Work from anywhere. Rear view of young woman, female freelancer in straw hat working on laptop, … [+] keeping arms raised and cellebrating success while sitting on the tropical sandy beach at sunset
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Right now, in Río Tercero, a small city in Argentina near Córdoba, Virginia More works with Pinterest as a software engineer, bridging her local experience with cutting-edge Silicon Valley projects. Similarly, Luis Ramos Paco, from Santiago de Llallagua, Bolivia—where growing potatoes and raising animals is necessary to provide for one’s family—now works with a US-based SaaS client to update its legacy system with a friendlier UI.
The remote work revolution has opened doors for skilled professionals like Virginia and Luis worldwide. Companies like BairesDev– which connects Latin American talent with U.S. tech firms– are bridging global income gaps and allowing tech talent and software engineers into an increasingly globalized job market while staying close to their families and communities.
“The region offers a rapidly expanding talent pool, strong cultural alignment, and geographical proximity to the U.S.,” Nacho De Marco, CEO and Co-Founder of BairesDev, explains. “This facilitates seamless real-time collaboration and efficient workflows. 33% of U.S. businesses now want to outsource their business operations to a country that’s close by. Professionals from Latin America have a similar work culture to their North American neighbors and possess a high level of English proficiency.”
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As a result of this type of demand, many BairesDev workers who once faced limited opportunities in rural areas now earn between $30,000 and $80,000 annually, placing them in the top 5% of earners in their home countries.
Other companies like Toptal and Adeva work in similar ways to connect talented and skilled individuals to job opportunities around the world, breaking down barriers to entry and revitalizing local economies.
If you’re considering a remote job that can connect you to a different corner of the global marketplace, here are some important things to consider as you embark on your job hunt.
Earn Globally, Live Locally
One of the most significant advantages of remote work is the ability to earn in a high-income market while living in a lower-cost region. BairesDev, for instance, has had more than 6,000 of its Latin American-based workers integrate with teams in U.S. companies, like Google and Pinterest.
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“During recruitment, we focus on a candidate’s competence over their credentials,” explains De Marco. “We also prioritize the future potential that someone can bring, in addition to their current skillset. This approach means discovering exceptional talent from diverse and often overlooked sources. Historically, around 40% of our developers come from non-metropolitan areas.”
Yes, that means you can live a balanced lifestyle in a quaint town like San Miguel de Allende while working with a U.S.-based tech giant.
Earning a higher paycheck while keeping your cost of living steady provides wealth-building opportunities, allowing you to build an emergency fund, pay off debt, and invest in property and other assets. Be sure to cross check the purchasing power of the currency you’ll be paid in to that of your local currency to ensure that you’re maximizing your potential earnings. Also make sure that the salary you’re being offered is fair compared to what employees at the company’s headquarters are making.
Track Finances Carefully
Once you’ve secured your remote job, you’ll want to set up a financial plan to ensure that you are maximizing your global paycheck without running into any snags. Opening a multi-currency bank account can help you minimize exchange rate losses and transfer fees, and many offer automations to make conversions between currencies seamless.
Also make sure to budget for any potential fluctuations in the foreign currency, as factors like inflation, interest rate adjustments, and governmental changes can affect the value of the foreign currency. As long as you’re earning well above your local cost of living, it’s smart to set aside a percentage of your earnings as a buffer to offset any potential currency devaluation.
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As you continue to earn more, it’s also wise to invest a portion of your income into diversified assets so you can grow your wealth over time. Many companies offer financial planning services as a benefit, and it can be especially helpful if you’re a first-time investor. Financial planners can also help you with your taxes, which can be more complicated when earning across borders.
Maintain Motivation and Work-life Balance
Though the higher salaries in other countries can sound so enticing that you consider working odd hours, try not to jump at just any opportunity for a higher paycheck. Instead, look at the big picture and consider the fact that your long-term earning potential is contingent upon factors like work-life balance, upskilling, and staying motivated. Working with a talent company like BairesDev can help set you up for success in this regard.
“By hiring candidates with strong communication skills and collaborative skills, our workforce is well-prepared to navigate the typical challenges associated with remote work,” says De Marco.
For smoother collaboration with your fellow employees– and to remain present in your day-to-day life– look for jobs at companies with similar time zones to yours. This will cause minimal disruptions to your schedule, allowing you time for family and social obligations– and time for learning new skills that can help you land your next job. Popular remote industries like tech, design, and project management tend to be good about providing professional development opportunities outside of the traditional workday, and you want to remain fresh and motivated to seize grown opportunities as they come.
Redefining Success: Building Wealth Across Borders
In an increasingly borderless world, the path to financial independence might be closer than you think. Companies like BairesDev are receiving over 2 million applications annually for remote work opportunities—approximately 10,000 applications every day, proving that demand for global remote jobs is continuing to grow.
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“In the U.S., the demand for tech talent is outstripping supply, with roles like information security and software development expected to grow by 33% and 18%, respectively, over the next decade,” says De Marco. “Latin America is rising to meet this demand, with Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina producing significantly more software engineers annually than the U.S.”
Opening doors for global talent also sparks a larger shift in how we think about work, money, and opportunity. This is not a small trend; it’s going to continue to be a defining feature of the global economy in the decades to come— and it’s very possible to make this work in your favor.
For professionals considering this path, remote work offers a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between higher global earnings and a lower local cost of living. With the right financial strategies—like careful currency management, smart investment strategies, and a focus on work-life balance—there is a very real opportunity for talented employees across the globe to achieve financial freedom without uprooting their lives.
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).
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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.
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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
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.
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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
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Key Data Points
Market Cap
$7.9B
Day’s Range
$22.30 – $24.63
52wk Range
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$16.17 – $44.94
Volume
562K
Avg Vol
3.3M
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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.
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.
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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.
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“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.
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“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.
