Sat.Dec 21, 2024 - Fri.Dec 27, 2024

article thumbnail

Financial Planning For Freelancers: 8 Tips To Budget And Save

Clever Girl Finance

Freelancing is liberating, but without a solid financial plan, it can also be unpredictable. As a freelancer, you juggle not only your craft but also your finances, taxes, and retirement planning. That’s where financial planning for freelancers comes in. As a freelancer, youre your own boss, accountant, and financial planner all rolled into one.

article thumbnail

Ten Economic Questions for 2025

Calculated Risk

Here is a review of the Ten Economic Questions for 2024. Below are my ten questions for 2025 (I've been doing this online every year for 20 years!). These are just questions; I'll follow up with some thoughts on each of these questions. The purpose of these questions is to provide a framework of how the U.S. economy will likely perform in 2025, and if there are surprises - like in 2020 with the pandemic - to adjust my thinking.

Economics 290
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

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

article thumbnail

#FASuccess Ep 417: Establishing Your Authority As An Expert By Following A Short Book Formula For Authorship, With Paul G. McManus

Nerd's Eye View

Welcome everyone! Welcome to the 417th episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast ! My guest on today's podcast is Paul G McManus. Paul is the CEO of More Clients More Fun, a marketing company that helps financial advisors conceptualize and publish their own book in a consolidated 6-week process. What's unique about Paul, though, is how he counsels advisors not to write books for the potential royalties they could earn, but rather as a means to establish themselves as an authority in the m

article thumbnail

Personal finance links: relying on experts

Abnormal Returns

Podcasts Christine Benz talks with Daniel Crosby about his new book "The Soul of Wealth: 50 Reflections on Money and Meaning." (morningstar.com) Robin Powell talks with Jonathan Clements about the importance of investor behavior. (youtube.com) Katti Gatti Tassin and Henah Velez talk about the many downsides of spending too much on your car (or pickup truck).

article thumbnail

Live Demo - Supercharge your Month End Close

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

article thumbnail

2025 Outlook Q&A: Active Management Key to Higher CRE Returns

Wealth Management

Richard Hill, the head of Cohen & Steers real estate strategy, talks about how financial advisors should tackle commercial real estate investment next year.

article thumbnail

New Home Sales Increase to 664,000 Annual Rate in November

Calculated Risk

The Census Bureau reports New Home Sales in November were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 664 thousand. The previous three months were revised up, combined. Sales of new single-family houses in November 2024 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 664,000 , according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Sales 264

More Trending

article thumbnail

Friday links: the sin of blame

Abnormal Returns

Markets We should be grateful for 2024's returns, especially if you avoided the negativity. (allstarcharts.com) No one else is to blame for your investing failures. (microcapclub.com) Companies OpenAI is officially transitioning to a for-profit company. (techcrunch.com) How Reddit ($RDDT) became a huge winner in 2024. (slate.com) Video game companies are going broke building new games with life-like graphics.

Media 146
article thumbnail

2025 Outlook Q&A: Model Portfolios, UMAs Are the Next Phase for Alts Adoption

Wealth Management

iCapitals Lawrence Calcano points to continued innovation in tech and product development as key to making alts more hospitable for advisors.

Portfolio 279
article thumbnail

Lawler: New Census Population Estimates Show Massively Higher Population Growth

Calculated Risk

Today, in the CalculatedRisk Real Estate Newsletter: Lawler: New Census Population Estimates Show Massively Higher Population Growth Excerpt: From housing economist Tom Lawler: New Census Population Estimates Incorporate Revised Methodology for Estimating Net International Migration, Show Massively Higher Population Growth Last week Census released its Vintage 2024 estimates of the US resident population, and the new estimates show substantially faster population growth over the past few years

Numbers 173
article thumbnail

Why Don’t Prospects Commit? How “Negative Close” Can Be A Powerful Way To Help Prospects Move Forward

Nerd's Eye View

The core question in the prospecting process is often one of mutual fit – balancing personality compatibility with the advisor's value proposition versus the problem to be solved. The typical prospecting process involves multiple meetings, and a fairly common response for advisors to hear after giving their 'pitch' is that the client needs some extra time to think about it.

article thumbnail

Your Accounting Expertise Will Only Get You So Far: What Really Matters

Speaker: Victor C. Barnes, CPA, MBA

In the climb from contributor to leader, the rules quietly change. If you’re aiming for the summit, the air gets thinner—and what got you here won’t be enough to get you to the top (a concept first popularized by Marshall Goldsmith in his book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There ). What made you successful early in your finance career—technical accuracy, sharp analysis, flawless execution—won’t be what carries you to the next level.

article thumbnail

Podcast links: surprising trends

Abnormal Returns

Spotify How Spotify ($SPOT) went to war against it own artists by uploading proprietary tracks. (honest-broker.com) Spotify ($SPOT) insiders are selling a lot of stock. (ft.com) Listening Does listening to an audiobook count as 'reading'? (wsj.com) The 20 best podcast series of 2024 including 'Road to Rickwood.' (theatlantic.com) Seven under-the-radar sports podcasts to check out.

Nonprofit 146
article thumbnail

2025 Outlook Q&A: The Evolution of AI in Wealth Management

Wealth Management

Our tech columnist catches up with Haik Sahakyan, co-founder and CEO of ARQA.

article thumbnail

Question #9 for 2025: What will happen with house prices in 2025?

Calculated Risk

Today, in the CalculatedRisk Real Estate Newsletter: Question #9 for 2025: What will happen with house prices in 2025? Excerpt: Earlier I posted some questions on my blog for next year: Ten Economic Questions for 2025. Some of these questions concern real estate (inventory, house prices, housing starts, new home sales), and Ill post thoughts on those in this newsletter (others like GDP and employment will be on my blog).

Economics 147
article thumbnail

Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (December 28–29)

Nerd's Eye View

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that according to a recent study by DeVoe & Company, only 42% of RIAs surveyed have written succession plans and either have begun to implement them or have already done so. The report suggests this might be due in part to increased RIA valuations and the assumption of some firm founders that next-generation employees won't be financially able to buy out the firm from them,

article thumbnail

How To Overcome Change Fatigue In Finance With Neuroscience-Backed Strategies

Speaker: Kim Beynon, CPA, CGMA, PMP

The most overlooked, yet most critical, element of transformation is preparing people for change. Automation and AI aren't just technical upgrades, they’re cultural shifts which can challenge identities. That’s why change management isn’t a side project—it’s the foundation. In finance, where precision and process rule, navigating change can feel especially disruptive.

article thumbnail

Monday links: opposing a bubble

Abnormal Returns

Markets Higher for longer is the theme going into 2025. (apolloacademy.com) There's large cap growth stocks in the U.S., and then everything else. (awealthofcommonsense.com) Global diversification is doing what it is supposed to do. (disciplinefunds.com) Crypto Is quantum computing an existential threat to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies? (wsj.com) Where does the Hawk Tuah memecoin scandal stand?

article thumbnail

2025 Outlook Q&A: Industry Regulation to Focus on Digital Assets

Wealth Management

Carlo di Florio, president of the industry compliance consulting firm ACA Group, said SEC Chair Nominee Paul Atkins approach to digital assets would be one of the most important legacies hell leave should he be confirmed.

Assets 274
article thumbnail

MBA Survey: Share of Mortgage Loans in Forbearance Increases to 0.50% in November

Calculated Risk

From the MBA: Share of Mortgage Loans in Forbearance Increases to 0.50% in November The Mortgage Bankers Associations (MBA) monthly Loan Monitoring Survey revealed that the total number of loans now in forbearance increased to 0.50% as of November 30, 2024. According to MBAs estimate, 250,000 homeowners are in forbearance plans. Mortgage servicers have provided forbearance to approximately 8.5 million borrowers since March 2020.

Portfolio 147
article thumbnail

MiB: Toto Wolff, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team

The Big Picture

(Rebroadcast) This week, we speak with Toto Wolff , Team Principal & CEO of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team. Prior to joining Mercedes, Toto spent time in the investment world, founding his own company “Marchfifteen” in 1998 and Marchsixteen in 2004. In 2009, Toto combined his passion for racing and business by investing in the Williams F1 Team.

Investing 147
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

Tuesday links: all day drama

Abnormal Returns

Strategy On the parallels between reckless driving and reckless trading. (safalniveshak.com) How nostalgia can affect our investment decision making. (sherwood.news) You have to survive to thrive. (traderfeed.blogspot.com) Crypto North Korean hackers continue to steal Bitcoin. (coindesk.com) Justin Sun is openly buying influence in the world of crypto.

Economy 146
article thumbnail

Survey Findings: How Independent Advisors are Weathering Industry Shifts

Wealth Management

Advisors share how they are growing their firms while navigating an ever-changing industry landscape.

264
264
article thumbnail

Question #7 for 2025: How much will wages increase in 2025?

Calculated Risk

Earlier I posted some questions on my blog for next year: Ten Economic Questions for 2025. Some of these questions concern real estate (inventory, house prices, housing starts, new home sales), and I posted thoughts on those in the newsletter (others like GDP and employment will be on this blog). I'm adding some thoughts and predictions for each question.

Economics 147
article thumbnail

Do sell-side analysts say “buy” while whispering “sell”?

Alpha Architect

Managers are more likely to vote for analysts who exhibit greater say-buy/whisper-sell behavior toward these man agers. This suggests that analysts reduce the accuracy of their public recommendations, thereby maintaining the value of their private advice to funds. Do sell-side analysts say buy while whispering sell? was originally published at Alpha Architect.

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

Adviser links: people vs. systems

Abnormal Returns

Podcasts Michael Kitces and Carl Richards discuss navigating the issue of underpaying clients. (kitces.com) John Mihaljevic talks family office dynamics with Prof. Lauren H. Cohen of HBS. (latticework.com) Q&A A Q&A with David Lau, founder and CEO at DPL Financial Partners. (thinkadvisor.com) A Q&A with Ritik Malhotra, co-founder and CEO, of Savvy Wealth.

article thumbnail

2025 Outlook Q&A: RIAs to Focus on Organic Growth

Wealth Management

In 2025, expect to see an emphasis on organic growth, talent and capturing AI efficiencies at RIA firms, said Schwabs Lisa Salvi.

262
262
article thumbnail

FHFA’s National Mortgage Database: Outstanding Mortgage Rates, LTV and Credit Scores

Calculated Risk

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: FHFAs National Mortgage Database: Outstanding Mortgage Rates, LTV and Credit Scores A brief excerpt: Here are some graphs on outstanding mortgages by interest rate, the average mortgage interest rate, borrowers credit scores and current loan-to-value (LTV) from the FHFAs National Mortgage Database through Q3 2024 (just released).

article thumbnail

2024 Highlights – The Top 24 Nerd’s Eye View Blog Posts You Might Have Missed

Nerd's Eye View

As 2024 comes to a close, it is a time of reflection on the year… and leaves me so thankful once again to all of you, the ever-growing number of readers who continue to regularly visit this Nerd's Eye View Blog (and share the content with your friends and colleagues, which we greatly appreciate!). We recognize (and appreciate!) that this blog – its articles and podcasts – is a regular habit for tens of thousands of advisors… and that the sheer length of our articles and p

article thumbnail

The New Way Remote Finance Teams Are Protecting Accuracy And Building Resilience In A Cyber-Threatened World

Speaker: Cheryl J. Muldrew-McMurtry

Remote finance teams are rewriting how the back-office runs—and attackers are taking notes. Disconnected workflows, process blind spots, and rising cyber threats have become more than just “growing pains”. They’re now liabilities. The challenge isn’t just team distribution, but building resilient systems that protect accuracy, control, and speed across every transaction and touchpoint.

article thumbnail

How to Avoid Common Mistakes When Gifting Money to Family Ep #231

Financial Symmetry

As the holiday season approaches, many of us find ourselves thinking about gifts. While gifts can come in many forms, monetary gifts often cause the most confusion. In this episode of Financial Symmetry, hosts Chad Smith and Grayson Blaszak discuss … Continued The post How to Avoid Common Mistakes When Gifting Money to Family Ep #231 appeared first on Financial Symmetry, Inc.

67
article thumbnail

2024 Year in Review: Celebrity Estate Planning Lessons

Wealth Management

There's a lot that can be learned from the estate mishaps of the rich and famous. 2024 was no different.

article thumbnail

Question #8 for 2025: How much will Residential investment change in 2025? How about housing starts and new home sales in 2025?

Calculated Risk

Today, in the CalculatedRisk Real Estate Newsletter: Question #8 for 2025: How much will Residential investment change in 2025? How about housing starts and new home sales in 2025? Excerpt: Earlier I posted some questions on my blog for next year: Ten Economic Questions for 2025. Some of these questions concern real estate (inventory, house prices, housing starts, new home sales), and Ill post thoughts on those in this newsletter (others like GDP and employment will be on my blog).

Sales 147
article thumbnail

Navigating the World of Forefield Advisor Marketing

Midstream Marketing

Introduction and Key Highlights In todays challenging landscape, standing out and building meaningful client connections is essential. Forefield, developed by a leading fintech company, provides comprehensive solutions tailored to help professionals streamline their efforts and achieve growth. Forefield Advisor Marketing is a powerful suite of tools for financial professionals, aimed at enhancing client engagement and driving business growth.

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.