The advertising industry’s age and experience mix is shifting fast. In the US, entry-level roles are shrinking as automation replaces routine tasks, while in Australia, “juniorisation” favors younger, digitally fluent hires over seasoned veterans. Agencies face a balancing act—bringing in Gen Z talent to master AI-driven tools and authentically shape campaigns, while retaining senior expertise crucial for strategy, oversight, and client trust. Without a robust entry-level pipeline today, the industry risks a future shortage of homegrown leaders just as marketing grows more complex.

Retailers face an atypical holiday season. Instead of the usual end-of-year boom, 2025 is expected to bring a rare deceleration in holiday sales growth.

The news: A coalition of major US banks is pushing for reforms to the recently enacted GENIUS Act. The banks are concerned that a loophole could give non-bank competitors advantages over more regulated traditional banks, per AInvest. Our take: The main challenge for traditional banks is that they have to compete on a new front with different rules. But it’s also a major risk to their customers, who could not only move their money over to competitors’ accounts—but also lose it. While a 4% reward rate is highly attractive and far exceeds most traditional savings account interest, these stablecoin holdings are not necessarily protected by FDIC insurance. Without this insurance, a platform failure could mean consumers lose their entire investment—a risk that does not exist with a federally insured bank deposit.

AI shopping assistants are reshaping product discovery and threatening retail media’s search-driven model. RMNs and advertisers need to adjust strategies to protect their market position and seize the opportunity to turn disruption into growth.

The news: Financial institutions (FIs) are obsessed with acquiring new customers. But prioritizing it over other important goals won’t work in the long run. Our take: The steps FIs should take to ensure the customer journey doesn’t end right after it starts include: Investing in a strong onboarding experience. Create incentives—such as rewards and personalized insights—for customers to make their second transaction, not just their first. And seamless onboarding journeys particularly help strengthen ties with younger customers, who have high expectations for great experiences. Rethinking their brands. FIs can stand out by figuring out what makes them unique and communicating that consistently. If a brand or messaging is indistinguishable from the next FI, consider a rebrand or brand refresh. Doubling down on AI. From ensuring FIs show up in generative search engine results to supercharging the customer experience with AI agents, finding new ways to implement the technology to better engage customers can be a valuable investment.

The news: MX Technologies recently surveyed 1,000 US consumers to study what drives banking customer retention and attrition. Our take: The MX Technologies report underscores that consumers are highly motivated by value, convenience, and a seamless digital experience. In addition, they know what they want for their finances and are willing to look to competitors to get it. To win and retain customers, FIs should proactively use data to anticipate customer needs at key life stages and offer relevant products before those moments arrive.