DALLAS – Keeping up with changes in the financial industry is a daunting task, but one that can mean the difference between success and failure for a financial institution. To help banks and credit unions stay abreast of new rules and market trends, as well as to gain new strategy insights, ALM First Financial Advisors held its 2017 Financial Institute in Dallas.
With four separate educational tracks, the Institute is designed to meet the individual needs of financial professionals, board members and non-financial managers, according to their levels of knowledge and expertise, the company said.
“It’s always a pleasure to offer the Financial Institute,” said CEO Emily Hollis. “Not only do attendees gain a wealth of knowledge and have the opportunity to exchange ideas, but those of us on staff also gain insights into their institutions’ concerns and challenges.”
Along with general sessions covering economic updates and topics like mortgage pipeline management, capital stress testing, and cash & liquidity strategies, the three-day program included a panel discussion on lending. Experts from across the nation discussed current concerns, today’s best practices and strategies that have been successful, as well as those that haven’t, the company said.
Learning tracks offered information ranging from financial basics like ALM 101 and Interpreting ALM Reports to more complex issues such as Liquidity Management and Understanding Convexity Risk in Mortgage Backed Securities. With distinct tracks – Directors, Fundamental, Balance Sheet Management and Investment – attendees could select the sessions most relevant to their roles. The courses were helpful to anyone engaged in managing or monitoring the balance sheet, including CEOs, CFOs, controllers, treasury staff, financial analysts, and accountants, as well as executive management teams, ALCOs and board members.
Along with sessions with ALM First’s staff experts, the Institute featured speakers such as Cory Schwab, Chief Risk Officer at Alaska USA FCU; Erick Kostucheck, EVP, Commercial Banking at TransPacific National Bank; and Scott Strand, Chief Lending Officer/SVP at BECU.