The Allied Angle

Rethinking Retirement Benefits: Is a Pooled Employer Plan Right for Your Credit Union?

If your credit union is offering a 401(k), you're already familiar with the administrative weight that comes with it — the compliance, the fiduciary responsibilities, the vendors you're managing. But there's a newer plan structure that's been quietly gaining traction, and it might change how you think about all of that. In this episode, we're joined by Bob Edgar [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-edgar-aif%C2%AE-3b48825/] from The Standard and Morgan Steves [https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgansteves/] from Gallagher to break down Pooled Employer Plans — what they are, who they're actually a good fit for, and where the market is heading. Whether you're actively evaluating your retirement plan options or just want to stay ahead of the conversation, this one's worth your time.   In this episode: 00:45  Get to know Bob and Morgan. 05:06  What is a Pooled Employer Plan, and how does it differ from what credit unions typically offer? 07:57  How to evaluate whether a PEP is the right fit for your credit union. 10:57  What’s driving the increased interest in PEPs, and where does industry adoption stand today? 12:57  Common misconceptions organizations have when evaluating their retirement plans. 17:26  The future for PEPs in the credit union space and what’s next for the industry. 20:33  Final advice for leaders considering a PEP for their organization.   This episode is sponsored by The Standard.   The Standard is the marketing name for StanCorp Financial Group, Inc., and its subsidiaries. StanCorp Equities, Inc., member FINRA, wholesales a group annuity contract issued by Standard Insurance Company and a mutual fund trust platform for retirement plans. Standard Retirement Services, Inc., provides financial recordkeeping and plan administrative services. Investment advisory services are  provided by StanCorp Investment Advisers, Inc., a registered investment advisor. StanCorp Equities, Inc., Standard Insurance Company,  Standard Retirement Services, Inc., and StanCorp Investment Advisers, Inc., are subsidiaries of StanCorp Financial Group, Inc., and all  are Oregon corporations.   Investment advisory services are offered by Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors, LLC (“GFA”), an SEC registered investment advisor that provides retirement, investment advisory, discretionary and independent fiduciary services. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply any specific level of skill or training and does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC.  GFA is a limited liability company with Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc. as its single member. GFA may pay referral fees or other remuneration to employees of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. or its affiliates or to independent contractors; such payments do not change our fee. Neither Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., GFA, their affiliates nor representatives provide accounting, legal or tax advice. Securities offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Wealth is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth. Neither Osaic Wealth nor their affiliates provide accounting, legal or tax advice.

The Multiplier Test: Are Your Partnerships Driving Growth or Adding Complexity?

How do you know if a partnership is actually driving growth — or just adding complexity? In this episode of The Allied Angle, Mark Bugalski [https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbugalski/], Allied's Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer, breaks down what makes a strategic partnership a true force multiplier for banks and credit unions — and what makes it a distraction. Mark shares the framework Allied uses to evaluate every partnership, why speed to market is the real competitive differentiator for financial institutions right now, and how to tell whether your vendor relationships are accelerating your strategy or quietly holding you back.    Register [https://www.alliedsolutions.net/events/beyond-the-hype-unlocking-ai-roi-through-better-data-integration/] for the April 30th webinar, Beyond the Hype: Unlocking AI ROI Through Better Data Integration, featuring Allied's Charlie Peterson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliempeterson/]and PortX's CEO, David Wexler [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwexler/].   In this episode:   00:51  Meet Mark Bugalski. 07:22  Legacy core systems, batch processing, and manual workarounds: a recipe for stalled growth. 09:18  What separates a partnership that multiplies your capabilities from one that adds another layer of complexity? 13:19   The internal decision process: choosing a partner or building in-house. 17:49  The criteria Allied uses to move forward with a partner or decide to walk away. 22:00  Why Allied went all-in on PortX. 26:13   The momentum around PortX: Clients weigh in on Allied’s new partnership. 27:17   Why speed to market is a critical differentiator right now. 30:48  How quickly FIs are adopting AI right now. 33:08  What does it look like when a partnership is a distraction and actually slows you down? 34:30  Allied's internal tech transformation: why they adopt it first before passing it on to clients. 37:57   How open banking readiness is setting lending institutions up for long-term success. 41:07   Red flags to watch for in vendor partnerships. 42:48  How to know which vendor relationships are multipliers and which ones are distractions.

The Trust Advantage: Personalizing Insurance and Deepening Loyalty

Credit unions have a built-in advantage that most financial brands spend years trying to earn — member trust. But trust alone isn't a strategy. In this episode of the Allied Angle, Dawn Goldbacher, GVP and Head of Market Strategy and Growth at Franklin Madison joins the show to explore what "member-first" really looks like in practice. Whether you're leading strategy at a credit union, bank, or affinity group, this episode will challenge you to rethink how your institution approaches member engagement, financial protection, and responsible personalization.   00:50 - Meet Dawn Goldbacher. 04:14 - How trust influences a member's willingness to purchase protection through their credit union. 05:51 - What it takes to truly understand a member's needs and context. 06:52 - How credit unions can use data to deliver protection in a way that feels helpful.  08:41 - Even with all the data, the best insights won't land if the outreach isn't personal and well-timed.  10:38 - The importance of breadth of choice and why it matters from a strategic standpoint.  12:10 - What you should know about Franklin Madison and how they work closely with Allied.    This episode is sponsored by Franklin Madison — helping organizations redefine consumer engagement with turnkey insurance solutions. Learn more at franklin-madison.com.

Is FICO Enough? Why Credit Scoring Falls Short Today

Credit scores like FICO have been the backbone of lending decisions for decades — but in today’s volatile environment, lenders are finding that a score alone can’t fully explain borrower behavior or forecast what comes next. In this episode of The Allied Angle, Jack Imes (Allied Solutions) and Dr. Joseph Breeden (Deep Future Analytics) break down where traditional scoring falls short — and what lenders can do to build a more complete, forward-looking view of risk. Together, they unpack what “borrower resilience” really means, why post-pandemic shifts have made outcomes harder to predict, and how behavioral signals, predictive modeling, and AI can help institutions move from reactive loss management to proactive portfolio strategy.  Find Dr. Breeden's books & publications here [https://www.deepfutureanalytics.com/en/page/publications].   In this episode: 0:42 Get to know Jack Imes and Dr. Joe Breeden. 4:40 Why FICO scores are missing when it comes to measuring risk. 6:50  The trends in borrower behavior that have challenged traditional risk models. 10:56 The difference between borrower resilience and creditworthiness. 14:26 What does moving beyond scores to deeper analytics look like for FIs? 18:12  How do you get lenders to look beyond FICO to see the complete risk picture? 21:30 How AI-driven predictive modeling shifts portfolio risk management from reacting to losses to anticipating outcomes. 24:44 How lenders should approach portfolio risk management today, and what separates those who adapt from those who struggle. 29:13 Treat analytics as navigation, not automation: Key takeaways on portfolio risk management.

2026 in Focus: Navigating Risk, Growth, and Strategy with Pete Hilger

In this episode of The Allied Angle, Allied Solutions CEO Pete Hilger reflects on a year that tested financial institutions on every front — from market volatility and elevated fraud losses to regulatory pressure and shifting member expectations. Pete shares candid insights on what 2025 revealed about risk management, leadership, and organizational resilience, and why incremental change is no longer enough in today’s operating environment.  Looking forward to 2026, Pete outlines the priorities leaders should be focused on now — from strengthening core operations and leveraging data more effectively to making intentional decisions around growth, partnerships, and long-term positioning. This episode offers a practical, executive-level perspective for financial institution leaders seeking clarity, confidence, and direction in a rapidly evolving landscape.   In this episode: 01:36  — Getting to know Pete. 06:42  — Reflecting on 2025: The biggest lessons learned at Allied and what we’re ready to leave behind. 09:02  — The mood around the turbulence and regulatory scrutiny facing the industry. 10:37  — How Allied is addressing the challenges driven by risk management. 12:50  — What separates a strategic partner from just another vendor? 17:35  — Common industry misconceptions about the evolution of asset risk management. 21:50  — What asset risk management really is, and how technology and AI are reshaping what’s possible. 27:17  — What do you say to clients who are still hesitant to adopt AI? 29:03 — Allied’s partnership with Port X, highlighting what’s new for 2026. 34:26 — What are you most excited about as we head into 2026?