“Securian holds a steadfast commitment to its customers, partners, and the broader community by honoring its promises and insuring dependable protection.” – Cynthia Billingsley-Smart

Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Cynthia Billingsley-Smart, Customer Benefit Payments Manager at Securian Financial, whose journey is as inspiring as it is insightful. She has built a career that truly makes an impact, moving from examiner to senior specialist, trainer, auditor, supervisor, and now manager. She discusses what it really means to support credit unions and their members, and Cynthia reflects on Securian's purpose statement to build secure tomorrows.

In our conversation, we talk about how Securian guides the way that they deliver protection products that make a measurable difference when members face unexpected challenges, and Cynthia highlights the fact that partnerships and product innovations aren’t just about offerings; the claims experience is where trust is won or lost. Cynthia also discusses leadership, highlighting the mentors who shaped her path and the principles that she carries forward in her own role.

As we wrap up the episode, Cynthia talks about her love of designer handbags, New Orleans, and the professional book that she recommends—The Digital Mindset, a book which she calls essential reading for anyone navigating today’s rapidly evolving work environment. If you’re curious about how thoughtful leadership, innovative solutions, and member-first approaches intersect in the credit union world, then you will enjoy my conversation with Cynthia Billingsley-Smart!

Securian Financial is the marketing name for Securian Financial Group, Inc., and its
subsidiaries.

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Cynthia:
Cynthia Billingsley-Smart, Customer Benefit Payments Manager at Securian Financial
securian.com
Cynthia: LinkedIn
Securian Financial: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

“To connect with people emotionally is really the key to good work.” – Josh Streufert

Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Josh Streufert, Principal / Creative Director at Strum. Josh starts off by tracing his own path, which includes childhood dreams of archaeology, a strong Indiana Jones phase, film school, history studies, and eventually saying “yes” to a lot of opportunities that led him into creative leadership. It’s a reminder that most meaningful careers aren’t straight lines but are rather collections of curiosity, timing, and a willingness to try things before you fully know where they’ll lead!

In our conversation, Josh and I discuss what Strum does for credit unions and why branding is so much more than just logos and taglines. Josh shares a simple but powerful idea: when products are largely the same, people choose the organization they like best. From there, we get into how storytelling, creativity, and culture shape trust, loyalty, and the overall member experience. A big part of our discussion is also centered around change and burnout, with Josh introducing a mindset shift: moving from being a “gatekeeper” who protects the status quo to a “curator” who actively searches for better answers. He also talks about the concept of an “optimal rate of failure” and why failing occasionally isn’t a weakness but evidence that you’re still growing.

As we wrap up the conversation, Josh shares how he manages a work-life balance, what book he would recommend reading, and why he idolizes a former high school teacher! Enjoy my conversation with Josh Streufert!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Josh:
Josh Streufert, Principal / Creative Director at Strum
strumagency.com
Josh: LinkedIn
Strum: LinkedIn

Book mentioned: Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne
Song mentioned: “Take Five” by Dave Brubeck
TV series mentioned: The Office

“AI is going to be transformational for the credit union industry.” – Steve Rick

Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

Today's episode is the second part of a very special four-part series brought to you by TruStage! My guest on today’s show is Steve Rick, Chief Economist at TruStage. Listen as he takes a good look at what 2026 may have in store for credit unions and the members they serve. We start with where inflation, GDP, and the labor market appear to be heading—as well as why tariffs and immigration policy are likely to show up in everyday prices sooner than expected. Steve explains why inflation could push past 3% in early 2026 and how that reality continues to shape the Federal Reserve’s cautious approach to interest rates.

Steve gets into what many leaders are watching the most closely: rate cuts. He breaks down why the Fed is expected to gradually ease rates throughout 2026, how close we are to what economists consider a “neutral” rate, and why concerns about rising unemployment are guiding such decisions. From there, our conversation turns to credit unions, with Steve sharing his outlook for loan growth, deposits, and earnings, and we talk about consumer uncertainty, the impact of loans made during the ultra-low-rate years, and what all of this means for balance sheets this coming year.

As we wrap up the episode, Steve and I spend time talking about workforce trends and AI, where productivity gains are changing hiring patterns, reshaping call centers and lending teams, and even impacting recent college graduates trying to enter the job market. I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Steve Rick!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Steve:
Steve Rick, Chief Economist of TruStage
trustage.com
Steve: LinkedIn
TruStage: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

In this episode:
[0:52] - Steve reveals how tariffs and tighter immigration push prices higher, potentially lifting inflation above 3% in early 2026.
[2:17] - Expect gradual Fed rate cuts toward a neutral 3% as officials guard against rising unemployment.
[4:05] - Steve explains how loan growth improves to about 5%, while deposits rise 6%.
[5:25] - Earnings improve as margins widen and costs stay in check, with AI playing an expanding role.
[6:48] - AI-driven efficiency slows hiring, cutting projected workforce growth to roughly 1% next year.
[7:59] - Steve further touches upon how recent graduates face tougher entry as unemployment nears 10%.