Corporate Central hosted its annual Economic Outlook Conference virtually again this year. On Tuesday, October 12 and Wednesday, October 13 credit union professionals from around the country logged in to participate in the webinar series.
The annual event offered credit union-specific economic insights and covered issues related to the pandemic, fiscal policy, market opportunity, risk management, and growth planning. Presenters also discussed trends impacting the industry.
New this year, Corporate Central (and its family of CUSOs) became registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education (CPE) on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. As such, attendees were able to earn CPE credits if they met the required criteria for this year’s conference.
Presenters and topics covered included:
- David Kelly, CFA., Managing Director and Chief Global Strategist at J.P. Morgan presented, “Speeding More Slowly.” Kelly discussed how the U.S. economy has reached a full GDP recovery bolstered by powerful pent-up demand and unprecedented fiscal and monetary stimulus. At the same time, Kelly said companies are having great difficulty finding workers, inflation pressures are increasing, valuations remain high despite spectacular earnings, and corporate taxes may well increase in 2022.
- Ben Hunt, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Second Foundation Partners presented, “Make, Protect, Teach.” Hunt talked about how Washington and Wall Street intentionally seek to prevent us from being stewards through their use of “nudging” narratives. He also spoke about how we can use specific tools and techniques to help us keep our eye on the ball and act as stewards of the future for our families, friends, and business partners.
- Steve Rick, Director and Chief Economist at CUNA Mutual Group spoke about the economy and credit union operations. His presentation showed his interpretation and understanding of how economic changes impact the credit union industry. He reviewed the implications of economic growth, explored credit union responses, and discussed prospects for future success.
- Brenda Campbell, President and CEO of SecureFutures presented “Teen Financial Empowerment.” Campbell discussed the importance of financial literacy and shared all the things SecureFutures is doing to teach teens how to manage money. She shared success stories and explained how credit unions can help drive the initiative.
Kevin Chiappetta, CFA, Senior Vice President Investment Services and President of QuantyPhi hosted and moderated the two-day event. “Our goal for this conference is to offer credit union participants big-picture information they can take back to their credit unions to help guide and inform their budgeting and strategic planning,” Chiappetta said. “We greatly appreciate our expert speakers for their time, insights, and advice helping us meet our goal. We equally appreciate all who attended and shared their experiences and knowledge.”
