EP 354 - Can Technology Improve Your Money Management Skills? - Monica Millares - BigPay

While fintech apps and tools promise to simplify personal finance, they often miss the mark by focusing too much on the tech itself, rather than the real needs of users. The key to better money management isn’t just about having access to financial services; it’s about designing solutions that truly make a difference in people’s lives.

In this episode of the Asia Tech Podcast with Monica Millares, Principal Product Ways of Working at BigPay, we explored the complexities of financial management and why technology alone isn’t the answer. Even the best technology fails if it doesn’t solve a real problem or if it’s too complicated for users to engage with confidently.

Some of the topics Monica covered in more detail:

• Financial inclusion isn’t just about access—it’s about accessibility
• Financial literacy and financial inclusion are two distinct yet interdependent challenges. It’s not enough to simply provide access to services; you need to ensure that users understand how to manage their finances effectively.
• Instead of overwhelming users with complex products, fintech companies should focus on solving one key problem that matters to the user. By doing this, companies can earn trust, which in turn opens the door to introducing users to more sophisticated financial services.
• Financial products should be designed for simplicity and impact - the impact of a financial product is not just about what it offers but how it solves real-life problems.
• With AI becoming increasingly powerful, fintech companies have an unprecedented opportunity to create personalized, scalable solutions that can impact millions of lives.