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What Economic Concerns are Critical for 2020 Planning?
As financial institutions finalize their 2020 plans, it’s critical to remain current on key economic trends. This article includes key takeaways from the recent Economic Update presented by Jason Haley, Managing Director of ALM First’s Investment Management Group,...
read moreHow Can My Institution Drive Strategic Growth?
As depositories plan for 2020 and beyond, discussions surrounding how to best achieve long-term growth are becoming more commonplace. Why? Scale matters and the size required to achieve economies of scale seems to be a moving target. One example can be seen in the...
read moreHow Can MSR Hedging Help My Institution Maintain Profitability as Rates Fall?
Many institutions have experienced significant decreases in the value of their Mortgage Servicing Rights (MSR) assets recently, making MSR hedging a timely topic. Over the course of 2019, the yield curve has significantly decreased and flattened causing primary...
read moreHow Can Depositories Improve Their Budgeting Process for 2020?
Many financial institutions are now focusing on their 2020 planning by identifying likely challenges, defining strategic direction, and forecasting the balance sheet and financial performance through the budgeting process. One of the top questions we field this time...
read moreWhy Should Financial Institutions Manage Risk at the Portfolio Level?
As we discuss institutional investment portfolios with our clients regularly, we find that many portfolio managers spend the bulk of their time evaluating individual securities and developing an opinion on potential market movements. At ALM First, our team agrees with...
read moreHow Can Mortgage Pipeline Hedging Help Manage Risk and Protect Mortgage Profitability?
Slower global growth expectations and a more dovish tone from the Fed in 2019 have led the fixed-income market to price for rate cuts within the next 12 months. As such, some investors have expressed a need for specific investments or strategies that perform well in a...
read moreWhy is the Investment Process Critical in Any Rate Environment?
Slower global growth expectations and a more dovish tone from the Fed in 2019 have led the fixed-income market to price for rate cuts within the next 12 months. As such, some investors have expressed a need for specific investments or strategies that perform well in a...
read moreWhat Investment Reports are Critical to a Manager’s Success?
For financial institutions, timely and accurate management reporting is key to a successful investment management process. There are four specific reports that are critical to the success of both bank and credit union investment portfolio managers and should be...
read moreWhy Should Depositories Consider Hedging in the Current Market?
Year-end industry analysis has shown that 2018 was a standout year for financial depository performance. Both banks and credit unions recorded the highest ROA and ROE metrics observed post-crisis, and industry net worth finished at one of the strongest levels in...
read moreHow Can Core Lending Principles Help My Depository?
Last year was a profitable one for most financial institutions. Despite increased volatility and global concerns, depository performance reached post-crisis highs as shown in Figure 1. Today, many institutions are looking for ways to maintain and grow profitability....
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“ALM First” is a brand name for a financial services business conducted by ALM First Group, LLC (“ALM First”) through its wholly owned subsidiaries: ALM First Financial Advisors, LLC (“ALM First Financial Advisors”); ALM First Advisors, LLC (“ALM First Advisors”); and ALM First Analytics, LLC (“ALM First Analytics”). Investment advisory services are offered through ALM First Financial Advisors, an SEC registered investment adviser. Balance sheet advisory services are offered through ALM First Advisors. Financial reporting services, loan introduction services, and other special project services are offered through ALM First Analytics. Neither ALM First nor any of its subsidiaries provide legal, tax, or accounting advice.
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