In Part 2 of our Risk Intel podcast series with our partners at Plansmith, Edward Vincent welcomed back Craig Hartman, Chairman and CEO of Plansmith, to explore a question that resonates with every financial leader: Once you’ve identified execution risk, how do you actually reduce it? 

Craig’s decades of experience helping banks and credit unions navigate planning and budgeting challenges make him uniquely equipped to answer this question. In this episode, he shares actionable insights on how organizations can move beyond simply naming their risks to building a culture that consistently mitigates them. Listen to the full episode here to learn more. 

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In this Risk Intel podcast, host Edward Vincent invited Craig Hartman, the Chairman and CEO of Plansmith, on to the show for a compelling three-part series on a topic central to every financial institution’s success: Execution Risk. This first episode lays the groundwork, exploring what execution risk is, why it matters to all banks, and how it emerges as an umbrella for all types of risk that touch nearly every aspect of strategic and operational activity. Listen to hear the full episode.

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The Risk Intel podcast welcomed back Josh Magri, CEO of the Cyber Risk Institute (CRI), for a timely Part 2 conversation focused on the evolving cybersecurity regulatory landscape and what it means for community financial institutions. As the FFIEC Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (CAT) is scheduled to sunset on August 31, 2025, Josh offers a roadmap on how financial institutions can move forward and how their CRI Profile offers a strategic, scalable alternative that’s gaining traction with regulators and institutions alike. 

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The cybersecurity landscape is changing fast. And for financial institutions, one of the biggest shifts on the horizon is the sunsetting of the FFIEC Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (CAT) in August 2025. In this episode of the Risk Intel podcast, Josh Magri, President and CEO of the Cyber Risk Institute (CRI), joined host Edward Vincent to unpack what this means for banks, credit unions, and other financial players.

From emerging threats powered by AI to the evolving regulatory frameworks shaping cybersecurity governance, Josh's insights are a must-hear. Listen to the full episode here!

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Organizations across the financial sector are investing more time and energy into data strategy, but many still struggle to move from planning to execution. In this episode of the Risk Intel Podcast, Jeff Fink returns for Part 4 of our Data Strategy series, sharing tactical guidance on how to operationalize a data strategy and deliver real business value. Whether you're a chief data officer at a regional bank or an operations leader at a credit union or community bank, this episode offers a practical roadmap for putting your strategy into motion.

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Ed Vincent, host of the Risk Intel Podcast, welcomed Jeff Fink back to the show for part three of their Data Strategy Series. This week's insightful conversation dives deep into the distinction between data strategy VS reporting, which is a critical yet often misunderstood area for community financial institutions aiming to become truly data-driven. Listen to the full episode, or if you missed Part 1 and Part 2, click the links below to catch up.

• Part 1: How to Start a Data Strategy From Nothing: Make the Mind Shift From Stuck to Start
• Part 2: Defining a Data Strategy: What a Data Strategy Is - And Isn't

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In this episode of the Risk Intel Podcast, Ed Vincent welcomes back Watchtower’s Chief Product Officer, Jeff Fink, to kick off a multipart series on creating a data strategy. A hot topic for many community banks and credit unions wanting to modernize their internal processes on how they handle data, collect it and how do they leverage data to achieve their collective goals. Listen to the full episode here.

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For many community banks, embarking on a data strategy can feel like an overwhelming endeavor. Limited resources, small teams, and the misconception that “big data” is only for large institutions often lead to inertia. But as discussed in the latest Risk Intel episode with Jeff Fink, the real differentiator in today’s competitive banking landscape is not size—it’s mindset. 

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In this episode of the Risk Intel Podcast, host and SRA Watchtower CEO Edward Vincent invited CFO/CRO Shawn Ryan to the show to discuss the top emerging risks facing financial institutions today. Their discussion, enriched by insights from the NC State University ERM Initiative "13th Annual Executive Perspectives on Top Risks Survey," sheds light on critical areas that demand attention from risk leaders. Listen to the full episode below to learn about these emerging risks, incorporating key findings from the survey.

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The relationship among banks, FinTechs, and regulators has never been more critical - or more complex for that matter. With technology advancing at breakneck speed, the challenge lies in striking a healthy balance between fostering innovation, while not compromising the safety and soundness of the financial services industry. In this episode of the Risk Intel podcast, host Ed Vincent sat down with industry experts Kirsten Muetzel and Jeanette Quick to unpack the intricate dynamics among banks, FinTechs, and regulators, the role of emerging technologies, and how collaboration can drive better outcomes for all players in the industry. 

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As the year 2025 unfolds, the financial services industry is experiencing shifts that few could have fully anticipated at the beginning of the year. From regulatory changes to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), and global economic instability, financial institutions face a dynamic environment filled with both opportunities and risks. Kirsten Muetzel, Founder of KLM Advisory LLC, joins host Ed Vincent to discuss a quick pulse check on how Q1 unfolded and her predictions for the remainder of the year. 

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Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) has long been viewed as a defensive function—something financial institutions do to satisfy regulators and avoid compliance issues. However, this perspective is outdated. In today’s volatile business environment, ERM is a strategic necessity that enables organizations to anticipate challenges, seize opportunities, and make more informed decisions. In this episode of The Risk Intel podcast, Shawn Ryan joins host, Edward Vincent to explore why ERM should be a CEO priority. They discuss the pitfalls of siloed risk management, the need for an enterprise-wide approach, and how organizations can elevate risk management to a strategic function. Most importantly, we examine why the Chief Risk Officer (CRO) should have a strong presence at the leadership table and work closely with their CEO to ensure risk isn’t an afterthought, but the key driver of decision-making.

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Data is not just a byproduct of operations—it is the foundation for strategic decision-making and risk management. Vantage Bank, a leading community bank out of San Antonio, Texas committed to innovation and operational excellence, has embraced this reality by modernizing its risk management program through data and technology.  In this episode of The Risk Intel Podcast, Ed Vincent, CEO of SRA Watchtower and host of the show, sat down with Joel Castaneda, EVP & CRO, and Shawn Main, EVP & Chief Business Architect at Vantage Bank, to discuss their transformation journey and a need for a modernized risk program. 

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Implementing a Risk and Control Self-Assessment (RCSA) tool is a crucial step for financial institutions seeking to enhance their risk management frameworks. Starting with a well-executed RCSA process enables organizations to identify, assess, and mitigate risks effectively while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. However, successful implementation requires careful planning, stakeholder engagement, and the right technology to streamline workflows and improve organizational visibility.  Beth Nilles, Director of Watchtower Implementations and resident RCSA expert, joined host Edward Vincent on this episode of the Risk Intel podcast to discuss best practices for implementing an RCSA process or tool. 

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The latest episode of the Risk Intel Podcast featured Jeff Fink, Co-Founder of Lumio Insight, joining host Ed Vincent to discuss an exciting milestone — SRA Watchtower’s acquisition of Lumio Insight. This strategic move combines two companies with a shared vision: empowering community-based financial institutions with a holistic risk and business intelligence platform. Listen to the full interview to learn more about this exciting acquisition.

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In this episode of the Risk Intel Podcast, Beth Nilles joins host, Ed Vincent to discuss how to drive a calculation methodology within a bank's or credit union's Risk and Control Self-Assessments (RCSA) process. Listen to the full episode to learn tips and guidance on executing this within your institution.

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In this episode of the Risk Intel Podcast, SRA Watchtower’s own Cathy Jackson, Director of Implementations and a seasoned risk management expert joined host, Ed Vincent, to explore the evolving nature of Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) and how financial institutions can ensure their KRIs remain effective and actionable. Listen to the full episode to learn more.

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In this episode of the Risk Intel Podcast, Ed Vincent, host of the show and CEO of SRA Watchtower, welcomed Jeff Fink from Lumio Insight, back to the show to explore the critical topic of risk mitigation in financial institutions. This third part of their conversation delved into the strategies, technologies, and frameworks that help organizations navigate today’s complex risk landscape. From securing sensitive data to addressing emerging threats, Jeff shared actionable insights on how banks and credit unions can proactively mitigate risks while driving innovation and maintaining regulatory compliance. Listen to the full episode below. 

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In this episode of the Risk Intel podcast, Joseph Berry, Co-head of Investment Banking at KBW, joined host Ed Vincent to share his insights into the evolving landscape of banking and FinTech and what will drive innovation in 2025. Joe discussed critical topics ranging from data analytics and customer profitability to the role of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in driving innovation. Listen to the full episode to learn more. 

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The Season 3 premiere of the Risk Intel Podcast brings a timely and thought-provoking discussion about the rapidly evolving M&A landscape in the banking sector and predictions for 2025. Host Ed Vincent welcomed Joseph Fenech, founder and Chief Information Officer of GenOpp Capital Management, to unpack the trends and strategies shaping this pivotal moment in banking consolidation. The episode highlighted the forces driving a surge in M&A activity, the differing dynamics for community and regional banks, and key strategies for a successful transaction. 

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SRA Watchtower's Risk Intel Podcast has become a leading resource for financial institutions and risk professionals seeking actionable insights into enterprise risk management (ERM). Hosted by Ed Vincent, CEO of SRA Watchtower, the podcast covers critical topics such as integrated risk management, data governance, and the role of technology in transforming risk practices. Whether you're a seasoned CRO or just stepping into the risk management field, these episodes provide valuable expertise from industry leaders. To wrap up season 2, we issued a poll to our audience and internal team members to find out what everyone's top 10 episodes were from 2024. Ed hosted SRA Watchtowers, VP of Marketing and producer of the Risk Intel Podcast, Ryan Donelson, and Niki White, Chief Growth Officer to walk us through the top 10 list and share their key takeaways. 

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Season 2 | Ep. 51: Using Data as a Strategic Asset (Part 2) Governance Frameworks

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In season two's 50th episode of The Risk Intel Podcast, host Ed Vincent, sat down with Jeff Fink, CEO and Co-founder of Lumio Insight, to share his view on the evolving role of data in financial institutions. Drawing on his extensive experience in data management, Jeff outlined how organizations can transform data into a strategic asset, unlocking its full potential to improve customer experiences, enhance operational efficiency, and manage risk effectively. Listen to the full episode to learn more!

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