full moon over San Francisco with the north tower of golden gate bridge in the foreground.

Welcome!

As we move through a busy season and approach the holidays, I would like to take a moment to thank you for staying connected and following along.

Highlights at Point Monarch over the past 90 days include attending Dreamforce 2025 and seeing what’s on the leading edge of agentic client relationship management, which included keynotes from Mark Benioff, a 1:1 chat with Mark and Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, and Maria Shriver & Matthew McConaughey discussing “how the soul gets into the data”. Completing a course at Stanford University in Agentic Leadership, which Melissa Valentine leads (blog coming soon), and finding time to see family in Madrid, Spain.

On the Blog front, here are a few topics I covered recently that you might have missed: I explored how outdated expense processes were quietly costing a mid-sized tech company over $30,000 a year—and how modern spend tools from Brex can close those gaps. I also unpacked the rising impact of climate-driven supply chain disruption, offering a country-by-country look at how extreme weather and fragile logistics networks are straining cash flow. At the Rillet AI Finance Summit in San Francisco, I shared insights on how AI is reshaping forecasting, decisioning, and financial operations for forward-thinking teams.

If we don't connect before the year wraps up, I hope you enjoy a wonderful, restorative holiday season filled with time to recharge.

All my best,
Tim

P.S. Don’t forget to follow Point Monarch on LinkedIn for the latest updates and insights.

The BUZZ - The Top 5 List

So, what’s the buzz—what’s trending, what’s new, what’s got everyone talking? Based on my observations and conversations with others, these were the key themes that emerged.

Government Shutdown Ripple Effects
The recent federal shutdown created significant delays in government payments to contractors and service providers. This introduced cash-flow uncertainty, slowed receivables, and highlighted how disruptions in public operations can cascade into private-sector financial planning and performance.

Source: Associated Press

Global Payments Growth Continues to Cool -
The McKinsey 2025 Global Payments Report shows industry revenue growth slowing to roughly 4% in 2024 (down from ~12% the prior year). This deceleration reflects broader economic caution, shifting consumer behavior, and heightened competitive pressure across the financial services sector.

Source: McKinsey & Company

US–China Tariffs Increase Operational Complexity
Changing tariff policies between the U.S. and China continue to influence sourcing decisions, pricing structures, and trade flows. Many organizations are navigating higher import costs, greater FX volatility, and more intricate compliance considerations as global supply chains adjust.

Source: Reuters

Tokenized Cash & Stablecoins Gain Institutional Momentum - Digital forms of cash — including tokenized deposits and regulated stablecoins — are increasingly being explored by major financial institutions. These emerging tools have the potential to reduce settlement times, enhance liquidity management, and streamline the movement of funds across markets.

Source: McKinsey & Company

Cross-Border Payments Move Closer to Real-Time
Regulators and central banks — including the European Central Bank — continue prioritizing modernization of cross-border payment systems. Their efforts aim to reduce friction, increase transparency, and improve the speed and reliability of international transactions for both businesses and individuals.

Source: European Central Bank

If you would like further insights into the events or would like a deeper dive into these strategies, which are evoking such interest and evolution in the space, please reach out today to Point Monarch to stay informed on where your business should be headed next.

Recent Blogs

rillet ai finance summit san francisco panel discussion

Rillet AI Finance Summit:
Raising the Bar for Finance + AI Innovation

At the recent Rillet AI Finance Summit in San Francisco, I had the privilege of gaining valuable insights into the transformative power of AI in the finance sector. My recap delves into the thought-provoking discussions, illuminating panels, and innovative strategies unveiled at the summit. These discussions have set a new standard for the integration of finance and AI, showcasing the immense potential and possibilities that emerge when these two domains converge.

How Much Is That Old Expense Process Costing You?

A mid-sized tech company was losing over $30,000 a year—not from fraud, but from outdated, disorganized expense processes. Duplicate subscriptions, unclear ownership, and reimbursement overlaps were slipping through the cracks. Modern tools like virtual cards can stop the leaks and bring clarity to spending.

Supply Chain Disruption & Cash Flow Strain

Climate-related disruptions are no longer isolated—they're systemic, impacting supply chains, cash flow, and working capital across industries. From grounded logistics to liquidity strain, CFOs must now adapt strategies in real time. This post offers a country-by-country look at how extreme weather, supply chain fragility, and financial pressure are converging—and what it means for corporate resilience.

Upcoming Events

Planning on attending any of these upcoming events? Reach out and let's connect there or if you were a part of a specific session and want to put a pin in a topic.