Speaking of Business podcasts* help you keep up with the most current

thought leadership about information that can impact your business!

Right click on any podcast title below to download it to:

The two podcasts below feature experienced leaders in professional services fields (accounting and law firms) teaming with NexTier to present podcasts about their expertise:

11/6/2009 - Smart Strategies for Business Owners in Today's Economy - Success in business is not an accident - it's a planned event. Is your business - from manufacturer to professional services firm - weathering the storm and creating opportunity in today's economic environment? You'll find the answers in this podcast, for which NexTier partnered with Thomas W. Lusk, Ph.D., from accounting firm McCrory & McDowell, LLC. Asking him questions about cash strategies, people, and how to grow your business is Mark GaNung, NexTier Bank's Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Officer.

9/2009 - Choosing Beneficiaries:  Opportunities, Pitfalls and Fact vs. Fiction - A discussion of trusts and legal issues with

regard to beneficiary designations, featuring Doug DeNardo, Esq. from Rothman Gordon, PC and Mark Lumley, VP, Trust Administration for NexTier Wealth Management. Featured topics: Titling of assets, Tax/non-tax consequences, Effect on probate, Proper coordination of beneficiary designations with estate plan, Income tax issues, Minors or incapacitated persons, Avoiding probate - what you save and is it necessary, Pitfalls of "do it yourself" estate planning, Joint accounts and distribution, Putting the house in the kids names, and the increase in taxes payable.

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Previous Podcasts

Business Advisory Boards

8/2009 - Why would a successful business owner want to be on an advisory board to help other businesses?

How can businesses (and family businesses) benefit from the outside perspective of an advisory board? Pittsburgh entrepreneur and businessman Craig Esterly shares the story of his participation in numerous advisory boards and cites the advantages that accompany this type of business commitment.

Annual Economic & Investment Outlooks

2/2009 2009 Economic & Investment Outlook - "It's Always Darkest before the Dawn" - This is a live recording of NexTier's annual event at the Regional Learning Alliance, which kicks off its Business Learning Series for the upcoming year. Dan Crawford SVP, NexTier Wealth Management, grades the past year's performance and looks at what's ahead in 2009 for the economy and investments.

1/2008 2008 Economic and Investment Forecast - This live recording at the Regional Learning Alliance features three presentations and a panel Q&A discussion: Christopher Briem, regional economist at the University of Pittsburgh, provides a local and regional look at the economy; Dan Crawford SVP, NexTier Wealth Management, looks at the national picture and what's ahead in 2008 for the economy and investments; and Andrew Seibert, portfolio manager for NexTier Wealth Management, discusses the challenges facing financial institutions and the housing market from both economic and investment perspectives.

1/2007 Where are we Going as a Region?  2007 Local & Regional Economic Outlook - Part 1 - A presentation about current and future events in our regional economy that can affect regional business. Providing food for thought is presenter Christopher Briem, a regional economist with the Center for Social and Urban Research at the University of Pittsburgh, who has his finger on the pulse of demographic, suburban migration, industry, and workforce trends and scenarios.

1/2007 Where are we Going as a Nation?  2007 National Economic & Investment Outlook - Part 2 - A continuation of the live recording of NexTier's annual event at the Regional Learning Alliance, featuring Chris Briem and NexTier Wealth Management's Dan Crawford. As SVP and Chief INvestment Officer. Crawford looks at what's ahead in 2008 for the economy and in investment strategy from a national perspective. Also featured is a Q&A session.

Quarterly Economic & Investment Outlooks

10/2009 - 4Q 2009 Economic & Investment Outlook - What is the economic forecast for the fourth quarter of 2009 and how does it guide how NexTier Wealth Management manages portfolios for its clients? Listen as Dan Crawford, SVP, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer for NexTier Wealth Management shares the facts, figures, forecasts and insights about what's to come in the fourth quarter.  Call 724-214-5817 for information about their services.

7/2009 - 3Q 2009 Economic & Investment Outlook- How does the current recession compare to previous recessions? When will it end? Dan Crawford, SVP and Chief Investment Officer for NexTier Wealth Management, looks ahead to the third quarter of 2009 and shares his economic and investment outlook about this important time in our financial history.

4/2009 2Q 2009 Economic & Investment Outlook- NexTier Wealth Management looks ahead to the second quarter of 2009 as it begins to unfold in April, 2009. Featured are the opinions and insights of Dan Crawford, SVP and Chief Investment Officer of NexTier's Wealth Management group.

10/2008 4Q 2008 Economic and Investment Outlook - NexTier Wealth Management looks ahead to the fourth quarter of 2008 at this increasingly volatile time for the economy and investments. Featured are the opinions and insights of Dan Crawford, SVP and Chief Investment Officer of NexTier's Wealth Management group.

7/2008 3Q 2008 Economic and Investment Outlook - NexTier Wealth Management looks ahead to the third quarter of 2008 as it begins to unfold in April, 2008. Featured are the opinions and insights of Dan Crawford, SVP and Chief Investment Officer of NexTier's Wealth Management group.

Succession Planning

5/2009 Succession Planning for Businesses (& Family Businesses) - How Long is this Going to Take? - Business owner Larry Galbreath talks about his succession planning process for his business with Rich Snebold of the Family Business Center. Larry is founder and CEO of Penn Fencing, north of Pittsburgh, PA.

10/2007 Easing Into the Future: Smooth Succession Ahead - In the eyes of a viable buyer, having a succession plan can actually increase the potential value of your business. But are you so busy running your business that you do not have time to plan next year, let alone design a future succession plan? Failing to do so has its consequences. This is a recording of a Business Learning Series seminar presented by the Family Business Center.

10/2007 Easing into the Future: Smooth Succession Ahead - Q & A session from the Business Learning Series seminar on succession planning presented by the Family Business Center at NexTier.

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Market Volatility

6/2008 Market Volatility, Investments and Financial Sectors - A discussion of financial stocks by Andrew Seibert, VP and portfolio manager for NexTier Wealth Management and a regular contributor to Bloomberg Radio and TV.

12/2007 Increased Volatility in the Financial Markets: What it Means in 2008 - A timely December 12, 2007 discussion that summarizes the economy and the Federal Reserve Bank's impact on investments - given the growing concern that we could be entering a recession. Where does the Fed stand today and how can it smooth out this volatility? Dan Crawford and Andrew Seibert of NexTier Wealth Management talk about what we can expect in 2008.

Selecting a Financial Advisor

4/2007 How to select the right advisor for your business - A discussion about how family and privately owned businesses can thrive under many circumstances. Hosted by Mark GaNung, SVP of NexTier Wealth Management with Rich Snebold from the Family Business Center at NexTier.

The Bank and Obtaining a Loan

10/2007 Get Your Loan Request Approved! - How should businesses prepare and position themselves for lending decisions and what should businesses expect from a financial service provider? Get the facts from three experts from NexTier Bank's Commercial Lending area. Moderated by Eddie Vargo, SVP of Enterprise Development at NexTier.

Human Resources

6/2009 How to Find and Keep Great Employees - Dr. Jim Hazen, Ph.D., president of human resources consulting company Applied Behavioral Insights, has a conversation about HR issues that can impact business owners - with Rich Snebold from the Family Business Center (located north of Pittsburgh in Cranberry Township, PA) .

7/2007 Recruiting & Retaining Associates - Guest Donna K. Korenich, president of Three Rivers Career Management, discusses recruiting and retaining employees from both hiring and candidate perspectives with Rich Snebold from the Family Business Center.

Strategic Planning and Finance

12/2007 The CFO ...Providing Strategic Clarity - Mike Kirk, SVP and Chief Financial Officer for NexTier, Inc. shares the bottom line on the financial issues that are critical to business success. Mike discusses a comprehensive list that includes: strategic planning, effective forecasting/budgeting/modeling, regulatory reporting, benchmarking, tax law changes, and the post-Enron corporate world. Moderated by Eddie Vargo, SVP of Enterprise Development for NexTier.

Change Management

11/2007 Bringing Order to Chaos: Managing Change in Business - How do you implement organizational change in a positive and effective way through change management and leadership? Al "Punch" Murphy shares insight on this topic. He is the author of the book "Making Change Happen - on Time, on Target and on Budget" and has provided consulting expertise to many large companies seeking to implement change in their organization.

Trust & Fiduciary Services

12/2007 The Value of Using a Corporate Fiduciary to Protect Your Assets- A corporate fiduciary can assist an individual with his or her financial affairs using a bank or a trust department to serve in the capacity of a trustee or executor. Mark Lumley, VP of Trust Administration for NexTier Wealth Management, provides an overview of the benefits of using a fiduciary and discusses the duties with which they are entrusted.

Security for your Business

8/2007 Keeping Your Business Secure at all Costs - Rob Milsom, Director of Security for NexTier, brings many years of experience to a discussion about business and personal security. This includes credit card fraud, employee access to technology and information, facilities security and conducting employee background checks, to name a few. Moderated by Mark GaNung, EVP and Chief Sales Officer for NexTier.

Selling Your Business

3/2007 Looking Ahead: Is Your Business Attractive To A Buyer?- You may want to sell your business one day. An expert panel of strategic partners, featuring equity investors and a merger and acquisition specialist, answers questions about this topic. Featuring: 1) Bob Maruszewski, partner at Key Bridge Partners, a private investment group based in Washington, DC; 2) George Elish, executive vice president of Rosetta Capital Corporation; and 3) Jeff Dewhirst, managing director and co-founder of Dewhirst Warrick LLC, with significant expertise in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, corporate finance and other financial advisory transactions.

Insurance

6/2007 Commercial Insurance Savvy - Eric Ewing, CEO of NexTier Insurance Services, is a keen observer of the condition of the insurance market. He shares his knowledge for business owners about maximizing savings while protecting your business.

5/2008 Middle Market Insurance Buyers: How Do You Save on Premium Costs? An Overview of Deductible Programs, Self-Insured Retentions and Group Captive Programs - Business Learning Series seminar

Eric Ewing, CEO of NexTier Insurance Services, teams up with Steve Thompson from Captive Resources to discuss how businesses with favorable claims experience can reduce insurance costs and lower their renewal premiums with Group Captive programs.

11/2008 What is Construction Bonding? - NexTier Insurance Services provides an overview of construction bonding and how it is relevant for your business.

10/2008 How Can you Become a Bonded Contractor?-  A construction bonding expert from NexTier Insurance Services provides an overview of how you can become a bonded contractor.

9/2008 Tips to Improve Your Existing Bonding Program - NexTier Insurance Services shares tips that can improve your existing bonding program.

4/2008 Consumer Extra: Choose to Save Money on your Auto Insurance - How do you get the most from your premium dollars? The types of auto insurance and the premium you pay are as varied as the cars people drive. Are you aware that companies offer pricing based on various factors? Our experts from NexTier Insurance Services, Amy Schmeider and Carol Green, answer these questions.

3/2008 Consumer Extra:  Is There a Connection Between Your Credit History and Insurance Premiums? - You hear a lot today about credit scores and the connection between credit history and insurance. In what ways is your credit score used to determine your insurability and your premium? Discussing this topic are Amy Schmeider and Carol Green from NexTier Insurance.

2/2008 Consumer Extra: You Have Homeowners & Auto Liability - Do you Need Umbrella Coverage? - NexTier Insurance experts Carol Green and Amy Schmeider discuss how umbrella coverage can protect you financially.

2/2008Consumer Extra: Home Sweet Home: How to Save Money on Homeowners Insurance - Many insurance options are available when it comes to insuring a home, with many factors affecting cost and coverage. With many different types of policies, how do you know which to select? NexTier Insurance experts Amy Schmeider and Carol Green share their knowledge on this topic.

1/2008 Consumer Extra: Beware and Be Aware: Things Not Covered by your Homeowners Insurance - Very few people read their homeowners policy. But a section of the policy lists things that aren't covered, or "exclusions." How do you make sure everything is covered so nothing is forgotten and how do you know what questions to ask? NexTier Insurance experts Amy Schmeider and Carol Green discuss this topic.

*What is Podcasting?
Podcasting is delivery of audio content for a user to listen to at his or her convenience - via iPods, SmartPhones and other portable media players. Podcasts can also be listened to on nearly any computer because they are saved in easily downloadable MP3 format.

*NexTier's podcasts recently received a 2009 "Golden Triangle" Award of Honor from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) in the Communication Management/Social Media category.  IABC's annual awards recognize professional business communications in and around the Pittsburgh area.

DID YOU KNOW... that more than 8,000 NexTier Speaking of Business podcasts have been downloaded?