Darrow Wealth Management

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

Updated for 2024 – 2025. Investors often ask: should I be making nondeductible IRA contributions? In the vast majority of cases the answer is no. Why non-deductible? Because many taxpayers earn too much to make pre-tax IRA contributions as they have a 401(k) at work. Although any investor with earned income can make a non-deductible contribution to an IRA (up to $7,000 in 2024-2025 if under age 50) and still take advantage of tax-deferred growth, it still may not be advisable.

Distribution 98

Distribution Taxes Retirement Retirement Planning 98

Calculated Risk

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

From the NY Fed: Household Debt Rose Modestly; Delinquency Rates Remain Elevated The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Center for Microeconomic Data today issued its Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit. The report shows total household debt increased by $147 billion (0.8%) in Q3 2024, to $17.94 trillion. The report is based on data from the New York Fed’s nationally representative Consumer Credit Panel.

Economics 309

Economics Retail Banking Accounting 309

The Big Picture

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

 This week, we speak with Colin Camerer , Robert Kirby Professor of Behavioral Finance and Economics at California Institute of Technology. Prior to joining Caltech in 1994, Camerer was a faculty member at various institutions including the University of Chicago GSB and the Kellogg Graduate School of Business at Northwestern University, and held a visiting professorship at Oxford University.

Portfolio Management 316

Portfolio Management Economics Portfolio Assets 316

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

As the financial advice industry began shifting from a sales-based model to a more sustainable asset management approach, advisors found their roles shifting along with it. With revenue rooted in more predictable, recurring income, many advisors were able to step off the relentless 'treadmill' of constant sales, allowing them to invest in growth by hiring staff and delegating tasks.

Financial Advice 246

Financial Advice Sales Communication Assets 246

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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

Abnormal Returns

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Corporate finance Why companies are staying private longer. (marginalrevolution.com) A review of "The M&A Failure Trap: Why Most Mergers and Acquisitions Fail and How the Few Succeed" by Baruch Lev and Feng Gu. (blogs.cfainstitute.org) Private equity Quants are turning their attention to model private equity returns. (bloomberg.com) The problem with IRR for private equity funds.

Financial Advisor 167

Financial Advisor Investing Investments Marketing 167

Calculated Risk

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

Here are a few measures of inflation: The first graph is the one Fed Chair Powell had mentioned when services less rent of shelter was up around 8% year-over-year. This declined, but is still elevated, and is now up 4.5% YoY. Click on graph for larger image. This graph shows the YoY price change for Services and Services less rent of shelter through September 2024.

Food 311

Food Accounting 311

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” - this week’s edition kicks off with the news that the latest Fidelity RIA Benchmarking Study shows that while RIAs saw gains in AUM and revenue last year, their operating margins tightened, suggesting that rising expenses are cutting into firm profits. The study also looked at what “high performing” firms are doing differently than their peers, finding that these firms have a higher close rat

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Asset Allocation Taxes Tax Planning 246

Abnormal Returns

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

Podcasts Brendan Frazier talks with Meghaan Lurtz about building a screening process to identify perfect prospects. (podcasts.apple.com) Daniel Crosby talks the racial wealth grap with Adam Tolliver who is a Partner Financial Advisor at Artisan Financial Strategies. (standarddeviationspod.com) The biz Fidelity is crushing it. (riabiz.com) What is the target market for MAGA-centric Strive Wealth Management?

Wealth Management 157

Wealth Management Estate Planning Tax Planning Financial Advisor 157

Calculated Risk

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Part 1: Current State of the Housing Market; Overview for mid-November 2024 A brief excerpt: This 2-part overview for mid-October provides a snapshot of the current housing market. I always focus first on inventory, since inventory usually tells the tale ! I’m watching months-of-supply closely. New home inventory, as a percentage of total inventory, is still very high.

Marketing 277

Marketing Marketing Numbers Sales 277

A Wealth of Common Sense

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

The S&P 500 is up 27% in 2024. We’re quickly closing in on a 30% gain for the calendar year. How rare is that feat? It happens more often than you would think. Here’s a look at every calendar year return on the S&P 500 going back to 1928: The 30% gains are highlighted. By my count, there were 18 years in which the stock market finished with a gain of 30% or more.

Marketing 145

Marketing Marketing 145

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.

Management

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

To sustain firm growth, financial advisors often face a dilemma: to focus on what originally drew them to the profession – like financial planning – they often must first do an extensive amount of business development. Marketing activities such as brand development, event planning, and content strategy often demand skills outside advisors' typical expertise and interest.

Marketing 246

Marketing Marketing Communication Engineering 246

Abnormal Returns

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Markets The equity risk premium has fallen. (mrzepczynski.blogspot.com) The S&P SmallCap 600 index is 30 years old. (spglobal.com) Finance Elon Musk's xAI and SpaceX are getting a valuation boost. (ft.com) Is private credit in a bubble? (alphaarchitect.com) How the activist short selling ecosystem works. (on.ft.com) Fund management 2024 could see $1 trillion in U.S.

Financial Advising 144

Financial Advising Food Valuation Media 144

Calculated Risk

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

From the BLS : The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in October, the same increase as in each of the previous 3 months, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.6 percent before seasonal adjustment. The index for shelter rose 0.4 percent in October, accounting for over half of the monthly all items increase.

Food 261

Food Medical Communication Accounting 261

Wealth Management

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

The influence of content marketing goes well beyond simple brand awareness; it is a crucial asset for educating, engaging and building trust with both prospective clients and colleagues.

Marketing 312

Marketing Marketing Education Assets 312

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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

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Welcome everyone! Welcome to the 411th episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast ! My guest on today's podcast is Larry Kriesmer. Larry is the Chairman of Measured Risk Portfolios, an RIA based in San Diego, California, that oversees $350 million in assets under management for a combination of internal retail clients and external financial advisor clients.

Clients 130

Clients Financial Advisor Marketing Marketing 130

Abnormal Returns

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Listening Spotify ($SPOT) is now solidly profitable. (sherwood.news) Happy one year anniversary to Barry Ritholtz's 'At the Money' podcast. (ritholtz.com) Companies Patrick O'Shaughnessy talks with Ernie Garcia who is the co-founder and CEO of Carvana ($CVNA). (joincolossus.com) Stephan Clapham talks with Lionel Barber author of the forthcoming "Gambling Man: The Secret Story of the World's Greatest Disruptor, Masayoshi Son.

Portfolio 144

Portfolio Portfolio Management Management Investing 144

Calculated Risk

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Note: Mortgage rates are from MortgageNewsDaily.com and are for top tier scenarios. Wednesday: • At 7:00 AM ET, The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) will release the results for the mortgage purchase applications index. • At 8:30 AM, The Consumer Price Index for October from the BLS. The consensus is for a 0.2% increase in CPI, and a 0.3% increase in core CPI.

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Wealth Management

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

The AdviceTech.Live virtual conference and its slick platform showcased plenty of useful third-party technology, and it was free for advisors.

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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

A Wealth of Common Sense

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Politicians don’t control the stock market. When stocks go up presidents get too much credit and when they go down they get too much blame. It’s mostly circumstantial depending on the timing of cycles and such. But the markets move faster than ever these days. Investors are constantly pricing in the future, sometimes right, sometimes wrong, yet never in doubt.

Marketing 142

Marketing Marketing 142

NAIFA Advisor Today

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Colin Aubin’ s path to success in financial services is rooted in a strong family foundation, an early background in competitive sports, and a commitment to community impact. Raised in Orland Park, Illinois, Colin’s values were shaped by a family deeply committed to service and education. His mother, Donna, was a dedicated teacher who spent over three decades shaping young minds, while his father, Tom, worked in finance as a CFO.

Financial Services 98

Financial Services Education Financial Planning Planning 98

Calculated Risk

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: 2nd Look at Local Housing Markets in October A brief excerpt: NOTE: The tables for active listings, new listings and closed sales all include a comparison to October 2019 for each local market (some 2019 data is not available). This is the second look at local markets in October. I’m tracking over 40 local housing markets in the US.

Sales 248

Sales Marketing Marketing 248

Wealth Management

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

The alternative asset manager is launching its first interval fund and serving as a core independent manager on another as it looks to develop new products.

Retail 299

Retail Marketing Marketing Assets 299

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

Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT)

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

By Bryce Sanders You are a financial advisor in the United States, an insurance agent in Asia or an estate planner in Canada. You want new clients, ideally within the high-net-worth community. You want to rub shoulders and socialize. How are you going to do that? There are several ways. You could join a yacht club. You’ll need a yacht. Join that very exclusive country club.

Financial Advisor 99

Financial Advisor Insurance Clients Sales 99

NAIFA Advisor Today

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

NAIFA’s Lifetime Healthcare Center is presenting “The Peak 65 Series: Impact Day for Lifetime Healthcare,” a one-day virtual event, November 19, beginning at 11 am eastern. It features a dozen 20-minute TED Talk-like presentations covering timely topics on the financial implications of longevity and aging. Presenters include recognized thought leaders offering insights on long-term care, disability income, hybrid insurance products, Medicare, federal and state legislative and regulatory consider

Healthcare 105

Healthcare Financial Services Insurance 105

Calculated Risk

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

Note: Mortgage rates are from MortgageNewsDaily.com and are for top tier scenarios. Friday: • At 8:30 AM ET, Retail sales for October will be released. The consensus is for a 0.3% increase in retail sales. • Also at 8:30 AM, The New York Fed Empire State manufacturing survey for November. The consensus is for a reading of 3.5, up from -11.9. • At 9:15 AM, The Fed will release Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization for October.

Retail 260

Retail Sales Manufacturing 260

Wealth Management

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

The Counselors of Real Estate identified some key trends to keep in mind for anyone considering investing in commercial real estate.

Investing 298

Investing Investments 298

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

Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT)

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

By Carmen Wong, MDRT media relations specialist Your clients probably are familiar with badges of quality like the J.D. Power rankings for products and services or the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval for household goods, but do they know that qualifying for MDRT is another standard for excellence? When they see your MDRT affiliation on your website, in your literature or on a plaque hanging in your office, would they know that you met significant production qualifications annually to be part

Clients 97

Clients Ethics Education Media 97

NAIFA Advisor Today

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

Peter Wood is an accomplished financial advisor and active member of NAIFA with over a decade of experience in the industry. Starting as a multi-line captive agent, he now co-owns a multi-state firm that spans over 12 states and runs a mastermind coaching program for insurance agents. Apart from insurance, Peter coaches competitive bands and drumlines, matching his passion for mentorship in music with his professional endeavors.

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Insurance Financial Advisor 98

Calculated Risk

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

From Fed Chair Powell: Economic Outlook. Excerpt: The recent performance of our economy has been remarkably good, by far the best of any major economy in the world. Economic output grew by more than 3 percent last year and is expanding at a stout 2.5 percent rate so far this year. The labor market remains in solid condition, having cooled off from the significantly overheated conditions of a couple of years ago, and is now by many metrics back to more normal levels that are consistent with our e

Economy 147

Economy Economics Marketing Marketing 147

Wealth Management

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

Some big investors use public REITs to gain exposure to property types that are harder to reach through private vehicles.

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Accounting