Overdue Advice: Cash Flow & Debt Collection Strategies to Grow Your Business

Host Bryn Griffiths is joined by Mark Daprato, a board member of the Receivables Management Association of Canada and the organizer of its upcoming National Conference on Nov 14. This year's conference has a bold and thought-provoking theme: "Weathering Disruption in the Financial Services Industry." Mark shares insights into the conference's focus on the massive disruption happening in the finance and working environment, including the impact of AI, the changing economic landscape, and hybrid work environments. We delve into the motivation behind the conference's title and how it has sparked curiosity and interest among attendees. Mark also reveals how the event is designed to encourage panels and discussions that challenge conventional thinking and foster engagement. Plus, we'll get a sneak peek at some of the distinguished speakers who will be sharing their expertise on topics ranging from economics to insolvency.

Mark Daprato is an innovative and forward-thinking individual who is deeply involved in the Receivables Management Association of Canada. As the organizer of the upcoming National Conference in Niagara Falls, he is thrilled to bring a fresh perspective to this year's event. Recognizing the significant changes occurring in the receivable space, Mark aims to explore the concept of massive disruption not only in finance but also in broader areas such as AI, banking, housing, and the workforce. With a focus on the generational shift happening across these sectors, Mark envisions insightful discussions during the two-day conference, contemplating the implications for businesses and their environments. His passion for exploring societal shifts and their impact on the corporate landscape sets him apart as a dynamic and influential figure in the industry.

Delve into the world of estate administration in the digital age with our guest, Ari Brojde, CEO of Estateably. Host Bryn Griffiths uncovers the secrets behind efficiently managing debts, distributing assets, and handling the ever-evolving landscape of managing and closing estates. Ari shares his journey, from recognizing industry pain points to creating a revolutionary software platform that simplifies the process for professionals and beneficiaries alike. Discover the importance of advertising for creditors, the rise of online filing, and the power of innovation in this captivating conversation. Get ready to gain overdue advice on estate administration in a digital world.

Ari Brojde is the co-founder of Estateably, a tech company he started in 2018 with his cousin, Alex. After Ari and Alex's grandmother passed away, they realized the complexities of the estate administration process. Ari had a background in the financial services industry and had previously founded a tech company that aimed to improve collaboration among professionals in the industry. During the sale of that company, Ari received feedback suggesting that their document inventory system would be valuable in estate administration. Curious about to improve the slow process of settling estates, Ari reached out to lawyers, accountants, and wealth advisors to understand the challenges they faced. He discovered that the estate administration process was manual, labor-intensive, and lacked automation and collaboration tools. Seeing an opportunity to make this process easier, Ari and Alex founded Estateably to provide solutions for estate administrators.

[00:00:55] Founded Estateably in 2018 to simplify estate administration process.

[00:05:50] Difficult to find deceased's digital assets.

[00:10:22] Executors benefit from dealing with claims up front, helping professionals and beneficiaries. Notice Connect revolutionized the advertising process for creditors, making it easier and cheaper. Ontario and Saskatchewan have adopted online filing, a trend that will continue.

[00:13:17] 70% of Canadians die with debt. Estateably helps settle estates and track debt. Executors must file notices for creditors.

[00:16:57] Listen to your customers, find deficiencies, innovate.

[00:20:33] Being open to feedback, evolving vision, laser-focused.

Small Claims Court just became bigger, at least in one jurisdiction. In the Canadian province of Alberta, the limit for civil litigation in the Provincial Court system has recently doubled from CAD $50,000 to $100,000. This means Albertans and agents like MetCredit can go to court without a lawyer in the province to collect much larger debts, benefitting from reduced costs and shorter wait times. Tim Browatzke is MetCredit’s Manager of Corporate Integrity and Legal Strategies, and he joins host Bryn Griffiths to talk about why Alberta's provincial court claim limit increase is a significant move — and one that other provinces and states may soon follow.

The Credit and Receivables Management Industry is a complex one. Yet for ages, there was no standardized training or certification for credit professionals. David Hopkyns, ACI, has helped change that in his work as National Director for the Prairies of the Credit Institute of Canada, which today has nearly 2,000 members across the country. The CIC has built a respected roster of certification programs awarding professional designations including Certified Credit Professional (CCP). 

Earning a CCP includes 8 separate courses and usually takes 4 years to achieve while working a full-time job. David explains why it’s worth the effort—and how the CCP designation can make a big difference in elevating your career as a credit professional.

When debt piles up and becomes unmanageable, what can you do? More people than ever are turning to consumer proposals and even bankruptcy as a way out. The promises you hear in advertisements sound liberating—but is there another side to taking drastic measures? Rhonda Fox-Miles, a licensed bankruptcy trustee since 1999 and Registered Social worker, talks with host Bryn Griffiths about the good, bad and ugly sides of these options, and what else you can do to take care of debt without the long-term impacts on your future.

The Receivables Management world is a magnifier of business challenges. Whenever the economy becomes difficult, the credit world is in for a ride. MetCredit's central region business development manager George Preece is a credit industry veteran who co-founded the Receivable Management Institute (RMA) more than a decade ago. He joins host Bryn Griffiths to talk about improving collections through connecting with peers, regulators and technology leaders — and how you can get on the cutting edge.

If you’re like most people, you seldom answer phone calls from anyone you don’t recognize. And for good reason. A universal surge in spam calls and fraudulent players (usually spoofing outgoing numbers) has tarnished our trust in conventional caller IDs. For a telephone-centric company like MetCredit, this behavioural change has been a huge challenge in reaching consumers. And as has often been the case, technology is the solution. MetCredit has recently partnered with Hiya to display not only the MetCredit name, but also the company logo to many people receiving our calls. Seeing our logo boosts confidence — making our work more effective for clients while helping consumers clear their credit reports sooner. In this episode, host Bryn Griffiths talks to Hiya's Senior Director of Customer Success Tyler Wonderlic about the company's Branded Call technology and how it is making a positive impact through helping brands validate their phone outreach.

Working in the credit industry is an opportunity to make an impact on businesses, individuals and the economy itself. But how do you stay fresh, inspired and on top of your game? Host Bryn Griffiths joins Credit Institute of Canada General Manager Nawshad Khadaroo to talk about how being part of an engaged community provides learning, education and support, while linking you with others who keep the wheels of business turning.

Dun & Bradstreet has evolved a lot in its 173-year history. Now the world's largest trade payment database with over 360 million lines of global trade, it is known by most business people as a risk company for credit reporting. As D&B's director of data acquisitions, Stephanie Flierjans has spent most of her 35-year career with the company. In this episode, she tells host Bryn Griffiths how trade data can de-risk accounts receivable management, and how to create a system that directly reduces bad debt write-offs.

A lot of things keep CEOs up at night, from HR and supply chain issues to operational challenges and cash flow. But most often it's cash flow. Host Bryn Griffiths is joined by Martin Hunter, managing partner of URGEO, a company specializing in helping CEOs achieve operational excellence, to discuss why accounts receivable are such a challenge—and how leaders can solve it to focus on their real job!

Martin is also the creator of the “What CEOs Talk About” podcast, where he tears down the biggest issues facing executives today.

Listen to all the Overdue Advice episodes at https://www.metcredit.com/podcast/