In Good Companies

Callum Bruce, a Commodities Specialist at Goldman Sachs, shares insights on navigating today's tumultuous investment landscape. He discusses how both stocks and bonds are faltering in the face of rising inflation, leaving portfolios vulnerable without a reliable hedge. Callum highlights commodities—like oil and wheat—as vital assets for diversification. The conversation also covers the evolving dynamics of commodities and currency, the shift toward alternative energy, and the investment potential within this often-overlooked market.

Are you doing enough to protect your business from cyberthreat? With cyberattacks at an all-time high, you may not be as prepared as you need to be. You might even think your business is too small to be targeted, but think again: the Verizon Data Breach Investigation Report states that 43% of online attacks are now aimed at small businesses. Cyberattacks are also expensive – according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report, the cost of cybercrime against small businesses totaled $2.4 billion in 2021 alone. So when you’re surrounded by bad actors, what can you do to protect yourself?Fortunately for all of us, there are people out there like Cadence Bank’s Chief Information Officer Kevin McMahon and Brendan Monaghan, Senior Producer with Cadence Insurance. Brendan and Kevin both keep up to date with the latest cyberthreats and have some simple approaches they recommend for protecting your business. On this episode, you’ll learn what common cyberattacks might look like, their most frequent targets and what to do if you have an incident. Plus, we’ll cover how to transfer your risk with the fast-evolving segment of cyber insurance.So join the cyberthreat triple threat – Kevin, Brendan and Patrick – and together we’ll brave the phishy waters of cybercrime.Highlights:The growing threat of cyberattack (4:08)The consequences of cyberattack (5:03)Who’s at risk? (7:03)Social engineering (8:46)The number one way to protect your business (10:32)Phishing (11:34)Business email compromise (12:54)Ransomware (13:50)Concrete steps to protect your business (15:29)Cyber insurance: how to assess your options (18:27)Incident response planning: every second counts (20:30)Incident response planning: build the right team (20:45)Cyberthreat wrap-up (21:34)Links:Cadence Bank WebsiteCadence Bank TwitterCadence Bank LinkedInCadence Insurance WebsiteKevin McMahon LinkedInBrendan Monaghan LinkedInVerizon - 2022 Data Breach Investigation ReportFBI - 2021 Internet Crime ReportFeedback:If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Most people sort of understand inflation: prices are rising, cost of living is more expensive, your dollar doesn’t go as far. And that’s true! But what’s behind that phenomenon? That’s when explanations start to peter out. Fortunately, we know someone who is super knowledgeable about inflation Cadence Bank’s Corporate Treasurer Tell Alessio. On this episode, Tell explains the forces that govern inflation and the theory behind it all: supply and demand. Supply and demand are foundational concepts across economics, but when you apply them to inflation, you get a much clearer picture of our current situation: its causes, its consequences and, potentially, its conclusion. We’ll dive into how supply-driven inflation differs from its demand-induced counterpart, and why one is more stubborn than the other. Plus, the surprise beneficiaries of the past six months, the limits of wage inflation and the credit shift that can protect your business.Tell Alessio makes history as our first-ever repeat guest, back by popular (supply and) demand! In this episode, Tell tells all! Don’t miss it!Highlights:Consumer Price Index & the metrics we use to measure inflation (2:18)Healthy inflation (4:12)What constitutes inflation (6:23)What’s causing our current inflation: supply or demand? (7:32)Supply-driven inflation (7:58)Rising labor costs & wage inflation (9:50)Pandemic stimulus and demand-driven inflation (12:15)Why demand-driven inflation sticks around longer (13:35)The people who benefit from inflation (14:57)Sectors hardest hit by inflation (17:57)Converting floating lines of credit into fixed lines of credit (19:16)The next 12-18 months (20:45)Keep an eye on consumption (21:34)Links:Cadence Bank WebsiteCadence Bank TwitterCadence Bank LinkedInTell Alessio LinkedInS&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price IndexNew York Times - Consumer Demand Has Been Key Driver of Inflation in the USFederal Reserve Bank of San Francisco - How Much Do Supply and Demand Drive Inflation?Feedback:If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

From the front page of the paper to the top of the nightly news: everyone’s talking about the supply chain. By now we know that pandemic factors across the globe caused disruptions to the logistics industry. But we rarely hear the story from the people running the show. So on this episode, we’re exploring the supply chain from the inside, with the people who know it best.Matthew Decker is the President of logistics company US Multimodal Group, and John Brooks is its CEO. Whether it’s via ship, train or truck, connecting products to businesses is their bread and butter. Over the past several years, they’ve had a front-row seat to the problems at the heart of supply chain interruption. Together, we’ll explore the complexities of the logistics industry, how slowdowns started even before COVID and why labor is actually the biggest hurdle facing their business. Plus, tips for creating strong logistics partnerships and getting the best out of your providers.So listen in as we take you from Point A to Point Z of supply chain challenges.Highlights:The most common misconception about the supply chain (3:15)The fragmentation of the logistics industry (4:10)Labor issues: the heart of supply chain pain (8:44)Aging infrastructure can’t deal with increased capacity (11:09)How labor and material shortages compound each other (12:55)Focusing on your own link in the supply chain (14:08)How consistency unlocks capacity (17:04)How far are we from normal? (18:58)What will ultimately ease supply chain issues (20:20)The supply chain runs on people power (21:25) Links:Cadence Bank WebsiteCadence Bank TwitterCadence Bank LinkedInMatthew Decker LinkedInJohn Brooks LinkedInUS Multimodal Group WebsiteMcKinsey - How COVID-19 is reshaping supply chainsFeedback:If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

Welcome back to In Good Companies! This season, we’re exploring the forces shaping your business, inside and out—and to kick off Season Two, we’ve got a double whammy: inflation and interest rates.During COVID, the Federal Reserve cut its target range for the Federal Funds Rate to 0.00% to 0.25%. But now, in 2022, inflation has hit a 40-year high and interest rates are climbing again. In six short months, the Federal Funds Rate target range has risen steeply, from a range of 0% to 0.25%  to a range of 3.00% to 3.25%. High interest rates can have a substantial effect on businesses and consumers alike. So, how high will rates climb? And how long will they stay elevated?  One of the people best positioned to answer those questions is Dr. Lindsey Piegza, Chief Economist at Stifel: she’s spent her career translating the economy to a broad audience. Together, we’ll examine the relationship between interest and inflation, decode the Fed’s monetary policy and explore why this inflation might be particularly stubborn.As always, we’ll dig into what this means for you and your business: what indicators to pay attention to, how to adapt to a high-interest environment and why you should be especially cautious when inflation recedes.So join us! We’ve got your best interest at heart.Highlights:Why our economic situation is deceptive (3:40)Federal Funds Rate deep dive (6:20)The relationship between inflation and interest rates (8:22)Rate hikes in 2022 (9:09)How the Fed uses interest rates as a communication tool (10:51)What will drive the Fed’s decision-making (12:29)The lag of monetary policy (14:09)What happens if inflation doesn’t subside (16:13)The effects of a high-interest environment on small business (19:05)How inflation and interest affect consumer behavior (21:32)Why caution and adaptability will be key (22:50)Markets are cyclical (25:01)Links:Cadence Bank WebsiteCadence Bank TwitterCadence Bank LinkedInDr. Lindsey Piegza LinkedInStifel Institutional WebsiteStifel Financial LinkedInFederal Reserve –Summary of Economic Projections, September 2022Gallup – Inflation Causing Hardship for ConsumersFeedback:If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com.

You’ve worked your whole life to provide for your family, and you want to ensure they are taken care of after you’re gone. But passing on that wealth can be nerve-wracking. An inheritance has the potential to alter lives and cause major tension. How can you set up your successors for success?That’s where wealth transfer planning comes in. A successful wealth transfer plan passes on more than just wealth—it imparts core values, which help dictate how that money is used and gives inheritors the tools to thrive. The best plans educate inheritors over many years, and so we’ve invited a guest who has specialized in wealth transfer for many years: Felix Meneses, Senior Vice President and Dallas Market Executive for Cadence Bank’s Trust and Asset Management.On our final episode of Season One, we’ll cover the core financial values that you need to impart to your children, age-appropriate activities to instill those values, and how to structure your plan to reflect those principles. Felix will also share how to construct your team of advisors and how corporate governance can help you avoid family disputes.Join us as we finish out our season in style, transferring a wealth of knowledge to you!Highlights:●      What is wealth transfer? (2:39)●      Identifying priorities (4:19)●      Core values: Stewardship, Philanthropy, Entrepreneurship (6:05)●      How to talk to your kids about money (9:27)●      Age-appropriate financial education (11:14)●      Fun teaching activities for young kids (12:29)●      Wealth transfer structures (15:23)●      Keys to a good plan: A team of advisors (16:47)●      Keys to a good plan: Corporate governance structures (19:03)●      Creative ways to implement family corporate governance (20:44)●      Executing the plan (22:12)●      Inheritor responsibilities (23:41)●      The importance of communication (25:59) Links:●      Cadence Bank Website●      Cadence Bank Twitter●      Cadence Bank LinkedIn●      Felix Meneses LinkedIn●      Cadence Bank – Trust & Asset Management●      Cadence Bank – Wealth Empowerment Program●      Cadence Bank – Philanthropy ServicesFeedback:If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com. 

Those who’ve started a business know: the business is your baby. It takes love, patience and sleepless nights to get it on its feet. As it grows, you’re so proud of it. But just like a child, there comes a time when you have to let the business go. And the hope is that you’ve prepared your business to function independently, without your guidance. Can your business survive without you? Can it thrive?Whether it’s by design or unexpected, there will be a day when you’re no longer able to run things as you once did. If you’ve prepared right, your business will be able to keep flourishing long after you’ve retired. But what does that preparation entail? It starts with a strong business succession plan, an area of expertise for our two guests on this episode: Ari Marin, Wealth Strategist at Cadence Bank, and Eric Priamo, founder and managing partner of Juniper Equity. Together we’ll cover the key aspects of a business succession plan, like proper valuation provisions and operational redundancy, and how corporate governance structures can help you achieve those goals. Ari and Eric will also lead us through how to tackle the hard, emotional conversations that come with succession.So join us as we write a new chapter: for your business, your family, and you.Highlights:All the variables in a succession scenario (3:08)Why is succession planning critical? (4:49)What can happen if there isn’t a plan in place (7:11)The biggest barrier to the planning process (10:24)How to avoid family drama when talking succession (12:28)The farmer, the cow, and the milk: Identifying your goals (15:52)How Ari starts a succession plan (16:56)Keys to a good plan: Proper valuation provisions (18:33)Keys to a good plan: Flexibility & Redundancy (20:17)The tax tail can’t wag the dog (23:35)Defining corporate governance (24:54)How corporate governance helps you achieve your succession goals (28:18)How to empower your advisors (32:56)Links:Cadence Bank WebsiteCadence Bank TwitterCadence Bank LinkedInJuniper Equity WebsiteAri Marin LinkedInEric Priamo LinkedInCadence Bank – Business Succession PlanningFeedback:If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com. 

An executive is a key player in a business of any size: someone who is able to balance the complexities of their industry with the needs of their company. They’re someone with deep experience, who can lead a team and contribute to one. And they work tirelessly to make sure the business is positioned to succeed, both now and in the future. But who’s doing that for the executive?As an executive, you’ll have access to a much wider range of compensation packages, from equity to call options to variable performance-based bonuses. Your income will be greater and more diverse than the average Joe or Jane. You need a financial plan to match, and advisors skilled enough to adapt that plan as your career evolves. In fact, you’ll need a team of people: CPAs, investment bankers, tax attorneys, estate lawyers. But most of all, you’ll need an expert private banker to run the show. You need Mary Katherine Franklin, EVP and Director of Private Banking, and Jamie Burns, Regional Executive of Private Banking from the Cadence Private Banking leadership team. So that’s who we’ve brought you!Think of it like a football team. The most important person on the field is your quarterback, who reads the defense, makes adjustments and gets their teammates the ball. That’s your private banker. On this episode, Jamie and Mary Katherine talk about quarterbacking executive financial plans, how no plan is one-size-fits-all, and what you need to prepare to make sure you get the most out of the process. So, join our all-pro squad as we perfectly execute the executive financial plan.Highlights:What is private banking? (2:21)What’s different about executives? (4:04)The importance of a good game plan (7:45)The sooner, the better, but it’s never too late! (9:16)Creating a personal financial statement (10:26)Coordinating the team of advisors (12:47)Everything is customizable (14:58)Be organized (15:42)Don’t hold back (16:24)Are you getting the attention you deserve? (19:05)Things change—your plan should too (22:11)Links:Cadence Bank WebsiteCadence Bank TwitterCadence Bank LinkedInMary Katherine Franklin LinkedInJamie Burns LinkedInCadence Bank – Wealth Management Services – Individuals & FamiliesCadence Bank – Wealth Management InsightsFeedback:If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com. 

You poured your heart and soul into making your business the best that it can be. Now that you’re ready to move on, you deserve a return that reflects all that hard work. But the process of selling a business is complicated: where do you find the right person to buy it, and how do you agree on a fair price? To complicate matters, for most business owners, this will be the first and last time they conduct a transaction of this magnitude. So, it’s important to get the advice of people who have been there before. BJ Green sees all sorts of sales from his role as Cadence Bank’s Georgia Commercial Banking Executive. As for Mark Loeffler, Co-Founder and Managing Director of boutique investment bank VRA Partners, his job is to actually run these sales processes for small and mid-sized businesses. Together, they have a wealth of knowledge on valuations, mergers, and acquisitions—what BJ calls: “The Art of the Possible.” So, if midsize M&A is an art, consider these two da Vinci and Michaelangelo. On this episode, we’ll cover the timeline and steps of the M&A process, ways to improve your valuation, and how to find the right partners. You’ll learn how to identify your objectives, navigate your team through a sales process and keep your business humming during it all. So, let’s merge our experiences and acquire some new knowledge on the art of selling a business. Highlights:What are your goals in selling the business? (3:55)How to handle unsolicited offers (5:59)Valuation: what goes into it (9:05)Why valuations are currently high (12:41)“The secret sauce”: What makes a company attractive to buyers (14:34)How preparation can improve your company’s value (15:58)Think like a buyer (18:47)A sale is a team effort (19:11)M&A is really creating a new partnership (24:39)Sale timeline and process (26:11)Managing your business during a sale (31:19)Give yourself a head start (35:30)Links:·       Cadence Bank Website·       Cadence Bank Twitter·       Cadence Bank LinkedIn·       BJ Green LinkedIn·       VRA Partners Website·       Mark Loeffler LinkedIn       Feedback:If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com 

Summary:COVID-19 has caused unprecedented business disruption over the past several years. Businesses had to implement essential health and safety protocols, shift to virtual, navigate changing regulations, and try to reach customers whose lives were equally upended. Everyone has struggled to find balance, and many businesses had to close their doors permanently. Though we hopefully won’t see another pandemic in our lifetimes, there’s a lot to learn from COVID-19. Today we talk to two very different businesses who found ways to successfully navigate the pandemic. Wildwood Electronics, a women-owned contractor for NASA and the Department of Defense, was deemed an essential business and had to keep their employees safe while staying open. Phase Three Star, a fast-food franchisor with more than 80 restaurants, pivoted their whole service model to protect employees and keep serving customers. Both companies used similar grit and leadership to survive. Today, we dive into the decisions they made to keep their businesses afloat.Lori Underwood is the vice president of Wildwood Electronics. She details the creative ways that Wildwood emphasized employee safety and security. Jack Kemp, CEO of Phase Three Star, is an Army veteran and graduate of Harvard Business School. He shares the relationships he leaned on the most, and how he stopped being reactive and started being proactive. They’re joined by their dedicated Cadence bankers, Robert Curtis, North Alabama market executive, and Dan Holland, executive vice president of restaurant banking, who guided them and many others through these difficult years. All of them stress the importance of listening and communicating—with employees, partners, vendors and customers.COVID-19 also accelerated trends amongst these businesses and forced them to implement future solutions to solve current problems. We’ll hear from Lori and Jack about how much their companies have changed since 2020, and how they’re using strategies they’ve learned in the pandemic to achieve success out of it.So, join us for this masterclass in crisis management to hear from people whose expertise was proven through the gauntlet of the past two years. That way, you’ll be prepared for the next crisis that hits your business, even if it isn’t on a global scale.Highlights:How Jack & Lori dealt with pandemic uncertainty (9:07)Be decisive (10:17)Survival is a team effort (11:49)The importance of vendors who understand your business (15:05)PPP & using every resource at your disposal (16:09)Leveraging existing relationships (18:09)Communication is critical (19:43)Surviving is a win (24:35)The new normal (26:19)Robert and Dan on how companies have become more resilient (29:25)Links:Cadence Bank WebsiteCadence Bank TwitterCadence Bank LinkedInPhase Three Star WebsiteJack Kemp LinkedInWildwood Electronics WebsiteLori Underwood LinkedInRobert Curtis LinkedInDan Holland LinkedInCadence Bank PPP PageFeedback:If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producers, sheena.cochran@cadencebank.com or danielle.kernell@cadencebank.com