Halifax West

We’re thrilled to introduce our Winter/Spring 2025 Interns! Each of these incredible individuals brings unique skills, backgrounds, and perspectives to the table—and they’re all on the fast track to making a big impact in the world of finance. Armit Dhingra | Baruch College Major: Economics | Minor: Information Studies Armit has experience in wealth management and trading and is now focused on breaking into investment banking. He’s eager to apply his economic knowledge and technical skills in the industry. Outside of finance, he enjoys basketball and watching MMA. Eric Anderson | Lynn University Major: Investment Management Eric discovered his passion for finance during the early days of the pandemic. Now a senior, he serves as President and Co-Founder of the Lynn Investment Club, where he’s building his investment banking expertise. When he’s not focused on finance, he enjoys spending time on the beach or driving along A1A in Boca Raton. Jake Manning | Clemson University Major: Finance | Minor: Accounting Jake got his start with an internship at a middle-market private equity firm, sparking his interest in both investment banking and private equity. When he’s not deep in financial models, he enjoys MMA, golf, and spending time with family and friends. Joonseo Lee | Baruch College Major: Finance A first-generation college student, Joonseo is driven by hard work and perseverance. With experience in financial services, he’s looking to advance his career in investment banking. In his free time, he explores NYC’s food scene, creates videos, and hits the gym. Luke Hubbard | Fordham University Major: Finance Luke’s early interest in finance led him to intern in the roofing restoration search fund space before even starting his second semester. A dedicated Mets, Knicks, and Giants fan, he also values health and wellness, a passion influenced by his father’s career in medicine. Priyamvada Mehrotra | UCLA Majors: Economics & Statistics & Data Science Priyamvada is a double major balancing rigorous academics with hands-on experience in investment banking and private equity. Outside of finance, she enjoys dancing and spending time by the ocean. Ruolin Feng | Barnard College Majors: Economics & Mathematics Ruolin’s strong foundation in economics and mathematics fuels her interest in private equity and investment management. When she’s not working with numbers, she loves traveling and experiencing new cultures. We couldn’t be more excited to have these seven individuals join our team! #HalifaxWest #WinTogether #capitaladvisory #MandA #restructuring #operatingadvisory

March 2025 showcased how fast retail tech is evolving. Retailers are beyond dabbling in innovation and are beginning to reimagine what the customer experience and operations can look like and are implementing practices to adhere to it. A few examples listed in this article by Chain Store Age’s Dan Berthiaume are: — Walmart using AI to forecast fresh produce supply chains. — Old Navy rolling out AI + RFID for real-time inventory visibility. — Lowe's Companies, Inc. making kitchen remodels immersive through Apple Vision Pro. — The Home Depot launching Magic Apron, its own 24/7 generative AI help desk. — David's Bridal shifting into a media-tech hybrid model powered by AI. Every common denominator behind these tech oriented changes are efficiency, personalization, and the race to meet consumers where they are both digitally and physically. https://lnkd.in/gj-hVz5S

The National Retail Federation projects U.S. retail sales to grow between 2.7% and 3.7% in 2025, reaching up to $5.48 trillion. While this aligns with the pre-pandemic average, it’s a slight slowdown from 2024’s 3.6% growth. According to Fashion Network’s Benjamin Fitzgerald, low unemployment and real wage gains continue to support spending, but policy uncertainty and tariff concerns are weighing on consumer confidence. Despite this, NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz, Ph.D. emphasizes that hard data, as opposed to sentiment, drives spending behavior, pointing to stable household finances and steady income growth. Online and non-store sales are expected to grow between 7% and 9% year-over-year, building on 2024’s 8.1% increase. Retailers will need to continue to navigate shifting consumer sentiment while staying focused on customer experience, value, and adaptability. https://lnkd.in/gCftnqPK

LexisNexis Risk Solutions’s latest True Cost of Fraud Study reveals a harsh reality for North American ecommerce and retail. For every $1 of fraud, US merchants lose $4.61 and Canadian merchants lose $4.52. Mobile transactions, digital wallets, and peer-to-peer payments are driving a significant share of fraud costs; 33% in the US and 41% in Canada as reported by Stock Titan’s Ade O'Connor. Alarmingly, 41% of North American merchants still rely on manual fraud prevention processes, leaving them vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated threats. The challenge goes beyond finances, fraud damages customer trust, with 63% of businesses reporting increased churn and 64% seeing lower conversion rates. Striking the right balance between fraud prevention and customer experience is critical as overly rigid security measures contribute to 36-37% of transaction abandonment in US retail and ecommerce. AI-driven detection, behavioral biometrics, and automated systems are essential to staying ahead of evolving threats and are solid fraud prevention strategies for businesses to implement. https://lnkd.in/gjKUKVDN

As most grocery stores are finding ways to rapidly adapt to retail media, bringing smart carts, and AI-driven shopping experiences with screen interaction, Trader Joe's is taking a different route that aligns deeper with their core values that is rooted in human connection. In a recent Inside Trader Joe’s podcast episode, company leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a tech-free shopping experience. According to Retail Dive’s Peyton Bigora, their focus remains on engaging crew members with a fully present in person social shopping experience as opposed to implementing self-checkouts, data tracking, and screens. They argue that retail media is simply a response to an “undifferentiated shopping experience” elsewhere. It’s a rare stance in today’s retail landscape, where personalization and data-driven insights dominate. However, Trader Joe’s brand integrity is what has created its cult following and that is what makes them thrive! https://lnkd.in/gYGR_bb6

It seems as though every other retail-oriented headline revolves around store closures, like Joann, Macy's, and Kohl's, however, the full picture is that retail is evolving, not disappearing. While some retailers struggle, others are thriving and expanding at a rapid pace. According to Northmarq’s Q1 2025 Top 100 report, off-price and discount retailers like T.J. Maxx, MARSHALLS LLC, Homegoods, Five Below, Burlington Stores, Inc., and Ross Stores, Inc. are aggressively opening new locations, proving that value-driven shopping remains strong and is what consumers are actively seeking. Even retail giants like Walmart, ALDI USA, and Dollar General are focusing heavily on growth, particularly in underserved markets. As explained by REjournals's Dan Rafter, retail isn’t dying, it’s shifting. Consumers still want brick-and-mortar experiences, but they’re prioritizing affordability, convenience, and accessibility. https://lnkd.in/gyxRzgNe #RetailTrends #BusinessGrowth #ConsumerBehavior

With 23andMe filing for bankruptcy, many customers are rightfully concerned about the future of their genetic data. According to USA TODAY's Marc Ramirez, the company has announced it is entering Chapter 11 restructuring, continuing operations as usual, and ensuring its data management remains unchanged. However, with ongoing lawsuits and a significant data breach in 2023, what happens to this sensitive information if the company is sold to a new owner? Experts raised critical concerns about the legal protections in place for consumer data. Unlike health providers, companies like 23andMe are not subject to HIPAA protections, and their privacy policies allow data transfers in case of bankruptcy. This creates potential risks, as customers may have limited control over how their data is used or shared in the future. You can be proactive in protecting your data in various ways such as: Customers in California can request the deletion of their genetic data under state privacy laws. 23andMe allows users to opt out of data sharing via their account settings, but be aware that some information will still be retained for legal compliance. As privacy laws in the U.S. remain fragmented, it’s crucial to stay informed and proactive. Until comprehensive federal regulations are enacted, individual consumers must take control of their data. It’s a reminder of the importance of understanding how our personal information is being handled in the digital age. #GeneticData #Privacy #DataProtection #23andMe #Chapter11 #DataPrivacy #LegalTech #ConsumerRights https://lnkd.in/gn3nSk-p

The discount retail space is evolving, and it’s not just about slashing prices anymore. While traditional dollar stores still serve a segment of cost-conscious shoppers, a new wave of discount retailers, like 5 Below, pOpshelf, Ollie's Bargain Outlet, Inc., and Ocean State Job Lot, are reshaping the industry with a mix of affordability, trendiness, and discovery-based shopping. According to TheStreet’s Daniel Kline, as Big Lots exits the stage, its locations aren’t sitting empty for long. Competitors are strategically acquiring these spaces, keeping employees in jobs and giving consumers more options in the discount market. The Gordon Brothers’s restructuring efforts have enabled Variety Wholesalers to keep the Big Lots name alive in many locations, while others will transform into Ollie’s or OSJL stores. This shift highlights a broader trend: discount retail is beyond a necessity, is is genuine smart shopping. https://lnkd.in/gCuCzw5n

Retail media networks are on track to claim nearly a quarter of all U.S. media spend by 2028, yet advertisers are increasingly questioning the transparency of the joint business planning (JBP) process. According to Digiday’s Kimeko McCoy, some are even walking away, unwilling to commit to rising ad spend without clear ROI or standardized measurement. As brands navigate negotiations, many feel pressured to increase budgets year-over-year or risk losing valuable shelf space. This lack of transparency isn’t just a Walmart issue; advertisers are pushing back across multiple RMNs, including Amazon. However, with more than 250 retail media networks in the mix, the challenge is reshaping the industry to negotiate better deals AND prioritize accountability. https://lnkd.in/gVethB9F

While Amazon and Walmart have opened their marketplaces to hundreds of thousands of sellers, Target is taking a different approach by curating its third-party marketplace, Target Plus, to prioritize customer experience and brand alignment. By keeping Target Plus invitation-only, the retailer aims to provide a more relevant and seamless shopping experience, focusing on categories like home goods, essentials, and food. According to Modern Retail’s Mitchell Parton, the strategy appears to be paying off, with food sales on the marketplace growing by over 170% and essentials by 60% in the past year. Unlike other marketplaces that prioritize ad revenue, Target is focusing on long-term consumer trust. Its partnership with Shopify is accelerating the onboarding of emerging brands, and for many sellers, Target Plus is seen as a potential gateway into brick-and-mortar stores. However, entry isn’t easy because brands must prove differentiation and viability. As Target pushes to grow its marketplace from $1B to $5B in GMV over five years, the key challenge will be scaling while maintaining quality and improving data transparency for sellers. https://lnkd.in/graUFbVH