Speakers Bureau: Banks

Marie Autphene 
Marie Autphenne

Managing Director, Senior Muni Credit Analyst
Fixed Income Municipal Credit Group

Possible Topic Title(s):
The Ins and Outs of Municipal Bonds

Brief Topic Description(s):
A discussion of the fundamentals and technicals of the municipal bond market, with a focus on credit trends and surveillance best practices.

Target Audience:
Municipalities, Banks, Total Return


Howard Benz 
Howard Benz

Managing Director
Fixed Income Strategies

Possible Topic Title(s):
What's Working?

Brief Topic Description(s):
Discuss strategies that other depository clients are exploring, tools and reports that are made available to our clients that help with understanding and measuring the risk of their portfolios.

Target Audience:
Banks, Credit Unions


Vinny Bleau 
Vinny Bleau

Vice President, Fixed Income Analyst
Fixed Income Research

Possible Topic Title(s):
Fixed Income Strategies for the Current Economic Environment, Sector Valuations, Portfolio Strategy, Relative Value, Yield Curve Strategy, Total Return Ideas

Brief Topic Description(s):
Fixed income strategies for the current economic environment: There is always some uncertainty in the market. We use a top-down approach to help you invest in the current economic environment.

Sector valuations: We will discuss the various investment grade sectors and where and why certain attractive investments exist.

Portfolio strategy: Strategies to help improve portfolio performance during different economic cycles.

Relative value: We analyze where relative value(s) exist(s) in the market today.

Yield curve strategy: Interest rate cycles can last for years at a time. We help investors position their portfolios as the curve twists and turns.

Total return ideas: We discuss which investment strategies and tactics will help you outperform on a total return basis.

Target Audience:
Economics, Municipalities, Total Return, Banks


Vinny Bleau 
Michael Breazzano

Managing Director
Structured Product Analyst
Fixed Income Capital Markets

Possible Topic Title(s):
Student Loan: Underlying Forces, Are CLOs a Product For You? – Myth and Mystery Debunked

Brief Topic Description(s):
Student loans fueled the U.S. education system for nearly 50 years and now represent more than a trillion dollars of obligations. Government-backed loans originated under the Federal Family Education Loan Program, or FFELP, were securitized into structured tranches that offer quality investment performance supported by an explicit U.S. government guarantee of at least 97%. The Biden Administration proposed a student loan forgiveness program that potentially has implications for the FFELP.

Collateralized loan obligations surfaced around 1990. Since then, these vehicles have provided investors of all types robust returns through varying economic conditions and business cycles. Underlying collateral include broadly syndicated bank loans middle market loans and commercial real estate. Learning the “How’s and Why’s” can provide new opportunities across a spectrum of investors.

Target Audience:
Banks, Total Return


Lynn Charlton 
Lynn Charlton

Director
Senior Asset/Liability Consultant

Possible Topic Title(s):
Raw Materials for ALM Modeling: Betas, Decays and Prepays
Interpreting ALM Results for Management and Regulators

Brief Topic Description(s):
Defining ALM model inputs and assumptions is the most critical, and perhaps challenging, aspect of modeling interest rate risk. Lynn will define critical model inputs, discuss setting asset/liability behavioral assumptions, and demonstrate the sensitivity of earnings and valuations to these important variables.

Combing through volumes of ALM data and arriving at actionable conclusions on interest rate risk can be challenging. Lynn will discuss interpreting ALM model results, identifying the source of risks to earnings and valuations, and effectively communicating key conclusions to the ALCO and board.

Target Audience:
Banks, Credit Unions


Chris Kornatowski 
Chris Kornatowski

Managing Director
Head of Asset/Liability Consulting Services

Possible Topic Title(s):
Regulatory Update: Keeping Your Risk Management Approach Current
Got Interest Rate Risk? Now What?

Brief Topic Description(s):
Recent regulatory advisories are changing the way institutions approach balance sheet risk management. Chris will discuss emerging regulatory issues regarding interest rate and liquidity risk, modernizing risk policies, and establishing relevant risk limits.

Financial institutions have multiple tools for adjusting interest rate risk. Chris will define and evaluate the impact of practical funding, hedging and investment strategies to help reduce interest rate risk.

Target Audience:
Banks, Credit Unions


Blake Mills 
Blake Mills

Director
Senior Municipal Strategist
Fixed Income Municipal Credit Group

Possible Topic Title(s):
Community Reinvestment Act (CRA): Investing in Municipals, Municipal Surveillance

Brief Topic Description(s):
Investing in municipal bonds for CRA: General overview of tools, resources and procedures that are commonly used to identify CRA municipal investments

Developing an investment policy for municipal bonds: Guidance into structuring a municipal investment policy that meets regulatory requirements as well as leaves enough flexibly to find value within the market

General credit monitoring procedures for municipal bonds: Guidance into monitoring municipal investments from a credit perspective on both a pre-purchase and post-purchase basis

Fundamental understanding of municipal bonds:  Provides a general overview of the municipal bond market

Target Audience:
Banks, Credit Unions, Municipalities


Hunter Meisenheimer 
Hunter Meisenheimer, CFA®

Managing Director, Senior Mortgage Analyst
Fixed Income Research

Possible Topic Title(s):
Mortgage Market, Relative Value, Yield Curve Strategy, Portfolio Strategies, Primers on Fixed MBS, ARMs and CMOs

Brief Topic Description(s):
Mortgage Market Issues and Trends: GSE updates, spread, price and prepay risk and trends, current hot topics

Relative Value: Identify quality sectors and bond types for risk/return for current rates, rising/declining rates and curve shifts

Yield Curve Strategy: What factors are driving rates in the current market environment and how to position your portfolio to maximize its potential

Portfolio Strategies: Strategies to help improve portfolio performance, tools and reports to identify reinvestment opportunities, timely market commentary and sector analysis

Primers on Fixed MBS, ARMs and CMOs: Basic discussion for beginning investors

Target Audience:
Municipalities, Banks, Total Return, Credit Unions


Cas Lane 
Cas Lane

Director, Financial Institutions Strategy Group

Possible Topic Title(s):
What’s Working, Mortgage Market Update, MBS Review: Pre Purchase, Post Purchase and Everywhere in Between, Agency CMBS Primer (Fannie DUS, Freddie Mac K series, Ginnie Mae Project Loans and SBAs), Agency MBS, CMO, ARM Primer, Board, ALCO, Investment Committee Training, How eFolio Can Supercharge Your Portfolios Earnings

Brief Topic Description(s):
MBS play a vital role in the highest performing institutions. The Agency MBS/CMBS market is 2nd only to the U.S Treasury market in liquidity and trade volume. Join me as I unpack the myriad of options available to you and help you manage, track, and review the sector pre AND post purchase to help you elevate your performance. The Agency MBS market is the “spread sector” of choice for the Federal Reserve’s asset purchases. How does the Fed impact the market? Am I “fighting the fed”? Does the Fed own the same securities I do?

Agency CMBS is a growing sector as there is a need for multifamily housing. The unique characteristics within the CMBS sector (six different products) offer investors the key to unlocking value if you know where to look.

Target Audience:
Banks, Credit Unions


Wilson Pace 
Wilson Pace

Director
Financial Institutions Strategies

Possible Topic Title(s):
Secondary Market for Government-Guaranteed Loans, Multifamily Markets from Construction Loan to Agency CMBS, Trends in Depository Commercial Lending

Brief Topic Description(s):
An update on premiums and liquidity in the secondary market for SBA 7(a) and USDA loans. Understanding the dynamics of government guaranteed loan markets from lender to investor in SBA 7(a) pools.

Trends within multifamily lending markets: Covering trends within the life cycle of multifamily finance from construction to permanent financing, and investment opportunities within the agency CMBS market.

Strategies within commercial loan markets: An update on trends in C&I and CRE Lending, and options for your balance sheet available in the asset-backed securities market.

Target Audience:
Banks, Credit Unions


Lawrence Petrucci 
Lawrence Petrucci, CFA®

Managing Director, Senior Structured Products Analyst
Structured Products Credit and Strategy

Possible Topic Title(s):
Student Loan: Underlying Forces, Are CLOs a Product For You? – Myth and Mystery Debunked

Brief Topic Description(s):
Student loans fueled the U.S. education system for nearly 50 years and now represent more than a trillion dollars of obligations. Government-backed loans originated under the Federal Family Education Loan Program, or FFELP, were securitized into structured tranches that offer quality investment performance supported by an explicit U.S. government guarantee of at least 97%. The Biden Administration proposed a student loan forgiveness program that potentially has implications on the FFELP.

Collateralized Loan Obligations surfaced around 1990. Since then, these vehicles have provided investors of all types robust returns through varying economic conditions and business cycles. Underlying collateral include broadly syndicated bank loans, middle market loans and commercial real estate. Learning the “How’s and Why’s” can provide new opportunities across a spectrum of investors.

Target Audience:
Banks, Total Return


Ellis Phifer 
Ellis Phifer, CFA®, CMT

Managing Director
Total Return and Insurance Strategies

Possible Topic Title(s):
Fixed Income Strategies for the Current Economic Environment, Sector Valuations, Portfolio Strategy, Relative Value, Yield Curve Strategy, Total Return Ideas

Brief Topic Description(s):
Fixed Income Strategies for the Current Economic Environment: There’s always some uncertainty in the market. This presentation helps you make sense of what is affecting the market and sound ways to position your portfolio to take advantage of what the market is giving you.

Sector Valuations: We will discuss the various investment grade sectors and where and why certain attractive investments exist.

Portfolio Strategy: How an overall portfolio strategy should look now, as well as the tactical opportunities that currently exist.

Relative Value: We will discuss where relative value(s) exist(s) in the market today.

Yield Curve Strategy: Interest rate cycles last for years at a time, and ways to position your portfolio change as the curve twists and turns.

Total Return Ideas: We discuss which investment strategies and tactics will help you outperform on a total return basis.

Target Audience:
Economics, Municipalities, Total Return, Banks


Bio-no-photo
Dale W. Stover

Managing Director, Strategic Investment Management
Financial Institutions Portfolio Strategies

Possible Topic Title(s):
Balance Sheet Management in the current Rate Environment, Making sure your portfolio works in your Balance Sheet, Staying prepared for Interest Rate Volatility, Portfolio Management: Not just the bond portfolio any longer, Economic Uncertainty

Brief Topic Description(s):
Balance Sheet Management in the current Rate Environment: The rate environment and economic conditions impact more than just investment decisions. Identify areas across the entire balance sheet, where adjustments can influence both interest rate risk, liquidity and future earnings performance.

Build/Maintain a Portfolio for Your Balance Sheet: Time management is one of the top challenges of executives. Do not allow groupthink to guide the decisions that impact large portions of your balance sheet. Developing and maintaining a balance sheet centric investment strategy enhances investment decisions keeping the portfolio in line with your growth, liquidity, earnings and capital targets.

Staying prepared for Interest Rate Volatility: Understand the various interest rate risk management options to position the retail and wholesale sides of your assets and liabilities thereby minimizing unexpected risk. Do you plan for the extremes, or do you plan for the realities?

Portfolio Management: Not just the bond portfolio any longer, building a portfolio is not what it used to be. The myopic approach of only considering a single bond, a single sector or just the portfolio can lead your balance sheet down the wrong road.

Economic Uncertainty: Whether employment, inflation, production or the consumer stability and predictability are rarely close at hand. Looking at market measures and trying to make sense out of where we are and what could be coming can be beneficial in setting up your portfolio and your balance sheet for success as the yield curve responds to the market.

Target Audience:
Banks, Credit Unions, Economics


Bio-no-photo
Richard Szalkowski

Managing Director, Senior Muni Credit Analyst
Municipal Credit and Strategy Group

Possible Topic Title(s):
Nonprofit Hospital and Health Systems

Brief Topic Description(s):
Analyzing nonprofit hospital and health system credits. Reviewing credit trends and spreads for nonprofit hospitals and health systems.

Target Audience:
Municipalities, Banks, Total Return


John Toohig
John Toohig

Managing Director
Whole Loans

Possible Topic Title(s):
Whole Loan Market Update
What’s Working in Lending Today

Brief Topic Description(s):
Market Update: What’s trending and trading in the whole loan market

Whole Loan Trading: Best Practices – Working with first time buyers and sellers

Auto: The changing landscape of indirect landing

Mortgage: How to grow your mortgage lending. QM and Non-QM loans – what’s liquid in the market today?

Portfolio Analytics: Understanding and managing risk in your loan portfolio

CECL and the impact on your portfolio. Raymond James helps to provide a solution.

Target Audience:
Banks, Credit Unions


Elisabeth Vogel 
Elisabeth Vogel

Managing Director
Fixed Income Strategies

Possible Topic Title(s):
Navigating the Volatile Interest Rate Environment, What’s Working in the Current Market

Brief Topic Description(s):
Discuss strategies that other depository clients are exploring, while also focusing on tools and reports made available to help our clients understand and measure the risk of their portfolio.

Target Audience:
Banks, Credit Unions


Bio-no-photo
Lindsay Wilhelm

Managing Director, Senior Muni Credit Analyst
Fixed Income Municipal Credit Group

Possible Topic Title(s):
The Ins and Outs of Municipal Bonds

Brief Topic Description(s):
A discussion of the fundamentals and technicals of the municipal bond market, with a focus on credit trends and surveillance best practices.

Deeper dives into municipal credit analysis.

Target Audience:
Municipalities, Banks, Total Return

 


 

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