Artisan Advisors Unfiltered: Recent Episodes
Artisan Advisors, LLC
When is the last time you did a thorough evaluation of BOLI as an asset? If your answer is on a scale of “I don’t know to ‘What’s BOLI?’” you need to listen to this podcast. We brought in Scott Richardson – longtime friend of Artisan and THE expert in all things BOLI - to tell you everything you need to know about this high-performing asset.
We’ve known Scott for a long time and his expertise in BOLI is unparalleled. He rose rapidly through the ranks in both the financial services and life insurance industries, where he amassed a wealth of expertise during the first half of his 30+ year career. He created solid relationships with bank regulatory agencies and was integral in the development of customized benefit plans and BOLI placements for hundreds of banks across the country. This unique background has equipped Scott with the capabilities of providing clients with sound wisdom in the design and legal aspects of compensation, non-qualified benefits, and both bank-owned life insurance (BOLI) and corporate-owned life insurance (COLI) plans.
The newest episode of Artisan Unfiltered is available! Listen now to “Barry Wides on OCC’s New Banking Risk Report: What Bankers Need to Know” to get an insider’s POV on where the banking industry is heading this year. Artisan’s newest Managing Director in our Risk Management practice, Barry joined us after 20 years as Deputy Controller for Community Affairs with the OCC, preceded by posts at FDIC, the Resolution Trust Corporation, and Freddie Mac. Barry’s insightful conversation with Jim Adkins and Jeff Voss is a must-listen.
Jim and Jeff Talk about Bravery and other Key Drivers of M&A in the newest episode of Artisan Unfiltered. When it comes to M&A in a noisy environment, Jim Adkins observed, "It's hard to balance the short-term against your long-term strategy and you might have to be brave sometimes to do that." Listen now.
The first Artisan Unfiltered episode of the year is now available. "2025 Outlook: Jim and Jeff Talk Economics, Interest Rates and Regulatory Events" takes a deep dive into the outlook for each so far this year and offers a few recommendations for what bankers can do now to prepare for what the rest of the year may bring.
Jeff Voss weighed in on possible rate cuts: "I think rate cuts are going to be data dependent. I think the one thing about the Fed is, relatively speaking, it's as independent as you can come and they're focused on analyzing the data, interpreting the data and making decisions."
Jim Adkins offered a few words of advice: "I do think that, in terms of enterprise risk management, you could - in your procedure and policies and how you model things out - you might want to model some changes into your risk management process."
Reach out to Jim or Jeff if you have questions or want to discuss any issues or challenges your financial institution is facing.
Listen in as Jim Adkins discusses the evolving role of the IT leader in a financial institution, with Wade Barnes, Managing Director, Financial and Professional Services at Hartman Executive Advisors. One key takeaway - if your IT leader doesn't have a seat at the strategic planning table, it's time to pull up a chair for them. Listen to the podcast for more useful insights on how to ensure your IT efforts are actively contributing to your business goals.
Listen as Jim Adkins, Jeff Voss and Dave Larson discuss a broad range of risk-related topics, including:
· The role that risk plays in managing a profitable bank
· A frank discussion of the average board member’s understanding of risk and what needs to change
· What the current mood on risk management is among regulators and how it can affect your exams
There’s something in it for everyone, so listen now.
TRUE. And absolutely essential.
“After personnel, your bank’s biggest cost is likely your core vendor contract. If it’s not working in service of your overall strategic plan, then it’s just not working.”
- Jim Adkins, Managing Partner, Artisan Advisors
In the latest episode of Artisan Unfiltered, “Core Vendor Technology and Your Strategic Plan,” our team of experts – Steve Heckard, Matt Bergman, Jim Adkins and Jeff Voss – dive deep into the complexities of negotiating the core processing vendor agreement that will drive your strategic plan.
You’ll get great advice on:
· Hidden landmines that may be lurking in your contracts
· What to look for in a vendor to know if it’s right for your bank
· What you should be doing right now to ensure a smooth renewal or conversion process Listen here and contact Steve or Matt to get a pulse on whether your current contract is setting your bank up for success.
You’ll also learn more about whether a Virtual RFP is right for your bank.
For smaller institutions, Artisan Advisors offers its vRFP – a comprehensive contract review process which is implemented virtually to minimize engagement fees and provides project management, industry knowledge and overall assistance with a competitive vendor review. We perform significant due diligence in reviewing existing contracts, invoices, bank strategies and objectives, and how the bank utilizes the services being received. We also use the vRFP to define bank requirements and collect vendor due diligence. Artisan manages the entire process, provides financial analysis of proposals, and negotiates contract terms, resulting in a contract that works for the bank and helps them achieve their strategic goals.
Check out the latest episode of Artisan Unfiltered: Cyber Risk and How to Manage It - Our Panel of Tech and Risk Experts Weighs In to get the latest from the front lines of data security. We put together a stellar panel of experts to tackle this critical issue from multiple directions, including technology, risk assessment and liability. This is a must-listen discussion for bank board members, c-suite executives and technology leads.
The latest episode of our Artisan Unfiltered podcast series, “Making Sense of CECL,” is now available for download. It focuses on the important and timely topic Current Expected Credit Losses, or CECL. A credit loss accounting standard that was issued by Financial Accounting Standard Board in 2016 that replaced the Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses accounting standard, CECL has been a long time coming and it’s finally here. What does it mean for you? We put together a great panel of experts to help you make sense of CECL.
Kyle Manny is a partner in the financial services sector at Plant Moran in Chicago, and specializes in proactively addressing risk to protect and build shareholder value and minimize the risk of regulatory criticism. He supervises assurance, tax, and risk management engagements and provides holistic services to his clients that include community banks, specialty finance lenders, as small as 100 million in assets, and large regional and national brands.
Peter Fotopoulos, Managing Director at Artisan Advisors has served as an executive level management consultant with Artisan Advisors since 2011. His areas of expertise in client service include strategic planning, financial management, operational analysis, profit improvement, asset liability, ACL methodology and implementation, and regulatory response management.
Jeff Voss is a founder and a Managing Partner of Artisan Advisors. Since 2009, Jeff has advised and assisted C-suite level officers and their boards of directors on a variety of management, financial, operational and regulatory matters, with an emphasis on strategic planning, financial forecasting, risk management practices and capital planning.
“Core Financial Technology 101” features an interview with Stephen Heckard and Matt Bergman – the two newest additions to the Artisan team. Steve and Matt are leading Artisan’s newest practice, Core Financial Technology Consulting, which focuses on generating more favorable contract outcomes from a highly competitive core vendor assessment process. They are are both deeply knowledgeable technology solution professionals with decades of experience in selling and evaluating core processing service programs for banks, credit unions and non-bank financial institutions. Moderated by Artisan’s co-founders, Jim Adkins and Jeff Voss, “Core Financial Technology 101” explores the state of the core vendor industry and how it’s impacting financial institutions’ readiness for the challenges of an increasingly complex technology-driven future.
We invited Michael Fisher, president and CEO of Allant Group, a data-driven journey orchestration solution provider, to sit down with Cynthia Rohde, our Managing Director of Strategic Marketing, to discuss a hot topic: how data is the way forward for banks to ensure customers are engaged in ways they expect with audience-specific marketing. Banks, credit unions and non-bank financial institutions are facing a more diverse and demanding customer base than ever before. These two experts share their opinions and insights on how to market to your customers more effectively and achieve better, more measurable results, using the power of data analytics.
Mike's work has focused on corporate transformation and revenue growth. A pioneer in relationship marketing, Mike leads an Allant Group whose mission is to help its clients leverage data, analytics, improve customer experiences, and integrate marketing and technology.
Cynthia is an award winning public relations veteran with a career long focus on branding and communication. At Artisan, Cynthia helps companies define their brand and develop an integrated marketing program that supports the company's strategic plan. She knows how to effectively message what needs to be communicated by cutting through the noise of the marketplace.
“Better legislation, not more legislation.” Just one of the points Artisan Advisors’ Jim Adkins and Dave Larson raised when they sat down with IBA President and former US Congressman Randy Hultgren, to discuss the recent bank seizures, the repercussions for the banking industry and where we go from here.
Interest Rates and the Economy – What’s in Store for 2023 according to Artisan’s Expert Panel
Watch liquidity. Actively manage risk. Embrace patience, discipline and simplicity.
Words of wisdom from special guest and noted banking and investment expert and educator, Ed Krei, and Artisan Advisors’ Jim Adkins, Jeff Voss and Dave Larson in our latest edition of Artisan Unfiltered. Listen now to hear their unique and insightful POVs on the Fed’s latest interest rate increase and what it means for banks going into the new year.
An unfiltered discussion about the recent cryptocurrency crisis and the future of crypto in community banking. Featuring Jim Adkins, Tommy Fitzgibbon, and special guests from local community banks.
Four banking experts with four distinct POVs on the recession…including whether we’re actually in one. Check out the latest Artisan Unfiltered podcast for insights and advice from Jim Adkins, Jeff Voss, Ron Mercer and Dave Larson on what your bank should be doing right now - starting with listening to “Recession Roundtable: Artisan’s Advisors Weigh in.”
Hosted by: Jim Adkins, Managing Partner with Artisan Advisors
Guests:
- John Hecht, Managing Director with Artisan Advisors
- John Reichert and Melissa Lanska, attorneys and banking experts with Reinhart, Boerner, Van Duren’s Banking and Finance Practice
We tapped the sharp legal minds of John Reichert and Melissa Lanska, attorneys and banking experts with Reinhart, Boerner, Van Duren’s Banking and Finance Practice - as well as our own John Hecht - for a fast-paced and wide-ranging discussion of some of the biggest challenges facing community banks today. The role of technology dependence on net interest margin, shareholder liquidity, branching and strategic planning and a little M&A to keep the discussion lively – it’s all in there. Tune in for smart, incisive and occasionally hard-to-hear advice from the front lines of the fight to keep community banks relevant.
Long time friends and colleagues, Jim Adkins was trying to buy a bank and Jeff Voss was engaged in a fight for his bank’s life. The Great Recession was taking hold and dramatically changed their plans and their lives. This is the story of Artisan Advisors - how it came to be, the forces that shaped it, the banks it saved and the future its founders are working toward.
Artisan Advisors' Jim Adkins interviews the legendary Tommy FitzGibbon about his life, banking experience and the future of community banking.