Kevin Armstrong — PM interview guides and blog https://kevinarmstrong.io/feed.xml 2026-07-09T07:14:39.304403+00:00 Kevin Armstrong Settlement and reconciliation: a payments PM interview guide https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/settlement-and-reconciliation-a-payments-pm-interview-guide/ 2026-07-09T07:14:39.304403+00:00 How settlement and reconciliation work in card payments, why the topic shows up in payments PM interviews, and how to structure an answer to a settlement system design question. PCI DSS and payments security: a product manager interview guide https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/pci-dss-and-payments-security-a-product-manager-interview-guide/ 2026-07-08T07:13:53.636907+00:00 A guide to PCI DSS and payments security for product manager interviews: what the standard covers, why scope reduction matters, and how to fold security into product decisions. Embedded finance and BaaS PM interviews: what to expect and how to prepare https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/embedded-finance-and-baas-pm-interviews-what-to-expect-and-how-to-prepare/ 2026-07-07T07:13:32.93331+00:00 Embedded finance and banking-as-a-service now sit at the center of many payments PM interviews. This guide covers the stack, the money flow, the Synapse collapse, the compliance model, and the common interview questions. Marqeta PM interview: what to expect and how to prepare https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/marqeta-pm-interview-what-to-expect-and-how-to-prepare/ 2026-07-05T07:13:38.104159+00:00 A preparation guide for product manager interviews at Marqeta, covering the issuer processing model, interchange economics, the API and design rounds, and the company's recent move into credit and AI-driven risk. Card issuing vs acquiring: a payments PM interview guide https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/card-issuing-vs-acquiring-a-payments-pm-interview-guide/ 2026-07-04T07:13:34.980535+00:00 A guide to the difference between card issuing and acquiring product roles, and how to answer payments PM interview questions about each side of a card transaction. Ledger design for payments PM interviews: how money movement systems work https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/ledger-design-for-payments-pm-interviews-how-money-movement-systems-work/ 2026-07-03T07:13:31.292429+00:00 A guide to ledger and money movement system design for fintech and payments PM interviews, covering double-entry ledgers, account modeling, payment states, idempotency, and reconciliation, tied to a current industry example. KYC and AML for payments PM interviews: what to expect and how to prepare https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/kyc-and-aml-for-payments-pm-interviews-what-to-expect-and-how-to-prepare/ 2026-07-02T07:13:33.242941+00:00 A guide to KYC and AML for payments product manager interviews, covering the core concepts, the tradeoffs interviewers probe, and how recent regulation shapes the questions. Cross-border payments PM interviews: what to expect and how to prepare https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/cross-border-payments-pm-interviews-what-to-expect-and-how-to-prepare/ 2026-07-01T07:13:35.354656+00:00 A guide to cross-border and FX payments PM interviews. It covers the four-layer money movement model, the cost and speed metrics, a supplier-payout design question, and the compliance rules worth a mention. Fraud and risk PM interviews in payments: what to expect and how to prepare https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/fraud-and-risk-pm-interviews-in-payments-what-to-expect-and-how-to-prepare/ 2026-07-01T02:19:10.639607+00:00 A guide to fraud and risk product manager interviews in payments: the metrics, the tradeoff between blocking fraud and approving real payments, system design, compliance, and behavioral questions, framed around Visa's 2026 VAMP threshold change. Authorization rates and decline optimization: a payments PM interview guide https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/authorization-rates-and-decline-optimization-a-payments-pm-interview-guide/ 2026-06-30T20:24:46.718099+00:00 A guide to authorization rates and decline optimization for fintech and payments PM interviews: what the metric means, why charges get declined, the levers that lift approvals, and how to handle the fraud trade-off. Stablecoins for payments PM interviews: what to expect and how to prepare https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/stablecoins-for-payments-pm-interviews-what-to-expect-and-how-to-prepare/ 2026-06-28T10:22:43.268621+00:00 A guide to how stablecoins fit into payments, the GENIUS Act rules a PM should know, and the questions payments PM interviews now ask about them. Disputes and chargebacks: a payments PM interview guide https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/disputes-and-chargebacks-a-payments-pm-interview-guide/ 2026-06-27T20:03:23.976956+00:00 A practical guide to how disputes and chargebacks work, the network metrics that govern them, and the questions payments PM interviews ask, anchored on Visa's April 2026 monitoring-program change. Interchange and take rate: what payments PM interviews expect you to know https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/interchange-and-take-rate-what-payments-pm-interviews-expect-you-to-know/ 2026-06-25T17:07:13.099895+00:00 A $38 billion Visa and Mastercard settlement just trimmed credit interchange, and payments PM interviews lean hard on these economics. Here is how interchange and take rate actually work, and how to explain them under questioning. Payment rails explained for PMs: ACH, cards, wire, RTP, and FedNow https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/payment-rails-explained-for-pms-ach-cards-wire-rtp-and-fednow/ 2026-06-19T08:08:22+00:00 Every payments product runs on rails with very different speed, cost, and risk profiles. Here is what a PM needs to know about ACH, cards, wire, RTP, and FedNow. Fintech PM vs bank PM: how the roles differ and which suits you https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/fintech-pm-vs-bank-pm-how-the-roles-differ-and-which-suits-you/ 2026-06-18T08:08:35+00:00 Both titles say "payments PM," but the day-to-day work splits hard along one fault line: speed versus weight. Here is how to tell which side fits your wiring. PayPal PM interview: what to expect and how to prepare https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/paypal-pm-interview-what-to-expect-and-how-to-prepare/ 2026-06-17T14:54:27.011969+00:00 PayPal reorganized into three businesses in 2026, and that change shapes what interviewers now probe for. Here is the loop, the questions, and the prep that separates strong candidates from generic ones. Square PM interview: what to expect and how to prepare https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/square-pm-interview-what-to-expect-and-how-to-prepare/ 2026-06-16T08:08:44.041814+00:00 Square's PM loop tests whether you think like a seller, reason fluently in payments metrics like GMV and take rate, and ship simple products, so here is how the interview works and how to prepare for it. Stripe PM interview: what to expect and how to prepare https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/stripe-pm-interview-what-to-expect-and-how-to-prepare/ 2026-06-15T08:08:55.427875+00:00 The Stripe PM loop rewards writers who think in systems and reason from first principles. Here is what each round tests and how to walk in ready. What a payments PM actually does day-to-day https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/what-a-payments-pm-actually-does-day-to-day/ 2026-06-12T08:00:00+00:00 Ask ten people what a payments PM does and you'll get ten guesses about moving money. Here's the real weekly cadence, from metrics reviews and partner calls to compliance design and on-call incidents. How to break into payments product management https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/how-to-break-into-payments-product-management/ 2026-06-11T08:00:00+00:00 Payments PM is one of the few product roles where domain depth still beats general product polish. Here is how to get there from fintech, banking, or tech. How to tell one story across your entire PM interview loop https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/how-to-tell-one-story-across-your-entire-pm-interview-loop/ 2026-06-10T08:00:00+00:00 Most candidates treat each interview round as a separate test. The strongest ones run a single narrative across the whole loop, so every interviewer hears a different chapter of the same story. Payments interview questions and answers for PMs: the complete guide https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/payments-interview-questions-and-answers-for-pms-the-complete-guide/ 2026-06-09T12:00:00+00:00 A practitioner guide to payments PM interview questions covering authorization rates, fraud tradeoffs, compliance, marketplace settlement, and what Stripe, PayPal, and fintech employers screen for. How to use the STAR method in product manager interviews (with examples) https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/how-to-use-the-star-method-in-product-manager-interviews-with-examples/ 2026-06-09T08:00:00+00:00 Learn the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for PM behavioral interviews. Step-by-step framework with examples for FAANG and tech company interviews. How to handle rejection in product manager interviews and turn it into growth https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/how-to-handle-rejection-in-product-manager-interviews-and-turn-it-into-growth/ 2026-06-08T08:08:00.385+00:00 PM interview rejection is data, not a verdict. A four-step LOOP method to analyze feedback, identify patterns, and improve your answers for the next round. Best questions to ask in a product manager interview (that signal seniority) https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/best-questions-to-ask-in-a-product-manager-interview-that-signal-seniority/ 2026-06-02T08:00:00+00:00 Stop asking generic culture-fit questions. These PM interview questions demonstrate product judgment, strategic thinking, and seniority to your interviewer. How to negotiate a product manager salary offer: a step-by-step guide https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/how-to-negotiate-a-product-manager-salary-offer-a-step-by-step-guide/ 2026-06-01T08:00:00+00:00 Product manager salary negotiation guide covering BATNA, anchoring, equity, signing bonus, and level negotiation. Practical scripts and frameworks for PM offers. Product manager resume tips: how to write a PM resume that gets callbacks https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/product-manager-resume-tips-how-to-write-a-pm-resume-that-gets-callbacks/ 2026-05-28T15:23:11.395576+00:00 How to write a product manager resume that stands out. Outcome-first bullet points, portfolio integration, and the formatting that hiring managers actually read. Post-launch measurement for product managers: metrics that prove your launch worked https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/post-launch-measurement-for-product-managers-metrics-that-prove-your-launch-worked/ 2026-05-22T08:18:24.888+00:00 How to measure product launch success. Covers activation rates, retention curves, leading vs lagging indicators, and the metrics PMs should track after shipping. Beta testing and soft launch strategies for product managers https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/beta-testing-and-soft-launch-strategies-for-product-managers/ 2026-05-21T15:38:37.099047+00:00 How to run a closed beta and phased rollout. Covers beta user selection, feedback loops, success criteria, and when to go from soft launch to general availability. Product positioning and differentiation interview questions for PMs https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/product-positioning-and-differentiation-interview-questions-for-pms/ 2026-05-20T08:18:26+00:00 How to answer positioning and differentiation questions in PM interviews. Frameworks for competitive analysis, value propositions, and market positioning at FAANG. Pricing strategy interview questions for product managers https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/pricing-strategy-interview-questions-for-product-managers/ 2026-05-19T01:30:00+00:00 How to answer pricing and packaging strategy questions in PM interviews. Covers willingness to pay, price elasticity, freemium vs paid, and competitive pricing. Product launch planning: how to answer launch questions in PM interviews https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/product-launch-planning-how-to-answer-launch-questions-in-pm-interviews/ 2026-05-18T08:28:43.783349+00:00 How to answer product launch planning questions in PM interviews. Covers stakeholder alignment, phased rollouts, success metrics, and risk mitigation. Go-to-market strategy for product managers: interview prep guide https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/go-to-market-strategy-for-product-managers-interview-prep-guide/ 2026-05-15T08:19:29.07715+00:00 How to answer GTM strategy questions in PM interviews. Covers market segmentation, channel strategy, launch sequencing, and competitive positioning. AI safety and guardrails for product managers: interview guide https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/ai-safety-and-guardrails-for-product-managers-interview-guide/ 2026-05-14T08:18:36.897+00:00 How to discuss AI failure modes, safety guardrails, and responsible AI in PM interviews. Covers hallucination, bias, content moderation, and human-in-the-loop design. Build vs buy decisions for AI features: a senior PM interview framework https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/build-vs-buy-decisions-for-ai-features-a-senior-pm-interview-framework/ 2026-05-13T08:16:13.217041+00:00 How to answer build vs buy questions about AI/ML components in senior PM interviews. Covers cost analysis, vendor risk, differentiation, and integration complexity. How to work with ML engineers as a product manager https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/how-to-work-with-ml-engineers-as-a-product-manager/ 2026-05-12T08:25:57.484+00:00 How product managers collaborate with ML teams effectively. Covers model evaluation, data requirements, experiment design, and bridging the PM-ML communication gap. How to answer AI product strategy questions in FAANG PM interviews https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/how-to-answer-ai-product-strategy-questions-in-faang-pm-interviews/ 2026-05-11T08:20:00+00:00 A five-part framework for answering "how would you add AI to X" in product manager interviews. Covers workflow analysis, edge cases, data requirements, guardrails, and evaluation. Responsible AI for product managers: a practical playbook https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/responsible-ai-for-product-managers-a-practical-playbook/ 2026-05-08T08:21:56+00:00 How product managers should approach AI ethics, bias testing, transparency, and governance. Practical steps for building responsible AI products. How to define success metrics for AI and ML features https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/how-to-define-success-metrics-for-ai-and-ml-features/ 2026-05-07T08:27:58+00:00 Product managers working on probabilistic AI features need different success metrics than deterministic products. Covers precision, recall, user trust, and feedback loops. LLM fundamentals every product manager should know in 2026 https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/llm-fundamentals-every-product-manager-should-know-in-2026/ 2026-05-06T08:17:39.764+00:00 The key concepts product managers need to understand about large language models. Covers tokens, context windows, fine-tuning, RAG, and prompt engineering basics. Should this feature use AI? A product manager decision framework https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/should-this-feature-use-ai-a-product-manager-decision-framework/ 2026-05-05T03:42:15.585202+00:00 Not every product needs AI or machine learning. A practical framework for PMs to evaluate when AI adds value vs when simpler solutions work better. How to answer marketplace product questions in PM interviews https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/how-to-answer-marketplace-product-questions-in-pm-interviews/ 2026-05-05T02:46:25+00:00 How to break down two-sided marketplace questions in PM interviews. Covers supply vs demand, chicken-and-egg problems, network effects, and marketplace metrics. Product management in healthcare and regulated industries: interview guide https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/product-management-in-healthcare-and-regulated-industries-interview-guide/ 2026-05-04T08:18:06+00:00 How to answer PM interview questions about regulated industries like healthcare, fintech, and government tech. Covers compliance constraints, stakeholder management, and user safety. Enterprise B2B SaaS product management: what PM interview prep guides miss https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/enterprise-b2b-saas-product-management-what-pm-interview-prep-guides-miss/ 2026-05-01T08:26:45+00:00 B2B SaaS PM interviews test different skills than consumer PM roles. Covers enterprise sales cycles, buyer vs user personas, feature prioritization for large accounts. Ads and monetization platform interview questions for product managers https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/ads-and-monetization-platform-interview-questions-for-product-managers/ 2026-04-30T08:17:06.64+00:00 How to answer advertising and monetization platform questions in PM interviews. Covers ad auction mechanics, advertiser ROI, user experience tradeoffs, and revenue metrics. How product leaders mentor and develop other PMs https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/how-product-leaders-mentor-and-develop-other-pms/ 2026-04-29T15:09:34+00:00 Senior PM interviews test whether you can grow other PMs. How to discuss mentoring, feedback, coaching frameworks, and building product culture on your team. How to answer market sizing questions in product manager interviews https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/how-to-answer-market-sizing-questions-in-product-manager-interviews/ 2026-04-29T08:07:10.155043+00:00 Step-by-step guide to answering market sizing and estimation questions in PM interviews. Covers top-down vs bottom-up approaches with worked examples. Dashboard and reporting design questions for PM interviews https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/dashboard-and-reporting-design-questions-for-pm-interviews/ 2026-04-27T08:05:00+00:00 How to answer dashboard and reporting design questions in PM interviews. Covers metric selection, user personas, information hierarchy, and actionable vs vanity metrics. Unit economics for product manager interviews: LTV, CAC, and payback period explained https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/unit-economics-for-product-manager-interviews-ltv-cac-and-payback-period-explained/ 2026-04-24T08:42:12.189+00:00 How to answer unit economics questions in PM interviews. Covers LTV, CAC, contribution margin, and payback period with worked examples. How to sunset a product: a product manager guide to retiring features https://kevinarmstrong.io/blog/how-to-sunset-a-product-a-product-manager-guide-to-retiring-features/ 2026-04-23T08:39:28.924+00:00 A practical framework for deciding when and how to retire a product or feature. Covers user migration, communication, and the PM interview angle.