--- title: Plansmith Blog | forecasting description: forecasting | --- [CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-323-3281](https://www.plansmith.reachproductions.net/project/call-toll-free-1-800-323-3281/) [![Plansmith](https://blog.plansmith.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Plansmith-Logo.png?width=764&height=135&name=Plansmith-Logo.png "Plansmith")](https://www4.plansmith.com) - Solutions - [Budgeting](https://www4.plansmith.com/budgeting/) - [ALM](https://www4.plansmith.com/alm) - [ALM Advisory Services](https://www4.plansmith.com/alm/advisory-services/) - [CECL](https://www4.plansmith.com/cecl/) - [Strategy](https://www4.plansmith.com/strategy/) - [Market Intelligence](https://www4.plansmith.com/market-intelligence/) - Products - [StrategyGPS](https://www4.plansmith.com/strategygps/) - [Compass](https://www4.plansmith.com/compass/) - [BankersGPS](https://www4.plansmith.com/bankersgps/) - Resources - [Blog](https://blog.plansmith.com/) - [Videos](https://plansmith.wistia.com/projects/7qemazkqii) - [Compass Tutorials](https://info.plansmith.com/compass-tutorials) - [Lunch N’ Learn](https://info.plansmith.com/lunch-n-learns) - [Webinars](https://www4.plansmith.com/webinars/) - [About](https://www4.plansmith.com/about/) - [Schedule A Discovery Call](https://www4.plansmith.com/contact-us/) - [CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-323-3281](tel:8003233281) # Plansmith Blog ## [Control Performance: Best Practices for Financial Institutions](https://blog.plansmith.com/control-performance-best-practices-for-financial-institutions) Posted by [Sue West](https://blog.plansmith.com/author/sue-west) on 5/15/23, 12:23 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![control-performance](https://blog.plansmith.com/hubfs/LiquidityIRR%20Postcard%20Bleed%202023.04.10.png)](https://blog.plansmith.com/control-performance-best-practices-for-financial-institutions) A common misconception is that planning is an annual event. Budgeting: setting targets and allocating expenses; true, but what happens next? As life goes on, rates fluctuate, new opportunities for growth appear, and your ever-changing customer expectations must be managed. Your budget, as it was initially locked in, must die and be reborn accordingly. There are several ways to get a better handle on your financial future and get your plan back on track to meet your goals. [Read More](https://blog.plansmith.com/control-performance-best-practices-for-financial-institutions) ## [Why Choose Plansmith for Your Budgeting and Forecasting Needs?](https://blog.plansmith.com/why-choose-plansmith-for-your-budgeting-and-forecasting-needs) Posted by [Megan Plis](https://blog.plansmith.com/author/megan-plis) on 3/6/23, 1:36 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![forecast-budgeting-software](https://blog.plansmith.com/hubfs/Forecasting%20Postcard%20Bleed%202023.03.jpg)](https://blog.plansmith.com/why-choose-plansmith-for-your-budgeting-and-forecasting-needs) With the increasing number of financial planning software options available, it can be difficult to determine which one is the right fit for your organization. That's why it's essential to consider several key factors before making a decision. In this blog, we'll examine how Plansmith's planning suite stands out from the competition and why it could be the perfect choice for your financial institution. [Read More](https://blog.plansmith.com/why-choose-plansmith-for-your-budgeting-and-forecasting-needs) ## [Planning Doesn’t Stop At 5:00 On Friday](https://blog.plansmith.com/planning-doesnt-stop-at-5) Posted by [David Schwieder](https://blog.plansmith.com/author/david-schwieder) on 8/4/21, 12:59 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![reforecasting](https://blog.plansmith.com/hubfs/Concert220.png)](https://blog.plansmith.com/planning-doesnt-stop-at-5) At Plansmith, we focus on not only helping our clients with preparing an annual budget, but identifying the action items involved in making the plan come to fruition. When you work all week helping banks and credit unions do a better job of planning, it’s probably not uncommon to take a step away on the weekend and refresh the batteries. But do we ever really stop planning? Last year, shortly before COVID hit, I was making plans (there’s that word again) to attend a concert at Chicago’s Thalia Hall. Since this was a general admission show, my goal was to arrive early in order to be relatively close to the stage. If you’re a bank or credit union CFO, think of this as my ***desired ROI***. [Read More](https://blog.plansmith.com/planning-doesnt-stop-at-5) ## [Is Compass Advanced Coaching Right For You?](https://blog.plansmith.com/is-compass-advanced-coaching-right-for-you) Posted by [Karen How](https://blog.plansmith.com/author/karen-how) on 1/24/19, 12:22 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![apple-3147063\_1280](https://blog.plansmith.com/hubfs/apple-3147063_1280.jpg)](https://blog.plansmith.com/is-compass-advanced-coaching-right-for-you) As Plansmith’s Director of Client Education, I’m often asked which continuing education programs should I attend and why?  One of my favorite courses that I always recommend is our Compass Advanced Coaching event. Don’t let the title scare you, it’s a great fit for a wide variety of experience levels. [Read More](https://blog.plansmith.com/is-compass-advanced-coaching-right-for-you) ## [The Most Important Variance – Where You Will Be](https://blog.plansmith.com/the-most-important-variance-where-you-will-be) Posted by [Craig Hartman](https://blog.plansmith.com/author/craig-hartman) on 6/25/18, 2:58 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![business-925900\_960\_720-3](https://blog.plansmith.com/hubfs/business-925900_960_720-3.jpg)](https://blog.plansmith.com/the-most-important-variance-where-you-will-be) I was playing golf the other day and, of course, while I’m playing I’m thinking about work, which is a bad idea since I should be concentrating on my game. But I’m always thinking about ways to make planning more effective. My thoughts today were on variance analysis. Everyone uses variance analyses in their board reports to check progress against plan and it is certainly a good check. At board meetings we review our current position relative to last month, year-to-date and last year-to-date, etc. [Read More](https://blog.plansmith.com/the-most-important-variance-where-you-will-be) ## [Budget Reforecasting for Financial Institutions](https://blog.plansmith.com/budget-reforecasting-for-community-banks) Posted by [Roxanne Nikirk](https://blog.plansmith.com/author/roxanne-nikirk) on 10/17/17, 3:08 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![Reforecasting.jpg](https://blog.plansmith.com/hubfs/Reforecasting.jpg)](https://blog.plansmith.com/budget-reforecasting-for-community-banks) Your budgets are finalized. Year end is over. Now what? Our budgeting process gives us an idea of where we think we are headed in the next year. Many times, what we think will happen, is not what happens in reality. After all, if we all had a crystal ball at our disposal, you would not be reading this blog right now (I know I would not be writing it!). [Read More](https://blog.plansmith.com/budget-reforecasting-for-community-banks) ## [Community Bankers: Basel III, Confucius and Tom Hanks](https://blog.plansmith.com/community-bankers-basel-iii-confucius-and-tom-hanks) Posted by [Shawna Brauer](https://blog.plansmith.com/author/shawna-brauer) on 5/11/15, 12:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![BaselIIIConfuciusTomHanks.jpg](https://blog.plansmith.com/hubfs/BaselIIIConfuciusTomHanks.jpg)](https://blog.plansmith.com/community-bankers-basel-iii-confucius-and-tom-hanks) Much like you, over the last couple of years I have spent a lot of time trying to get a handle on the impact of Basel III. I have spent countless hours attending webinars, reviewing Basel III drafts, running numbers, and figuring out how we should accommodate those changing needs within our software. During this process, I’ve found myself continually thinking about the following quote: "Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated." - Confucius [Read More](https://blog.plansmith.com/community-bankers-basel-iii-confucius-and-tom-hanks) [All posts](https://blog.plansmith.com/all) ### Subscribe Now! ### Posts by Tag - [community bank planning (55)](https://blog.plansmith.com/topic/community-bank-planning) - [community bank strategy (52)](https://blog.plansmith.com/topic/community-bank-strategy) - [community bank (49)](https://blog.plansmith.com/topic/community-bank) - [credit union planning (47)](https://blog.plansmith.com/topic/credit-union-planning) - [community bank budget software (45)](https://blog.plansmith.com/topic/community-bank-budget-software) - [budgeting (42)](https://blog.plansmith.com/topic/budgeting) - [community bank budgeting (42)](https://blog.plansmith.com/topic/community-bank-budgeting) - [interest rate risk (35)](https://blog.plansmith.com/topic/interest-rate-risk) - 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