We all know that the east coast execs perceive the Midwest as being hopelessly folksy and unsophisticated.
As such, they'll probably start relocating work to the east coast and states with palm trees for the perceived boost in image.
Which Midwest city is likely to watch the stagecoach ride away into the sunset forever?
Per Forbes, the most dangerous cities in America:
St. Louis, Missouri
Mobile, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Baltimore, Maryland
Memphis, Tennessee
Detroit, Michigan
Cleveland, Ohio
New Orleans, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Little Rock, Arkansas
Oakland, California
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Kansas City, Missouri
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Looks like a lot of fly-over to me.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2023/01/31/most-dangerous-cities-in-the-us-crime-in-america/?sh=4c0c00044b25
I think the comments on here miss the point - as a shareholder I want a return on investment. I do not give a rats backside about diversity- I care about operational expense that is impacting my investment. I DO care about overpriced commercial buildings AND the employees, tools that suck and methodologies that placate pathetic employees desires of grandiosity....again at the reduction of MY investment. Your job exists to serve the customer and to make ME a return on investment....YOU need to understand YOUR role.
Some people can't handle freedom. So they stay away from "fly over country".
It is just too much for weak people. Instead of concepts such as personal freedom, they need nanny states to tell them how to live their life.
They'll never know what it is like to look up at the sky at night, see countless stars, take in the sounds of nature. They are too scared. They need the feel of concrete and steel to keep them separated from the world around them. They are like prisoners who experience "gate fever" when being sent outside the walls of their prison. Except, unlike prisoners, they fight becoming aware of being imprisoned. Instead they lie to themselves, telling themselves they are sophisticated.
Some of them will pretend to be brave. They'll pay for expensive trendy brand name gear, made in China. They'll pack way too much to bring their comforts with them. Their processed meals and venture a short distance away for a weekend to role play being outdoorsy. But they'll never experience catching their food and cooking it over an open fire built with wood cut by their own hands, next to shelters they have built. They are too scared.
Some will have a few pots, soil and plants they have bought and grow some herbs, maybe strawberries or a small tomato plant. They'll pretend they are gardeners cultivating food. But they've never worked a field that will feed many. They are too scared.
And someday, their great cities will collapse. The traders and merchants in anguish. Then in panic and fear, they will turn on each other. Maybe a few will then realize how they have devolved. How they have become less than human.
You'll flee your cities in fear, hoping to find food, shelter and safety from the urban zombies you surrounded yourself with and became. And you won't find it.
For those in "fly over country", life will go on. The hoardes will have perished within weeks. Those in "fly over country" will wonder how people could have ever lived like that, how generation after generation willfully chose to decay into something less than human.
Minneapolis. Lots of companies leaving.
Agreed. All of them are S holes not fit for human occupation.
@1jjq I'd live homeless, in the worst parts of those big cities before I'd voluntarily move to fly over country.
What sane person is going to voluntarily work in crime ridden cesspools like NYC, Minneapolis, St. Louis, and San Francisco?
Midwesterner here: They sold the building in Springfield, so that one 🙂
Sorry about the Charlotte confusion...
New York:
Diversity: New York City is known for its cultural diversity and has a large population of immigrants and people from various ethnic backgrounds.
Economic: New York City is a global financial center and has a high cost of living and doing business. However, it also offers many business opportunities and access to capital.
Fintech Agility: New York has a well-established fintech ecosystem, with many startups and established players in the space. It has a deep talent pool and a culture of innovation.
San Francisco:
Diversity: San Francisco is known for its cultural diversity, but it also has a reputation for being a tech hub that can be less diverse in some areas.
Economic: San Francisco is a hub for technology and innovation, but it also has a very high cost of living and doing business. It is home to many startups and established tech companies.
Fintech Agility: San Francisco has a well-established fintech ecosystem and is home to many innovative fintech companies. It has a deep talent pool and a culture of innovation.
Charlotte:
Diversity: Charlotte has a growing diverse population but is not as diverse as some of the other cities on this list.
Economic: Charlotte is home to several large banks and has a lower cost of living than some other cities on this list. It is a business-friendly city.
Fintech Agility: Charlotte is not as well-known for its fintech ecosystem as some of the other cities on this list, but it is home to several fintech companies. It may have a smaller talent pool than some other cities.
St. Louis:
Diversity: St. Louis has a growing diverse population but is not as diverse as some other cities on this list.
Economic: St. Louis has a lower cost of living and doing business than some other cities on this list. It is a business-friendly city.
Fintech Agility: St. Louis has a growing fintech ecosystem and is home to several fintech companies. However, it may have a smaller talent pool than some other cities.
Des Moines:
Diversity: Des Moines has a smaller population and may be less diverse than some of the other cities on this list.
Economic: Des Moines has a low cost of living and doing business and is known for being business-friendly.
Fintech Agility: Des Moines has a growing fintech ecosystem and is home to several fintech companies. However, it may have a smaller talent pool than some other cities.
Minneapolis:
Diversity: Minneapolis has a diverse population and is known for its progressive culture.
Economic: Minneapolis has a lower cost of living than some other cities on this list and is a business-friendly city.
Fintech Agility: Minneapolis has a growing fintech ecosystem and is home to several fintech companies. It has a deep talent pool and a culture of innovation.
In terms of economic considerations, San Francisco and New York are among the most expensive cities in the US, which could make it difficult for the bank to attract and retain top talent. Minneapolis, on the other hand, has a lower cost of living and a lower cost of doing business, which could make it an attractive location for the bank to expand.
Ultimately, the decision on which city to depart from would depend on a variety of factors, including the bank's current operations, the competitive landscape in each city, and the bank's long-term strategy. The bank should carefully evaluate each city's pros and cons and weigh them against its own goals and priorities to make an informed decision.
Charlotte isn't safe either, it's just the last to go.
It really doesn't matter what a city's demographics are. Look at NYC, diverse as all get out. Now look at the WF employees in NYC, about as non-diverse as you can get outside a K-K meeting.
I’m sure Charlie would love to yank WFA headquarters out of St Louis.
You do realize Charlottesville is in Virginia right. I think you mean CHARLOTTE - you know the banking capital not named NYC. Des Moines I think will shrink if you ask me. It is not diverse at all and focused on mortgages. Lose / Lose
The theoretical WFH group would annihilate any small/medium sized collection of hub cities. Much much larger talent pool. It really is basic math.
read below before reading this. OTOH which of the cities is more economical....
San Francisco and New York City are known to have a high cost of living, with expensive housing and other expenses. As tech hubs, they may offer high salaries, but those salaries may not necessarily be enough to cover the high cost of living.
On the other hand, cities like Minneapolis, Des Moines, Houston, and Dallas tend to have a lower cost of living, making them more economical for tech workers. These cities may also offer lower salaries, but the lower cost of living can offset that difference.
Charlottesville may have a moderate cost of living, but it may not have as many tech job opportunities or as developed a tech industry as the other cities on this list.
Overall, if you're looking for a city that is more economical for tech workers, Minneapolis, Des Moines, Houston, and Dallas are likely better options than San Francisco or New York City. However, it's important to consider other factors, such as the specific job opportunities, lifestyle preferences, and overall quality of life when making a decision about where to live and work.
Hey lets ask AI....
Looks like Des Moines is on the cutting block.
Based on my (chatGPT's) knowledge and research, I would rank these cities as hubs for fintech evolution as follows:
New York City: New York is one of the world's financial capitals and has a strong concentration of fintech companies and startups, making it one of the strongest fintech hubs in the United States.
San Francisco: San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area have a long history of innovation in technology and are home to many of the world's largest tech companies. The region has seen significant growth in the fintech industry in recent years, making it a major fintech hub.
Minneapolis: Minneapolis has a strong presence in the financial services industry and has seen growth in its fintech industry in recent years, particularly in areas like payments and lending.
Houston: Houston has a growing fintech industry, with a focus on payments, lending, and insurance technology. The city's strong presence in the energy industry has also helped drive innovation in areas like blockchain and cryptocurrency.
Dallas: Dallas is also home to a growing fintech industry, with a focus on areas like payments, lending, and wealth management. The city has a strong entrepreneurial culture and a supportive startup ecosystem.
Charlottesville: While Charlottesville is home to several fintech startups and has a growing technology industry, it may not have the same level of concentration or resources as some of the other cities on this list.
Des Moines: Des Moines has a growing fintech industry, particularly in areas like insurance technology, but may not have the same level of concentration or resources as some of the other cities on this list.
It's important to note that this ranking is not definitive and may vary depending on the specific area within fintech and the specific companies and resources available in each city.
Calgary is in Canada’s far west, Einstein.
Midwesterner here. The problem with the Midwest is a lack of real density and its geographic location. It isn't that the Midwest is bad, it is simply the middle child. It has a little bit of everything that everywhere else has, at a smaller scale and spread out over a large amount of land. This is the same in Canada, Calgary in the middle but Vancouver and Toronto are the biggest draws.
Midwesterners need to ditch the underdog mentality and self imposed competition with the coasts, everything will turn out just fine.
@ijy "and the workforce is better educated than Texas"
Really setting the bar high there.
What an odd mindset. You should think more positive thoughts, you'll go further in life.
Don’t be so sure. Midwestern cities are cheaper than the coasts, and the workforce is better educated than Texas or the southwest.