The Big Picture

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

The Fed is done. It’s unimaginable that they will do anything at the September FOMC meeting, and barring any radical change in the data, it’s unlikely they will be doing anything in November. I have been saying since June 2022 that inflation had peaked; the data has been leaning that way since May 2022. If you were watching the video instead of the still pic , it was apparent that the biggest risk to the economy then was less rising prices than a tardy FOMC over-tightening.

Economy 306

Economy 306

Abnormal Returns

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

The biz For some people podcasts have been the soundtrack of their everyday lives. (washingtonpost.com) The top 10 podcasts for CEOs in 2023 including 'How I Built This.' (readwrite.com) Ten of the best science and technology podcasts including 'Science Vs.' (newscientist.com) Five evergreen podcasts including 'Gastropod.' (readtrung.com) Finance Barry Ritholtz talks with Vanguard's CIO Greg Davis.

Wealth Management 230

Wealth Management Management Investing Investments 230

Nerd's Eye View

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the state's fiduciary rule for broker-dealers can stand, potentially opening the door for other states to impose similar standards that exceed the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Regulation Best Interest rule.

Financial Planner 192

Financial Planner Strategic Planning Retirement Planning Retirement 192

Abnormal Returns

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

August 2023 How major asset classes performed in August 2023. (capitalspectator.com) A summary of S&P Dow Jones index returns in August 2023. (on.spdji.com) Rates The bond market is completely different that it was a year ago. (awealthofcommonsense.com) U.S Treasury bonds are no track for their third straight year of losses. (markets.businessinsider.com) Companies How retailers have responded to the post-pandemic era.

Financial Advising 220

Financial Advising Advertising Economy Retail 220

Speaker: Nancy Wu, Head of Sales and Customer Success at SkyStem

Join us for an enlightening webinar as we delve into the transformative realm of modern accounting practices. In today's digital age, the convergence of outsourcing and automation has revolutionized how businesses manage their financial operations. In this webinar we will explore the synergistic potential of these two strategies to streamline processes, enhance accuracy, save cost and drive strategic decision-making.

Accounting

The Big Picture

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Hey, it’s September! Kick off the new month with our end-of-week 3-day weekend reads: • Rates Are Up. We’re Just Starting to Feel the Heat. Homeowners. Car buyers. Landlords. Big businesses. Here’s who stands to lose—and in some surprising cases, win—as interest rates stay high in the years ahead. ( Wall Street Journal ) • Little evidence that a spot bitcoin ETF would expand the market : BlackRock’s application and Grayscale’s court victory stirred the crypto world, but such investment veh

Strategic Planning 130

Strategic Planning Consulting Investing Investments 130

NAIFA Advisor Today

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month, a 20-year tradition created and coordinated by NAIFA partner Life Happens and commemorated by the entire life insurance industry, elected officials , and consumers across the country. The goal of LIAM is to put the importance of life insurance front-of-mind for a greater number of Americans and help more people get the coverage they need so their loved ones are protected financially.

Insurance 122

Insurance Numbers 122

Calculated Risk

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

The headline jobs number in the August employment report was at expectations, however, employment for the previous two months was revised down by 110,000, combined. The participation rate increased, and the employment population ratio was unchanged, and the unemployment rate increased to 3.8%. The increase in the unemployment rate was due to the increase in the participation rate as 736 thousand people jointed the labor force in August.

Numbers 115

Numbers Economics Manufacturing 115

Wealth Management

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Two new players enter the RIA space; Baird adds a bank team with half a billion in assets; and Creative Planning and Focus Financial both make big announcements.

Banking 117

Banking Assets Planning 117

Calculated Risk

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Note: Mortgage rates are from MortgageNewsDaily.com and are for top tier scenarios. Due to changes at the CDC, weekly cases are no longer updated. After the first few weeks, the pandemic low for weekly deaths had been the week of July 7, 2021, at 1,690 deaths (until recently). Recently hospitalizations have more than doubled from a low of 5,150 in June 2023.

Numbers 107

Numbers 107

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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.

Banking

Advisor Perspectives

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

The S&P 500 rallied most of the week but finished August in the red. The index rose 2.50% from last Friday, marking two consecutive weekly gains. The index is currently up 18.09% year to date and is 5.85% below its record close from January 3, 2022.

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105

Trade Brains

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Fundamental Analysis of Talbros Automotive: India has one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. This rapid growth, combined with rising incomes, greater infrastructure spending, and increased manufacturing incentives, has boosted the vehicle sector, resulting in the expansion of the auto component business. Some successful investors, such as Vijay Kedia and Dolly Khanna, have chosen to keep their investment in a particular stock in this industry.

Planning 105

Planning Manufacturing Accounting Portfolio 105

Wealth Management

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Many who custody with one or both have seen no major hiccups so far, while some smaller, TD-only firms expressed confusion and frustration.

Accounting 120

Accounting 120

A Wealth of Common Sense

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Rob Isbitts at ETF.com says Jerome Powell’s speech at Jackson Hole is bad news for 60/40 investors: For nearly two decades, investment advisors and self-directed investors came to understand and appreciate “asset allocation” as a complementary combination of stocks and bonds. When rates were falling, bond prices were rising and the stock market was driving higher in those easier credit conditions, that c.

Asset Allocation 98

Asset Allocation Portfolio Investment Advisor Assets 98

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.

Financial Advice

Wealth Management

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

RIAs and consultants discuss the opportunities and obstacles advisors face when breaking away from the wirehouses and what buyers are looking for.

Consulting 107

Consulting 107

Alpha Architect

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Full exposure to domestic equities. Full exposure to international equities. No exposure to REITs. Partial exposure to commodities. No exposure to intermediate-term bonds. DIY Trend-Following Allocations: September 2023 was originally published at Alpha Architect. Please read the Alpha Architect disclosures at your convenience.

Asset Allocation 89

Asset Allocation Assets 89

Wealth Management

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Eric Ervin, CEO of Onramp Invest, recently acquired by Securitize, discusses wealth management in the age of digital assets.

Assets 107

Assets Wealth Management Investing Investments 107

Discipline Funds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

I’ve previously referred to the current interest rate structure in the banking system as a “golden guillotine” That is, while low interest rates are “golden handcuffs” for borrowers who locked in long duration short rates, the counterparty to this trade is sitting in a golden guillotine as they earn a very low rate of interest on a long duration loan that they now need to trade to someone else at a huge loss.

Marketing 82

Marketing Marketing Economy Banking 82

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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.

Banking

Calculated Risk

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

From the BLS : Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 187,000 in August, and the unemployment rate rose to 3.8 percent , the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment continued to trend up in health care, leisure and hospitality, social assistance, and construction. Employment in transportation and warehousing declined. The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for June was revised down by 80,000, from +185,000 to +105,000, and the change for July was revised down by

Transportation 80

Transportation 80

Advisor Perspectives

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) rose to 47.6 in August. The latest figure marks the tenth consecutive month the index has been in contraction territory after a 29-month period of growth dating back to June 2020. The August reading was above the forecast of 47.0.

Manufacturing 69

Manufacturing Management 69

Calculated Risk

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Wards Auto released their estimate of light vehicle sales for August: August U.S. Light-Vehicle Sales Rise but Miss Expectations (pay site). Lean inventory, elevated prices and lukewarm incentives, combined with rising interest rates, could be keeping more buyers out of the market. Some could be waiting for more deals which often was the case in the summer months in most years prior to the pandemic’s start in 2020, as automakers and dealers offloaded excess inventory before widespread availabili

Sales 68

Sales Marketing Marketing 68

Advisor Perspectives

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

The August S&P Global US Manufacturing PMI™ fell to 47.9 from 49.0 in July, signaling a stronger downturn in operating conditions. The August reading was higher than the expected 47.0 reading.

Manufacturing 59

Manufacturing 59

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Accounting

Calculated Risk

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

From BofA (last week estimate): Altogether, this decreased our 2Q GDP tracking estimate by one-tenth to 2.4% q/q saar (seasonally adjusted annual rate) and increased it by a one-tenth for 3Q to 2.8% q/q saar [Aug 24th estimate] emphasis added From Goldman: We boosted our Q3 GDP tracking estimate by one tenth to +2.9% (qoq ar) and our Q3 domestic final sales growth forecast by the same amount to +2.8%.

Sales 61

Sales 61

Advisor Perspectives

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

There is a general belief that there are four big indicators that the NBER Business Cycle Dating Committee weighs heavily in their cycle identification process. This commentary focuses on one of those indicators, nonfarm employment. August saw a 187,000 increase in total non-farm payrolls and the unemployment rate rose to 3.8%. The forecast was for 170,000 jobs gained and for the unemployment rate to hold steady at 3.5%.

Economics 59

Economics 59

Calculated Risk

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Freddie Mac House Price Index Increased in July to New High; Up 2.9% Year-over-year; Black Knight Index Hits New High, but "Mixed signals" A brief excerpt: On a year-over-year basis, the National FMHPI was up 2.9% in July, from up 1.6% YoY in June. The YoY increase peaked at 19.2% in July 2021. In July, 14 states and D.C. were below their previous peaks, Seasonally Adjusted.

Sales 61

Sales 61

Advisor Perspectives

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

As of August 31, 2023, the 10-year note was 373 basis points above its historic closing low of 0.52% reached on August 4, 2020.

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64

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Creating a winning digital lending experience requires plenty of focus on the needs of customers and more. Biz2X Chief Product Officer Aaron Traub covers everything from how to create such an experience, areas to hone in on, pitfalls to avoid, and plenty more in this insightful article. Discover how to utilize new technology without alienating existing customers, what to emphasize when working on your platform, and how to utilize the data at your disposal while not becoming overly reliant on it.

Communication

Gen Y Planning

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Open enrollment is just around the corner for many of our clients, so we’re gearing up to help them choose their company benefits. This is one of the ways we save our clients the most money: by revamping their company benefits. Maybe you chose your company benefits a few years ago and haven’t looked at them since. Well, I highly encourage you to pull out that giant booklet and start reading.

Insurance 52

Insurance Planning Medical Healthcare 52

Investing Caffeine

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

The Federal Reserve has a “ dual mandate ” designed to “foster economic conditions that achieve both stable prices and maximum sustainable employment.” The “dual mandate” is obviously a moving target, but it appears for now, based on the Fed’s explicit goals, Fed Chairman, Jerome Powell, has accomplished the central bank’s mission. More specifically, inflation, according to the just-reported BEA’s (Bureau of Economic Analysis) GDP Price Deflator statistics, has plummeted dramatically to the Fe

Economics 52

Economics Economy Government CFP 52

Carson Wealth

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

We’ve all heard the latest news about China’s economic slow-down. Discover what Carson Group’s Chief Market Strategist Ryan Detrick and VP, Global Macro Strategist Sonu Varghese have to say about the headlines. Highlights include: Just how much is China’s economy slowing down? Will China’s economic troubles hurt the U.S. economy? What is China doing (and not doing) to improve their economy?

Economics 52

Economics Economy Investing Investments 52