Tag: AI and personal finance

  • TomoCredit Named to the 2026 Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies

    TomoCredit has officially been named to the 2026 Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America!

    For more than 40 years, the Inc. 5000 has recognized the entrepreneurs and companies driving growth, creating jobs and transforming industries across the United States. Previous honorees include Microsoft, Meta, Chobani and Under Armour, putting TomoCredit in some truly incredible company.

    Companies on the 2026 Inc. 5000 are ranked by their revenue growth percentage from 2022 through 2025. To qualify, companies must be privately held, for-profit, based in the United States, and independently operated. Every honoree must also pass Inc.’s editorial review.

    Earning a place on this year’s list is an exciting milestone for TomoCredit and a meaningful sign of the growing demand for more accessible, personalized financial technology.

    Building a More Inclusive Consumer Finance System

    TomoCredit was founded by CEO Kristy Kim after her own experience navigating the U.S. credit system as a South Korean immigrant.

    Despite working as an investment banker, Kristy struggled to qualify for an auto loan because she did not have an established U.S. credit history. Her income and financial responsibilities could not offset the absence of a traditional credit score.

    Millions of immigrants, students, young adults, and credit-invisible consumers encounter similar barriers. They may be earning income, paying bills and working toward important financial goals, but the traditional credit system does not always provide a clear way for them to establish themselves.

    TomoCredit was created to give more people an opportunity to build credit and move forward financially.

    What This Means for AI-Powered Consumer Finance

    TomoCredit’s growth also reflects a major change underway in consumer finance.

    People want financial tools that understand their real questions and circumstances. They need clear, personalized guidance that can help them make decisions about credit, saving, spending and their long-term financial goals.

    Through TomoIQ, TomoCredit is using AI to make personalized financial guidance available to more consumers. The AI-powered financial assistant is designed to meet people where they are, answer their financial questions and help them better understand the steps they can take next.

    Personalized financial advice has historically been difficult or expensive to access. AI has the potential to bring that level of support to millions more people, including those who have often been overlooked by traditional financial institutions.

    TomoCredit’s place on the Inc. 5000 demonstrates that consumers are ready for financial technology that feels more accessible, useful, and personal.

    Celebrating the People Behind the Growth

    The Inc. 5000 measures revenue growth, but reaching this milestone requires trust.

    It requires customers who believe in the product, team members who continue to listen and improve, and a shared commitment to solving real financial challenges.

    This recognition reflects every customer who chose TomoCredit, every employee who helped build and grow the company, and every person who believed consumer finance could serve more people.

    We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has been part of TomoCredit’s journey.

    Making the 2026 Inc. 5000 is an achievement worth celebrating—and we are even more excited about what comes next.

  • Why People Are Turning to AI for Financial Advice

    A few months ago, asking ChatGPT for financial advice might have sounded…odd. 

    Today, it’s becoming the norm. 

    People are asking AI whether they should pay off debt or invest. They’re using it to create budgets, understand credit scores, compare financial products, and make sense of complex financial decisions.

    In a recent Fast Company article, I explored why people increasingly trust AI with financial questions. What struck me most wasn’t the technology itself. It was what this shift says about the relationship consumers have with money.

    People aren’t necessarily looking for more financial products.

    They’re looking for guidance.

    Why Consumers Are Turning to AI

    For many people, money feels intimidating.

    Financial terms can be confusing. Credit scores often feel mysterious. And despite having more financial tools available than ever before, many consumers still feel like they’re navigating their financial lives alone. And trust me, I know from firsthand experience as an immigrant navigating the American credit system. 

    AI changes that dynamic.

    Instead of spending hours searching through articles or waiting to speak with a financial professional, consumers can ask a question and receive an answer instantly.

    Questions like:

    • Why did my credit score drop?
    • What’s the fastest way to build credit?
    • Should I pay down debt or save money?
    • How much should I spend on rent?

    These aren’t uncommon questions. They’re everyday financial decisions that millions of people face.

    The difference is that AI makes it easier to ask them.

    The Real Reason People Trust AI

    Many people assume consumers trust AI because it’s smart. I think the answer is more human than that. People trust AI because it feels accessible.

    There’s no judgment.

    No embarrassment.

    No fear of asking a question that feels too basic.

    Consumers can ask the same question three different ways until they understand the answer. They can explore financial concepts at their own pace. They can admit what they don’t know.

    For many people, that’s a more comfortable experience than traditional financial education.

    What This Means for Financial Services

    The rise of AI isn’t just a technology story.

    It’s a consumer behavior story.

    For years, financial institutions focused primarily on providing products. Consumers, meanwhile, were looking for education, guidance, and personalized recommendations.

    The popularity of AI highlights a growing expectation: people want financial information that is personalized, immediate, and easy to understand.

    The companies that succeed in the next decade won’t simply offer financial products.

    They’ll help consumers make better financial decisions.

    Where AI Still Falls Short

    That doesn’t mean AI should replace human expertise.

    AI can provide information, explain concepts, and help consumers understand their options.

    But context still matters.

    Financial decisions are personal. Two people with the same income can have completely different goals, obligations, and risk tolerances.

    That’s why the future of financial guidance isn’t AI versus humans.

    It’s AI and humans working together.

    The Next Evolution of Financial Advice

    At TomoCredit, we’ve seen firsthand how much consumers want personalized financial guidance.

    The challenge isn’t access to information. The internet already has more financial content than anyone could ever consume.

    The challenge is relevance.

    Consumers don’t want generic advice. They want guidance that reflects their actual financial situation, goals, and behavior.

    That’s where AI has the potential to create meaningful change.

    Not by replacing financial expertise, but by helping people understand their options, build confidence, and take action.

    The growing trust in AI for financial questions isn’t really about technology.

    It’s about people searching for a better way to navigate their financial lives.

    And that’s a trend that isn’t going away anytime soon. 

    For a deeper dive into this topic, you can read my Fast Company article, “Why People Trust AI With Financial Questions.”