Sat.May 04, 2024 - Fri.May 10, 2024

article thumbnail

TikTokInvestors

The Big Picture

Nestled in between lip-sync dancers and fashion influencers, financial fraud lurks on TikTok. At least one person1 has noticed the risks to young consumers of social media: Since August 2020, @TikTokInvestors has been curating the most outrageous money-losing and dangerous videos culled from the “financial experts” at TikTok. The advice ranges from wrong to risky to criminal: -401ks?

Media 337
article thumbnail

Fannie "Real Estate Owned" inventory Decreased in Q1 2024

Calculated Risk

Fannie reported results for Q1 2024. Here is some information on single-family Real Estate Owned (REOs). Fannie Mae reported the number of REOs decreased to 7,791 at the end of Q1 2024, down 5% from 8,403 at the end of the previous quarter, and down 9% year-over-year from Q1 2023. For Fannie, this is down 95% from the 166,787 peak number of REOs in Q3 2010.

Numbers 330
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Spotlight on ‘Shadow Banking’

Wealth Management

A look at the recent performance of private direct lending.

Banking 325
article thumbnail

Top clicks this week on Abnormal Returns

Abnormal Returns

Top clicks this week Widen your investing lens. (awealthofcommonsense.com) Why the stock market usually goes up. (humbledollar.com) The best investors are running their own race. (klementoninvesting.substack.com) How stocks, bonds and cash have performed over the past 30 years. (awealthofcommonsense.com) How major asset classes performed in April 2024.

Assets 309
article thumbnail

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

article thumbnail

US Equities: 9% Forever?

The Big Picture

It’s taken me months to organize all of my research for my next book project; it’s a lot of stuff, some dating back to 2000. Much of it reflects the bad ideas and numbers, and worse advice, that float around Wall Street. A lot of it has not aged well. But every now and then, something I saved turned out to be prescient — not because it was lucky, but because it contained a well-considered insight that has stood the test of time.

Numbers 291
article thumbnail

Wholesale Used Car Prices Declined in April; Down 14.0% Year-over-year

Calculated Risk

From Manheim Consulting today: Wholesale Used-Vehicle Prices Declined in April Wholesale used-vehicle prices (on a mix, mileage, and seasonally adjusted basis) were down in April compared to March. The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index (MUVVI) fell to 198.4, a decline of 14.0% from a year ago. The seasonal adjustment to the index magnified the results for the month, resulting in a 2.3% month-over-month decrease.

More Trending

article thumbnail

Saturday links: academic courage

Abnormal Returns

EVs What is going to become of Tesla's ($TSLA) charging network? (washingtonpost.com) Do EVs need artificial noises? (axios.com) Autos Automatic braking will soon be a standard, required feature on cars. (theverge.com) Do you really want a GM ($GM) car without Apple CarPlay? (bloomberg.com) What goes into a VIN? (theconversation.com) Energy Why Plant Vogle could be the last large scale nuclear power plants built in the U.S.

Medicine 284
article thumbnail

Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (May 11-12)

Nerd's Eye View

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners"– this week's edition kicks off with the news that a recent analysis from Morningstar suggests that the Department of Labor's (DoL's) new Retirement Security Rule (aka Fiduciary Rule 2.0) could save retirement plan participants $55 billion over the next 10 years (due to an expectation of more low-cost fees being offered in plans) and those rolling over workplace plans into IRAs to purchase annuities another $32.5 bill

article thumbnail

Housing May 6th Weekly Update: Inventory up 0.6% Week-over-week, Up 33.1% Year-over-year

Calculated Risk

Altos reports that active single-family inventory was up 0.6% week-over-week. Inventory is now up 13.3% from the February bottom. Click on graph for larger image. This inventory graph is courtesy of Altos Research. As of May 3rd, inventory was at 560 thousand (7-day average), compared to 556 thousand the prior week. Inventory is still far below pre-pandemic levels.

309
309
article thumbnail

Trust Is the Superpower of 401(k) Plans

Wealth Management

While the lack or breach of trust is its kryptonite.

Planning 306
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Tuesday links: the idea of escape

Abnormal Returns

Markets Why TIPS are more attractive than nominal bonds at this point. (morningstar.com) Chinese stocks have badly underperformed for more than a decade. (sherwood.news) ETFs Just because somebody puts a strategy in an ETF wrapper doesn't mean you need to buy it. (rogersplanning.blogspot.com) Is there another class of investors able to push spot Bitcoin ETF adoption higher?

article thumbnail

5 Questions Using Risk Assessment Data That Help Advisors Understand Clients’ True Concerns About Risk

Nerd's Eye View

Measuring a client's tolerance for risk is an essential (and required!) step when onboarding a new client, as making any sort of recommendation is impossible without first understanding how comfortable clients may be when their portfolios inevitably experience volatility. Over the years, 2 types of measurement tools have emerged as the standards for assessing risk tolerance: 1) psychometric tests, which feature a series of questions (such as, "What amount of risk do you feel you have taken with

Clients 246
article thumbnail

Real Estate Newsletter Articles this Week: National House Price Index Up 6.4% year-over-year in February

Calculated Risk

At the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter this week: • Case-Shiller: National House Price Index Up 6.4% year-over-year in February • Inflation Adjusted House Prices 2.4% Below Peak • Lawler: Update on Mortgage Rates and Spreads and also New / Renewal Rents • Freddie Mac House Price Index Increased in March; Up 6.6% Year-over-year This is usually published 4 to 6 times a week and provides more in-depth analysis of the housing market.

Marketing 297
article thumbnail

$800M Team Joins Raymond James’ Independent Channel From Commonwealth

Wealth Management

An advisor team collectively manging $800 million in assets are joining Raymond James' independent channel from Commonwealth.

Assets 299
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Wednesday links: your median competitor

Abnormal Returns

Markets Earnings continue to be supportive of the bull market. (carsongroup.com) Measures of corporate sentiment are ticking higher. (wsj.com) ETFs The number of single-stock ETFs is growing. (wsj.com) Good performance need not equal AUM. (etf.com) Sports business Sports betting companies are looking for new ways to get your money. (cnn.com) Can a sports league have too much inventory?

article thumbnail

#FA Success Ep 384: Growing An Advisor Career From (Bank) Assistant To Partner While Also Growing A Family, With Hannah Provost

Nerd's Eye View

Welcome everyone! Welcome to the 384th episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast ! My guest on today's podcast is Hannah Provost. Hannah is a partner and financial advisor at Lomanto Provost Financial Advisors, a hybrid advisory firm based in Plattsburgh, New York, that oversees approximately $150 million in assets under management for about 380 client households.

Banking 246
article thumbnail

1st Look at Local Housing Markets in April

Calculated Risk

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: 1st Look at Local Housing Markets in April A brief excerpt: NOTE: The tables for active listings, new listings and closed sales all include a comparison to April 2019 for each local market (some 2019 data is not available). This is the first look at several early reporting local markets in April.

Marketing 283
article thumbnail

IRS Issues New Regs on GST Allocations

Wealth Management

Taxpayers must apply for a private letter ruling to get an extension.

298
298
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Podcast links: being happier at work

Abnormal Returns

The biz How the Acquired podcast became a favorite in the business world. (wsj.com) Scott Galloway is launching a new finance-focused podcast. (semafor.com) Business Rick Buhrman and Paul Buser talk with Mitch Rales, co-founder of Danaher Corp. (joincolossus.com) Derek Thompson talks with Gideon Lewis-Kraus about the prospects for eVTOLs. (theringer.com) Josh Brown and Michael Batnick talk all things Hollywood with Matt Belloni.

article thumbnail

The Latest In Financial #AdvisorTech (May 2024)

Nerd's Eye View

Welcome to the May 2024 issue of the Latest News in Financial #AdvisorTech – where we look at the big news, announcements, and underlying trends and developments that are emerging in the world of technology solutions for financial advisors! This month's edition kicks off with the news that self-directed retirement planning software provider NewRetirement has raised a $20M Series A round as the company demonstrates that its DIY tools really do turn a subset of consumers into bona fide prosp

article thumbnail

Housing Starts: Record Average Length of Time from Start to Completion in 2023

Calculated Risk

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Housing Starts: Record Average Length of Time from Start to Completion in 2023 A brief excerpt: In 2023, it took a record 8.6 months from start to completion for single family homes, up from an already elevated 8.3 months in 2022. For 2+ unit buildings, it took a record 17.1 months for buildings with 2 or more units in 2023, unchanged from 17.1 months in 2022.

273
273
article thumbnail

The 11 U.S. Cities With the Most Millionaires

Wealth Management

In the world, the United States has the most cities boasting millionaire residents, followed by China.

299
299
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Personal finance links: hoarding points

Abnormal Returns

Podcasts Brett McKay talks with Jared Dillian author of "No Worries: How to Live a Stress-Free Financial Life." (artofmanliness.com) Cameron Passmore and Benamin Felix talk with Scott Galloway author of "The Algebra of Wealth: A Simple Formula for Financial Security." (rationalreminder.libsyn.com) Barry Ritholtz talks with Larry Swedroe about the challenge of stock picking.

article thumbnail

MiB: Jim O’Shaughnessy, O’Shaughnessy Ventures

The Big Picture

This week, we speak with Jim O’Shaughnessy, founder and CEO of O’Shaughnessy Ventures. He is also chairman of the board at Stability AI. He is the host of the Infinite Loops podcast and the author of How to Retire Rich , Invest Like the Best , and Predicting the Markets of Tomorrow. We discuss how the book What Works on Wall Street set the tone for his entire career as a quant.

article thumbnail

Leading Index for Commercial Real Estate Increased 6% in April

Calculated Risk

From Dodge Data Analytics: Dodge Momentum Index Rose 6% in April The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI), issued by Dodge Construction Network, increased 6.1% in April to 173.9 (2000=100) from the revised March reading of 164.0. Over the month, commercial planning improved 12.6% and institutional planning dropped 6.3%. “The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) saw positive progress in April, alongside a deluge of data center projects that entered the planning stage ,” stated Sarah Martin, associate director of for

article thumbnail

RightCapital Launches Integrated Risk Tolerance Tool

Wealth Management

The planning provider has seen significant demand from advisors, contributing to the rollout of RightRisk.

article thumbnail

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?

article thumbnail

Friday links: optimized leverage

Abnormal Returns

Markets Picking 30 companies for the Dow Jones Industrial Average isn't easy in a dynamic economy. (wsj.com) The stock market doesn't love high inflation. (klementoninvesting.substack.com) Apple Apple ($AAPL) is in a tough spot. (om.co) Apple ($AAPL) may be late in AI, but don't count them out. (barrons.com) If Apple ($AAPL) is no longer the world's biggest brand, what is?

Economy 261
article thumbnail

10 Weekend Reads

The Big Picture

The weekend is here! Pour yourself a mug of coffee, grab a seat outside, and get ready for our longer-form weekend reads: • The Most Important Skill of the Future is Being ‘Indistractable’ How the difference between traction and distraction could transform your productivity. ( Nir and Far ) • this is a teenager : In 1998, a researcher named Vincent Felitti published a paper that drastically changeed the way we think about these kids and childhood.

article thumbnail

Realtor.com Reports Active Inventory Up 35.1% YoY; New Listings Up 3.6% YoY

Calculated Risk

What this means: On a weekly basis, Realtor.com reports the year-over-year change in active inventory and new listings. On a monthly basis, they report total inventory. For April, Realtor.com reported inventory was up 30.4% YoY, but still down almost 36% compared to April 2017 to 2019 levels. Now - on a weekly basis - inventory is up 35.1% YoY. Realtor.com has monthly and weekly data on the existing home market.

Sales 263
article thumbnail

FINRA Fines SoFi $1.1M For Customer ID, Identity Theft Oversight

Wealth Management

According to the settlement letter, third parties used the firm’s cash management brokerage account to withdraw funds from accounts they’d illegally accessed at other financial institutions.

article thumbnail

The Future Of Finance: How To Manage Spend The Right Way

Speaker: Aaron Berson

Managing spend is more than a cost cutting exercise – it's a pathway to smarter decisions that unlock efficiency and drive growth. By understanding and refining the spending process, financial leaders can empower their organizations to achieve more with less. Explore the art of balancing financial control with operational growth. From uncovering hidden inefficiencies to designing workflows that scale your business, we’ll share strategies to align your organization’s spending with its strategic g