ALM First Managing More Than $7 Billion of CU Assets

DALLAS – ALM First Financial Advisors said it now has more than $7 billion under management. The EasCorp CUSO has 90 credit union clients that represent $60 billion in assets. It’s somewhat unique in that it offers credit unions a fee-based service, while many similar companies charge based on assets under management or other measures. ALM First President Emily Hollis said with rates at historic lows it’s adding to tight margins, meaning CUs have to do a better job on the investment side. “It’s very challenging for credit unions with large portfolios to navigate the investment waters and still meet their bottomline goals,” said Hollis. ALM First made a significant investment in sophisticated analytic models to help it forecast what will happen in areas such as mortgage prepayment. “Most credit unions could not afford to invest in these analytical systems..” she said.