The Allied Angle

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.
 
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?

A Year of Fraud: Top Losses & Lessons from 2025

Fraud didn’t just grow in 2025 — it evolved. In this recap special, The Allied Angle revisits the top fraud conversations of 2025. We connect the big picture (third-party vs first-party vs synthetic) to ground-level fixes: stopping account takeover, hardening card channels, eliminating terminal fallback, and turning security awareness into behavior change. You’ll hear from fraud experts Patrick Touhey, Brandon Bottomley, Zach Douglass, Josh Gideon, Suzi Straffon, John Denison, and James Maguire. 
 
In this episode:
:50 Fighting fraud truly is a team sport.  3:31 The primary categories of fraud that caused the most damage in 2025.  6:08 How criminals are blending low-tech social engineering with high-tech execution.  8:43 “Sharing is caring”: the steps institutions should take to fight back against fraud.12:22 The critical importance of the human element.14:43 Why fraud must be a management priority across the board.15:56 How increased competition will save credit unions millions in the long run.

The Pizza Effect: Growing CU Membership One Slice at a Time

Younger members expect speed, transparency, and personalization — and credit unions can deliver without chasing every shiny tool. In this episode, Allied's SVP Strategic Initiatives Charlie Peterson joins us to unpack innovation, “The Pizza Effect," and more.
 
In this episode:
 
1:01 – Get to know Charlie.
4:02 – Who’s actually walking through the digital and branch doors of credit unions today?
5:33 – The importance of attracting, engaging, and keeping Gen Z.
8:35 – Defining innovation: What falls under that umbrella, and what doesn’t.
11:27 – Why adapting to the changing needs of your members is crucial for survival.
15:47 – Giving your members the attention they want without being intrusive.
20:03 – How to build lifelong relationships with your members.
22:27 – Actionable steps credit unions can take right now to strengthen bonds with Gen Z.

Future-Proofing Credit Union Leadership with TriscendNP

 In this episode of The Allied Angle, we take an inside look at how executive benefit programs are helping credit unions strengthen leadership continuity, retention, and long-term stability. Joining us are H. David Wright, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer, and Matt Morris, VP of Client Relations at TriscendNP, a firm specializing in executive benefit solutions for nonprofit organizations.
 Dave and Matt share how credit unions are becoming more proactive and strategic about compensation planning—moving beyond “check-the-box” benefits to customized, mission-aligned solutions that support both current and future leaders. From navigating tighter liquidity and rising interest rates to fostering transparent conversations at the board level, they discuss the evolving landscape of executive benefits and what credit unions should keep in mind as they prepare for the next generation of leadership.
This podcast is sponsored by TriscendNP. 
 
00:59 – Getting to know Dave and Matt.
05:32 – Recent shifts in how credit unions approach executive compensation and continuity planning.
08:12 – How executive benefits fit into overall talent recruitment strategies.
10:25 – A well-structured executive benefits plan as a key to succession success.
13:20 – Challenges credit unions face when implementing executive benefits packages.
16:14 – How TriscendNP helps credit unions create effective benefits strategies.
18:58 – “Credit unions aren’t built the same, and benefits plans shouldn’t be either.”
21:15 – Weighing short-term affordability against long-term impact.
23:14 – Guiding boards through compensation conversations and building confidence in their decisions.
25:32 – Emerging risks and trends to watch in executive benefits.
27:05 – Advice for credit unions considering a change to their benefits strategy.
28:42 – Final thoughts for credit union leaders.

Tough Losses: Five Fraud Trends Every CU Must Watch

On this episode of The Allied Angle, Zach Douglass, Director of Bond & Risk Management at Allied Solutions, joins the show to talk about the five loss trends hitting credit unions now. We cover what’s shifted in the last 6–12 months, early warning indicators, fast-acting controls, and the 30–60 day moves that actually reduce exposure.
 
00:35  Get to know Zach.
03:16  Top 5 loss trends: high frequency vs. high severity, and what’s changed in the past year.
05:22  The two leading indicators teams should monitor to spot trouble early.
07:48  Spotting new account fraud: controls that cut losses fast without hurting the member experience.
10:51   The account takeover paths driving the biggest losses, and the events that help you spot them.
15:08   Where plastic card fraud losses are concentrating now.
18:07   The tech innovations most likely to reduce check fraud.
20:44  Two key steps to help prevent ATM and ITM attacks.
23:06  Frontline training: the checkpoints that stop the most losses.
25:51  The most important takeaway for credit union CEOs.

Lender Lifeline: Recovery Strategies with Millennium

In this episode of The Allied Angle, Jeff Marsh, President at Millennium Capital and Recovery Corporation, joins the show to talk about the evolving world of asset recovery. Jeff discusses how lenders can navigate today’s challenges in skip tracing and repossession, the role of technology and compliance, and how Millennium’s award-winning approach helps clients recover assets with transparency and efficiency.
 
Learn more about Millennium at https://nationwiderecoverymanagers.com/
 
This podcast is sponsored by Millennium Capital and Recovery Corporation.
 
In this episode: 
 
00:55  Get to know Jeff.
03:01  The evolution of the asset recovery industry over the past decade.
05:17  Key challenges for lenders in today’s recovery environment.
06:20  How is the current economic climate influencing skip tracing and repossession volumes?
07:34  Top compliance risks lenders must manage
09:55  How Millennium helps clients maintain a careful balance in borrower communications.
13:06  Effective technologies for optimizing skip tracing
14:30   Balancing AI and automation without sacrificing human oversight at Millennium.
16:41   What is TRACKR and how does it provide real-time data and visibility to lenders.
17:21   The trends shaping the future of asset recovery.
19:40  Final advice for lenders wanting to optimize their recovery strategy.

Cybersecurity Culture in FIs: Training, Trust, and Technology

How effective is your security awareness training? In this episode of The Allied Angle, Josh Gideon, author and Director, Cyber Risk Management at Allied, joins us to unpack what most financial institutions get wrong about awareness programs and what to do instead. Drawing on decades of experience and research, Josh shares why traditional training falls short, how psychological safety and human behavior play a critical role, and what smaller credit unions and banks can do right now to strengthen their defenses.
View Josh's latest book, Don't Forget the Humans, here.
 
In this episode:
 
00:34   Get to know Josh
03:13    Defining security awareness and what prompted your strategy shift
06:20   How research shaped your cybersecurity approach (and practical takeaways for credit unions)
10:22   “Awareness should be more like a drill than a document.”
13:55   Supporting financial services employees at higher risk
16:42   Building a culture of psychological safety where employees aren’t afraid to make mistakes.
18:35   Security champions: their role in fostering awareness and accountability
21:48   Practical advice for smaller credit unions building a people-first strategy
23:47   One misconception about security awareness in financial institutions you’d like to change

Gen Z Unfiltered: What Credit Unions Need to Hear–Now

In this special Intern Edition of The Allied Angle, we hand the mic to three members of Gen Z — and Allied’s summer internship program — for an honest, unfiltered, and deeply human conversation about how their generation is navigating life, money, and digital fatigue.
 
Tune in as Kira Right, Alli Johnson, and Eli VanHaaren share their perspectives on what Gen Z needs from financial institutions, how credit unions are missing the mark, and what it’ll take to earn their trust — and their business. 
 
 
00:54   Get to know Kira, Eli, and Alli.
05:47   Who is Gen Z? 
06:50   Why Gen Z is so misunderstood, and what do people often get wrong.  
09:51   The pressures Gen Z faces and how they differ from those of older generations. 
14:55   The financial institution you use and why you chose it. 
19:53   Steps credit unions should take to stay relevant to Gen Z. 
24:15   What credit unions can do to help ease Gen Z’s financial stress.
28:06   How credit unions can show up in a more human, intentional way.
30:47   Final advice: How credit unions can better connect with Gen Z.