There are over 53 million people in the US working as Freelancers in some way, shape, or form. That’s more than one third of the US population! What does this tell me about how changing jobs and careers will subsequently alter the way we manage our money and finances?

1.       The old rules and assumptions of “moving up in life” by seeking employment through a single job that ideally transforms into a long term career may no longer apply. More than ever, we are empowered and rewarded if we view “careers” as a series of great projects and entrepreneurial activities. Not only has this become a great way to gain an income, but the real benefits have become flexibility, accelerated learning, and the ability to quickly grow a network of diverse business colleagues that would have taken decades to create in the past. And as large corporations push for more remote work locations and telecommuting, the concept of a traditional 9-5 job will quickly become a thing of the past. 

2.       The tools to conduct business and earn secondary streams of income are only growing, making living “a freelance lifestyle” an easier and potentially preferred path for many. Programs and apps like Gmail and Squarespace allow you to have an online presence that is both affordable and highly effective for marketing. If you want to start your own business and need funding, sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo have reinvented going to market, making the process seamless and simple. On top of that, you can earn income “on the side” while you pursue your projects and passions in any number of ways. Even the “traditional” benefits, which one would normally rely on, have been made available to us by other means  (Healthcare through Freelancers Union, for example). 

3.       What was once considered a population of moonlighters, or free-birds in search of a career path, is now a legitimate movement. As freelancers, you’ve already figured this out and everyone else is trying to catch up to meet your needs.  

And how is the financial services industry reacting to the above? Simple. Most are doing absolutely nothing and, as a result, banking SUCKS for freelancers.

This is why I am excited for the Moven and Freelancers Union partnership. We want to meet your financial needs, where big banks have failed. I encourage you to check us out. Use Moven as the convenient way to get paid quickly or as a way to bank without the constraints of tellers and branch hours to meet the needs of your lifestyle. This is what we envisioned when we started Moven: our product was built for you. You don’t rest, so we don’t rest (we’re digital, open 24/7). We have no overdraft fees, monthly fees, usage fees, or minimum monthly balances because you earn your money, and we think you should keep as much of it as possible. We have an industry leading app that intelligently helps you make smart spending and savings decisions every day, without needing to fuss with maintaining a budget that you don’t have the time or energy for.

This is just the beginning. Moven wants to join you, and create the future together. #getmoven

Check it out here.

— Alex Sion