PayThink

Kevin W. Mahan, president and actuary of CUBED, explains how to avoid surprises and why it is important to place CEO compensation plan ahead of time.

Digital money like Bitcoin opens up possibilities for banking without central planners or a lender of last resort, where interest rates and reserve requirements are driven purely by the market.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced plans to expand its supervision of the student lending market, proposing that nonbank student loans services become subject to examinations by the bureau. The proposal is another step by the CFPB to broaden its oversight of nonbank financial players.

Regulators and governments worldwide have started a grand experiment to organize a bar code-like identifier for financial market participants. But once-innovative financial utilities may prevent this endeavor from succeeding.

Regulators are not in the bank on a day-to-day basis; usually they can only judge actions after the fact and without all of the relevant information and considerations.

Richard Cordray, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, tried to calm community bankers' fears on Wednesday by telling them not to be concerned over the new mortgage rules issued by the agency. The CFPB's new mortgage rules will take effect next year.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren argued that Republicans opposing Richard Cordray's nomination to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is only meant to undercut the agency's work.

Political and public outcry against "too big fail" has certainly grown in the last few months. Do large financial institutions need to fear a breakup?

Megabanks may be able to fight off regulatory forces demanding their corporate downsizing, but a voluntary breakup may be the only way to sway public opinion their way.

The House Budget Committee released Rep. Paul Ryan's fiscal 2014 budget plan on Tuesday. The plan renews its attacks on the 2010 Dodd-Frank reform law, including its provisions for winding down large, failing banks.