Kansas Seminars

Investment Strategies and
Interest Rate Risk Seminar

Community financial institutions in 2012 are facing new realities. While earnings and other measures of performance have generally improved, loan to deposit ratios remain at historic lows and prospects for loan growth are uncertain. This means that investment portfolio performance will continue to be a prime focus for managers. Moreover, interest rate risk remains high on the list of priorities for regulators, and financial institution managers find that they need growing support for their ALCO processes.

The Baker Group’s upcoming Investment Strategies and Interest Rate Risk Seminar will address specific strategies that can be employed for the bond portfolio in order to improve margin and mitigate unnecessary IRR. Attendees will learn practical steps they can take now in order to enhance performance and prepare for the next rate cycle. We will discuss security selection processes and liquidity management, and present tools for assessing credit risk in municipal bonds. We will also explore additional stress tests for the entire balance sheet using our Interest Rate Risk software.

An In-Depth Program

Financial institution managers will come away with sound ideas for using the bond portfolio as an effective tool in managing liquidity, cash flows, and interest rate risk. Attendees will also gain insight into the remarkable changes that the banking industry is experiencing in the current market environment. Seminar topics include:

• Current Economic Conditions and Fed Policy Outlook
• Pre-Exam Interest Rate Risk Checklist
• Characteristics of High Performance Portfolios
• How to Effectively Reduce Extension Risk in the Bond Portfolio
• Top Strategies to Prepare for the Next Rate Cycle
• Managing Cash Flows and Options Risk in the Investment Portfolio
• How to Analyze Your Municipal Bond Credits
• Managing MBS Cash Flow Volatility With the Right Loan Attributes

Who Should Attend

Financial institutions' CEOs, CFOs, investment officers, board members, and those who are directly or indirectly responsible for financial management functions will benefit from this seminar. There is no cost for this seminar.

Seminar Information

Attendance to the Investment Strategies and Interest Rate Risk Seminar is limited in order to allow attendees as much one-on-one and Q&A time as needed. The level of learning for this seminar is intermediate to advanced, and basic knowledge of finance and banking is recommended. Because this seminar is presented without charge to attendees, there are no refund or cancellation policies. We do, however, welcome any constructive suggestions you might have concerning the seminar. Your comments should be directed to Skoshi Heron at 1.888.990.0010.

CPE Credits

The Baker Group is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.learningmarket.org.

Three hours of CPE credits will be earned for attendance.

Seminar Schedule

Speakers

Jeffrey F. Caughron has worked in financial markets and the securities industry for twenty-five years, always with an emphasis on banking, investments and interest-rate risk management. His trading experience includes several years on the Treasury desk for an international bank on Wall Street and subsequent positions trading Mortgage-Backed Securities and other Taxable Fixed Income products for regional broker/dealers. Jeff has expertise in broad Asset/Liability Management issues, working with institutional accounts on controlling interest rate risk exposures and maximizing returns. He has published numerous articles on various risk management topics through the years, and is frequently quoted in the financial press. Jeff also serves on the faculty of the Midwest School for Community Bankers and the Bank Operations Institute. Jeff earned his degree in economics from the University of Oklahoma and is now an Associate Partner with The Baker Group LP where he serves as a market analyst and portfolio strategist.

Lester F. Murray joined the Baker Group in 1986 and is currently a Sr. Vice-President within the firm’s Financial Strategies Group. In that capacity, he works with community banks in helping them develop and implement Investment and A/L Management strategies. Lester is also a frequent speaker at various investment conferences and educational seminars. Before joining Baker, he worked at two broker/dealer banks in Oklahoma City and was also an Assistant National Bank Examiner. He is a graduate of Oklahoma State University.