Media Coverage

Do you have any advice for people who are interested in taking out a debt consolidation loan?

Most people considering debt consolidation loans are in a situation where they have various debts (say from high-interest credit cards), are worried about their finances, and are looking to combine their various debts into a single loan that they can then finance at a lower interest rate.

I would say that the number one thing that people considering debt consolidation loan should focus on is the net costs and benefits that debt consolidation provides. For example, many people look at debt consolidation loans to lower monthly payments. But some debt consolidation loans actually have higher interest rates. Others offer lower rates but over longer terms or maturities, increasing the overall cost of these loans.

Parul Jain, who teaches finance and economics at Rutgers Business School, has said that tipping got a huge boost during the COVID-19 pandemic.


People used to tip on the basis of performance, she said. Now, the near ubiquitous use of touch screens at places where we'd never previously thought to tip applies enormous pressure.

The expectations for a tip remained high even after the pandemic subsided. "Tipping norms went up," Jain said. Moreover, restaurants already faced with increased food costs began relying on increased tips to pay their employees.

Dr. Jeffrey Robinson, who leads Filene’s Center for Innovation and Incubation, urged attendees at Filene’s Spark Conference to think more broadly about how innovation can also be used in response to issues facing CUs and their communities.

Robinson, who is Prudential Chair in Business at Rutgers Business School, said during a session titled “Encouraging Entrepreneurship and Racial Economic Opportunity” that while co-authoring with Filene’s research manager, Staci Duros, a 2023 report titled “Innovation Matters: Creating Competitive Growth in Credit Unions,” one of the main findings that was brought to light was the “power of social innovation.”

Rutgers University–Newark has named Bonnie Veysey, a professor and former interim dean of the School of Criminal Justice, as Executive Vice Chancellor and Interim Provost. She started her role on July 1.

Veysey will succeed Jeffrey Robinson, who became Interim Chancellor after former Chancellor Nancy Cantor was appointed to become president of Hunter College.

“Bonnie has deep and broad experience as an academic leader and innovator and an outstanding record of success in leadership at Rutgers-Newark,’’ said Robinson.

“Her visionary implementation and expertise across Rutgers-Newark in areas such as faculty roles in student success, advancing equity through institutional culture, and what it means, and what it takes, for a university to live up to its role as an anchor institution,’’ he added.

How do co-branded credit cards from Target, Sam's Club or Home Depot work at stores outside of the chains in question?

If it is a traditional Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express card, it should work virtually anywhere. However, the benefits will be low to non-existent for purchases at stores other than those of the co-branded card. If it is a store-specific card not tied to Visa, Mastercard, etc., then it likely will not work outside that store.

Steve Adubato welcomes Arturo Osorio, Ph.D., associate professor of entrepreneurship at Rutgers Business School and secretary of the board at the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, to highlight the Hispanic community’s impact on the U.S. economy and the ongoing discrimination members face.

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“Rutgers-Newark is a gem in the crown of Rutgers University because we have figured out how to have a vibrant university that is a hallmark of access and opportunity for all and produce award-winning scholarship that transforms fields of study and engages local and global communities,’’ said Robinson. “Our strength is found in the diverse voices that our students, faculty, staff and stakeholders bring to the table.”

Research on networking and “dormant ties”— broadly defined as work-related connections that subjectively feel like they’re no longer active, where you’re no longer in touch — could also provide insights to the benefits of reconnecting with old friends. This research about professional contacts shows that there are different benefits to meeting up with someone you’re already close to, compared with a new acquaintance, says Daniel Levin, a professor at Rutgers University who researches professional networking.

“Global companies should prioritize transparent communication with their subsidiaries to swiftly address the fallout from socially irresponsible actions,” urges Dr. Ajai Gaur, professor at Rutgers University and co-author of the study.

When should a business owner prefer getting a charge card over a conventional credit card?

Charge cards should be paid off in full each month, or else future purchases will be restricted or halted. Paying off the card bill in full each month is one of the keys to increasing your credit score and building wealth over the long term. Hence, a charge card instills a certain sense of discipline. However, many charge cards come with an annual fee, while most credit cards do not. The benefits provided and the interest rate charged for all cards should also be part of the decision-making process. So, the business owner should consider all these factors before making the final decision.

As Director of the Rutgers Accounting Research Center, Vasarhelyi heads the Continuous Auditing and Reporting Laboratory – which works on projects for leading companies such as Siemens, KPMG, Proctor & Gamble, and more. Vasarhelyi is credited with developing the original continuous audit application – and is the leading researcher in the field. He also leads the Rutgers AICPA Data Analytics Research Initiative – RADAR, which is supported by the eight leading CPA firms, AICPA, and CPA Canada. The KPMG Distinguished Professor of Accounting Information has published more than 200 journal articles, 20 books and directed over 40 Ph.D. theses – and serves as the editor of the Artificial Intelligence in Accounting and Auditing series and the Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting. Vasarhelyi is a sought-after news source and regular speaker at professional events, seminars, and conferences and has taught executive programs to many large international organizations, such as GE, J&J, Eli Lilly, and more.

Marc Kalan, an associate professor at Rutgers Business School, notes that while some stores are likely to close, the brand won’t disappear entirely. According to Kalan, Macy’s occupies a unique position in the market, nestled between more accessible stores like Walmart and Kohl’s and luxury stores like Saks or Bloomingdale’s. This positioning has allowed them to capture a middle-to-upper-class segment that values both quality and accessibility.

Kalan also highlights that Macy’s is reassessing its business model. Although some stores are not performing as expected, the strategy isn’t solely focused on closures. The company is redirecting its resources towards more productive stores and exploring more specialized store formats like Bloomie’s and Bluemercury, which might better suit the new market dynamics.

“Learners who have already completed their MBA could certainly still find executive education courses worthwhile and valuable, as one does not replace the need for the other,” says Peter Methot, associate dean of Executive Education at Rutgers Business School in America. “Many of the participants who take our programs have already earned their MBA.”

"Applicants planning to sit for the CPA exam will find this program to be an extremely effective way to prepare for the content included on the new CPA exam, 'The CPA Evolution,'" the Rutgers Business School program's co-director, Alexander Sannella, said in the release.

In a recent NIDILRR-funded study, researchers examined the effect of DEI statements in job advertisements on people with disabilities’ perception of a company, their intent to apply for a job, and their willingness to disclose their need for accommodations. Specifically, researchers looked at how the location and language (formal or informal) of DEI statements impacted the impression of a company’s trustworthiness and commitment to DEI practices. In addition, researchers explored whether inviting applicants to disclose their disability and accommodation needs during the application process would impact perceptions or willingness to disclose.

But this tired narrative belies the underlying quandary. Are we feeling broke because we’re doom spending, or are we doom spending because we’re feeling broke? The reality is more nuanced — and it’s not just a young-person problem, says Kristina Durante, a psychologist and professor of marketing at Rutgers Business School. “Boomers and older generations do it too,” she says. No matter their age, “people objectively do not feel good about their spending, even though they’re doing more of it than ever.”

Even Durante isn’t immune. “I work in a marketing department, and I study consumer psychology, and I’m still susceptible to these behaviors,” she says. “A box of clothes shows up at my door and I’m like, ‘Oh, what’s this? A gift?’ No, it’s just a bunch of stuff I forgot I ordered on Temu.”

What advice do you have for people who are not sure where to check their credit score?

Not sure about where to check your credit score? Many banks and credit card companies offer free credit score access online or through their mobile apps. Additionally, you can get a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).

Professor Can (John) Uslay
Rutgers Business School
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Steve Adubato welcomes Arturo Osorio, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at Rutgers Business School and Secretary of the Board at the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, to highlight the Hispanic community’s impact on the U.S. economy and the ongoing discrimination they face.

Morris Davis
Academic director, Center for Real Estate Studies
Rutgers University

He continues to lead the most influential real estate school in the state — one that has been intentional in its efforts to bring more women and people of color into the field.

"The Innovation Hub represents how corporations can invest in the future workforce and the future of financial technology,” said Rutgers-Newark Provost Jeffrey Robinson. “I am very excited that Fiserv has invested in our students through scholarships and experiential opportunities, and now through the development of a world-class space for our inclusive innovation activities.’’

These days, retailers like Bloomingdale's and Macy's are no longer building large department stores as they have in the past, said Marc H. Kalan, an associate professor of marketing at the Rutgers Business School. Instead, they are opening smaller specialty stores, with fewer departments, that resonate with their customers.

"Bloomie's is now that sort of outlet, if you will, that can offer to the Bloomingdale's-level customer an array of products that are appropriate for them without having the full Bloomingdale's department store," Kalan said.

The paper, “To profit or not to profit: Founder identity at the intersection of religion and entrepreneurship,” is published in the Journal of Business Venturing. First author of the paper is Jody Delichte, a former Ph.D. student at the University of Cape Town. The paper was co-authored by Ralph Hamann of the University of Cape Town; and by Ted Baker of Rutgers University.

April 29 is deemed National Supply Chain Day, recognizing the importance of the global supply chain in people's lives.
Introduced in 2020, the day aims to raise awareness about how individuals can be better partners and benefactors of the global supply chain management system.
Here are five things to know about the state of the global supply chain in 2024:

4. U.S. supply chain leaders often underestimate the risk of labor-related issues, both domestically and with foreign suppliers, according to Kevin Kolben, a supply chain labor expert and professor of business law at Newark, N.J.-based Rutgers Business School.

In an interview with the NBD, John M. Longo, former Vice President of Merrill Lynch and professor at Rutgers Business School, suggested that Buffett might face a series of financial-themed questions, such as persistent inflation, the impact of AI on society and investments, the situation in the Middle East, the Paramount acquisition battle, Federal Reserve policies, and issues related to the U.S. federal deficit and debt.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school?

I am most proud of winning Best Speaker in the Case Competition at the annual National Black MBA Association Conference. This achievement was special because this conference is renowned and well attended by both prominent companies and other MBAs.

“Entrepreneurs behave differently,” said Danni Wang, Associate Professor of Management and Global Business at Rutgers Business School. “They value autonomy. They are used to making decisions on their own and taking risks. Some recruiters view that as a red flag. After all, large corporations like to minimize risks.”

Fitchburg State University alumna Yla Eason, who founded a multiracial toy company dedicated to fighting the racial imbalance in toys and superheroes, will deliver the address at the undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 18.

Eason, a 1971 graduate of Fitchburg State, is an accomplished marketing professional based in the Greater New York City area and currently serves as an assistant professor of professional practice at the Rutgers University Business School in New Jersey, where her focus is business communications and marketing.

“Yla Eason’s inspirational story of activism and entrepreneurship sends a powerful message for the Class of 2024,” said Fitchburg State President Richard S. Lapidus. “We are honored to welcome her back to campus to continue our tradition of presenting accomplished alumni as our commencement speakers.”

Either way, wildfire risk negatively impacts cash flows for mortgages, said Amine Ouazad, an associate professor of finance and economics at Rutgers and a co-author of the paper, published in March. It will be "a major source of risk in the next 10 years."

John Longo, distinguished professor of finance and economics at Rutgers Business School, told IBD he has already experimented with artificial intelligence.

“I recently had an interactive conversation with AI on the history of soft landings. It appears the Fed has engineered a soft landing, so I was able to talk to AI about the prior soft landings, what are the odds of engineering a soft landing, things of that nature,” he said. “I thought the results were satisfactory. I felt it gave me enough information to write and speak intelligently about it.”

He has a colleague who uses AI to search through 10-K SEC filings and earnings transcripts.

“You can do that today with (keyboard combination) control-F. But it’s easier and more efficient to say, ‘What did management say about this?’ or ‘Tell me what’s in the 10-K about their debt that’s coming due in the next year,'” he said. “So having AI be a virtual assistant for both the professional and the retail investor is a trend that we’re going to see play out as we are able to upload more data into the AI engines.”

According to Rudolf Leuschner, Associate Professor at Rutgers Business School, “The Department of Supply Chain Management at Rutgers Business School has only been in existence for a little over a decade, yet it has grown to the second largest in the United States.”

The department offers a high-quality multidisciplinary education that balances theory and practice in supply chain management to prepare a new generation of business graduates to meet future challenges.

He noted, “Our perspective regarding supply chain management is that we need to educate our students on all aspects of the end-to-end supply chain. This includes the flow of products/services, the flow of information, as well as the flow of finances.”

A report to the Election Assistance Commission from researchers at Rutgers University found that disabled voters’ turnout lagged non-disabled voters’ by 11 percentage points, down from 17.

Building a budget for your life is easy. The tools to create a report are in many places such as your smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer.

But that is not the challenge. The challenge is coming to understand the power of the word “No” when it comes to your personal finances.

"Given the adverse impact of CSI on global performance that this study shows, global corporations should strive to uphold and implement strong ethical and social responsibility standards throughout their global operations," Ajai Gaur of Rutgers said. "Moreover, they should prioritize transparent communications with subsidiaries so they can quickly mitigate the negative impact of socially irresponsible activities."

“India is a perfect country for talents in basic and applied science with its large population, well-established education system and continuous supply of well-trained scientists in the market,” says Mahmud Hassan, director at the Blanche and Irwin Lerner Center for the Study of Pharmaceutical Management Issues at Rutgers Business School. “Narasimhan has made the right decision to look into India for those roles at Novartis.”

In the realm of research and innovation, AI will be a game-changer. It can assist in data analysis, pattern recognition, and hypothesis generation, accelerating scientific discoveries and fostering innovation within higher education institutions. Furthermore, AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can handle routine administrative tasks, such as scheduling, answering frequently asked questions, and providing support to students and faculty. This will free up time for staff to focus on more strategic initiatives. Hussein Issa, Associate Professor, Accounting & Information Systems, Rutgers Business School, explains.

What is the biggest mistake people make when using personal loans to consolidate credit card debt?

Once the credit card debts are paid off, the “credit lines” are available again. Many people are tempted to use it and increase their overall debt and thus dig a deeper hole for themselves. The right approach is to obtain a lower rate, pay down the debt and avoid further penalties on the loan.

Delaware’s hefty unemployment insurance fund appears to be poorly managed, in need of more staff, and may not be able to track companies that fail to pay into the system, according to a panel of national accounting experts. When asked for reactions to last week’s auditor report, the accounting experts each noted that such faulty record keeping could mean that unemployment officials won’t know if a Delaware company is failing to pay its share into the state fund.“We know what’s in the bank, but we don’t know what’s owed by whom and to whom,” said Irfan Bora, a professor of governmental accounting at Rutgers University.

Steve Adubato welcomes Arturo Osorio, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at Rutgers Business School and Secretary of the Board at the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, to highlight the Hispanic community’s impact on the U.S. economy and the ongoing discrimination they face.

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The Baltimore port is the closest one on the East Coast to the Midwest region. Kevin Lyons, a supply chain management professor at Rutgers University, pointed out that the port is known for receiving farm equipment headed to the Midwest.

“Delays due to the bridge collapse will impact the farming industry due to the growing season occurring now, so this is a critical time,” he told NorthJersey.com. These delays "could impact planting and harvesting, which will add costs to the food supply chain."

Also speaking at the CRE Outlook, Morris Davis, the Paul V. Profeta Chair of Real Estate, professor of finance and economics, and academic director of the Rutgers Center for Real Estate, similarly drew distinctions when it came to offerings on either side of the Hudson River.

“There’s two other things going on in Manhattan that I think are going to be positive for the New Jersey office market. The first is the congestion tax … And so maybe some parts of some office space will move over to Jersey so that the workers can avoid pain,” he speculated.

“The other thing that’s hard data is that New York City is starting Jan. 1 to impose taxes on buildings that have energy emissions past a certain amount … point is — about a third of office buildings in New York City are going to be taxed. … So that might be enough to shut down the older parts of the office market in New York.

“Now the question is whether or not the tenants … are going to come to New Jersey or not, but because of those things in Manhattan, I actually think there could be some positive news for New Jersey office,” Davis said.

And Baltimore is largely the closest port to the Midwest region, said Kevin Lyons, a supply chain expert at the Rutgers Business School in Newark.

“So now you’ve got to bring it to a different location, which then … adds time, as well as money,” Lyons said. Price increases could stem from the bridge collapse and its impact on the ports, though some merchants may simply use the situation as an opportunity to price-gouge, Lyons added.

Rudi Leuschner, associate professor and director of Master of Supply Chain Management, said, “When we're looking at a major port like Baltimore that is bringing in billions of dollars of goods, they're going to have to be delivered in some way. In the event the port is as inaccessible as it is today, Baltimore ships can be diverted to ports in New York and New Jersey, like ports Newark and Elizabeth. The real question is, are they going to be able to deal with everything that happens behind the port? It's nice enough that you can drop off a few containers on the dock, but they have to go somewhere, and that's the part where I'm a little bit worried that we might see congestion, we might see delays.”

"Supply chain disruptions have a way of amplifying those issues, but they are seldom the only cause of it — unless something catastrophic happens, such as the loss of a critical supplier and the inability to find an alternative," Rudi Leuschner, associate professor of supply chain management at Rutgers University, said in an interview.

How can getting a 0% APR business credit card affect someone’s credit score? In the short run, there is typically a modest decrease in your credit score if you open up a new credit card account, explained Rutgers Business School finance and economics professor John Longo. Lines of credit are one of the components in most credit score calculations. However, if you pay off your credit card in full consistently, another component of the credit score is the percentage of credit utilized. Your total credit line will increase if you get a new credit card without closing the existing one. Hence, in the long run, there may not be a negative impact on your credit score when you add a new credit card if you pay your balance in full each month.

Amine Ouazad, an expert on climate risk in mortgage markets, said the province must spend more on disaster risk preparedness and disaster recovery.

"This is a good start but only a moderate amount given the evidence about the cost of previous natural disasters in B.C.," said Ouazad, an associate professor in finance and economics at Rutgers Business School in New Jersey.

It's prudent for homeowners to "adapt your houses" in anticipation of floods and wildfires, Ouazard said.

“The device has evolved throughout the project to become less bulky and intimidating, and more commercial and consumer-friendly,” said Mason Ameri, an associate professor of professional practice at Rutgers Business School.

While the engineers refine the device and integrate AI for more advanced control, the Rutgers team is focused on the HR and policy implications. Douglas Kruse, Lisa Schur, and Hazel-Anne Johnson (School of Management and Labor Relations), along with Ameri and Terri Kurtzberg (Rutgers Business School), are studying the potential impact of the technology and how employers might react.

What are some of the key features consumers should look for in a credit union credit card for balance transfers? "I would suggest that among the key features of a credit union credit card would be no annual fee, low-interest rates for any balances not paid off in full, and rewards that correspond to the consumer's spending patterns," Rutgers Business School finance professor John Longo said.

What Technology Skills Do Accounting Graduates Need?

In accounting practice, data evolved from summarized accounting data before using computers through the development of storage and retention of complete transactions using computers, opening doors to greater insights (Miklos A. Vasarhelyi, Alexander Kogan, and Brad M. Tuttle, “Big Data in Accounting: An Overview,” Accounting Horizons, June 2015, pp. 381-396). The era of expansion in the global business environment came with data volume, velocity, and variety growth. Finally, in the wake of environmental and sustainability reporting, data points include financial and nonfinancial data. Moreover, the profession faces business Reporting 4.0, the application of technology intelligence with the ability for mass customization and reporting aligned with the needs of heterogeneous stakeholders and the multi-objective enterprise (Michael G. Alles, Jun Dai, and Miklos A. Vasarhelyi, “Reporting 4.0: Business Reporting for the Age of Mass Customization,” Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, Spring 2021, pp. 1-15).

It’s time to get with the times.
We’ve grown tired of hearing from people who say they can’t find women to run their company, be in a top leadership role, sit on a board — or even be on a panel.
So, we’re leaving them behind.
If you haven’t caught on yet, then please stop reading. And know that history will not be kind to your outdated thinking.
The release of the 2024 ROI Influencers: Women in Business once again shows the state is overflowing with amazingly impressive female leaders who are ready, willing, able and eager to take on any role.
Just scroll through our list of honorees, take in their accomplishments and ask yourself:
Wouldn’t they be good candidates for any and all roles at a company where smarts, work ethic and leadership are required?
It’s 2024. The future is here. And it’s decidedly female.

Lisa Kaplowitz
Executive director
Rutgers Center for Women in Business

Former chief financial officer of top companies now runs a center that aims to remove barriers, build community and empower women with the confidence and skills necessary to succeed as business leaders.

It’s time to get with the times.
We’ve grown tired of hearing from people who say they can’t find women to run their company, be in a top leadership role, sit on a board — or even be on a panel.
So, we’re leaving them behind.
If you haven’t caught on yet, then please stop reading. And know that history will not be kind to your outdated thinking.
The release of the 2024 ROI Influencers: Women in Business once again shows the state is overflowing with amazingly impressive female leaders who are ready, willing, able and eager to take on any role.
Just scroll through our list of honorees, take in their accomplishments and ask yourself:
Wouldn’t they be good candidates for any and all roles at a company where smarts, work ethic and leadership are required?
It’s 2024. The future is here. And it’s decidedly female.

Lei Lei
Dean, Rutgers Business School
Rutgers University

She is the head of the top business school in the state — and a top professor, too.