Calculated Risk
MARCH 7, 2024
From Manheim Consulting today: Wholesale Used-Vehicle Prices Declined in February Wholesale used-vehicle prices (on a mix, mileage, and seasonally adjusted basis) were down in February compared to January. The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index (MUVVI) fell to 203.8, a decline of 13.1% from a year ago. The index was down 0.1% against the month of January 2024.
The Big Picture
MARCH 28, 2024
“Our comforting conviction that the world makes sense rests on a secure foundation: Our almost unlimited ability to ignore our ignorance.” – Daniel Kahneman The loss of Danny Kahneman is a reminder that we should review some of his work and apply them to the current market. I am fascinated by the idea of Narrative Fallacy (the term was actually coined by Nassim Taleb in “ The Black Swan “) and how it applies to pretty much ewverything.
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Wealth Management
MARCH 25, 2024
Reclaim your attention by embracing intentional disconnection.
Abnormal Returns
MARCH 13, 2024
Crypto Travis Kling, "The evidence for the rise of Financial Nihilism is all around us." (epsilontheory.com) How much is Bitcoin worth? Nobody really knows. (wired.com) The spot Bitcoin ETF fee war is here. (etf.com) Finance Why Evercore ($EVR) is outperforming other investment banks. (on.ft.com) There is still a lot of uncertainty around office building valuations.
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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
Nerd's Eye View
MARCH 25, 2024
For the advisor leading a virtual team, the day-to-day can offer a rewarding blend of flexibility, creativity, and productivity; at the same time, though, many of the benefits of remote work can also make it challenging to build a tight-knit team culture. For example, with flexibility comes fewer synchronous interactions, which in turn can result in less innovation, team bonding, and collaboration.
The Big Picture
MARCH 18, 2024
There has been a lot of chatter about magazine covers lately; I thought I might clarify some of the with this post, originally published in Bloomberg on December 27, 2017, along with commentary from Ben and Josh addressing the sdame issue. The key takeaway: The value of the signal here is just about zero. The 2017 Barron’s cover (above) showing Apple’s extravagant new headquarters and suggesting that the company’s market value would reach $1 trillion in 2018 generated some chat
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Calculated Risk
MARCH 6, 2024
From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey Mortgage applications increased 9.7 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending March 1, 2024. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 9.7 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.
Wealth Management
MARCH 29, 2024
In a gender-based look at saving for retirement, the bank found some signs of improvement amid ongoing challenges faced by women.
Wealth Management
MARCH 25, 2024
Proactive succession planning can ensure a smooth transition and continued success.
The Big Picture
MARCH 15, 2024
We sometimes say “Demographics is Destiny,” but that’s abstract. To get a visual sense of what that looks like, see the above chart (via Blackrock ) showing the distribution of various age groups from 2075 to 2050. Note bars in Red are not in the workforce. The post U.S. population distribution, 1975-2050 appeared first on The Big Picture.
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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
Calculated Risk
MARCH 8, 2024
From the BLS : Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 275,000 in February, and the unemployment rate increased to 3.9 percent , the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Job gains occurred in health care, in government, in food services and drinking places, in social assistance, and in transportation and warehousing. The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for December was revised down by 43,000, from +333,000 to +290,000, and the change for January was revised down by 124,000
Calculated Risk
MARCH 28, 2024
The DOL reported : In the week ending March 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 210,000 , a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 210,000 to 212,000. The 4-week moving average was 211,000, a decrease of 750 from the previous week's revised average.
Calculated Risk
MARCH 27, 2024
From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey Mortgage applications decreased 0.7 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending March 22, 2024. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 0.7 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.
Wealth Management
MARCH 14, 2024
The wealthtech company introduced several new features that bring it one step closer to creating a unified system.
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.
Calculated Risk
MARCH 1, 2024
From the Census Bureau reported that overall construction spending increased: Construction spending during January 2024 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,102.4 billion, 0.2 percent below the revised December estimate of $2,105.8 billion. The January figure is 11.7 percent above the January 2023 estimate of $1,882.2 billion. emphasis added Private spending increased and public spending decreased: Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $
Calculated Risk
MARCH 20, 2024
From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey Mortgage applications decreased 1.6 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending March 15, 2024. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 1.6 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.
Wealth Management
MARCH 21, 2024
The AI program, Lydia, was developed with Alai Studios to help advisors connect with clients emotionally.
Wealth Management
MARCH 6, 2024
If the claims are successful in their claims against the estate because it would void nearly $3 billion in deductions to the foundations claimed by the estate.
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.
Wealth Management
MARCH 19, 2024
Based on their reputational value, successful firms can charge a premium for their capital.
Wealth Management
MARCH 12, 2024
Rising valuations and growing opportunities for media rights and sponsorships make professional sports teams an attractive bet. However, data on how these investments will work in the long term remains scarce.
Wealth Management
MARCH 20, 2024
Supporters and critics of the proposed rule are setting up discussions with the Office of Management and Budget, one of the last steps before the final rule will be revealed.
Wealth Management
MARCH 21, 2024
About 36% of affluent millennials said they’d probably or definitely leave their current firm in the next year, according to a J.P. Power survey.
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.
Wealth Management
MARCH 18, 2024
Estate planning is far more than a legal formality for business owners, art collectors and aging clients.
Wealth Management
MARCH 18, 2024
Chicago-based firm M1 Finance will pay $850,000 to settle charges it didn't supervise paid social media influencers' posts.
Wealth Management
MARCH 22, 2024
Should wealth management storytelling tap into the feelings of the audiences it's targeting?
Wealth Management
MARCH 15, 2024
Advisors are increasingly relying on technology to become more efficient and streamline operations. Urs Bolt details what's driving this shift.
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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?
Wealth Management
MARCH 11, 2024
Understanding generative artificial intelligence to maximize opportunities in estate planning and beyond.
Calculated Risk
MARCH 18, 2024
Altos reports that active single-family inventory was up 1.3% week-over-week. Inventory bottomed in mid-February, as opposed to mid-April in 2023, and inventory is now up 2.7% from the 2024 February bottom. Click on graph for larger image. This inventory graph is courtesy of Altos Research. As of March 15th, inventory was at 507 thousand (7-day average), compared to 501 thousand the prior week.
Wealth Management
MARCH 22, 2024
Vikram Chugh, who heads up technology and operations for $4.6 billion AUM Robertson Stephens, said the firm has carefully selected each piece of its tech stack.
Abnormal Returns
MARCH 31, 2024
Also on the site Everything has an opportunity cost, everything. (abnormalreturns.com) Top clicks this week The Roaring 20's are here. Enjoy it while you can. (awealthofcommonsense.com) There's no alpha left in private equity. (linkedin.com) Patrick Mahomes finally takes an L. (sportico.com) Are index funds propping up the stock market? (awealthofcommonsense.com) Which bonds prove as the best portfolio diversifier?
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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.
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