Calculated Risk
APRIL 30, 2025
From the BEA: Gross Domestic Product, 1st Quarter 2025 (Advance Estimate) Real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased at an annual rate of 0.3 percent in the first quarter of 2025 (January, February, and March), according to the advance estimate released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter of 2024, real GDP increased 2.4 percent.
Abnormal Returns
APRIL 30, 2025
Markets The U.S. stock market still isn't cheap. (institutionalinvestor.com) Whose stock market is this? (axios.com) Exchanges Europe's stock market is shrinking due to M&A. (giftarticle.ft.com) How NYSE Chicago/Texas makes money. (joesaluzzi.substack.com) SPACs are bouncing back. (news.crunchbase.com) Fund management Target-date funds do what they say they do.
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Calculated Risk
APRIL 30, 2025
From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey Mortgage applications decreased 4.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Associations (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending April 25, 2025. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 4.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.
The Big Picture
APRIL 30, 2025
In this Bonus live edition of Masters in Business, I speak with Harvey Schwartz, CEO of the Carlyle Group. We talk about his New Jersey roots, how his mentors helped him grow on Wall Street and how geopolitics will play a critical role in investor fortunes. We spoke at the Future Proof Miami conference on March 18, 2025. You can stream and download our full conversation, including any podcast extras, on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube , and Bloomberg.
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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
Calculated Risk
APRIL 30, 2025
Here is a graph of the year-over-year change in shelter from the CPI report and housing from the PCE report this morning, both through March 2025. CPI Shelter was up 4.0% year-over-year in March , down from 4.2% in February, and down from the cycle peak of 8.2% in March 2023. Housing (PCE) was up 4.3% YoY in March , down slightly from 4.3% in February and down from the cycle peak of 8.3% in April 2023.
Wealth Management
APRIL 30, 2025
New IRS Circular 230 changes may require USPAP/IVS compliance for business valuations, leading to longer wait times and higher costs for estate planning appraisals.
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Wealth Management
APRIL 30, 2025
Focus Financial Partners CEO Michael Nathanson calls the move a step towards coherence and convergence across the firms business lines.
Calculated Risk
APRIL 30, 2025
Note: Mortgage rates are from MortgageNewsDaily.com and are for top tier scenarios. Thursday: At 8:30 AM ET, The initial weekly unemployment claims report will be released. The consensus is for initial claims of 218 thousand, down from 222 thousand last week. At 10:00 AM ET, ISM Manufacturing Index for April. The consensus is for the ISM to be at 48.1, down from 49.0 in March.
Wealth Management
APRIL 30, 2025
Advisors responding to a $120 price hike on the CFP designation question the value of spending it on marketing campaigns, but supported the designation for their practice.
Calculated Risk
APRIL 30, 2025
The BEA released the Personal Income and Outlays report for March: Personal income increased $116.8 billion (0.5 percent at a monthly rate) in March , according to estimates released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Disposable personal income (DPI)personal income less personal current taxesincreased $102.0 billion (0.5 percent) and personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $134.5 billion (0.7 percent).
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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
Wealth Management
APRIL 30, 2025
B. Riley Financial's wealth management arm is under FINRA examination as the firm grapples with advisor departures, a $2 billion debt load, and ongoing regulatory challenges.
Calculated Risk
APRIL 30, 2025
From ADP: ADP National Employment Report: Private Sector Employment Increased by 62,000 Jobs in April; Annual Pay was Up 4.5% Unease is the word of the day. Employers are trying to reconcile policy and consumer uncertainty with a run of mostly positive economic data, said Dr. Nela Richardson, chief economist, ADP. It can be difficult to make hiring decisions in such an environment. emphasis added This was well below the consensus forecast of 130,000.
Wealth Management
APRIL 30, 2025
The recent market turbulence has investors unsure of the support theyre getting from advisors, while it's pushing many do-it-yourselfers to seek professional help, according to a J.D. Power report.
Calculated Risk
APRIL 30, 2025
From the NAR: Pending Home Sales Jumped 6.1% in March Pending home sales increased 6.1% in March the greatest month-to-month increase since December 2023 (+7.0%) according to the National Association of REALTORS. The Northeast experienced month-over-month losses in transactions, while the Midwest, South and West saw gains, which were most substantial in the South.
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.
Discipline Funds
APRIL 30, 2025
Here are some things I think I am thinking about this week: 1) Does the Negative GDP Mean We’re in a Recession? We got a huge data dump on Wednesday including the first estimate of Q1 GDP which came in marginally negative at -0.3%. Net exports and government subtracted a total of 5.08% with exports making up the majority of that. But you had a lot of conflicting things going on under the surface.
Wealth Management
APRIL 30, 2025
Court of Appeals rules that seeking enforcement of trust distributions doesn't trigger in terrorem clause, even when claiming ownership interest in trust assets.
Harness Wealth
APRIL 30, 2025
For many business founders, the eventual exit from their company represents one of the most significant financial events of their lives. Without proper planning, taxes can unexpectedly take a large bite out of the proceeds, potentially reducing financial security and the legacy. When you understand various exit strategies and their tax implications early, you position yourself to make informed decisions that maximize after-tax value while ensuring a smooth transition.
Wealth Management
APRIL 30, 2025
Recapping some of the recent news in the rapid evolution of the alternative investment space for the wealth channel.
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.
Harness Wealth
APRIL 30, 2025
The very nature of work has undergone a dramatic transformation over the last decade. Gone are the days when a single employer provided the sole source of income for most Americans. In today’s dynamic economy, millions have embraced a diverse portfolio of income streamsfrom traditional employment to creative side hustles, equity compensation, and investment ventures.
Wealth Management
APRIL 30, 2025
Open, honest and candid discussion about staff reductions at EBSA, the Supreme Court hearing an ERISA lawsuit, a $39M judgement against Pentegra and more.
Harness Wealth
APRIL 30, 2025
Self-employed individuals and small businesses may be at greater risk of an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audit than most. No one is immune, however, as the IRS conducts random audits as a matter of course. The people who undergo an audit have been selected due to a number of red flags that the IRSs computer-based system has detected. In this article, well examine the nature of IRS audits, the common audit red flags that result in IRS scrutiny, and how professional tax advisors can help reduce
Wealth Management
APRIL 30, 2025
Morgan Stanley's new North Haven Private Assets Fund offers institutional-quality private equity exposure to a wider audience, with a $25,000 minimum investment and simplified structure.
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.
FMG
APRIL 30, 2025
As a financial advisor, you’re busy. We get it. With everything on your plate, there’s little time left for marketing let alone designing campaigns, editing videos, or writing newsletters. Thats where marketing tools for financial advisors come in. These AI-powered assistants help streamline your workflow and enhance communication. Lets break down some of the best tools in the business that help advisors save time, increase reach, and grow their practice.
Wealth Management
APRIL 30, 2025
As chief business and engagement officer, Ryan Marcus will implement a business development strategy across Binahs three broker/dealerss.
NAIFA Advisor Today
APRIL 30, 2025
Erica McQuade is a government relations expert specializing in federal lobbying and advocacy. With a strong background in political advocacy, she actively engages in legislative initiatives that impact the financial services industry. Erica is a featured speaker at events like the NAIFA Womens Financial Security Fly-In, where she empowers women financial professionals to advocate for their clients and communities.
Wealth Management
APRIL 30, 2025
UBS reports an advisor headcount slip of 1.4% since the end of last year, but says it expected attrition and signals a robust recruiting pipeline.
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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.
A Wealth of Common Sense
APRIL 30, 2025
Today’s Animal Spirits is brought to you by Innovator ETFs by CBOE: See here for more information on Innovator’s outcome oriented ETFs See here for tickets to The Compound and Friends live in Chicago! Get a random Animal Spirits chart here On today’s show, we discuss: As Markets Swooned, Pros Sold–and Individuals Pounced ‘I Could Lose It All Tomorrow’: The Traders Leaning In to Wild.
Advisor Perspectives
APRIL 30, 2025
The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) pending home sales index rose more than expected in March, experiencing its largest monthly increase in over two years. The index came in at 76.5, a 6.1% jump from the previous month but a 0.6% decline from one year ago. Pending home sales were expected to rise 0.9% month-over-month.
Walkner Condon Financial Advisors
APRIL 30, 2025
Walkner Condon discusses how achieve a work-optional lifestyle in retirement. Build financial freedom to choose if and how you want to work in your next life chapter.
Advisor Perspectives
APRIL 30, 2025
Personal income ( excluding transfer receipts ) rose 0.6% in March and is up 3.7% year-over-year. However, when adjusted for inflation using the BEA's PCE Price Index, real personal income (excluding transfer receipts) was up 0.7% month-over-month and up 1.4% year-over-year.
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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?
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