A Wealth of Common Sense

DECEMBER 3, 2024

The United States is the envy of the world in terms of financial markets and economic performance. Ruchir Sharma at The Financial Times outlines how this is impacting capital flows: Global investors are committing more capital to a single country than ever before in modern history. And the dollar, by some measures, trades at a higher value than at any time since the developed world abandoned fixed exchange rates 50 years.

Marketing 145

Marketing Marketing Financial Market Economics 145

Calculated Risk

DECEMBER 4, 2024

Fed's Beige Book Economic activity rose slightly in most Districts. Three regions exhibited modest or moderate growth that offset flat or slightly declining activity in two others. Though growth in economic activity was generally small, expectations for growth rose moderately across most geographies and sectors. Business contacts expressed optimism that demand will rise in coming months.

Economics 278

Economics Economy Sales Investing 278

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 4, 2024

In the competitive market for financial advice, advisory firms often seek to find ways to differentiate themselves from one another. For firms with high-net-worth clientele, one way to do this is to offer alternative investments, such as private equity, private debt, or hedge funds, which may offer clients the ability to invest in a more diverse range of assets.

Clients 215

Clients Financial Advice Investing Investments 215

Abnormal Returns

DECEMBER 2, 2024

Markets How major asset classes performed in November 2024. (capitalspectator.com) Crypto Why managing a leveraged Microstrategy ($MSTR) ETF is harder than it looks. (wsj.com) Crypto ETFs continue to attract record inflows. (msn.com) Silk Road Bitcoin are in motion. (coindesk.com) Crypto is a 24/7/365 enterprise. (howardlindzon.com) Private credit The private credit industry how has its own data companies.

Communication 162

Communication Manufacturing Media Banking 162

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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

Accounting

The Big Picture

DECEMBER 4, 2024

At the Money: Deferring Capital Gains on Appreciated Equity. (December 4, 2024) Are you holding large, concentrated equity positions that have accrued big gains? Would you like to diversify but also defer paying big capital gains taxes? Meb Faber, founder and chief investment officer of Cambria Investments, speaks about a new ETF that may be the solution to the challenge of concentrated equity positions.

Taxes 130

Taxes Portfolio Accounting Management 130

Calculated Risk

DECEMBER 4, 2024

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Inflation Adjusted House Prices 1.4% Below 2022 Peak Excerpt: It has been over 18 years since the bubble peak. In the September Case-Shiller house price index released last week, the seasonally adjusted National Index (SA), was reported as being 75% above the bubble peak in 2006. However, in real terms, the National index (SA) is about 11% above the bubble peak (and historically there has been an upward slope to real house prices).

Numbers 274

Numbers 274

Abnormal Returns

DECEMBER 1, 2024

Markets The S&P 500 returned 5.87% in November 2024. (on.spdji.com) It's hard to make the math on hedge funds add up. (humbledollar.com) Companies The biggest risks to Google ($GOOGL) have nothing to do with anti-trust concerns. (wsj.com) The Microstrategy ($MSTR) story will make for a great book one day. (readtrung.com) AI It looks like Twitter shareholders are going to get bailed out by their stake in xAI.

Math 173

Math Budgeting Food Taxes 173

Wealth Management

DECEMBER 2, 2024

About 83% of aspiring CFP planners under 35 are “very likely” or “likely” to work at a firm encouraging pro bono policies, according to a new survey.

CFP 282

CFP 282

Calculated Risk

DECEMBER 3, 2024

Notes: This CoreLogic House Price Index report is for October. The recent Case-Shiller index release was for September. The CoreLogic HPI is a three-month weighted average and is not seasonally adjusted (NSA). From CoreLogic: CoreLogic: Annual Home Price Growth Stalls in October • On an annual basis, home prices rose by 3.4% in October and are projected to slow to 2.4% by the same time next year.

Marketing 221

Marketing Marketing 221

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 2, 2024

Welcome to the December 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 the retail brokerage platform Robinhood is acquiring RIA custodian TradePMR, which appears to be less about Robinhood wanting to compete with the likes of Schwab and Fidelity in the custodial space

Clients 130

Clients Portfolio Management Numbers Financial Advisor 130

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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

Clients

Abnormal Returns

DECEMBER 5, 2024

Strategy Diversification still matters. (novelinvestor.com) How to combat confirmation bias. (safalniveshak.com) Art Cashin Art Cashin was one of a kind. (ritholtz.com) A remembrance of Art Cashin. (jaywoods.substack.com) Companies Dollar stores have had a rough 2024. (sherwood.news) Palantir ($PLTR) did not. (axios.com) Fund management BlackRock ($BLK) will soon oversee almost $600 billion of alternative assets.

Retail 182

Retail Media Economy Sales 182

Wealth Management

DECEMBER 5, 2024

Memoirs dominate the best business books of 2024 for financial advisors.

Financial Advisor 279

Financial Advisor 279

Calculated Risk

DECEMBER 4, 2024

From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey Mortgage applications increased 2.8 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending November 29, 2024. This week’s results include an adjustment for the Thanksgiving holiday. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 2.8 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier

Marketing 147

Marketing Marketing 147

The Big Picture

DECEMBER 6, 2024

This week, we speak with David Roux , Executive Chairman of BayPine , a private equity firm focused on digital transformation. Previously he co-founded Silver Lake Partners and served as the chairman and co-CEO. David has also held leadership positions at Oracle, Central Point and Lotus Development. He currently serves on the boards of Bristol Seafoods and The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.

Investing 130

Investing Investments 130

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.

Management

Abnormal Returns

DECEMBER 3, 2024

Fund management There is no escaping the math on leveraged ETFs. (linkedin.com) Why CITs are cheaper than mutual funds. (crr.bc.edu) Technology AWS is spinning up an Nvidia ($NVDA) competitor using its own chips. (wsj.com) Meta ($META) is reportedly investing $10 billion in subsea cables. (techcrunch.com) Musk SpaceX could soon be the world's most valuable startup with a $350 billion valuation.

Math 147

Math Valuation Startup Economy 147

Wealth Management

DECEMBER 4, 2024

The recent SEIA acquisition brings Canon Price, founder of $300 million AUA RIA Beverly Investment Advisors, back to the firm where she started her career three decades ago.

Investment Advisor 278

Investment Advisor Investing Investments 278

Calculated Risk

DECEMBER 2, 2024

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Freddie Mac House Price Index Increased in October; Up 3.7% Year-over-year A brief excerpt: Freddie Mac reported that its “National” Home Price Index (FMHPI) increased 0.45% month-over-month on a seasonally adjusted (SA) basis in October. On a year-over-year basis, the National FMHPI was up 3.7% in October, down from up 3.8% YoY in September.

162

162

The Big Picture

DECEMBER 2, 2024

My back-to-work morning train WFH reads: • The Asset of the Millennium Isn’t What You Think: Here’s a real Y2K surprise — 25 years later, its Gold. The third millennium (assuming it started in January 2000; remember Y2K?) is almost 25 years old. And it makes a sensible landmark on many levels for anyone trying to understand financial history. Vladimir Putin came to power in Russia, nearly to the day.

Communication 130

Communication Media Government Accounting 130

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.

Numbers

Abnormal Returns

DECEMBER 4, 2024

Podcasts Christine Benz talks 2025 taxes with Ed Slott author of "The Retirement Savings Time Bomb Ticks Louder." (morningstar.com) Dan Haylett talks with Christine Benz, author of "How to Retire: 20 Lessons For a Happy, Successful, And Wealthy Retirement." (humansvsretirement.com) Barry Ritholtz talks with Matt Hougan, CIO at Bitwise Asset Management, about how to get crypto exposure.

Retirement 147

Retirement Estate Planning Taxes Assets 147

Wealth Management

DECEMBER 2, 2024

Firms unwilling or unable to evolve will become obsolete and conflicted.

278

278

Calculated Risk

NOVEMBER 30, 2024

The key report this week is the November employment report on Friday. Other key indicators include the October Trade Deficit, the November ISM manufacturing index and November vehicle sales. -- Monday, December 2nd -- 10:00 AM: ISM Manufacturing Index for November. The consensus is for 47.5%, up from 46.5%. 10:00 AM: Construction Spending for October.

Manufacturing 162

Manufacturing Sales Government Banking 162

A Wealth of Common Sense

DECEMBER 5, 2024

We also touched on questions about managing your brokerage account, the best way to optimize asset location, RSUs vs. HELOCs when paying for a home renovation and jewelry as an asset class. Further Reading: 10 Money Revelations in my 40s 1And these peer rankings are net worth figures. This reader didn’t mention how much debt or home equity his family has, if any.

Retirement 116

Retirement Assets Accounting Management 116

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.

Accounting

Abnormal Returns

DECEMBER 2, 2024

Podcasts Brendan Frazier talks 'Behavioral Finance 3.0' with Meir Statman author of "A Wealth of Well-Being: A Holistic Approach to Behavioral Finance." (podcasts.apple.com) Michael Kitces talks with Kevin Leahy, CEO of Connecticut Wealth Management, about building an effective internal adviser training program. (kitces.com) Thomas Kopelman and Jacob Turner talk with Daniel Crosby author of "The Soul of Wealth.

Clients 124

Clients Wealth Management Financial Planner Startup 124

Wealth Management

DECEMBER 5, 2024

The pace of ETF launches dipped slightly in November, with just shy of 50 new funds entering the market.

Marketing 276

Marketing Marketing 276

Calculated Risk

DECEMBER 4, 2024

From ADP: ADP National Employment Report: Private Sector Employment Increased by 146,000 Jobs in November; Annual Pay was Up 4.8% Private sector employment increased by 146,000 jobs in November and annual pay was up 4.8 percent year-over-year, according to the November ADP® National Employment ReportTM produced by ADP Research in collaboration with the Stanford Digital Economy Lab (“Stanford Lab”).

Financial Services 162

Financial Services Manufacturing Economy 162

A Wealth of Common Sense

DECEMBER 6, 2024

Retirement is still a relatively new concept. Throughout most of human history, people worked late into life, maybe retired for a few years or worked until they keeled over. Retiring to a life of leisure is a concept that’s only been around in a big way since the post-WWII era. I wrote about this before: In the 1940s, only 3% of men who retired said they did so because they were looking for a life of leisure.

Financial Advisor 123

Financial Advisor Retirement Wealth Management Management 123

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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.

Accounting

XY Planning Network

DECEMBER 2, 2024

We’re big fans of anniversaries here at XYPN. We champion all the big and small milestones reached by XYPN members from their first 6 months to their 10th year in the Network. That’s because when you’re independent, having a Network that recognizes your wins and supports your struggles can make all the difference. At XYPN LIVE 2024, we celebrated 10 years of doing that—supporting fee-for-service financial advisors in launching, running, and growing the firm of their dreams.

Financial Advisor 109

Financial Advisor Financial Planning Planning Fee Only 109

Wealth Management

DECEMBER 5, 2024

Steve Brennan, managing director and head of private wealth solutions at Hamilton Lane, discusses how democratized access to private markets has helped foster growth beyond the warehouses, the impact on an advisor's business and more.

Financial Advisor 276

Financial Advisor Marketing Marketing Management 276

Calculated Risk

DECEMBER 5, 2024

The Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported : The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $73.8 billion in October , down $10.0 billion from $83.8 billion in September, revised. October exports were $265.7 billion, $4.3 billion less than September exports.

Economics 147

Economics 147

NAIFA Advisor Today

DECEMBER 4, 2024

John Davidson is a seasoned professional in the financial services industry, having served in various roles throughout his 44-year career. He was honored with NAIFA's Terry Headley Lifetime Defender Award in 2023, recognizing his significant contributions to the industry. A US Army veteran and former president of the NAIFA, John is also known for his dedication to mentoring the next generation of financial advisors in NAIFA's Future Leaders program.

Financial Services 98

Financial Services Financial Advisor Financial Planning Insurance 98

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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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