Oklahoma Seminar

For over thirty years, The Baker Group has helped financial institutions navigate through volatile and unpredictable economic environments. We work as partners with our clients to help them focus on the things that are critical to their success. Because points of focus will change regularly as conditions evolve, our task is to help financial institutions develop processes and strategies for optimal performance in any environment. We do this by using robust tools and resources for investment and interest rate risk management. In facing the challenge of an uncertain environment, The Baker Group can help you sharpen your focus.

The Baker Group’s upcoming Investment Strategies and Interest Rate Risk Seminar will address specific bond portfolio strategies to improve margin and mitigate unnecessary IRR. We will discuss security selection processes and liquidity management, present tools for assessing credit risk in municipal bonds, and explore stress tests for the entire balance sheet using our Interest Rate Risk software. There is no cost for this seminar.

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
• Developing an Effective ALCO Process to Manage Interest Rate Risk and Liquidity
• How to Build an Investment Portfolio Without Being Sold One
• Characteristics of High Performance Portfolios
• Developing a Municipal Credit Analysis Process to Comply with Dodd-Frank
• Top Strategies to Prepare for the Next Rate Cycle
• Managing Cash Flows and Options Risk in the Investment Portfolio
• How to Effectively Reduce Extension Risk in the Bond Portfolio
• Minimizing MBS Prepayment Risk 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.

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.

Six hours of Economics, Finance, and Math CPE will be earned for your attendance.

Hotel Reservations

You are responsible for your own hotel reservations. A block of rooms has been reserved for The Baker Group Seminar participants. To assure accommodation availability, reservations should be made at the hotel by September 15, 2013. Room reservations received after this date will be confirmed on a space-and-rate available basis.  When you call for hotel reservations, be sure to identify yourself as a Baker Group attendee. For your convenience, call 405.272.3040 to make hotel reservations.

The Skirvin Hilton
One Park Avenue | Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Reservations: 405.272.3040 | Hotel price: $159 + tax
Website

Seminar Schedule

Guest Speaker

Dr. Gary Shilling is the President of A. Gary Shilling & Co., Inc. He received his bachelor’s degree in physics, magna cum laude, from Amherst College, where he was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi. Earlier, as a high school senior, he ranked 12th in the nation in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search. Dr. Shilling earned his master’s degree and doctorate in economics at Stanford University. While on the West Coast, he served on the staffs of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and the Bank of America.

Before establishing his own firm in 1978, Dr. Shilling was Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of White, Weld & Co., Inc. Earlier, he set up the Economics Department at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith at age 29, and served as the firm’s first chief economist. Prior to Merrill Lynch, he was with Standard Oil Co. (N.J.) (now Exxon), where he was in charge of U.S. and Canadian economic analysis and forecasting.

A frequent contributor to the financial press, he is a regular columnist for Forbes magazine and his articles appear in other leading financial publications. He is a member of The Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Japan Economic Journal) Board of Economists. He appears frequently on radio and television business shows. Recognized as an effective and dynamic speaker, he often addresses national and international meetings of various business groups, including the Young Presidents Organization. Click here more information about Dr. Shilling.

Speakers

Jeffrey F. Caughron has worked in financial markets and the securities industry since 1985, 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.

Ryan W. Hayhurst joined The Baker Group in 1991 as an intern while attending the University of Oklahoma and is now an Associate Partner and Manager of the Financial Strategies Group. Ryan develops Investment and Asset/Liability Management strategies designed for the specific needs of community banks. He is integrally involved in the development of several software systems by The Baker Group Software Solutions Inc. to help banks with Interest Rate Risk Management, Fixed Income Analytics, Investment Portfolio Accounting, and Bank Budgeting and Planning. Ryan speaks nationally at banking conventions and events and he serves on the faculty of several community banking schools. Ryan regularly develops and presents regional as well as online seminars with a focus on investment and asset/liability education and he presents to community bank Investment, ALCO, and Board Meetings.

Edward A. Krei is a Managing Director and serves on the Board of Directors of The Baker Group. He is a frequent speaker at banking and investment conferences. Ed is a faculty member of numerous banking schools and an instructor for financial institution regulatory agencies.

Ed is a registered principal, investment advisor, and representative with FINRA and principal with the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Accountancy from the University of Mississippi and was gold medalist on the CPA examination in Tennessee.

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.

Phil Stenseth, CFA is a Managing Director of The Baker Group. He is responsible for directing the firm’s fixed income trading operation. He is instrumental in the firm’s development of bank investment portfolio and interest rate risk management strategies, researching new investment products, and monitoring bank regulatory and compliance issues. Additionally, Phil has revised and continues to enhance the firm’s proprietary software programs designed to assist clients in the management of their investment portfolio (APM) and the overall interest rate risk of the bank (IRRM).

Phil regularly conducts educational seminars for banking groups and associations nationwide. He has addressed various bank trade associations and serves as a faculty member of several national and regional banking schools. Phil has been frequently published in many banking journals and periodicals. Phil holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Arizona and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). He is a member of the Association for Investment Management and Research (AIMR) and the Financial Analysts Society. Additionally, Phil is registered as a general securities representative with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).