The Big Picture
FEBRUARY 5, 2025
At the Money: Are Hedge Fund Right For You? (February 5, 2025) At five trillion dollars, hedge funds have never been more popular — or less hedged. Investors have lots of questions when allocating to this trading asset class, including how much capital do you need? What percentage of your portfolio should be allocated? Are all answered in our conversation.
Calculated Risk
FEBRUARY 4, 2025
From the BLS: Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary The number of job openings decreased to 7.6 million on the last business day of December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires and total separations were little changed at 5.5 million and 5.3 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (3.2 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.8 million) changed little. emphasis added The following graph shows job openings (black line), hires (dark blue), Layoff, Di
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Nerd's Eye View
FEBRUARY 5, 2025
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) have become an increasingly popular tool for financial advisors and their clients due in part to the 'triple tax savings' they offer: tax-deductible contributions, tax-free growth, and non-taxable distributions for qualifying expenses. However, HSAs require individuals to be covered by a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), which has tradeoffs compared to traditional health insurance plans.
Abnormal Returns
FEBRUARY 5, 2025
Podcasts Peter Lazaroff talks with Benjamin Brandt author of "Retirement Starts Today." (peterlazaroff.com) Michael Easter speaks with Sahil Bloom, the author of "The 5 Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life." (twopct.com) Carl Richards talks spending money with Joel Stein. (podcasts.apple.com) Housing The housing stock is aging.
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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
The Big Picture
FEBRUARY 7, 2025
This week, I speak with Sahil Bloom, founder and managing partner of SRB Ventures , a Venture Capital focused on accelerating compelling startups. Sahil spent seven years in high finance, serving as Vice President of a private equity fund with $3.5 billion in assets under management. He holds multiple degrees from Stanford University, where he also played Division 1 baseball.
Calculated Risk
FEBRUARY 7, 2025
Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: 1st Look at Local Housing Markets in January A brief excerpt: NOTE: The tables for active listings, new listings and closed sales all include a comparison to January 2019 for each local market (some 2019 data is not available). This is the first look at several early reporting local markets in January.
Financial Advisor Source brings together the best content for financial advisor professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Abnormal Returns
FEBRUARY 4, 2025
Behavior Should the prospects for AGI change how you invest or work? (ofdollarsanddata.com) Joe Wiggins, "A key element of behaviour change is shifting incentives." (behaviouralinvestment.com) Venture capital The venture capital world has split in two. (sethlevine.com) Venture capital firm General Catalyst has launched its own wealth management operation, GC Wealth.
The Big Picture
FEBRUARY 7, 2025
My end-of-week morning train WFH reads: 20 IRA Mistakes to Avoid : From contributions to conversions to distributions, dont fall into these traps. ( Morningstar ) Lets Talk About Tariffs : So. Tariff Man is back and apparently more serious than ever. At least for now. Lets talk about the good, the bad and the ugly. I hope this doesnt sound political, but thats probably unavoidable.
Calculated Risk
FEBRUARY 3, 2025
From the Census Bureau reported that overall construction spending increased: Construction spending during December 2024 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,192.2 billion, 0.5 percent above the revised November estimate of $2,180.3 billion. The December figure is 4.3 percent above the December 2023 estimate of $2,101.3 billion. The value of construction in 2024 was $2,154.4 billion, 6.5 percent above the $2,023.7 billion spent in 2023. emphasis added Private spending increas
Nerd's Eye View
FEBRUARY 6, 2025
The introductory meeting is a high-stakes moment for both advisors and prospects, often nerve-wracking for both sides. Advisors must decide how to present themselves, respond to questions, explain complex issues in an engaging way, and propose and explain their long-term proposition. And at the same time, prospects are likely to feel vulnerable and equally nervous with their own set of concerns – how to present themselves to the advisor, what questions to ask, and how to explain their issu
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.
A Wealth of Common Sense
FEBRUARY 7, 2025
Every year I update long-term return numbers for all of my various spreadsheets for charts, graphs, tables and such.1 From 1928-2024, the S&P 500 was up 9.94% on an annual basis. That’s pretty good. The last couple of years have seen strong returns (+26% and +25%, respectively) so I noticed the long-run number was ticking up. After the bloodbath in 2022, the long-term annual return was 9.6%.
The Big Picture
FEBRUARY 6, 2025
Previously : 1 2 3 See also : Is This a Bubble? (Ben Carlson, January 31, 2025) Tulipomania! (The Paris Review, February 3, 2014) The post Tulipmania! appeared first on The Big Picture.
Calculated Risk
FEBRUARY 4, 2025
Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Fannie and Freddie: Single Family Serious Delinquency Rates Increased in December Excerpt: Freddie Mac reported that the Single-Family serious delinquency rate in December was 0.59%, up from 0.56% November. Freddie's rate is up year-over-year from 0.55% in December 2023, however, this is below the pre-pandemic level of 0.60%.
Nerd's Eye View
FEBRUARY 3, 2025
Welcome to the February 2025 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 FP Alpha has released its tax return extraction and analysis module as a standalone product, while RightCapital has separately launched its own tax return extraction tool bundled within its platform
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
FEBRUARY 3, 2025
The asset manager says the reduced expenses on 168 funds will save investors $350 million in 2025.
Abnormal Returns
FEBRUARY 2, 2025
Also on the site Why 'critical ignoring' is a crucial skill these days. (abnormalreturns.com) You can now follow us on Bluesky. (bsky.app) Have you signed up for daily e-mail newsletter? Well, you should. (abnormalreturns.com) Top clicks this week A DeepSeek FAQ. (stratechery.com) Timing the market requires getting two decisions right. (awealthofcommonsense.com) The Endowment Effect is sneaky.
Calculated Risk
FEBRUARY 7, 2025
The headline jobs number in the January employment report was below expectations, however, November and December payrolls were revised up by 100,000 combined. The participation rate and the employment population ratio increased, and the unemployment rate decreased to 4.0%. Earlier: January Employment Report: 143 thousand Jobs, 4.0% Unemployment Rate Prime (25 to 54 Years Old) Participation Since the overall participation rate is impacted by both cyclical (recession) and demographic (aging popula
A Wealth of Common Sense
FEBRUARY 4, 2025
I spent this past weekend doing what my family does most weekends — shuttling our kids around to their various games, practices and birthday parties. One of the best parts about having young children is so much of your time is devoted to their activities that you don’t have a lot of time to pay attention to the outside world. Some parents complain about being busy all the time but I find it to be a welcomed br.
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
FEBRUARY 6, 2025
Jaguars defensive lineman Arik Armstead would "rather live like a prince forever than live like a king for a little bit.
Abnormal Returns
FEBRUARY 4, 2025
Leveraged ETFs Variance drain is real with leveraged funds. (returnstacked.com) Levered ETF traders don't keep as much of the gains as you would think. (jeffreyptak.substack.com) Corporate finance Some evidence that IPO road shows matter. (papers.ssrn.com) A review of "The Making of Modern Corporate Finance: A History of Ideas and How They Build the Wealth of Nations" by Donald H.
Calculated Risk
FEBRUARY 4, 2025
From the U.S. Courts: Bankruptcy Filings Rise 14.2 Percent Total bankruptcy filings rose 14.2 percent, with increases in both business and non-business bankruptcies, in the twelve-month period ending Dec. 31, 2024. This continues an ongoing rebound in filings after more than a decade of sharply dropping totals. According to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the U.S.
NAIFA Advisor Today
FEBRUARY 6, 2025
Mike McGlothlin , CFP, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, NSSA, Executive Vice President, Retirement, at Ash Brokerage , is the 2024 recipient of the Kenneth Black Jr. Leadership Award. McGlothlin manages a staff of more than 65 employees and has maintained a 90% retention rate. Under his leadership, more than 25 employees have bolstered their professional skills and received in-house promotions.
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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.
Wealth Management
FEBRUARY 3, 2025
Wait until after the war, and the best opportunities will be gone.
XY Planning Network
FEBRUARY 3, 2025
Marketing your firm can be tricky. Often, there isnt enough time to dedicate to consistent content creation. The result is content that feels general, lacks personalization, and isnt delivered on schedule. AI is a game-changer for content creation for many reasons. It allows you to engage with clients and prospects more effectively by streamlining content creation, improves personalization, and enables data-driven strategies.
Calculated Risk
FEBRUARY 7, 2025
Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Lawler: Revisions Almost Eliminate Household/Establishment Survey Employment Growth Gap A brief excerpt: From housing economist Tom Lawler: Revisions Almost Eliminate Household/Establishment Survey Employment Growth Gap Over the last few years there has been a sizable gap between trend growth in the Household Survey estimate of employment and the Establishment Survey estimate of employment, with the Household Survey showing significantly slow
Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT)
FEBRUARY 4, 2025
By Sandy Schussel Do you want to grow your business, or do you choose to grow your business? Troy, a financial advisor, claimed to be making constant prospecting calls, but he barely netted $60,000 last year. Ive taken several sales training courses and am always reading sales books, Troy told me during our first conversation. Im not sure why none of it is working for me.
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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
FEBRUARY 7, 2025
Empower Personal Wealth, which staffs about 1,000 advisors, reported 29% asset growth in 2024.
A Wealth of Common Sense
FEBRUARY 6, 2025
Bill Sweet joined me on the show this week to discuss questions about the tax benefits of owning rental properties, the tax implications of an inheritance, retirement planning for military service members and how tariffs work. Further Reading: The U.S. Housing Market vs. The Canadian Housing Market The post The U.S. Housing Market vs. The Australian Housing Market appeared first on A Wealth of Common Sense.
Calculated Risk
FEBRUARY 5, 2025
From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey Mortgage applications increased 2.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Associations (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 31, 2025. Last weeks results include an adjustment for the Martin Luther King holiday.
Indigo Marketing Agency
FEBRUARY 1, 2025
Ready for a Brand Refresh in 2025? Check Out This Advisors New Website! With a new year freshly underway, theres no better time for financial advisors to evaluate their online presence. Your website is often the first impression potential clients have of your firm, and it needs to reflect your professionalism, expertise, and ability to solve their unique financial challenges.
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
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