Rate Risk is a Big Risk—Play Smart [VIDEO]
Guessing interest rates is not a strategy. Here’s how top community banks remove rate risk and stay profitable.
Welcome to the Top 5 Percenter™ Blog
The Three Can’t–Miss Pieces of a Functional Strategic Plan
Yes…it’s true.
It’s time once again to create a strategic plan for next year.
It’s time to create that ‘master plan’ that will make next year your BEST YEAR EVER.
If you just sighed or rolled your eyes, then you’re one of the many community bankers that have suffered through strategic planning year after year only to see the plan forgotten, ignored, or poorly implemented.
Many banks with well-meaning, talented people fail to successfully create and implement a strategic plan that produces the desired results.
So what is causing these plans to fall through the cracks?
Truth is—there are a number of reasons and every bank is different.
BUT there are 3 crucial pieces to a functional strategic plan that almost ALL bankers miss.
Watch this short video I’ve put together to discover what today’s bankers are missing when it comes to strategic planning.
This video gives you very high-level information that will help you create a strategic plan that works IF implemented correctly.
Unfortunately, implementation is where most banks run into trouble. For banker’s that are serious about creating a bullet-proof strategic plan for next year, I’ve put together a little something extra.
After watching today’s video, download my FREE On-Demand Audio Training where I reveal the Strategic Planning Secrets of the Most Successful Community Banks in America.
On this exclusive audio training you’ll discover:
- Three ways the regulators will dissect your plan, plus, how to know now if your plan will measure up
- Why almost every bank misses the mark with their mission and vision statements.
- How to “diagnose” your current plan and what to do to fix it, to ensure completion of all plan elements next year.
- What to do when your progress stalls. (Note: This little secret could be what saves your year next year.)
- A “blueprint” for an effective strategic plan.
More From The Blog
Why Community Banking Matters—Especially at Christmas [VIDEO]
A Christmas reflection on why community banking matters—and why your leadership impact extends far beyond transactions.
Life in the World of Over-Regulation [VIDEO]
Top banks don’t complain about regulation—they execute around it. Here’s how the elite outperform anyway.
Why Is It So Important to Hold On to Low Cost Deposits [VIDEO]
Low-cost deposits are the ultimate margin advantage. Discover how top 5% performers attract them consistently—and why most banks fail to compete.
Can Strategic Thinking Be Taught or Nurtured [VIDEO]
Banks don’t fail from a talent shortage—they fail from a thinking shortage. Discover how critical-thinking systems like the SIR Formula build your future executives now.
A State of Gratitude [VIDEO]
A powerful Thanksgiving message on how gratitude shifts leadership presence, reframes pressure, and strengthens your bank’s performance culture.
How to Tie Everyone to Profit [VIDEO]
Most employees believe they’re top performers but can’t show how they drive profit. This episode shows how to tie every role to the bottom line, boost profit per FTE, and build a high‑performance culture in your community bank.
The Dangers of False-Attempt Sales Training [VIDEO]
Traditional sales training fails because it focuses on tactics, not transformation. Discover how to shift from sales training to sales culture and achieve lasting growth.
Master the Four Levels of USPs [VIDEO]
Escape commodity pricing. This episode shows how Level-4 USPs—proprietary, client-valued processes—let community banks command +150–200 bps and keep deposits loyal.
Stop Matching the Competition [VIDEO]
Rate matching drains margin. Install USPs that matter, differentiate, and promise explicit benefits—so buyers pay more without a price match.