How can aligning purpose, strategy, and culture propel your organization to new heights? Join us as we chat with Jessica Kriegel, Chief Strategy Officer at Culture Partners, who shares her transformative journey from humble beginnings to the helm of leadership. Jessica reveals her mission to quantify culture through data and the stunning results of her collaboration with Stanford University—organizations that fully align on purpose, strategy, and culture see remarkable revenue growth. Togethe...

Ready to unlock the secret to impactful charitable giving within the credit union community? Join us for an enlightening conversation with Renée Sattiewhite from the African American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC) and Jason Haley from ALM First. Together, they reveal the innovative AACUC Charitable Donation Account Fund and how it promises to revolutionize support for vital initiatives. Learn firsthand how this fund is designed to sustain impactful programs like internships and leadership dev...

Welcome to this episode of, In Your Best Interest, an ALM First podcast. Have you ever wondered how financial institutions can stay ahead of uncertainties and manage competitive pressures? Join us as Jessica Coulis and Ben Schexnayder reveal the secrets of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and its critical role for many institutions. Through personal stories and professional insights, they detail how ERM can break down departmental silos, foster collaboration, and provide a comprehensive view ...

Discover the transformative world of credit union securitizations with insights from Travis Goodman, a principal at ALM First. Have you ever wondered how the credit union industry navigates the complexities of securitizations? Today, we're diving into the world of securitizations in credit unions with ALM First Principal Travis Goodman. Travis and his team have assisted with more than half of all public industry securitizations, playing a role in 8 of the 13 such transactions that have occurr...

Get ready to witness banking revolutionized as Jackie and Sonia from Amplify Credit Union unveil their bold stride toward a fee-free future. Discover the power of a financial institution that tosses out the fee playbook, carving a path for others to follow and shifting the landscape for generations to come. They share the remarkable story of Amplify's evolution from an IBM employee-founded organization to a technological titan with a $1.4 billion portfolio. Delving into the heart of the credi...

Discover the strategies financial titans are employing to steer through the stormy seas of today's economy with our guest, Mark Meyer, the insightful leader at the helm of Filene Research Institute. As we tackle topics like the effects of high inflation and shifting consumer behaviors, Mark sheds light on the need for adaptability and data-driven decision-making. The conversation promises key insights into how credit unions are not just weathering the storm, but redefining their roles and...

Join us for a look at the mortgage market's current state as we team up with Jake Silvey, Director of Mortgage Pipeline Hedging at ALM First. From the seismic shifts of post-recession interest rates to the dizzying heights of 2023's market values, we explore  strategies that keep lenders afloat. Learn how fine-tuning operations and slashing overhead are critical maneuvers for riding the waves of economic uncertainty and why meticulous process auditing is not just necessary, but at the heart...

Unlock insights to successful executive search and talent retention with industry insiders Deedee Meyers and Tom Sievewright in the latest episode of "In Your Best Interest." Discover how the high-stakes game of recruiting top players in financial services demands a blend of strategic foresight and competitive compensation. We delve into the urgency of initiating CEO searches with ample time, and the evolving nature of the CFO role to one that requires a strategic mindset. Our conversation...

Organizational priorities, new challenges and rising expectations continue to evolve for CEOs and other leadership team members. As a leader, it’s more important than ever to stay optimistic as you help ensure your team is ready to tackle whatever’s next. Join two experienced leaders from ALM First and DDJ Myers as they share insights from successfully growing their businesses, brands and personal followings. 

Higher rates are generally good for depository balance sheets, income statements and franchise values. But what is the path forward for loan originators in the current environment? In this month’s podcast, Kevin Shaner, Managing Director of ALM First's Loan Transaction Network joins us to discuss best practices in the lending arena along with insider tips to help your institution evaluate loan participations, loan sales, secondary markets, pricing models and profitability.

Financial institutions should consider M&A as a strategic growth option. The key to an effective transaction is ensuring ensure board members and the C-Suite are on the same page. In this month’s podcast, David Ritter, Managing Director at ALM First, talks about the environment for M&A activity and how boards and executives can come together to achieve growth objectives. 

It's a classic banker's dilemma: borrowers want long loans, with today's low interest rates, and banks want to be as short as they can. In a volatile rate environment, we tackle the challenge of risk management and managing your balance sheet, as we discuss hedging strategies with Robert Perry, principal at ALM First.  

Travis Goodman is a Principal at ALM First Financial Advisors, joining the firm in 2003. Travis oversees the Advisory Services department, which is responsible for implementing actionable and effective ALM and investment strategies for client financial institutions. In addition to overseeing Advisory Services, he assists large, complex financial institutions in achieving optimal performance within policy and risk tolerances. Kevin Shaner joined ALM First in 2018 and currently holds the...

David Ritter is a Managing Director at ALM First, who works with clients by focusing on both their quantitative and qualitative strategic growth initiatives; whether via facilitating an entire merger and acquisition process, conducting strategic planning, building customized sophisticated yet practical financial scenario analyses models for clients, or creating de novo business plans. David provides a multitude of advisory services to clients, including merger and acquisition guidance,...

Robert Perry is a Principal at ALM First, joining the firm in 2010. Mr. Perry leads ALM First’s ALM and Investment Strategy Groups and is responsible for the development of asset liability and investment portfolio themes for the firm. Mr. Perry has more than 30 years of experience in the banking and bank-consulting businesses. Before joining ALM First, Mr. Perry previously served as Chief Investment Officer for First Coastal Bank in Manhattan Beach and was a Principal and Product Portfolio...