There were plenty of ups and downs for finance chiefs in 2024, from changes in inflationary pressures to geopolitical shifts including the U.S. presidential election, the hurry-up-and-wait pace of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts and the uncertainties tied to the march of generative AI into the business world.
That rollercoaster shows no signs of slowing down in 2025. In just the first two weeks of President Donald’s Trump’s second term, CFOs are already grappling with significant changes in both regulatory and economic policy related to AI, taxes and immigration.
The Trump administration has pledged to impose tariffs as high as 25% on goods from markets including Canada and Mexico — leaving finance chiefs tasked with anticipating their potential impact on prices and adjusting their companies’ strategies accordingly. At the same time, financial executives could also see an easing of regulatory burdens stemming from new leadership at the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Amid all these fast-paced changes, finance leaders can maintain an advantage and sharpen their strategies by monitoring top drivers that are expected to shape business in the coming year. Below are four outlook pieces examining trends in federal policy, business strategy, technology — and more — that we will be following in 2025.
