existing, industry-leading Planful Predict AI/ML suite of solutions, which have been foundational in automating forecasting, error detection, and manual processes for businesses worldwide.

Collaborate: New Capabilities for Planning as a Team Sport

At Perform24 the company introduced new solution advancements, including Planful for Workforce capabilities and Planful for Marketing features, that improve business outcomes by facilitating collaboration and unlocking access to data across teams.

The new Planful for Workforce capabilities announced at Perform will enable Finance and People leaders to collaborate directly in the platform to generate actionable insights. These capabilities include advanced analytics, actuals data loading at the most granular level, multi-currency capabilities for employee and compensation item planning, and more. With almost 90% of Planful customers using Planful for Workforce, users will be able to leverage their existing data to rapidly conduct complex scenario analysis in managing their most valuable asset–people.

The latest Planful for Marketing advancements include a new integration with Coupa; further reporting enhancements, including custom fields and attributes; and new forecasting capabilities.

Automate: Frictionless Access to Data

Planful introduced several new connectors that will further support customers with their overall data strategy. A new connector with Snowflake, a data-cloud company, enables governed access to limitless volumes of financial performance and other business data. This integration will meet the growing need of enterprises to share data, build AI/ML applications, and power business growth using a modern data infrastructure. It will also reduce friction, speed data access, and enable highly-complex financial modeling and calculations. The new connector with Microsoft Power BI, an interactive data visualization software product, accommodates the consumption of Planful data to augment with other data sources natively in Power BI.

Protective Industrial Products, a global leader in personal protective equipment that offers an extensive range of over 20,000 products, leverages the Planful platform for agile and efficient planning as it continues to expand its market reach and diversify its offerings through many strategic acquisitions. “Planful’s automation capabilities have greatly streamlined our acquisition processes,” said Mark Smith, Director, Corporate FP&A at Protective Industrial Products, and a speaker at Planful Perform24. “Planful has become a must-have tool for our team and we integrate it into each of our newly acquired entities. Its automation capabilities not only help to simplify acquisition processes, but also enhance our consolidation and workforce planning in a very dynamic M&A environment.”

New Early Adopter Program

Customers can now join an early adopter program with Planful to gain access to a range of unreleased product advancements and find opportunities to co-innovate and trial Planful AI. With this new program, Planful continues to prioritize product development that is closely attuned to practical customer needs and top feedback.

Watch Perform24 live today or on demand later this week to hear what Planful customers and industry thought leaders are saying about driving peak financial performance.

About Planful

Planful is the pioneer of financial performance management cloud software. The Planful platform, which helps businesses drive peak financial performance, is used around the globe to streamline business-wide planning, budgeting, consolidations, reporting, and analytics. Planful empowers finance, accounting, and business users to plan confidently, close faster, and report accurately. More than 1,400 customers, including 23andMe, Bose, Boston Red Sox, Five Guys, and Zappos, rely on Planful to accelerate cycle times, increase productivity, and improve accuracy. Planful is a private company backed by Vector Capital, a leading global private equity firm. Learn more at planful.com.

Additional Resources
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SOURCE Planful, Inc.

Finance

Where in California are people feeling the most financial distress?

Published

5 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Where in California are people feeling the most financial distress?

Inland California’s relative affordability cannot always relieve financial stress.

My spreadsheet reviewed a WalletHub ranking of financial distress for the residents of 100 U.S. cities, including 17 in California. The analysis compared local credit scores, late bill payments, bankruptcy filings and online searches for debt or loans to quantify where individuals had the largest money challenges.

When California cities were divided into three geographic regions – Southern California, the Bay Area, and anything inland – the most challenges were often found far from the coast.

The average national ranking of the six inland cities was 39th worst for distress, the most troubled grade among the state’s slices.

Bakersfield received the inland region’s worst score, ranking No. 24 highest nationally for financial distress. That was followed by Sacramento (30th), San Bernardino (39th), Stockton (43rd), Fresno (45th), and Riverside (52nd).

Southern California’s seven cities overall fared better, with an average national ranking of 56th largest financial problems.

However, Los Angeles had the state’s ugliest grade, ranking fifth-worst nationally for monetary distress. Then came San Diego at 22nd-worst, then Long Beach (48th), Irvine (70th), Anaheim (71st), Santa Ana (85th), and Chula Vista (89th).

Monetary challenges were limited in the Bay Area. Its four cities average rank was 69th worst nationally.

San Jose had the region’s most distressed finances, with a No. 50 worst ranking. That was followed by Oakland (69th), San Francisco (72nd), and Fremont (83rd).

The results remind us that inland California’s affordability – it’s home to the state’s cheapest housing, for example – doesn’t fully compensate for wages that typically decline the farther one works from the Pacific Ocean.

A peek inside the scorecard’s grades shows where trouble exists within California.

Credit scores were the lowest inland, with little difference elsewhere. Late payments were also more common inland. Tardy bills were most difficult to find in Northern California.

Bankruptcy problems also were bubbling inland, but grew the slowest in Southern California. And worrisome online searches were more frequent inland, while varying only slightly closer to the Pacific.

Note: Across the state’s 17 cities in the study, the No. 53 average rank is a middle-of-the-pack grade on the 100-city national scale for monetary woes.

Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com

Finance

Why Chime Financial Stock Surged Nearly 14% Higher Today | The Motley Fool

Published

17 hours ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Why Chime Financial Stock Surged Nearly 14% Higher Today | The Motley Fool

The up-and-coming fintech scored a pair of fourth-quarter beats.

Diversified fintech Chime Financial (CHYM +12.88%) was playing a satisfying tune to investors on Thursday. The company’s stock flew almost 14% higher that trading session, thanks mostly to a fourth quarter that featured notably higher-than-expected revenue guidance.

Sweet music

Chime published its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results just after market close on Wednesday. For the former period, the company’s revenue was $596 million, bettering the same quarter of 2024 by 25%. The company’s strongest revenue stream, payments, rose 17% to $396 million. Its take from platform-related activity rose more precipitously, advancing 47% to $200 million.

Image source: Getty Images.

Meanwhile, Chime’s net loss under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) more than doubled. It was $45 million, or $0.12 per share, compared with a fourth-quarter 2024 deficit of $19.6 million.

On average, analysts tracking the stock were modeling revenue below $578 million and a deeper bottom-line loss of $0.20 per share.

In its earnings release, Chime pointed to the take-up of its Chime Card as a particular catalyst for growth. Regarding the product, the company said, “Among new member cohorts, over half are adopting Chime Card, and those members are putting over 70% of their Chime spend on the product, which earns materially higher take rates compared to debit.”

Today’s Change

(12.88%) $2.72

Current Price

$23.83

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$7.9B

Day’s Range

$22.30 – $24.63

52wk Range

$16.17 – $44.94

Volume

562K

Avg Vol

3.3M

Gross Margin

86.34%

Double-digit growth expected

Chime management proffered revenue and non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) guidance for full-year 2026. The company expects to post a top line of $627 million to $637 million, which would represent at least 21% growth over the 2024 result. Adjusted EBITDA should be $380 million to $400 million. No net income forecasts were provided in the earnings release.

It isn’t easy to find a niche in the financial industry, which is crowded with companies offering every imaginable type of service to clients. Yet Chime seems to be achieving that, as the Chime Card is clearly a hit among the company’s target demographic of clientele underserved by mainstream banks. This growth stock is definitely worth considering as a buy.

Finance

How young athletes are learning to manage money from name, image, likeness deals

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

How young athletes are learning to manage money from name, image, likeness deals

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Student athletes are now earning real money thanks to name, image, likeness deals — but with that opportunity comes the need for financial preparation.

Noah Collins Howard and Dayshawn Preston are two high school juniors with Division I offers on the table. Both are chasing their dreams on the field, and both are navigating something brand new off of it — their finances.

“When it comes to NIL, some people just want the money, and they just spend it immediately. Well, you’ve got to know how to take care of your money. And again, you need to know how to grow it because you don’t want to just spend it,” said Collins Howard.

What You Need To Know

High school athletes with Division I prospects are learning to manage NIL money before they even reach college

Glory2Glory Sports Agency and Advantage Federal Credit Union have partnered to give young athletes access to financial literacy tools and credit-building resources

Financial experts warn that starting money habits early is key to long-term stability for student athletes entering the NIL era

Preston said the experience has already been eye-opening.

“It’s very important. Especially my first time having my own card and bank account — so that’s super exciting,” Preston said.

For many young athletes, the money comes before the knowledge. That’s where Glory2Glory Sports Agency in Rochester comes in — helping athletes prepare for life outside of sports.

“College sports is now pro sports. These kids are going from one extreme to the other financially, and it’s important for them to have the tools necessary to navigate that massive shift,” said Antoine Hyman, CEO of Glory2Glory Sports Agency.

Through their Students for Change program, athletes get access to student checking accounts, financial literacy courses and credit-building tools — all through a partnership with Advantage Federal Credit Union.

“It’s never too early to start. We have youth accounts, student checking accounts — they were all designed specifically for students and the youth,” said Diane Miller, VP of marketing and PR at Advantage Federal Credit Union.

The goal goes beyond what’s in their pocket today. It’s about building habits that will protect them for life.

“If you don’t start young, you’re always catching up. The younger you start them, the better off they’re going to be on that financial path,” added Nihada Donohew, executive vice president of Advantage Federal Credit Union.

For these athletes, having the right support system makes all the difference.

“It’s really great to have a support system around you. Help you get local deals with the local shops,” Preston added.

Collins-Howard said the program has given him a broader perspective beyond just the game.

“It gives me a better understanding of how to take care of myself and prepare myself for the future of giving back to the community,” Collins-Howard said.

“These high school kids need someone to legitimately advocate their skills, their character and help them pick the right space. Everything has changed now,” Hyman added.

NIL opened the door. Programs like this one make sure these athletes walk through it — with a plan.