eNews Archive

With a weary economy, political anxieties and inflation abound, it is no surprise that 2024 saw fewer people voluntarily leaving their jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the quitting rate dropped to a low 2.2%, with many Americans opting to stay in their current positions. The trend, dubbed the Great Stay, comes only two years after the peak of the Great Resignation, when a whopping four million people were quitting each month. 

Retirement is one of the most significant decisions in a professional’s life, and for credit managers, it comes with its own set of unique challenges. The transition from an active career to retirement requires careful planning and thoughtful consideration of numerous factors—from financial stability to passing the torch to the next generation of leadership.

Anyone can benefit greatly from joining an association, yet 56% of associations admit they have trouble engaging young professionals, according to Naylor’s Association Communications Benchmarking Survey. However, many factors that millennials and Gen Z value most—such as networking, collaboration and educational opportunities—are abundantly available through associations.

As the construction industry prepares for the effects of Present-elect Donald Trump’s economic policies—such as tariffs on imported materials, reduced tax rates and deregulation—credit managers face both opportunities and risks. While these measures could stimulate industry growth, they also have the potential to drive inflation, increase interest rates and escalate government debt.

NACM’s Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) hit a 26-month high in November, jumping 2.4 points to 55.3. “The strength in the index comes primarily from improved sales revenue, but dollars collected on due and past-due invoices also improved markedly as did the dollar amount of credit extended,” said NACM Economist Amy Crews Cutts, Ph.D., CBE.

Sanctions were a cornerstone of President-Elect Donald Trump’s first administration’s foreign policy strategy. Following his victory in the 2024 election, many are expecting to see an increase in sanctions and tariffs, but the extent is still unclear.

From handling customer disputes to managing cases of bankruptcy, credit professionals are often faced with high-stress situations. However, prolonged stress can lead to burnout, particularly during year-end when workloads intensify.

Among the core responsibilities of a credit professional is the credit approval process, enabling a business to assess a customer’s creditworthiness, minimize the risk of bad debt and make informed decisions about extending credit. For larger credit requests or riskier customers, the decision may need to be reviewed by senior management or a credit committee to ensure alignment with the company’s risk tolerance.