Wed.Mar 19, 2025

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FOMC Statement: No Change to Fed Funds Rate; "Uncertainty Increased"

Calculated Risk

Fed Chair Powell press conference video here or on YouTube here , starting at 2:30 PM ET. FOMC Statement: Recent indicators suggest that economic activity has continued to expand at a solid pace. The unemployment rate has stabilized at a low level in recent months, and labor market conditions remain solid. Inflation remains somewhat elevated. The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 percent over the longer run.

Economics 262
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Lincoln Financial Teams with Bain Capital, Partners Group to Join Evergreen Fund Arms Race

Wealth Management

Lincoln Financial has unveiled two evergreen fund filingsfocused on private credit and royaltiesas it teams with Bain Capital and Partners Group.

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FOMC Projections: GDP Revised Down, Inflation Revised Up

Calculated Risk

Statement here. Fed Chair Powell press conference video here or on YouTube here , starting at 2:30 PM ET. Here are the projections. In December, the FOMC participants midpoint of the target level for the federal funds rate was around 3.875% at the end of 2025 (3.6%-4.1%) and the long run range was 2.8% to 3.6%. The FOMC participants midpoint of the target range is now at 4.0% at the end of 2025 (3.9%-4.4%) and the long run range is 2.6% to 3.6%.

Banking 179
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401(k) Real Talk Episode 144: March 19, 2025

Wealth Management

Open, honest and candid discussion about mass layoffs at the DOL, the use of ESG funds, ARS acquired, the Wealthies and more.

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Live Demo - Supercharge your Month End Close

Automation generally supercharges any process and brings its value to the forefront. See how infusing automation such as ART (our month-end close solution), into your close can get you to the next level of closing. We will share a live demo of SkyStem's solution, ART and share the key elements of month-end close automation. Through ART, we'll take a look at: What month-end close automation entails Which process steps can and should be automated Benefits of achieving process automation, and Why i

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LA Ports: February Inbound Traffic Up YoY, Outbound Down

Calculated Risk

Container traffic gives us an idea about the volume of goods being exported and imported - and usually some hints about the trade report since LA area ports handle about 40% of the nation's container port traffic. The following graphs are for inbound and outbound traffic at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in TEUs (TEUs: 20-foot equivalent units or 20-foot-long cargo container).

Retail 147
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Innovations from Syntax Data

Wealth Management

Syntax is making waves in the wealth management space with its newly launched portfolio creation tool, now actively used by over 110 investment professionals.

More Trending

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Morgan Stanley Plans About 2,000 Job Cuts to Keep a Lid on Costs

Wealth Management

Morgan Stanley's 15,000 financial advisors will not be impacted by the layoffs.

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Four Questions To Discover ‘Actual’ Risk Tolerance Differences In Couples

Nerd's Eye View

Measuring a client's risk tolerance is both an art and a science. Beyond assessing how a client feels in the moment, advisors must evaluate a client's long-term behavioral tendencies, actual risk capacity, and financial goals – all of which require considerable time and skill. These dynamic complexities multiply when working with couples, where each partner has unique preferences and traits and may influence the other's risk-taking behaviors.

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Ten Advisor Movement Predictions for 2025

Wealth Management

With the 2024 recruiting headwinds behind us, advisor transitions are expected to look much different in 2025, according to a new report from Diamond Consultants.

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Morningstar: How Not to Invest

The Big Picture

I chatted with Morningstar’s Christine Benz and Amy C. Arnott about the new book — they ask a lot of great questions. We discussed conceptual frameworks, how investing canbe like physics or law, and what made me write the book. It was a really good convo… Full transcript here. Source : Barry Ritholtz: How Not to Invest Christine Benz and Amy C.

Investing 147
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2025 Industry Index: How Top Advisors Are Scaling Smarter (and Faster) This Year

Where are top advisors focusing in 2025? AcquireUp’s 2025 Industry Index reveals it all. Based on insights from 200+ financial professionals nationwide, discover why 74% say seminars and referrals deliver the best ROI, how automation is helping advisors scale faster, and why only 8% are tapping into niche marketing (a major growth opportunity!). Whether you're refining your client acquisition strategy or scaling your practice, this report gives you the real-world data, benchmarks, and action ste

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Solana ETFs Are Coming to Wall Street in Latest Crypto Push

Wealth Management

The Volatility Shares Solana ETF (SOLZ) will track Solana futures while the Volatility Shares 2X Solana ETF (SOLT) will offer twice the leveraged exposure.

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Three Things – Avoiding Mistakes

Discipline Funds

Here are some things I think I am thinking about this week: 1) How NOT To Invest. Barry Ritholtz is out with a new book called “How Not to Invest” I loved this one. We spend a lot of time in the investment world talking about all the optimal ways to invest. But investing is what we all call a loser’s game. That is, you don’t need to win by having the optimal winning strategy.

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UBS Client Says His Wife Moved In With Their Wealth Advisor. It Got Messy

Wealth Management

The drama spotlights an issue that has long bedeviled U.S. financial firms: when brokers or investment advisors have personal or intimate relationships with their clients.

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Charitable Gift Annuities – Creative Solutions for Different Donor Needs

NAIFA Advisor Today

Charitable gift annuities (CGAs) offer a unique way for donors to achieve their philanthropic goals while securing a reliable income stream. Increasingly, nonprofits, donors, and financial professionals are leveraging CGAs to meet a variety of financial and charitable objectives with a single gift. Simple to establish and available in multiple formats, CGAs can even be funded through a qualified charitable distribution (QCD), making them a versatile tool for charitable planning.

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Data Talks, CFOs Listen: Why Analytics Are Key To Better Spend Management

Speaker: Claire Grosjean, Global Finance & Operations Executive

Finance teams are drowning in data—but is it actually helping them spend smarter? Without the right approach, excess spending, inefficiencies, and missed opportunities continue to drain profitability. While analytics offers powerful insights, financial intelligence requires more than just numbers—it takes the right blend of automation, strategy, and human expertise.

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Minority RIA Investors Seek to Offer Financial Backing That Doesn't Impede on Independence

Wealth Management

At Future Proof Citywide in. Miami, minority investment platforms touted the chance for RIAs to seed a stake in return for support but not control.

Investing 242
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Best Ad Practices That Work for Marketing Financial Advisor Services

Indigo Marketing Agency

Best Ad Practices That Work for Marketing Financial Advisor Services One of the most surefire ways of growing a business fast and keeping a steady stream of leads coming in is with advertising. The major media platforms, like Meta, LinkedIn, and Instagram, make money from advertisers. So they want you to be successful when you advertise with them. The only downer is that too many small business advertisers lose money on ads.

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Sequoia Brings M&A Counsel Michael Marhofer In House

Wealth Management

Michael Marhofer, who advised the serial $22.6 billion RIA acquirer on 11 transactions, will now be an executive VP and general counsel for Sequoia.

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How Wealthfront’s Tax-Loss Harvesting Performed in 2024

Wealthfront

At Wealthfront, our focus on optimizing your after-tax returns is one of the key factors that sets us apart from other robo-advisors. We estimate our clients have saved about $1 billion in taxes over the last decade. Weve written before that tax-loss harvesting is arguably the most valuable service a robo-advisor can provide, and weve […] The post How Wealthfronts Tax-Loss Harvesting Performed in 2024 appeared first on Wealthfront Blog.

Taxes 52
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What Your Financial Statements Are Telling You—And How to Listen!

Speaker: David Worrell, CFO, Author & Speaker

Your financial statements hold powerful insights—but are you truly paying attention? Many finance professionals focus on the income statement while overlooking key signals hidden in the balance sheet and cash flow statement. Understanding these numbers can unlock smarter decision-making, uncover risks, and drive long-term success. Join David Worrell, accomplished CFO, finance expert, and author, for an engaging, nontraditional take on reading financial statements.

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Quarterly Market Update Webinar – April 2025

Tobias Financial

Join us on Tuesday, April 15th at 12:30 PM Eastern for our Quarterly Market Update Webinar. When: Tuesday, April 15th at 12:30 PM Eastern Registration: Click here to register. Cost: Complimentary After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the webinar. We look forward to your attendance.

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Musk’s xAI Startup Joins Microsoft-BlackRock $30 Billion AI Fund

Advisor Perspectives

Microsoft Corp., the biggest backer of Sam Altman’s OpenAI, and BlackRock Inc., which has an executive on the artificial intelligence startup’s board, are joining forces with one of its chief rivals.

Startup 72
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PlanSponsor: Selecting an OCIO: What every organization needs to know

SEI

A sophisticated OCIO can adapt their approach to reflect each clients unique risk tolerance and long-term objectives. Read more about selecting on OCIO.

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How to Put the Power of Direct Indexing at Your Fingertips

Advisor Perspectives

Customization is an integral part of direct indexing. The technology behind it can make or break the experience for clients and advisors alike. We dive into the features and functions that make the best tools.

Clients 59
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How to Avoid Pitfalls In Automation: Keep Humans In the Loop

Speaker: Erroll Amacker

Automation is transforming finance but without strong financial oversight it can introduce more risk than reward. From missed discrepancies to strained vendor relationships, accounts payable automation needs a human touch to deliver lasting value. This session is your playbook to get automation right. We’ll explore how to balance speed with control, boost decision-making through human-machine collaboration, and unlock ROI with fewer errors, stronger fraud prevention, and smoother operations.

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Credit for diversification or diversification of credit?

SEI

The benefits to diversifying your portfolio within credit include risk mitigation, reduced reliance on equities and more. Get SEI's analysis of credit sector correlation.

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Fed’s Interest Rate Decision: March 19, 2025

Advisor Perspectives

The Federal Reserve concluded its second meeting of the year by keeping the federal funds rate (FFR) at 4.25-4.50%, as expected.

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Fixed income investing: Staying focused in uncertain times

SEI

Although we are still in the early days of 2025, investors are already facing increasing challenges as markets are characterized by volatility, interest rate risk, and (most of all) uncertainty. For some, its a time of panic. For us, its a time of reflection.

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Google's $32 Billion for Cloud Upstart Is a Leap of Faith

Advisor Perspectives

It’s not often you see big tech firms getting pushed around. Upstart Wiz Inc. has just squeezed Google owner Alphabet Inc. to pony up $32 billion for a privately owned five-year-old cybersecurity firm.

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Book of Secrets on the Month-End Close

Based off SkyStem's popular e-Book, the book of secrets to the month-end close will be revealed in this one-hour webinar. Learn leading practices when it comes to building a strong and sustainable month-end close that has room to grow and evolve. Learn about the power of precise estimates, why reconciliations are critical to closing the books, how and when to automate, and how the chart of accounts play into your close process.

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Are You Killing Your Flow with These Common Self-Interruptions?

Leading Advisor

Financial advisors thrive on focus and productivity, but common self-interruptions can derail even the best plans. These interruptions, often unintentional, can limit your ability to… The post Are You Killing Your Flow with These Common Self-Interruptions? appeared first on Leading Advisor - Simon Reilly.

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Investors Look for Fed’s Take on Growth After US Bond Rally

Advisor Perspectives

Bond investors will look for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to hit just the right notes in his Wednesday remarks to keep up the momentum behind a rally in the $29 trillion Treasury market.

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Is Your Financial Confidence Holding You Back?

Zoe Financial

Is Your Financial Confidence Holding You Back? Published: March 20th, 2025 Reading Time: 6 minutes Written by: The Zoe Team Have you ever stood in a grocery aisle, staring at a wall of options, unable to pick one? Its a simple choice, yet the sheer number of possibilities makes it overwhelming. Now imagine that feelingbut with your finances. A recent survey conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Zoe found that over half of Americans (53%) feel financially frozenstuck, overwhelmed, or unsure a

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Cathie Wood Sells Meta Shares for First Time in Nearly a Year

Advisor Perspectives

Cathie Wood’s Ark Investment Management LLC is cutting its stake in Meta Platforms Inc. for the first time in around a year, the latest sign of a downturn in fortunes for big US tech stocks.

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Stop Falling Short When It Matters Most—The Elite Advisor’s Playbook to Success

Like being inches from the end zone, many advisors are frustratingly close to their next level of success. You work hard. You put in the hours. But if your closing rate is stuck or your pipeline feels like a revolving door… something has to change. Most advisors are just one small shift away from dramatically increasing their revenue. The difference?