First Business Bank Podcast
60 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 months ago - ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsThe First Business Bank Podcast is a podcast for business owners and leaders — anyone helping to advance the social and economic standing of their employees, investors, families, and communities. Nothing is more important to a thriving economy than visionary entrepreneurs determined to succeed. As a business-focused bank that works every day with business leaders, this podcast details what we see working in highly successful businesses today.
Each episode features an interview discussing business practices on topics such as company culture, communication, financial risk, strategic planning, financial performance, business continuity plans, sales strategies, foundational beliefs, and more.
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Episodes
How To Avoid Emotional Investing Decisions
July 18, 2023 20:42 - 14 minutes - 20 MBIf you have ridden the emotional investing roller coaster, you're not alone. Studies show that 66% of investors have made impulsive, emotionally charged investing decisions they later regretted. In our latest podcast episode, we examine how to avoid making emotional investing decisions by mapping out your strategy to align with your long-term investing goals. We discuss the importance of planning your investing strategy, understanding your investments, and comparing against overall market be...
How To Insure Bank Deposits Over $250,000
July 17, 2023 18:50 - 9 minutes - 12.6 MBConcerns over bank failures and potential uninsured deposit losses led many business owners, investors, municipalities, and others to seek ways to insure deposits beyond the FDIC insurance limit of $250,000. While your inclination might be to spread deposits across multiple banks, this is an unnecessary inconvenience and an administrative burden. Tune in as First Business Bank’s banking experts discuss the benefits of extended deposit insurance, including increased efficiency, liquidity, and...
Pros And Cons Of Paying Off Debt Vs. Investing
April 21, 2023 20:59 - 13 minutes - 18.4 MBAre you struggling with deciding between paying off debt or investing your earnings? It's a common dilemma, and one that requires careful consideration of various factors. In the latest episode of the First Business Bank podcast, we discuss advantages and disadvantages of paying off debt before investing, factoring interest rates into your strategy, and evaluating investment opportunities, personal financial goals, and risk tolerance.
Managing Finances After Losing A Spouse
March 13, 2023 13:48 - 33 minutes - 46.6 MBAfter losing a spouse, survivors are often faced with many tasks and financial decisions while in the throes of grief. In the first thirty days, you’ll need to review life insurance, contact Social Security, contact your attorney about your estate plan or will, and call your bank or Trust Advisor. What’s important to do soon and what can wait? How can pre-planning help in this time of unprecedented emotional turmoil? First Business Bank’s experienced Trust Advisors discuss what clients wish ...
Paying For College & Higher Education
February 21, 2023 19:49 - 13 minutes - 19 MBFor many families, paying for college and higher education costs is confusing and overwhelming as the price of a traditional, four-year college education seems to have no limit. Over the last century, the costs of higher education have grown at four times the rate of inflation, rising a shocking 179% over the past 20 years alone. First Business Bank’s experienced Wealth Advisors work with parents, relatives, and grandparents every day to design the best strategies to save for college. This e...
Wisconsin Manufacturing Trends
February 15, 2023 16:46 - 33 minutes - 46.1 MBManufacturing is a major driver of economic activity in Wisconsin, leading all other industries contributing to the state’s gross domestic product. First Business Bank’s financial experts work closely with manufacturing business leaders on their daily and long-term financial needs and strategies to help them position their companies for growth. This episode of the First Business Bank Podcast includes a discussion about the Wisconsin Manufacturing Report and the latest trends influencing Wisc...
Starting a Nonprofit Dental Clinic: The Renee Ramirez Story
December 03, 2022 00:15 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBRenee Ramirez operates well under pressure. During the financial crisis of 2008, she founded Community Smiles Dental (formerly Waukesha County Community Dental Clinic), a nonprofit dental clinic for low-income families in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. The clinic, which opened a second location in 2018, has provided more than $30 million in dental care to more than 25,000 patients since its founding. This engaging episode of the First Business Bank podcast reveals the story behind ...
Efficiency Tips for Leaders Wearing Many Hats
November 15, 2022 18:43 - 21 minutes - 19.6 MBOperating on a lean budget, some leaders of both nonprofit and for-profit businesses take on many roles, from CEO and CFO to HR and receptionist. But if you’re tasked with doing so much and there are only so many hours each day, how do you make progress on larger goals? This episode of the First Business Bank podcast features experienced leaders from First Business Bank’s Advisory Boards: Stewart Myers, VP of Programming at National Cable Television Cooperative, and Amanda Berg, VP for Fin...
Encouraging Collaboration To Build the Paper Industry
November 08, 2022 23:22 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBDoes your industry have a cheerleader? Someone who rallies businesses, helps them network to support innovation and accomplish more together? This episode of the First Business Bank podcast takes a fresh look at the benefits of collaboration between businesses with Marty Ochs, Founder of Green Bay Innovation Group (GBIG) and A.M. Mailing, Inc., and member of First Business Bank’s Northeast Advisory Board. Marty’s passion — bringing people together to make a difference — leads this episode a...
Aligning With Nonprofits To Build Employee Engagement
October 24, 2022 05:00 - 25 minutes - 23.8 MBEven before the COVID-19 pandemic, employees were seeking more meaning at work and the latest data show that their feelings have intensified. According to a 2022 Gartner survey, 52% of respondents say the pandemic led them to “question the purpose of my day-to-day job” and 56% say it “made me want to contribute more to society.” On this episode of the First Business Bank Podcast, Advisory Board Members Chris Hess, President and Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill Industries of North C...
How To Protect Your Business From Cyberattacks
October 14, 2022 13:12 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MBProtecting your business from the growing threat of cyberattacks involves proactively strengthening your business’ cybersecurity and protecting it financially with cyber insurance. Beyond suffering a financial loss, businesses hit with cyberattacks also run the risk of reputational damage. Cybersecurity and insurance expert Derek Laczniak, Sr. Executive, Partner and Director at M3 Insurance, and Frank Stephens, President and CEO at Computing Technology Solutions, join us on this episode of...
Tips To Improve Accounts Receivable Collections
October 11, 2022 01:26 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MBWhether you’re operating a nonprofit or for-profit business, receivables keep the doors open and efficient receivables collection can bolster your cash position. Technological advances over the past several years make it possible to drastically reduce the time it takes to get those receivables into your operating account. In this informative episode of the First Business Bank podcast, our business banking experts, Directors of Treasury Management at First Business Bank, Melissa Fellows an...
The Impact of Rising Interest Rates
August 17, 2022 15:32 - 20 minutes - 28.6 MBWith more than 40 years since we’ve seen inflation this high, many business leaders and investors are asking our team about how rising interest rates might affect their short- and long- term decisions. With an educational look at historical economic performance, this episode of the First Business Bank Podcast features financial experts discussing metrics to keep your eye on, how the Federal Reserve is likely to act, and what that might mean for individual investors and leaders of b...
What’s New in Real-Time Payments for Businesses?
June 13, 2022 19:31 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MBUsing real-time payments like Zelle, Venmo, or Paypal, you might give allowance to your kids, split the bill at dinner, or pay a friend back for tickets. As consumers adopt real-time payments at a faster pace, business leaders consider dropping checks and weigh the benefits and risks of real-time payments, as well. This episode of the First Business Bank Podcast discusses the ever-changing landscape of real-time payments, including the benefits and risks of real-time payments, differen...
Estate Planning for Digital Assets
May 31, 2022 18:58 - 28 minutes - 25.7 MBDuring the estate planning process, you document your wishes for assets like property, investments, insurance policies, and retirement accounts. But what will happen to your digital assets like digital photos, social media accounts, or digital currency, not to mention all the related passwords? This episode of the First Business Bank Podcast focuses on identifying, simplifying, managing, and documenting your digital assets to transition them to your loved ones after your death.
What’s the ROI of Integrated Accounts Payable?
May 23, 2022 13:41 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MBThe accounts payable process often is a time-consuming, complex mix of B2B payments involving ACH, wires, checks, and credit cards. Simplifying your business’s accounts payable through Integrated Payables reduces labor and check costs, maximizes efficiency, decreases the opportunity for check fraud, and generates revenue through virtual card payments. This episode of the First Business Bank Podcast focuses on how integrating your accounts payable into one payment file works, the benefi...
Protecting the Future of Your Family Business
May 09, 2022 17:58 - 20 minutes - 18.4 MBExperts estimate that family-owned businesses worldwide contribute more than half of gross domestic product and two-thirds of employment. Family-owned businesses also are among the most trusted type of business in America, yet most lack a formal business succession plan that can help keep the peace and ensure continued vitality of the family business for generations to come. Still, only about 30% of family businesses make it to a second generation and 13% last to a third. This episode of the ...
The History & Legacy of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
May 05, 2022 03:05 - 47 minutes - 43.2 MBFounded in Kansas City, Mo., in 1990, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) is “the world’s only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history of African-American baseball and its impact on the social advancement of America.” NLBM President Bob Kendrick joins us for an insightful conversation about the founding of the NLBM, the significance and magnitude of the stories and impact of the Negro Leagues in America, details about the U.S. Mint Negro Leagues Commemorative Coi...
Improving Employee Retention in Manufacturing
May 02, 2022 17:57 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBImproving retention in manufacturing is a multi-faceted, ongoing effort that can help manufacturers keep skilled, valuable employees, leading to greater efficiency and lower costs. In this episode of the First Business Bank Podcast, we are joined by Elizabeth Aldana, Service Line Leader/Senior Consultant for Operational Excellence from WMEP Manufacturing Solutions for a discussion with far-reaching implications for manufacturers as they look for strategies to keep more employees in this comp...
Tim Keane’s Entrepreneurship Story
April 29, 2022 16:00 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBTim Keane, photographer, founder of RTMS, Golden Angels Investors, and Keane Consultants and former board member of First Business Financial Services, Inc., joins us to discuss his career, accomplishments, advice for entrepreneurs, and provide his perspectives about investing, risk, and his next chapter in life. Listen to this episode of the First Business Bank Podcast for a dynamic conversation about facing challenges and finding joy with an entrepreneurship and investing expert.
Investing in Manufacturing Automation
April 11, 2022 13:39 - 35 minutes - 32.9 MBThe ongoing manufacturing workforce shortage calls for smarter ways to increase capacity without adding staff. When strategic investments in automation are planned thoughtfully, they help manufacturers improve output, efficiency, and employee retention as they upskill their workforce. WMEP Manufacturing Solutions shares keys to success when implementing a multi-faceted automation plan.
Commercial Real Estate Design & Broker Trends
March 21, 2022 15:18 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MBCommercial real estate trends shifted faster in the past three years than perhaps the previous 30. Whether you’re wrestling with a long-term lease, downsizing, or designing new office space, you’ll want to tune it to this episode of the First Business Bank Podcast for timely, expert input about work-from-home (WFH) and hybrid work trends and their effect on offices, trends in creative and collaborative spaces, different commercial real estate lease options, and much more.
Recruiting Best Practices in Manufacturing
March 14, 2022 15:52 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBThe workforce crisis in manufacturing is complex, but there are several ways you can influence this within your organization to successfully staff your company. This episode of the First Business Bank Podcast hosts Joe Brown, Senior Consultant with WMEP Manufacturing Solutions (WMEP), discussing recruiting in manufacturing and how manufacturers can move the needle to attract the best candidates.
Making Sense of DIY Estate Planning & Investing
March 14, 2022 15:50 - 26 minutes - 24 MBThere’s a time and a place to do it yourself (DIY), even in investing and estate planning, but it’s important to know the conditions for success, risks, and limitations so you can make wise decisions. With many businesses offering DIY investing, will, and estate planning options, this episode of the First Business Bank Podcast addresses when DIY estate planning and investing can work and when it’s better to ask the experts.
Attracting & Retaining Employees In Today’s Talent Market
March 07, 2022 16:45 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBFor employers, the competitive job market presents challenges to retain employees and opportunities to attract those with shifting career ambitions. This episode of the First Business Bank Podcast features two recently hired First Business Bank employees discussing what attracted them to their positions, what employers can do to keep employees, the importance of culture when evaluating opportunities, challenges transitioning to a new company, and what’s involved in a great transition to a ne...
Solutions for Workforce Challenges in Manufacturing
February 28, 2022 17:23 - 27 minutes - 24.8 MBWorkforce challenges in manufacturing began in the 1990s with an aging Baby Boomer workforce and fewer skilled workers to replace them. It persists today with the added complexity of increased demand for products, higher costs, and supply chain bottlenecks. We turn to George Bureau, Vice President of Consulting Services at WMEP Manufacturing Solutions, for his input about how they help manufacturers make changes every day to improve overall business operations, including hiring and retention...
Mission Critical: Nonprofits Surviving & Thriving in a Pandemic
February 21, 2022 17:39 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBThe unprecedented disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic created chaos for many nonprofits — disturbing not only their revenue streams but also their missions. Serving nearly half of Wisconsin’s counties, Goodwill Industries of Northcentral Wisconsin navigated a 10-week shutdown, recovery efforts, and ongoing operations to ensure the safety of employees and customers. Chris Hess, President & CEO of Goodwill Industries of Northcentral Wisconsin, joins us to discuss what happened and chall...
Advocating for Others as a Woman in Leadership
February 15, 2022 16:11 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MBWhen you think back to how you arrived at your current role, did people mentor you, support you, connect you, or challenge you, contributing to your success in your career? Our Women in Leadership podcast series continues with an insightful discussion about advocating for other people as a woman in leadership. Our guests for this podcast, three women board directors of First Business Financial Services, Inc., the holding company of First Business Bank, discuss who championed them as th...
Fundamentals of a Sound Bank Investment Portfolio Strategy
February 07, 2022 15:55 - 19 minutes - 18.1 MBJust as the workforce crisis reaches new heights, more banks than ever are dealing with new investment portfolio challenges and responsibilities. Banks are looking for bottom-line income and there are many ways a bank’s Investment Portfolio can miss its target without solid strategies in place. A bank’s Investment Portfolio isn’t as simple as “select and forget” and requires specialized expertise to manage productively and consistently. This episode of The First Business Bank Podcast f...
What Is Treasury Management?
January 24, 2022 20:03 - 23 minutes - 21.3 MBWhether you’re starting a business, leading a nonprofit, or running a multi-generational company, you’re always looking for ways to save money and improve operations. Stretched thin by the competitive workforce, these needs are pressing now more than ever. With specific banking solutions, an experienced Treasury Management team helps your company profit from liquidity, protect your organization from fraud, and get more done with fewer people. In this episode of The First Business Bank Po...
Achieving Success as a Woman in Leadership
January 10, 2022 15:42 - 45 minutes - 41.5 MBFor every 100 men promoted to a manager-level position, only 86 women are promoted, according to the Women in the Workplace 2021 report by LeanIn.org and McKinsey. This disparity, the “broken rung,” leads to far fewer women available to fill executive leadership roles. So, what does it take to get there? This episode of the First Business Bank Podcast features three female board directors of First Business Financial Services Inc., the holding company of First Business Bank, talking abo...
How Banks Manage Excess Deposits & Bank Investment Portfolios
January 10, 2022 15:35 - 18 minutes - 16.5 MBAs banks of all sizes experience an unprecedented level of deposits while loan demand isn’t keeping up, they’re challenged by excess liquidity on the balance sheet for longer than expected. Many banks are increasing their investment portfolios as a result. However, complex investments can be a struggle for some community and smaller banks to manage as they hunt for appropriate investments and spend an increasing amount of time managing their investment portfolio along with other duties. ...
The Benefits of Charitable Trusts for Business Owners
December 10, 2021 16:21 - 15 minutes - 13.9 MBFor charitably inclined business owners, charitable trusts provide many benefits as they assess goals related to tax planning, wealth management, estate planning, and charitable giving. Charitable trusts can help you set aside current and future funds for a charity while preserving a current income stream and other economic benefits. When you make a transfer into one of these trust types, you may qualify for income, estate, and gift tax charitable deductions. In this episode of The Fir...
What Is Business Valuation & When Do I Need It?
November 30, 2021 16:15 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MBThe value of privately held businesses, whether a multi-generational manufacturing firm, a tech startup, or somewhere in between, changes every day. So why would you seek a professional business valuation? Determining the value of your business is useful for many situations, including creating a solid plan to track and increase value, working toward an exit strategy, creating incentive plans tied to increases in valuation, retirement planning, estate planning, selling the business, and more....
Navigating the Transition from LIBOR to SOFR
November 23, 2021 15:52 - 25 minutes - 23.2 MBTune in for the latest details about the impending transition away from the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). In this episode of The First Business Bank Podcast, you’ll learn about replacement rates — such as SOFR, BSBY, and Ameribor, key dates to keep in mind, more about First Business Bank’s selection and process, how our team has prepared for this change, which rate banking industry regulators selected, and what to look for at your bank as you navigate this transition in 2021 and 2022.
When is Asset-Based Lending Right For Your Business?
November 08, 2021 21:04 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBAsset-Based Lending, an alternative funding option, helps businesses work through challenges as they experience rapid growth, navigate a turnaround, change ownership, or experience other complex situations. Unlike traditional lending, typically when lenders evaluate companies for Asset-Based Lending funding, they consider collateral, like accounts receivable and inventory, rather than the business’s recent performance. This episode of the First Business Bank Podcast introduces listener...
Offering Equipment Financing For Your Customers
September 28, 2021 15:52 - 18 minutes - 16.5 MBA companion episode to “Why Use Equipment Financing?’, this episode of the First Business Bank podcast features a discussion about the advantages of offering financing to customers when you’re a manufacturer, distributor, or retailer selling equipment. Offering your equipment customers financing through a responsive, reliable financial provider helps your business sell more capital equipment, increases customer retention, and builds long-term relationships.
Why Use Equipment Financing?
September 13, 2021 22:38 - 17 minutes - 16 MBIt’s nearly impossible to name a business with no equipment needs. (Let us know if you think of one!) Businesses in all types of industries need specialized or heavy equipment, so this episode of the First Business Bank Podcast kicks off our discussions with two of our Equipment Finance experts. They touch on offering financing for equipment from the seller, manufacturer, or distributor side of the transaction, and then focus on acquiring capital equipment. As a business acquiring new,...
Growing Your Business With SBA Loans
August 24, 2021 21:42 - 18 minutes - 26.1 MBAchieving the entrepreneurship dream of owning a business is alive and well in America as millions grabbed opportunities to start or grow their businesses in the past year. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) tracks small business ownership statistics — about seven in ten small business owners start their companies from the ground up, 22% purchase their businesses, 7% received ownership of a business through a gift, and 4% inherited ownership of their business. Started in 195...
Managing A Remote Workforce
August 09, 2021 15:44 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBBy some estimates, before the COVID-19 pandemic Americans spent 5% of work time working remotely, which increased to an estimated 60% in spring of 2020. For many, managing remote workers is here to stay, and building effective strategies is important to maintain productivity and satisfaction of managers and their employees. With employees all over the country, First Business Bank managers have extensive experience managing remote teams. This episode includes perspectives from two lon...
Alternative Financing Strategies for Your Business
July 21, 2021 13:33 - 18 minutes - 17.1 MBWhen traditional bank loans aren’t an option, how do businesses increase liquidity so they can pay suppliers, employees, and continue to grow? Businesses in many industries turn to Accounts Receivable Financing — also known as Factoring — and Asset-Based Lending to increase cash flow. These alternative financing strategies help startups, companies in turnaround mode, and many others with cash flow challenges to access the funds they need to thrive. This episode of the First Business Ba...
Helping Your Employees Maximize 401(k) Retirement Savings
June 28, 2021 20:44 - 18 minutes - 17 MBSaving for retirement is a major life stressor for many employees. Although about 60% of U.S. employees have access to an employer-sponsored defined contribution plan, such as a 401(k), only about 43% actively participate, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Business executives can help employees maximize how much they save so they feel more comfortable about their future. Decreasing retirement stress leads to higher retention rates and more productivity for companies. Th...
Outsourcing Your Bank's Asset Liability Management (ALM) & Investment Portfolio
June 01, 2021 20:42 - 23 minutes - 21.9 MBBanks are businesses, too, and require specialized financial skills and experience to operate efficiently and forecast accurately. National banks have entire teams managing their investment portfolios and refining their Asset Liability Management. How can you compete as a regional or community bank? The answer may be outsourcing to cost-efficient, professional experts. This episode of the First Business Bank Podcast introduces the First Business Bank Consulting team as they discuss the...
Why Create An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)?
May 04, 2021 16:57 - 18 minutes - 17 MBPlanning the future of your company can be a difficult, emotional process. As business leaders thoughtfully plan ownership transition, some turn to employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) to help accomplish many of their top priorities. This episode of the First Business Bank Podcast covers reasons business leaders transition ownership through ESOPs, positives and drawbacks of ESOPs, key time and resource requirements for ESOPs, and the importance of employee education. Member FDIC
Planning Successful Leadership Transition
April 14, 2021 15:41 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBWhether your organization is anticipating the retirement of a senior executive or you’re building a framework for an eventual exit, it’s important to establish a management succession plan. Employees, board members, vendors, clients, and other external stakeholders want to know your ship isn’t going to capsize after an abrupt departure or a long-planned retirement. Leadership transition may sound simple, but it’s often a complex planning process that can take several years to get right...
Managing Payment Fraud Risk
March 22, 2021 19:37 - 28 minutes - 25.7 MBAny method your business uses to pay a vendor, such as checks, Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments, or wire transfers, can be intercepted or manipulated to commit fraud. Check fraud is the most common, but wire fraud and ACH fraud are close behind. The same efficiency and speed that are benefits of electronic payments also make them attractive for fraudsters because there’s very little time for you to recognize the fraudulent payments and alert your bank to recall them. This episode of...
Why You Need A Business Succession Plan
March 03, 2021 18:11 - 17 minutes - 15.8 MBBusiness succession planning — the process of thoughtfully planning ownership transition of a business — is still uncommon among businesses with fewer than 300 employees. In fact, fewer than half of small businesses have a formal plan that transitions ownership to a family member, employees, or another company. First Business Bank’s business succession planning experts share their best tips and strategies for starting the business succession planning process, including: - Where to start ...
How To Prevent Check Fraud
February 23, 2021 21:19 - 21 minutes - 38.7 MBCheck fraud is on the rise. In fact, last year’s reports on 2019 indicate 74% of organizations experienced check fraud — a 4% increase over 2018. First Business Bank’s Treasury Management Expert, Alicia Anderson, Managing Director of Compliance and Risk Management, Theresa Wiese, and CEO, Mark Meloy, share insights into the prevalence of check fraud and ways to stop it from happening. This discussion focuses on: - The most common types of check fraud - Differences between check fraud...
New Marketing Trends for Business Leaders
February 09, 2021 17:08 - 38 minutes - 70.7 MBIf 2020 has taught us anything, it is that everything is shifting digitally, and it is imperative that business leaders make the change, too. A consistent, optimized online presence is crucial for businesses to survive today. In this episode of the First Business Bank podcast, Mark Meloy, CEO of First Business Bank speaks with Ed Peck, Founder and CEO of Filament; Sara Kiley, Digital Operations Manager at Mid-West Family; Fritz Grutzner, President and Founder of Brandgarten; and Tom Dott,...
Preventing Business Email Compromise Fraud
February 02, 2021 22:33 - 21 minutes - 19.6 MBBusiness Email Compromise (BEC), also known as email account compromise (EAC), happens when someone illegally accesses an organization’s security through email and uses the access to commit fraud. All firms that use email are at risk, but those that conduct business using wire transfers and with overseas suppliers are at a higher risk. In this podcast, Mark Meloy, CEO of First Business Bank, speaks with the First Business Bank’s Managing Director of Compliance and Risk Management, Theresa Wi...