The Financial Technology Report with RJ Lumba

Protecting the Cost of College: GradGuard’s John Fees

Welcome to The Financial Technology Report, a leading information source on financial technology companies and solutions. In this episode, we speak with John Fees, Co-Founder and CEO of GradGuard, an embedded insurance platform built for the collegiate market. GradGuard works with more than 700 colleges and universities to embed tuition and renters insurance directly into the enrollment and billing process. By clearly explaining refund policies at the moment families are making financial decisions, the platform protects students from financial losses due to unexpected illness, injury, or mental health challenges. Prior to GradGuard, John built multiple companies at the intersection of higher education, financial services, and technology, including Y2M, a college media and student lending platform later acquired by Viacom’s MTV Networks. John supports The Jed Foundation. To learn more about this organization click here [https://jedfoundation.org/]. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

Insurtech Leader: Input 1’s Todd Greenbaum

Welcome to The Financial Technology Report, a leading information source on financial technology companies and solutions. In this episode, we speak with Todd Greenbaum, President and CEO of Input 1. Input 1 is a digital billing, payments, and premium finance technology provider that helps carriers, MGAs, brokers, and banks manage the full inbound premium process across the insurance lifecycle. Today, the platform supports roughly $16 billion in annual premium activity, reaching millions of policyholders and insurance customers. Todd joined Input 1 shortly after its founding in 1984, stepping into the role of President in 1990 before later becoming CEO. Over his tenure, he has focused on operational discipline and customer experience, bootstrapping the business from its earliest software system into a long-running industry leader. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

Mission-Critical Software: Finastra’s Chris Walters

Welcome to The Financial Technology Report, a leading information source on financial technology companies and solutions. In this episode, we speak with Chris Walters, CEO of Finastra, a financial services software provider across lending, payments, treasury and capital markets, and digital and retail banking. Finastra serves roughly 7,000+ customers worldwide, including about 80% of the world’s top 50 banks, and supports large-scale financial workflows—helping move about $7 trillion in transactions per day and supporting syndicated lending activity measured in the trillions.  The company’s portfolio spans core platforms that financial institutions rely on to run lending operations, process payments, and modernize banking services through cloud and open technology. Chris became CEO in January 2025 after serving as CEO of Pluralsight and CEO of Avantax. Earlier, he held senior operating roles including COO of Bloomberg’s Industry Verticals Group and COO of The Weather Company. Chris supports Year Up. To learn more about this organization click here [https://www.yearup.org/]. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

An AI Network For Credit Access: Pagaya’s Sanjiv Das

Welcome to The Financial Technology Report, a leading information source on financial technology companies and solutions. In this episode, we speak with Sanjiv Das, Co-Founder and President of Pagaya, a financial technology company that enables financial institutions to expand access to more customers through an artificial intelligence network. Pagaya evaluates and approves loan applications in real time on behalf of banks and lenders, and pairs that underwriting with a funding solution that can move approved loans off a partner’s balance sheet. Sanjiv joined Pagaya as President in 2023 and oversees strategy and growth across the company’s commercial business, including its single-family rental business and Darwin subsidiary. He brings more than 30 years of experience across consumer banking and capital markets, including CEO roles at Caliber Home Loans and Citi’s mortgage division, and senior leadership positions at First Data, Morgan Stanley, American Express, and Bank of America. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

Real-Time Life Insurance Underwriting: Ladder’s Jamie Hale

Welcome to The Financial Technology Report, a leading information source on financial technology companies and solutions. In this episode, we speak with Jamie Hale, CEO and Co-Founder of Ladder, an insurtech company focused on making life insurance faster and easier to purchase online. Ladder offers a digital application experience built around speed and simplicity, with real-time underwriting that can result in on-the-spot coverage and a process designed to be completed from home. Jamie co-founded Ladder in 2015 after a career spanning investing and financial services, including roles as a founding partner at Aldenwood Capital and as a partner at Oak Hill Investment Management. Earlier, he worked on new product development at NextCard. Jamie supports CASA. To learn more about this organization click here [https://nationalcasagal.org/]. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.