How to Choose a Prop Firm for Long Term Trading Success

July 16, 2025

Prop trading firms give traders the opportunity to trade with the firm’s capital while keeping a share of the profits. For those looking to scale their trading without risking personal funds, this is an appealing option.

But not all prop firms are trustworthy or suitable for every trader. This guide explains how to choose the right firm based on your trading style, goals, and risk tolerance.

What is a Prop Firm?

A proprietary trading firm provides traders with access to the firm’s capital, allowing them to trade in various financial markets. This could include forex, commodities, indices, stocks, or even cryptocurrencies. Instead of risking their own funds, traders use the firm’s capital and share a portion of the profits with the firm.

Many modern prop firms operate remotely, offering traders worldwide the opportunity to get funded through online assessments. Usually, this involves passing a funding challenge, where traders must meet specific targets without breaching risk limits.

Who Can Benefit from Prop Trading?

Prop trading is ideal for several types of traders. Aspiring traders who lack personal capital can benefit from the opportunity to trade larger accounts. Retail traders who want to scale their strategies without risking their own savings also find value in these programs. Additionally, experienced traders leaving institutional roles often turn to prop firms for more freedom and better profit splits.

Traders specialising in forex, futures, or commodities frequently choose prop firms for the leverage and access they provide. Even those learning to trade can use prop firm challenges as a way to test their skills in real-world conditions without major financial risks.

Understanding Profit Splits

One of the first things to consider when choosing a prop firm is the profit split. This refers to how much of the trading profit you get to keep versus how much the firm takes. Most reputable firms offer splits ranging from 70% to 90% in favour of the trader.

Different Funding Models

Prop firms typically offer different funding models, and understanding these is crucial. The most common is the challenge model, where traders pay an upfront fee to enter an assessment phase. During this phase, you must meet profit targets while respecting drawdown limits. Once you pass, you receive access to a funded account. Some firms even refund your challenge fee once you succeed.

Another option is instant funding, where traders pay a higher fee to get immediate access to a live funded account. While this may sound appealing, it usually comes with stricter rules or lower initial capital compared to challenge-based funding.

Trading Rules and Risk Management

Each prop firm sets its own trading rules, and it’s essential to understand them fully before you commit. These often include daily loss limits, overall drawdown limits, and minimum trading days. Some firms restrict trading during high-impact news events, while others might limit position sizes or forbid specific strategies like scalping or grid trading.

Violating any of these rules usually leads to losing your funded account, even if your trades are profitable overall. That’s why it’s not just about making profits—ethical trading and compliance are just as important as technical skills. For a deeper understanding of legal and ethical considerations in prop trading, you can refer to this comprehensive guide on Legal and Ethical Considerations in Prop Trading.

Reliability of Payouts

When choosing a prop firm, payout reliability is a non-negotiable factor. Traders need to trust that the firm will pay profits fairly and on time. Many firms process payouts monthly or bi-weekly, but the actual speed can vary widely.

According to Fred Harrington from prop firm advice website Vetted Prop Firms, It’s a good idea to check independent reviews on platforms like Trustpilot or trading forums to see real traders’ experiences. Watch out for consistent reports of delayed or denied payouts, as this is a major red flag.

Supported Markets and Instruments

Before you join a prop firm, ensure they support the markets and instruments you intend to trade. Some firms focus only on forex, while others offer access to indices, commodities, stocks, and crypto assets.

Trading hours and execution conditions may also vary. For example, firms that allow trading over the weekend or during news releases are often preferred by traders who need flexibility. Always confirm the firm’s trading conditions match your strategy.

Technology and Trading Platforms

A prop firm’s technology and trading platform can make or break your trading experience. Most firms use trusted platforms like MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, or cTrader. These platforms offer fast execution, reliable data feeds, and robust order management tools.

Laggy servers, frequent disconnections, or platform malfunctions can result in losing trades. Therefore, it’s worth checking whether the firm’s technology is stable and suitable for your needs.

Transparency in Fees

Transparent pricing is another crucial factor. Most prop firms charge fees for challenge participation, which can range from $100 to $500 depending on account size. Some firms also have monthly subscription fees, particularly for instant funding accounts.

Additional fees may apply if you fail a challenge and want to try again. Make sure you understand all costs before committing, and avoid firms that hide details about their fee structure.

Red Flags to Avoid

Not all prop firms operate fairly. If a company makes unrealistic promises, such as guaranteed profits or instant success, this is a major warning sign. Firms that lack clear terms, avoid sharing legal details, or have numerous negative reviews should be approached with caution.

Consistent reports of payout issues are perhaps the biggest red flag. Trust is essential in any business relationship, especially when money is involved.

Practical Advice for Choosing a Prop Firm

Before you decide, take the time to do thorough research. Start by reading the firm’s terms and conditions carefully. Join trading communities to hear about real traders’ experiences with different firms.

If possible, practise on the firm’s demo accounts to test their platforms and trading conditions. It’s also wise to start with a smaller account to minimise risk while you get familiar with the process.

Conclusion

Choosing the right prop firm is one of the most important decisions a trader can make. By focusing on factors like profit splits, funding models, trading rules, payout reliability, and platform quality, you can find a firm that supports your growth as a trader. Take your time, do your research, and pick a firm that aligns with your long-term goals.

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Trump Pressures Russia With Tariff Threat, New Ukraine Arms Plan

July 15, 2025

President Donald Trump announced a new strategy on Monday to push Russia toward peace in Ukraine, combining a fresh weapons deal with a 50-day deadline for Moscow or face harsh economic retaliation.

Speaking from the Oval Office alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump laid out a plan for European countries to purchase U.S. military equipment and deliver it to Kyiv. At the same time, he warned of “very severe tariffs” — including 100% duties and secondary sanctions — if Russia fails to engage in peace talks within the set timeframe.

“We’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days,” Trump said. “Tariffs at about 100%, you’d call them secondary tariffs. You know what that means.”

The president’s renewed focus on the war reflects his growing impatience with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I felt we had a deal about four times,” Trump said. “But it just kept going on and on.”

A White House official later clarified that the trade penalties would primarily target nations still buying Russian oil — such as India and China — rather than Russia directly. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker said this approach would “dramatically impact the Russian economy.”

The new arms delivery model allows NATO members to act as intermediaries, speeding up shipments and helping Trump avoid direct political fallout at home. Countries like Germany, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway are expected to play key roles in the transfer of weapons, including Patriot missile systems — a top priority for Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the news, saying he had a “very good conversation” with Trump. “Ukraine is absolutely ready for all honest and effective steps toward peace – lasting peace – and real security,” Zelensky wrote on X.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are now coordinating the plan with European partners. NATO, while not sending weapons directly, is helping organize the logistics.

Trump’s proposal emerged after months of discussions following his election victory, as allies sought ways to maintain support for Kyiv even if U.S. involvement scaled back. Officials say the idea gained momentum during last month’s NATO summit in the Netherlands, where Zelensky presented an urgent request for 10 more Patriot batteries.

Trump also recently expressed disappointment in Putin. “My conversations with him are very pleasant, and then the missiles go off at night,” he said, adding, “He fooled Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden — he didn’t fool me.”

Officials believe the plan could deliver a financial boost for the U.S., as each Patriot system costs about $1 billion. More importantly, it could send a strong message to Moscow.

“He’s seriously frustrated with Putin,” a senior U.S. official said. “He wants to show he’s serious about ending the war.”

Related Readings:

Ukraine’s Deep Strike Destroys Dozens of Russian Warplanes in Bold Drone Attack

Trump Calls Putin ‘Absolutely Crazy’ Amid Escalating Strikes on Ukraine

Trump Pushes for Ukraine Ceasefire in Call with Putin, But No Breakthrough

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Use Gen AI to Slash Your Costs

July 15, 2025

By Dr. Gleb Tsipursky

In a rapidly changing world of work, organizations are increasingly turning to Gen AI to optimize operations, slash costs, and redefine the role of human resources. In an engaging conversation with Scott Cawood, CEO of WorldatWork, a nonprofit that specializes in total rewards optimization across 162 countries, the opportunities and challenges of Gen AI in the compensation and benefits space came into sharp focus.

Riding The Wave Of Explosive Gen AI Adoption

WorldatWork’s member platform, Engage, has become a fascinating bellwether for the pace of Gen AI adoption. According to Cawood, the conversations among compensation and benefits professionals have been “explosive,” moving swiftly from tentative questions to active knowledge-sharing and real-world test cases. What began with basic automation of routine tasks is evolving into a more sophisticated use of Gen AI to tackle massive data sets that no human could process in the same time frame.

The sheer scale of activity shows that organizations recognize the necessity of Gen AI, not just for innovation but for survival.

Cawood emphasized that the conversation is no longer just about building new AI tools. Instead, companies are focusing on rethinking their existing data through the AI lens, leveraging what they already have to uncover insights faster and more comprehensively. This capability is critical in compensation analysis, where identifying pay gaps, predicting disengagement, and tailoring retention strategies can make or break an organization’s ability to compete for talent.

The sheer scale of activity shows that organizations recognize the necessity of Gen AI, not just for innovation but for survival. As Cawood put it, “If you’ve not spent time on AI as of now, you’re already behind.”

Balancing Innovation With Anxiety

Despite the exciting progress, anxiety about Gen AI’s impact on job security is a very real undercurrent. Cawood noted that about 55 percent of WorldatWork’s member companies are already providing AI training for their HR and total rewards teams. Yet, even with this proactive approach, concerns remain widespread, especially among those whose jobs involve more routine tasks.

Importantly, Cawood did not sugarcoat the risk. Job displacement will happen, particularly for roles that fail to evolve with digital skill demands. However, he remains optimistic that AI will ultimately create more jobs than it destroys, particularly for professionals who can master the critical skill of deciding when to deploy humans versus AI for a given task.

Supervising AI systems, coaching them, and refining their outputs will be essential future competencies. As Cawood pointed out, AI will not operate in a vacuum; it must be managed with the same care and nuance required to lead human teams. The future will belong to those who can navigate this hybrid landscape, blending human judgment with machine efficiency.

Unlocking The Power Of Predictive Analytics

Perhaps the most exciting frontier, according to Cawood, lies in using Gen AI to understand employees at a deeper level than ever before. Historically, employers have known far less about their employees than companies like Target or Walmart know about their customers. Gen AI offers the promise of reversing that dynamic.

By analyzing vast troves of compensation, performance, and engagement data, organizations can predict employee turnover, diagnose disengagement early, and even tailor benefits and incentive plans to individual needs. The potential savings are staggering—not only in reduced turnover costs but also in the productivity gains from a more engaged and aligned workforce.

However, Cawood issued a strong caution about rushing headlong into this data-driven future. With sensitive information like salaries, social security numbers, and health benefits involved, the risk of privacy breaches looms large. Many organizations are rapidly updating their AI usage policies to guard against unintended data exposure, but the margin for error remains thin. The mantra is clear: start small, with known data sets, and build expertise gradually rather than risking catastrophic mistakes.

Charting The Future Of Compensation With AI

Looking ahead, Cawood sees the future of compensation and benefits professionals as secure—but only for those willing to adapt. While routine tasks will increasingly be automated, core technical skills in rewards design, benefits structuring, and labor market analysis will remain in high demand. The new premium will be on digital literacy, strategic judgment, and the ability to integrate AI tools seamlessly into decision-making processes.

While routine tasks will increasingly be automated, core technical skills in rewards design, benefits structuring, and labor market analysis will remain in high demand.

WorldatWork’s emphasis on hands-on experimentation is a telling sign of this shift. At their 2024 conference in San Diego, they introduced an AI playground that allowed attendees to experiment with real datasets. The experience was so successful that it will be expanded at the 2025 conference in Orlando, where the organization received an impressive 60 AI-related session proposals—up sharply from the previous year.

Predictive analytics, Cawood believes, will be the next major breakthrough. From forecasting turnover to identifying the true drivers of engagement, Gen AI will empower compensation professionals to move from reactive management to proactive strategy. But as he warned, AI should never be adopted for its own sake. Every deployment must have a clearly defined benefit, whether it is cost savings, risk mitigation, or enhanced employee experience.

Ultimately, slashing costs through Gen AI is not about replacing people with machines. It is about empowering organizations to make smarter, faster decisions that unlock the full potential of both their data and their people. In the hands of skilled professionals who understand both the promise and the perils of the technology, Gen AI will not just cut costs—it will build a stronger, more resilient future of work.

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About the Author

Dr. Gleb Tsipursky was named “Office Whisperer” by The New York Times for helping leaders overcome frustrations with hybrid work and Generative AI. He serves as the CEO of the future-of-work consultancy Disaster Avoidance Experts. Dr. Gleb wrote seven best-selling books, and his two most recent ones are Returning to the Office and Leading Hybrid and Remote Teams and ChatGPT for Leaders and Content Creators: Unlocking the Potential of Generative AI. His cutting-edge thought leadership was featured in over 650 articles in prominent venues such as Harvard Business Review, Fortune, and Fast Company. His expertise comes from over 20 years of consulting for Fortune 500 companies from Aflac to Xerox and over 15 years in academia as a behavioral scientist at UNC-Chapel Hill and Ohio State. A proud Ukrainian American, Dr. Gleb lives in Columbus, Ohio.

Visual Storytelling Revolutionizes Financial Reporting for C-Suite Executives Beyond Numerical Reporting

July 14, 2025

Financial reporting now requires more than precise numbers because executives need clear messages that persuade stakeholders toward immediate choices. Executive teams together with stakeholders need more than numerical data or lengthy PDF reports during this fast-paced business environment. Executive teams and stakeholders require financial reports presented as compelling narratives that combine data visualization with strategic messaging.

The finance industry now embraces visual storytelling to transform how CFOs along with analysts and business leaders influence boardroom decisions through strategically designed presentations.

The Evolution of Financial Communication

Historically, financial reporting has been a compliance-driven exercise. The main focus used to be achieving precise reporting combined with standard compliance requirements and prompt delivery. The core pillars remain essential yet the boardroom expectations have transformed significantly. Leaders now require immediate simple comprehension of financial results together with risk assessments and projection data.

Modern financial reports require more than basic spreadsheets and static documents. The growing necessity for leaders to base their decisions on real-time data requires financial information presentation to transform accordingly.

Financial data presentation evolved into visual storytelling through design thinking and data visualization techniques and narrative structures which transforms numbers into actionable insights.

Why Visual Storytelling Matters in Finance

The change in presentation methods has scientific evidence to support it. Research indicates that our brains process images at a speed 60,000 times greater than text processing. Our brains automatically react to images together with patterns and stories which follow a logical order. A slide designed properly with simple charts and straightforward messaging helps financial presentation audiences understand better than reading dense written reports.

Forward-thinking finance leaders adopt visual storytelling because of the following important reasons:especially when crafting an effective PowerPoint Templates that simplifies financial communication while elevating strategic clarity:

1. Improved Stakeholder Engagement

Most members of boards and investors face limited time availability. Financial presentation dashboards combined with infographics and structured storytelling methods enhance board member and investor focus which leads to better discussion quality.

2. Faster Decision-Making

The presentation of visual storytelling in time-sensitive situations enables stakeholders to understand material faster. The stakeholders do not need to search through pages of complicated language. The main part of understanding what matters emerges rapidly through visual storytelling which enables stakeholders to make decisions quickly and in alignment.

3. Enhanced Accuracy and Clarity

Strategic visual development helps prevent misinterpretations from occurring. A waterfall chart demonstrates margin changes better than any written paragraph would. Financial trend graphs allow instant observation of financial condition development across different time periods.

4. Story-First Presentations Build Trust

Transparency is key in financial reporting. A well-structured narrative which handles risks and explains variations and presents forecasts helps establish trust and credibility with stakeholders. Tools that offer free presentation templates are empowering finance professionals to shift away from dense documents and toward impactful, well-designed storytelling frameworks.

Practical Applications: What Modern CFO Presentations Look Like

The financial presentations of today surpass traditional income statements and balance sheets. Strategic outcomes emerge from the combination of storytelling approaches with visual presentation elements in financial communication.

Executive finance presentations that prove effective demonstrate the following features:

The first part of slide decks now starts with simplified executive summaries which show growth rates and profitability metrics and burn rates and risk levels without excessive visual elements.

Visual Dashboards: Real-time data visualizations enable interactive discussions during board meetings.
Scenario Modeling: Teams use graphics to walk stakeholders through best, base, and worst-case financial outcomes.
Integrated Commentary: Annotations, callouts, and timelines help contextualize key changes or inflection points in performance.

Tools Enabling the Shift

Intuitive financial presentation tools help finance professionals create visually compelling materials without graphic design experience. SlideUpLift offers business-focused PowerPoint templates that help organizations create financial stories effectively.

Finance teams use these templates to focus on strategy development because they are designed for data visualization along with executive communication principles and color psychology.

Organizations use professionally designed slide templates for quarterly reports, budget proposals and investor updates to achieve consistency, clarity and brand alignment.

Challenges and Considerations

The power to tell stories effectively requires proper accountability. Visual elements can create deception through incorrect data usage and when design choices overshadow meaningful content. Finance leaders need to:

Verify the accuracy of data elements before creating visual outputs.
Avoid adding excessive visual elements to charts since they distract from the main message.
Guided attention follows visual hierarchy and color-based elements throughout the presentation.

The training curriculum should teach both tool operations and storytelling principles that enable teams to present compelling financial narratives to their target audience.

Conclusion: The CFO as a Storyteller

Businesses need financial leaders to act as storytellers more than ever because they operate in an increasingly data-driven environment. Visual storytelling in finance isn’t a trend; it’s a necessity. The connection between data and action becomes possible through visual storytelling which enables executive teams to unite behind strategic objectives and performance targets and organizational vision.

Finance professionals who use visual-first communication with SlideUpLift’s business presentation templates will increase their influence at executive levels and deliver higher-quality insights.

After all, numbers matter. The way you explain numbers through stories becomes more significant than the numbers themselves.

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Trump’s Tariffs Threats Against the Global South, ASEAN and the Philippines

July 14, 2025

By Dan Steinbock

With its misguided tariff wars, the Trump administration is undermining global economic prospects and waging war against development in the Global South, particularly in Asia. The Philippines is no exception.

In early April, the Philippines responded with “guarded optimism” to US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, saying higher rates placed on its neighbors could present an opportunity.

Hit with Trump’s reciprocal levy of 17%, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sought to re-frame it by stating that the “the new tariffs put the Philippines in a more advantageous position,” as Trade Secretary Cristina Roque put it.

That illusion is now gone.

Downgraded Philippines expectations

A month later, the Philippines still expected to close a “favorable trade deal” with the US, the presidential palace said. By then, the expectations of the Philippine delegation had diminished. Now it hoped to bring down the US tariff rate on Philippine goods to zero. “We also have good relations with the US,” Roque added, “so we’re hoping that it would not be a problem for them to lower the tariff.”

That was still another illusion.

Last week, the US promised to impose on the Philippines a 20% tariff rate on goods it exports to the US, starting on August 1; that’s 2 percentage points higher than the original ones.

As Philippine analysts now acknowledge, the 20% tariff poses a threat to the export industry – particularly the electronics, garments and agricultural sectors that are heavily reliant on the US market – and could spill over into the broader economy if not addressed.

In one quarter then, the Philippine expectations have been downgraded from an illusion of an “advantageous trade position” to a “favorable deal” and eventually to “an export threat” – in regional terms, from an effort to sidestep ASEAN leverage to a plea of ASEAN unity.

Trump’s war against development in the Global South

By imposing unilateral tariffs on imports from the US’ trading partners, Trump will severely disrupt export-led growth, which has fueled global growth for years, and shatter the development aspirations of emerging and developing economies.

The first round of Trump tariffs built on traditional trade wars focusing mainly on Canada, Mexico and China. The second round began with “reciprocal tariffs”, which actually are unilateral, flawed as stated and mistakenly calculated. Those tariffs were followed by a slate of retaliatory tariffs.

The net effect has been a stunning downgrading of economic prospects in the United States, its trading partners and the global economy. What is less understood is the likely long-term effect of Trump’s unilateral tariffs, which is to undermine the rise of the Global South.

The US administration’s original list of these tariff targets comprised almost 60 countries and regions. Except for the EU as a bloc and a few high-income countries, three of four of these targets represent emerging and developing economies; that is, the Global South, particularly in East and Southeast Asia. The Trump administration is at war against Asian economic development.

Trump administration’s unilateral tariffs: East and Southeast Asia (Apr. 2025)

FIG — *Source: Author, based on data by the White House*

Undermining the BRICs and Asian Century

Since the late 20^th century, most economies that have been able to industrialize and catch-up with the advanced economies of the West have done so on the back of export-led growth. It is what fueled the rise of the Asian tigers (Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan), and their subsequent successors (Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia). They have been followed by China – and today India and some Southeast Asian countries.

However, the Trump administration sees the economic rise of East and Southeast Asia as a win-lose ploy against America. Moreover, Trump tariffs build on geopolitical objectives: To restore American supremacy by any means possible. Hence, too, his attacks against the BRICS.

Last week, after Lula hosted the annual BRICS Summit, Trump warned that still another duty was on the way: “If they’re a member of BRICS, they’re going to have to pay a 10% tariff.” Furthermore, President Trump warned Brazil that he plans to put a 50% tariff on “any and all Brazilian products sent into the United States,” starting on August 1.

The threat had nothing to do with Brazilian exports. Trump seized the occasion to support Brazil’s former far-right president who had pushed for a pro-US coup in Brazil, at the expense of and against Brazilian aspirations.

Overt and covert tariff talk outcomes

In the course of its tariff wars, Washington has played itself into a dark corner. It cannot decouple from China without major economic turmoil. But thanks to its tariffs, it cannot any longer benefit from China’s affordable prices, which have long contributed to low inflation in America.

In the Philippines, the Marcos Jr government is also playing itself into a corner. While it seeks to benefit from development in China and ASEAN, it has aligned itself with the US military complex, which seeks to undermine both.

It can only offer still greater geopolitical subservience, which will drag Manila closer to potential regional military conflicts.

So, to induce the US to lower the tariffs, Manila can offer no economic schemes since the Trump administration has no use for them. It can only offer still greater geopolitical subservience, which will drag Manila closer to potential regional military conflicts. That translates to more sub-optimal growth and greater economic uncertainty in the Philippines, which will alienate those peaceful investors the country would like to attract.

Boldly, eagerly and blindly, Manila is stepping into a catch-22 landmine. So, after the anticipated Trump-Marcos meeting, we can expect some sort of official tariff understanding, which will be depicted as a win-win. Trump needs it in the US, just as Marcos needs it in the Philippines.

But cynics argue, one should also expect the behind-the-façade clauses underscoring Manila’s increased subservience in Washington’s plans for the region.

The original version was published by The Manila Times on July 14, 2025.

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About the Author

Dr. Dan Steinbock is an internationally-renowned visionary of the multipolar world and the founder of Difference Group. He has served at the India, China and America Institute (USA), Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (China) and the EU Center (Singapore). For more, see https://www.differencegroup.net

Yang Guo Fu Malatang Commits to 60% Plant-Based Menu Transformation by 2025

July 14, 2025

Guangzhou, 1 July 2025 — Yang Guo Fu Malatang won praise today from international NGO Lever China for becoming the first Chinese restaurant chain to formally commit to plant-based menu development, announcing plans to transform 60% of its offerings to plant-based options by 2025. This commitment spans the company’s nearly 7,000 stores globally across more than 20 countries and 370 cities, establishing a new benchmark for sustainable dining practices in China’s food service industry. The commitment supports Yang Guo Fu’s “Five-Color Dietary Therapy” philosophy, encouraging customers to select a balanced mix of green, red, white, black, and yellow ingredients for optimal nutrition. Founded in 2003, the brand recently celebrated opening its first concept store in Marina Square, Singapore, featuring more than 80 fresh ingredients for customer customization.

The announcement comes as China’s National Health Commission launched a “Three-Year Weight Management Campaign” in March 2024, promoting healthier eating habits and weight awareness nationwide. Yang Guo Fu’s plant-based initiative positions the company to meet rising consumer demands for healthier, more nutritious, and lower-fat meal options while advancing the company’s core values of “sustainable health, shared success, and grateful responsibility.”

“Yang Guo Fu is committed to delivering the highest standards in ingredient quality and consumer experience,” the company noted in its official statement on the new policy. “Through continuous innovation and menu enhancement, we aim to increase the share of plant-based offerings to 60% by 2025, providing more diverse choices for our customers, contributing to environmental protection, and setting a positive example for sustainable development in the restaurant industry.”

*Image credit: Marina Square Grand Opening*
“Yang Guo Fu celebrates the grand opening of its Marina Square concept store in Singapore—marking a major milestone as the global chain leads the way in sustainable dining with a 60% plant-based menu target.”

“We highly commend Yang Guo Fu for its responsible brand image,” said Wenjia Fan, Sustainability Program Manager at Shanghai-based consultancy Lever China, which is partnering with Yang Guo Fu on this initiative. “By fulfilling their social responsibilities, they’ve become the first Chinese restaurant group to set a clear plant-based goal. We hope that under Yang Guo Fu’s leadership, more Chinese restaurant brands will join this trend and help move China’s food service industry toward a more sustainable future.”

The initiative aligns with growing consumer demand for healthier dining options, as demonstrated by Lever China’s market survey of thousands of Chinese consumers, which revealed that nearly 90% believe plant-based foods are more nutritious and plan to increase consumption within the following year. Almost 85% of respondents also hoped restaurants would offer more plant-based options.

Research shows that plant-based proteins generate up to 90% lower greenhouse gas emissions and require up to 90% less land and water use than animal proteins, and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has found that plant-based foods generate approximately 50% less food waste than meat and dairy foods, highlighting the significant environmental benefits of Yang Guo Fu’s new initiative.

About Lever China

Lever China is a Shanghai-based consultancy that works with leading companies to help them upgrade their food sourcing for a more humane, safe and sustainable supply chain, focusing on upgraded animal protein and plant-based foods.

The photos in the article are provided by the company(s) mentioned in the article and used with permission.

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Our Gen AI Success Depends on Quality Data

July 14, 2025

By Dr. Gleb Tsipursky

At Trellix, a cybersecurity leader serving over 40,000 clients worldwide, the integration of generative AI into both internal operations and client-facing solutions has been nothing short of transformative. Michael Alicea, Chief Human Resources Officer at Trellix, shared in an interview with me how the company’s journey with AI underscores a critical truth: the success of generative AI hinges on the quality of the data it learns from.

Internally, Trellix has leveraged generative AI to streamline processes, beginning with simple yet impactful implementations like chatbots. These bots answer employee questions about benefits and holidays, adapting responses based on the employee’s country-specific calendar and employment details. Rather than displacing workers, this shift has freed HR professionals from routine tasks, enabling them to focus on higher-value activities. Alicea pointed out that three individuals from the People Services team have already been promoted into strategic HR business partner roles, a testament to how AI can catalyze career growth rather than inhibit it.

Beyond HR, Trellix uses AI to assist in software development. By automating repetitive coding tasks, AI accelerates the creation of cybersecurity solutions without replacing human developers. Instead, employees are redeployed into roles focused on design and innovation, adding a renewed sense of purpose and pride among staff. As Alicea emphasized, it is the combination of AI and human effort that truly drives results.

Building Trust and Confidence Through Hands-On Learning

Teaching employees to use generative AI effectively has been crucial. Trellix’s approach involves hands-on experimentation paired with rigorous attention to the underlying data. The journey began with refining the data sets that AI systems pull from to ensure that outputs were reliable. Initial efforts produced accurate results about 50% of the time, but through continuous feedback and iteration, accuracy has now climbed to over 90%.

This evolution demonstrates a key insight: success with generative AI is a dynamic process. Employees are encouraged to interact with AI, test its outputs, and critically evaluate results. Importantly, Alicea stressed the necessity of returning to the data regularly to recalibrate and validate the AI’s performance. This ongoing vigilance not only boosts AI’s accuracy but also strengthens employees’ trust and confidence in the technology.

Navigating Ethics, Bias, and the Realities of AI Hallucinations

No conversation about generative AI is complete without addressing its risks, and Trellix approaches these challenges with a level-headed realism grounded in experience. Alicea shared a vivid example from a past role, where an AI hiring tool inadvertently favored candidates from a narrow demographic because of skewed training data. That lesson—that poor data breeds poor outcomes—now informs Trellix’s rigorous commitment to data integrity and bias mitigation.

When it comes to hallucinations, or AI generating false or nonsensical outputs, the strategy is similar: systematic testing and validation. While breakthrough insights sometimes emerge from unexpected connections AI makes, Trellix carefully distinguishes between innovation and error, ensuring that AI recommendations are reliable before they inform critical decisions.

Client Adoption and Future Outlook for Generative AI

Externally, Trellix has encountered a wide spectrum of client readiness for generative AI. In heavily regulated industries like finance and healthcare, clients move cautiously, mindful of the compliance challenges new technologies introduce. Trellix responds by tailoring its deployment strategies to each client’s maturity level, ensuring that AI tools align with both security standards and organizational capabilities.

Interestingly, Alicea noted a growing shift even among the most cautious clients. As the cost savings and efficiency gains of AI become undeniable, resistance is giving way to pragmatic adoption. Particularly in areas like threat detection, where AI can sift through vast volumes of telemetry data faster and more accurately than humans, the case for AI is becoming increasingly compelling.

Trellix’s future with generative AI looks bright and expansive. Internally, the company will continue to deepen AI integration in ways that enhance human capability and improve customer outcomes. Externally, Alicea expects generative AI adoption to become ubiquitous across organizations within three to five years, beginning with straightforward applications like chatbots and evolving into sophisticated, customer-facing solutions.

At the heart of this journey is a philosophy that places data quality front and center. As Alicea emphasized, Trellix is not seeking to use AI simply to cut costs. Instead, the company is using AI to expand its capabilities and deliver even greater value to clients. In a world increasingly shaped by AI, Trellix’s experience offers a vital lesson for all organizational leaders: generative AI’s power is only as strong as the data that fuels it. Those who prioritize data integrity, human-AI collaboration, and ethical vigilance will be the ones who thrive in the next era of digital transformation.

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About the Author

Financial Literacy: An Essential Life Skill in a Volatile World

July 13, 2025

By Harshita Mansharamani and Anirban Kundu

The need for financial literacy is growing amid increasing uncertainties in the global financial landscape. In such a dynamic world, financial literacy plays a crucial role in helping individuals make daily financial decisions wisely. Financial Literacy has been recognized as a necessary life skill, as financially literate individuals are better prepared to handle such volatility and demonstrate financial resilience during times of crisis.

The global financial landscape is revamping with the evolution in financial technology, surge of newer and complex financial markets, digital innovations and transitioning consumer financial behavioural patterns. The need for financial literacy is growing amid increasing uncertainties in the global financial environment. Financial Literacy has been recognized as a necessary life skill resulting from increased cost of living due to high inflation, widespread financial crises and growing number of financial scams and frauds. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) defines financial literacy as “a combination of financial awareness, knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors necessary to make sound financial decisions and ultimately achieve individual financial well-being^[1].”

Navigating Uncertain Times Through Financial Literacy

The financial situation around the world is unstable threatening the macro financial stability amid rising geopolitical and economic uncertainties. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected the growth rate for 2025 at 3.3 per cent which is below the historical average of 3.7 per cent^[2]. This sluggish performance can be attributed to heightened policy uncertainty, regressive policy shifts, prolonged inflation, and climate-driven disruptions. Financial Literacy equips an individual to combat financial risks against such financial shocks. The experience from the Covid-19 pandemic was catastrophic as it significantly impacted financial resilience of people in the form of reduced savings, uncertain family income and increased expenditures. Previous research suggests that financially educated individuals had better financial management skills and depicted resilient financial behavior during the pandemic.

The ongoing crises stemming from protectionist U.S. tariff measures, dipping Information Technology (IT) stocks, and the everlasting Russia-Ukraine war are contributing significantly to the global stock market downturn. The Indian stock market witnessed one of its worst crashes since the COVID-19 pandemic, with a sharp fall of approximately 5 percent in April 2025^[3]. In such periods of socio economic disruption, financial literacy plays a significant role in shaping investor decisions which can aid in market stability. Investors with higher levels of financial literacy are likely to depict resilience in their financial behaviour during stock market crashes. Such investors tend to buy additional stocks rather than selling their holdings fostering potential recovery of the market. They diversify their portfolio, make rational decisions and understand the risk return trade-off while making investment decisions.

Financial Literacy as a Driver of Prudent Financial Decisions

Financial Literacy is a crucial skill that enables an individual to make informed financial choices which results in effective financial planning and better management of finances. It positively impacts financial choices of an individual leading to improved savings habits, investment habits and robust retirement planning. Financially literate individuals are more likely to generate higher returns on savings accounts which further increases their willingness to save. Moreover, financial literacy increases the likelihood of participation in the stock market thereby resulting in prudent investment behaviour. In response to this, the Reserve Bank of India has included the promotion of savings behaviour and participation in financial markets as core objectives in the National Strategy for Financial Education 2020-2025^[4]. Promoting healthy financial habits act as a nudge inculcating financial discipline among individuals and encourage mindful investing behaviour among them.

Financially educated individuals are more likely to make informed financial decisions, which fosters greater financial inclusion. On the other hand, the reverse also holds true. Adults with access to formal financial services, such as bank accounts, debit, and credit cards, tend to possess higher financial knowledge and skills, regardless of other factors. Therefore, while financial literacy enhances financial inclusion, engaging with financial services like bank accounts or credit systems also improves individuals’ financial competitiveness.

Governmental Push for Financial Literacy: The Indian Approach

Recognizing the need for financial literacy, governments worldwide are making significant efforts to improve access to financial products and services. Consequently, there has been a notable rise in the number of people holding bank accounts and gaining access to credit. According to World Bank, global account ownership at a financial institution or with a mobile money service provider has increased from 51 per cent to 76 per cent between 2011 and 2021^[5].

The need for financial literacy has been recognized more than ever by the governments and financial institutions across both developed and developing economies. As a result, governments all around the world including India are making significant efforts to increase awareness and to provide greater access to financial products and services. The Indian government has launched initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) and National Centre for Financial Education (NCFE) targeted at improving financial inclusion and financial literacy in the country. On the other hand, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is working on multiple campaigns and programmes on financial literacy in collaboration with the financial sector regulators. It has introduced National Strategy for Financial Education (NSFE), started Financial Literacy Centres (FLCs) and integrated with various state boards to introduce financial literacy education at the elementary school level. In addition, RBI has initiated a dedicated campaign of celebrating financial literacy week each year to raise awareness on important topics pertaining to financial management.

Ground Reality of Financial Literacy

Despite several government initiatives directed towards enhancing education, a sizeable portion of the population around the world still lacks basic financial skills and knowledge, imposing obstacles to economic growth. According to the 2023 International Survey on Financial Literacy by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), only about 34% of adults, on average, meet the minimum criteria for financial literacy^[6]. Moreover, the National Centre for Financial Education (NCFE) Financial Literacy and Inclusion Survey 2019 demonstrate that financial literacy rate in India stands at 27 per cent which is fairly low as opposed to major advanced economies^[7]. The economically vulnerable groups such as women, older generation and less educated groups have lower financial literacy levels.

Financial literacy is closely associated with economic growth as it is linked to boosting productivity, creating jobs, improving cash flow management, and generating wealth. Therefore, improving financial literacy across all demographics should be a primary concern for all the policymakers and governments.

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About the Authors

Harshita Mansharamani is a doctoral researcher in Economics at Christ University, Bangalore. Her research focuses on examining the impact of financial literacy on financial decision-making. She is particularly interested in how financial education influences individual financial behaviour. Her broader academic interests include promoting financial awareness among vulnerable groups and integrating behavioural science with financial literacy to enhance financial outcomes and policy relevance.

Dr. Anirban Kundu is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Christ University, Bangalore. He holds a Ph.D. from the Centre for Development Studies, Kerala. His research spans diverse areas, including agriculture and the informal sector. His doctoral work focused on the non-agricultural informal sector in India and its interlinkages with services, agriculture, and formal industry.

References

^[1] OECD (2023), “OECD/INFE 2023 International Survey of Adult Financial Literacy”, OECD Business and Finance Policy Papers, No. 39, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/56003a32-en.

^[2] International Monetary Fund. (2025, January 17). World economic outlook update: Global growth: Divergent and uncertain. https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/Issues/2025/01/17/world-economic-outlook-update-january-2025

^[3] Finblage. (2025, April 7). The April 2025 Indian stock market crash: Causes, impact, and expert analysis. https://www.finblage.com/market-insights/the-april-2025-indian-stock-market-crash%3A-causes%2C-impact%2C-and-expert-analysis

^[4] Reserve Bank of India. (2020). National Strategy for Financial Education: 2020–2025. https://rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationReportDetails.aspx?UrlPage=&ID=1156#CH4

^[5] Demirgüç-Kunt, A., Klapper, L., Singer, D., & Ansar, S. (2022). The Global Findex Database 2021: Financial Inclusion, Digital Payments, and Resilience in the Age of COVID-19. World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/globalfindex

^[6] OECD (2023), “OECD/INFE 2023 International Survey of Adult Financial Literacy”, OECD Business and Finance Policy Papers, No. 39, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/56003a32-en.

^[7] National Centre for Financial Education. (2019). Financial Literacy and Inclusion Survey 2019: Executive Summary. https://ncfe.org.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ExecSumm_.pdf

Trump to Impose 35% Tariff on Canadian Imports by August 1

July 11, 2025

President Donald Trump has announced a 35% duty on Canadian goods starting August 1, escalating trade tensions just weeks before a self-imposed deadline to finalize a new bilateral agreement.

In a letter posted on Truth Social, Trump said the tariff would apply separately from existing levies on metals and autos and warned of broader import taxes on other nations, including the European Union. Similar notices were sent to over 20 trade partners in the past week.

Canada, which sends about 75% of its exports to the United States, faces mounting pressure across key industries, particularly auto manufacturing and metals. Prime Minister Mark Carney responded by reaffirming support for Canadian workers and businesses and said Ottawa remained committed to securing a deal.

“As you are aware, there will be no tariff if Canada, or companies within your country, decide to build or manufacture products within the United States,” Trump wrote, tying the new tariffs to manufacturing relocation, the cross-border fentanyl crisis, and dairy trade disputes.

He added, “If Canada works with me to stop the flow of Fentanyl, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter.”

Carney pushed back on the drug-related claim, saying on X that Canada had taken meaningful steps to address fentanyl trafficking and would continue to work with Washington to protect North American communities. US Customs data shows just 0.2% of fentanyl seizures occur at the Canadian border.

The new tariff threat follows a series of U.S. trade actions: a global 50% duty on steel and aluminum, a 25% levy on all non-US vehicles, and a forthcoming 50% charge on copper imports. Whether the 35% tariff will apply to goods covered by the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement remains unclear.

Trump warned of further increases if Canada retaliates. Ottawa has already enacted counter-tariffs and pledged additional measures if no agreement is reached by the July 21 deadline set at the G7 Summit.

In late June, Canada withdrew a digital services tax targeting US tech firms after Trump labeled it a “blatant attack.” Carney said its removal was part of a larger trade negotiation.

Related Readings:

https://worldfinancialreview.com/trump-grants-temporary-auto-tariff-exemption-for-mexico-and-canada/

https://worldfinancialreview.com/carney-asserts-canadas-sovereignty-ahead-of-talks-with-trump/

https://worldfinancialreview.com/after-tariffs-on-canada-mexico-and-china-trump-looks-toward-the-eu/

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Why Blockchain Governance Must Be Built on Education

July 11, 2025

At the London Blockchain in Government Summit Episode 3, hosted at the prestigious House of Lords, a clear and consistent message resonated throughout the sessions: education must be the cornerstone of effective blockchain governance and regulation. Thought leaders from government, academia, and the private sector stressed that without a solid educational foundation, efforts to implement blockchain technology within public institutions would be fragmented, misunderstood, and potentially counterproductive.

While blockchain technology is often lauded for its capacity to bring transparency, security, and efficiency to public service delivery, its potential is still largely untapped in government settings.

A major barrier to adoption, according to multiple speakers at the summit, is a widespread lack of understanding of how the technology works – and more importantly, what it is not. As long as blockchain remains misunderstood or misrepresented, especially in association with cryptocurrency scandals or illicit activities on the dark web, there will continue to be resistance from both the public and key decision-makers. The summit’s experts argued that this resistance can only be overcome through targeted and sustained education efforts.

London Blockchain Conference’s Blockchain in Government Summit Episode 3 was held at the House of Lords on 1 July 2025. — *Image source: London Blockchain Conference*
(From left to right: Tim Daley, Jennifer Ewing, Alex Stein, Rt Hon. Alun Cairns, Richard Baker, and Nikhil Vadgama)

Moderating the panel was the Rt Hon. Alun Cairns, former Member of Parliament and Secretary of State for Wales. Cairns brings to the discussion his experience as part of the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on blockchain and Web3, where he advocated for leveraging emerging technologies to support national economic growth. His presence reinforced the importance of political leadership in shaping the narrative and policies surrounding blockchain adoption.

Joining Cairns on the panel were a distinguished group of industry and academic leaders. Jennifer Ewing of Blockchain.com provided a unique perspective, bridging her expertise from both digital asset platforms and traditional finance institutions. Her contributions underscored the necessity of regulatory frameworks that align with financial best practices while remaining flexible enough to accommodate innovation.

Nikhil Vadgama, co-founder of Exponential Science and Associate Professor at University College London (UCL), contributed insights into the academic and research-driven side of blockchain. His commentary highlighted the need for greater collaboration between universities, tech startups, and public policy bodies to ensure research informs regulation. Richard Baker, CEO of Tokenovate, and Tim Daley of Perago also enriched the conversation with their knowledge of financial infrastructure and automation of trade lifecycles, showing how blockchain can streamline complex systems with precision and trust.

One recurring theme throughout the summit was the pressing need to decouple blockchain from its often controversial association with cryptocurrencies. While digital assets are a major application of blockchain technology, they represent only one facet of a much broader potential. The technology’s distributed ledger capabilities can revolutionise everything from identity verification and land registries to procurement and voting systems. However, none of this potential can be realised unless people – particularly those in government – understand how it works.

This is where education plays a transformative role. As panellists noted, very few schools, colleges, or universities currently offer blockchain-specific courses, and even fewer embed it within public policy, law, or governance curricula. Yet this gap in the education system also represents an opportunity. By integrating blockchain fundamentals into secondary and higher education, future leaders and professionals can be equipped with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about deploying, regulating, and governing blockchain solutions.

Education must also extend beyond the classroom. Civil servants, regulators, and elected officials need ongoing professional development that helps them keep pace with technological advancements. Regulatory decisions – whether they relate to compliance, security, or data protection – must be informed by a deep understanding of blockchain’s underlying mechanics. Without this, governments risk either overregulating and stifling innovation or underregulating and exposing systems to risk.

Furthermore, blockchain governance demands more than just awareness; it requires critical thinking around ethical implications, accountability, and system design. It is not enough to know how a blockchain functions – leaders must understand how its structure influences power dynamics, access, and trust. These are questions that can only be answered by an informed and educated public sector workforce.

Effective blockchain regulation, too, cannot be written in a vacuum. It must be the product of collaboration between technologists, legal experts, and policymakers who all share a baseline understanding of concepts like decentralisation, smart contracts, consensus protocols, and data privacy. Without this foundational knowledge, regulations will either miss the mark or lag behind real-world developments.

In conclusion, the London Blockchain in Government Summit made one thing abundantly clear: education is not an optional extra – it is a prerequisite. It is the bridge that connects technical innovation with responsive, responsible policymaking. Education ensures that blockchain governance is grounded in reality, not speculation, and that regulation is adaptive rather than reactive. As one panellist aptly summarised, “Education is mission critical.”

If you weren’t able to join this unique experience, don’t worry—the conversation isn’t over. We’ll be diving even deeper into blockchain and the future of public service innovation at the London Blockchain Conference, happening 22–23 October at Evolution London. Join us to be part of the dialogue shaping tomorrow’s tech-powered government.

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