Blog & Resources
From the Cave to the Map: Putting Risk Appetite to Work (Part 3 of 3 in a Series on Risk Appetite)
We have covered a lot of ground in this series. In Part 1 (Not Dying Is Not an Effective Strategy), we looked at why ‘not dying’ is not an effective strategy in today’s world, and how decades of safety-first messaging can...
Risk Appetite Is Not a Binder on a Shelf (Part 2 of 3 in a Series on Risk Appetite)
Risk appetite is a clear description of how much risk your organization is willing to take in pursuit of creating value; its goals.
Not Dying Is Not an Effective Strategy (Part 1 of 3 in a Series on Risk Appetite)
(Part 1 of 3 in a Series on Risk Appetite: Not Dying Is Not an Effective Strategy) Back in 2014, we asked credit union boards and executives a question borrowed from an animated cave family: Are you living, or just not...
Governing Risk with Simplicity: A Board-Level View of ERM
Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is often perceived as a dense, technical discipline best left to specialists. But for a credit union board, ERM should be something very different: a clear, practical framework that helps...
The Future of Risk Integration
For many organizations, risk management still feels like a collection of well‑intended but disconnected activities. Compliance conducts assessments. Operations manages incidents. Vendors are reviewed. Audits are performed....
Beyond the Checklist: Why a Comprehensive Vendor Risk Assessment Matters More Than Document Collection
When you merely collect due diligence documents, you’re taking inventory of puzzle pieces. When you conduct a thorough risk assessment examining both sides of the relationship, you’re actually assembling the puzzle to see what picture emerges. That picture, not the individual pieces, is what determines your true risk exposure.
The End of an … Error?
On January 30, 2026, President Trump announced Kevin Warsh as his nominee for the next Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Before we look ahead to what we might expect from a Warsh Fed – and handicap his confirmation odds – let’s recap the rocky history of the Powell Fed.
The Disappearing Middle: Why Boards Should Care Now
The disappearing middle is not a resource issue. It is a structural leadership challenge that touches strategy execution, safety and soundness, member experience, and independence.
‘Twas the Night Before New Years’
Wishing all a very Happy New Year!