Abnormal Returns
APRIL 15, 2024
Podcasts Daniel Crosby talks about the unique needs of women and money with Lindsey Lewis. (standarddeviationspod.com) Christine Benz and Amy Arnott talk asset allocation and more with Matt Krantz. He is the personal finance and management editor at Investor’s Business Daily. (morningstar.com) The biz Why Dynasty Financial stands since putting plans for an IPO on ice.
The Big Picture
APRIL 11, 2024
Confused about where we are today? A favorite exercise is to go back to first principles to consider how we got to where we are. (That is a favorite way to find fresh insights). On the equity side, you have to go back a century or so. Equities were considered speculative endeavors, best suited for gamblers and punters. The exceptions? A handful of “Widows & Orphan” stocks, like Ma Bell, some railroads, utilities and the rare bank that was not suffering regular runs.
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Nerd's Eye View
APRIL 10, 2024
Financial advicers are intimately familiar with the phrase, "Past results are not indicative of future performance." Every document that considers the facts around any particular asset class will invariably include that disclaimer, but constructing a portfolio consisting of a mix of equities, fixed income, and other assets requires investors and advicers to make some fundamental assumptions around long-term expected returns and correlations between assets. 3 common assumptions that have driven a
The Irrelevant Investor
APRIL 10, 2024
I want to talk about the feelings we get when putting money to work at all-time highs. But first, a quick programming note. Two of the things I love the most are movies and business. Nobody talks about the intersection of my two favorite topics like Matt Belloni. I read him every week at Puck and listen to him every week on The Ringer’s The Town.
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Technology is rapidly changing the way accountants perform and manage month-end activities. Spreadsheets, email, and shared drives no longer have to slow us down. Join us as we present a "sneak peek" recorded demo of SkyStem's month-end close solution – ART. In under four weeks, your team can start reaping the benefits of month-end close automation by vastly reducing spreadsheets, cut down on reconciliation work, speed up the month-end close, and better manage your remote team.
Calculated Risk
APRIL 11, 2024
The DOL reported : In the week ending April 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 211,000 , a decrease of 11,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 221,000 to 222,000. The 4-week moving average was 214,250, a decrease of 250 from the previous week's revised average.
Financial Advisor Source brings together the best content for financial advisor professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Abnormal Returns
APRIL 12, 2024
Strategy Prospective bond returns are buoying the prospects for a 60/40 portfolio. (axios.com) How indexing came to dominate the investment business. (ritholtz.com) 15 investing principles including 'I believe managing one’s behavior is more important than managing one’s investments.' (betterletter.substack.com) Companies BP ($BP) is the cheapest stock among the giants.
Nerd's Eye View
APRIL 12, 2024
Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that a recent study has found that many small- and mid-sized advisory firms that use "supported independence" platforms for their technology and back-office needs, have the potential to see greater growth in the years ahead given the efficiencies gained (and potential cost savings compared to creating a tech stack and hiring their own staff 'a la carte'), and give aspiring firm
The Irrelevant Investor
APRIL 9, 2024
The most important thing that determines how successful you are in life cannot be quantified. Success is a loaded word that means different things to everyone. At its core, success is happiness. Hard stop. If you’re rich and miserable, you’re not successful. There’s a hierarchy of happiness. At the foundational level is health. Without that, you have nothing.
Advisor Perspectives
APRIL 13, 2024
he current state of the market for renters is akin to being in the eye of a multi-year hurricane. Rents surged in 2021 and 2022, driving a wave of apartment construction that helped to stabilize or even lower prices this year.
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As we step into 2024, the lending landscape evolves rapidly with technology, regulations, and market dynamics driving change. For banks and financial institutions to stay competitive and meet the evolving needs of their customers, these drivers must be understood and engaged with. Lenders can anticipate significant transformation fueled by technological advancements, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer behaviors.
The Big Picture
APRIL 13, 2024
I wanted to share a few thoughts about the new podcast we formally launched in December of last year, At the Money. The idea behind the show: Short, focused conversations with experts about any and all issues that affect you and your money, from spending it to investing it. Think of it as a guided tour of key ideas, sherpaed with the experts who I believe add enormous value to our understanding of how humans do behave — and should behave — around money.
Abnormal Returns
APRIL 9, 2024
Markets Investors are coming to terms with higher short-term interest rates. (nytimes.com) All the narrative rolling around the markets including 'Sticky inflation.' (ft.com) Crypto A spot Bitcoin ETF has provided crypto skeptics cover to get into the business. (barrons.com) The rise in Bitcoin has caused some long term holders to sell. (coindesk.com) Finance Financial institutions are increasingly relying on the public cloud operators.
Nerd's Eye View
APRIL 15, 2024
Growing an advisory firm is no easy task – and advisors who start firms often have few resources to spare (beyond their own knowledge and time), face huge to-do lists, and are required to wear a number of hats. Foremost among their responsibilities is business development, which compels them to seek out prospects who will eventually become clients (so that they can grow their firms, allocate resources accordingly, and do even more financial planning!).
Wealth Management
APRIL 11, 2024
JP Pattinson, wealth manager, vice president of technology and partner at Merit Financial Advisors, has helped shape the rapid expansion of the $10-billion-AUM firm through technology.
Speaker: Joe Buhrmann, MBA, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC® Senior Financial Planning Practice Management Consultant eMoney Advisor
During an era of evolving consumer preferences, the banking sector is undergoing a profound shift. As customers continue to broaden their perspectives, banking professionals must support their customers' financial wellness by providing holistic financial advice that aligns with individual goals and circumstances. Without adapting, financial institutions will find that loyalty may crumble amid uncertainty.
Advisor Perspectives
APRIL 9, 2024
The headline number for the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell to 88.5 in March, the lowest level since 20212. The latest reading was worse than the forecast of 88.8 and marked the 27th straight month the index has been below the series average of 98.0.
A Wealth of Common Sense
APRIL 12, 2024
According to Redfin, we just hit another new all-time high in the median monthly payment (based on current home prices and mortgage rates): The median payment for a new purchase has doubled since 2021. Mortgage rates were back up to 7.4% this week. Nationwide housing prices are still are all-time highs and up around 50% since the end of 2019. There has been this feeling of something has to give for a while now but nothi.
Abnormal Returns
APRIL 14, 2024
Also on the site Some interesting developments in the financial media space. (abnormalreturns.com) Top clicks this week These 15 stocks destroyed the most value in the past decade. (morningstar.com) It's way too easy to mislead someone with charts. (awealthofcommonsense.com) Two things you probably don't need to worry about, including index concentration.
Calculated Risk
APRIL 10, 2024
From the BLS : The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4 percent in March on a seasonally adjusted basis, the same increase as in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.5 percent before seasonal adjustment. The index for shelter rose in March , as did the index for gasoline.
Speaker: Carolina Aponte - Owner and CEO, Caja Holdings LLC
In today's rapidly changing business environment, building a resilient balance sheet is crucial to the survival of any business. A resilient balance sheet allows a company to withstand financial shocks and adapt to changing market conditions. To achieve this, companies need to focus on key strategies such as maintaining adequate liquidity, managing debt levels, diversifying revenue streams, and prioritizing profitability over growth.
Truemind Capital
APRIL 12, 2024
Do you know that direct plans of mutual funds offer much higher returns than regular plans, more than the difference in their expense ratio? To know better, read it till the end. Every mutual fund scheme has two plans to offer – Regular & Direct. Both plans have the same fund manager and the same portfolio. The only difference is the expense ratio.
Advisor Perspectives
APRIL 11, 2024
Wholesale inflation heated up last month but came in slightly lower than expected. The producer price index for final demand increased 0.2% month-over-month (s.a.). On an annual basis, headline PPI accelerated from 1.6% in February to 2.1% in March.
Darrow Wealth Management
APRIL 15, 2024
It goes by many different names: semi-retirement, partial or phased retirement, second career, and so on. But typically, it means the same thing: working in some capacity after retiring early. According to the 2024 State of Retirement Planning Study by Fidelity Investments, the rise of remote and hybrid work has shifted retirement preferences for working Americans under age 42.
Abnormal Returns
APRIL 11, 2024
Books An excerpt from "The Weight of Nature: How a Changing Climate Changes Our Brains" by Clayton Page Aldern. (grist.org) A Q&A with Steven Kurutz author of "American Flannel: How a Band of Entrepreneurs Are Bringing the Art and Business of Making Clothes Back Home." (insidehook.com) Annie Duke talks with Michael Norton, author of "From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions.
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Did you know automating your month-end close can save up to 40% of the time typically spent on manual reconciliations? CFOs and controllers are leveraging SkyStem's workflow management and reconciliation tool to eliminate costly mistakes, ditch manual reconciliations and close faster. Want to know how they do it? Download our Quick Start Guide to a Crystal Clear Close!
Calculated Risk
APRIL 15, 2024
On a monthly basis, retail sales were up 0.7% from February to March (seasonally adjusted), and sales were up 4.0 percent from March 2023. From the Census Bureau report : Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for March 2024, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $709.6 billion, up 0.7 percent from the previous month , and up 4.0 percent above March 2023.
Wealth Management
APRIL 9, 2024
Adopting an adaptive approach to retirement planning acknowledges the dynamic nature of spending patterns and emphasizes flexibility in financial strategies.
Advisor Perspectives
APRIL 10, 2024
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U) released for March puts the year-over-year inflation rate at 3.48%. The latest reading keeps inflation below the 3.74% average since the end of the Second World War for the 10th straight month. However, inflation remains above the 10-year moving average which is now at 2.79%.
A Wealth of Common Sense
APRIL 8, 2024
A reader sent me the following chart asking for my thoughts: I honestly don’t know who the creator of this chart is. I don’t know the intention of it either but the fact that the title contains the word collapse makes it sound scary. Knowing that housing prices in the U.S. are at all-time highs makes this chart seem suspect, but the data checks out.
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Digital platforms can provide you with plenty of solutions, yet many are still intimidated by them. It's time to end that worry and embrace what could make a major difference for your bank. Understanding how they work and how to best utilize them for your banks is key toward success. In this article, Biz2X breaks down all things digital platforms, including the many advantages of embracing them.
Abnormal Returns
APRIL 8, 2024
Strategy It's way too easy to mislead someone with charts. (awealthofcommonsense.com) Once you start humble bragging, it's time to rein things in. (radreads.co) Companies Taiwan Semi ($TSM) is doubling down on its U.S. production plans. (arstechnica.com) The path to a new and improved Paramount Global ($PARA) is complex. (finance.yahoo.com) Global With a rate hike in the books, is Japan's economy finally normalizing?
Calculated Risk
APRIL 8, 2024
From Dodge Data Analytics: Dodge Momentum Index Fell 9% in March The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI), issued by Dodge Construction Network, fell 8.6% in March to 164.0 (2000=100) from the revised February reading of 179.5. Over the month, commercial planning fell 3.2% and institutional planning dropped 17.2%. “In 2023, commercial planning decreased while institutional planning notably improved, sitting 29% above year-ago levels in February 2024.
Wealth Management
APRIL 11, 2024
The news comes just days after the firm revealed that CEO and founder Ron Carson was stepping down from his role to become chairman of the board.
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