Sat.Apr 05, 2025 - Fri.Apr 11, 2025

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FOMC Minutes: "Inflation was likely to be boosted this year"

Calculated Risk

From the Fed: Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee, March 1819, 2025. Excerpt: With regard to the outlook for inflation, participants judged that i nflation was likely to be boosted this year by the effects of higher tariffs, although significant uncertainty surrounded the magnitude and persistence of such effects. Several participants noted that the announced or planned tariff increases were larger and broader than many of their business contacts had expected.

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Three Things – Tariffs, Of Course

Discipline Funds

Here are three things I am thinking about that are really only one thing, of course. 1) Why Tariffs are Bad. I got back into making YouTube videos this weekend. This time I touched on tariffs, how they work, the many myths around them and why they’re bad. This whole thing really blows my mind because this was never a controversial topic in economics.

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How I Stopped Wasting Money: 5 Habits That Were Costing Me!

Clever Girl Finance

Have you ever looked at your bank statement and wondered, Where did all my money go? Ive been theremore than once. And even as a financial expert, Im not immune to money leaks. In fact, staying on top of my spending takes serious intentionality, especially as a mom, a business owner, and a woman wearing many hats. Table of contents 1. Subscriptions: I had them all 2.

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Stock Market Volatility: What Should You Do Now?

Your Richest Life

If theres one thing the stock market hates, its uncertainty. And uncertainty soared after President Trump implemented his tariff plan last week. The markets have been on a bit of a roller coaster ride recently, with the DOW falling more than 4,000 points after the tariffs were announced, only to rebound again after Trump announced a 90-day pause on most of the tariffs.

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8 Ways to Torture Your CFO

The office of the CFO is rapidly evolving, with more and more demands being placed upon the finance and accounting team each year. Join us in this webinar, where we share 8 things to NOT do when it comes to helping the CFO office advance in supporting the business. Learning Objectives: This course objective is to understand how best to support an organization's finance leadership.

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Part 2: Current State of the Housing Market; Overview for mid-April 2025

Calculated Risk

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Part 2: Current State of the Housing Market; Overview for mid-April 2025 A brief excerpt: Yesterday, in Part 1: Current State of the Housing Market; Overview for mid-April 2025 I reviewed home inventory, housing starts and sales. In Part 2, I will look at house prices, mortgage rates, rents and more.

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#FASuccess Ep 432: Crafting “Input Deliverables” That Show Financial Planning Value To Clients Without Creating Busy-Work, With Seth Scott

Nerd's Eye View

Welcome everyone! Welcome to the 432nd episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast! My guest on today's podcast is Seth Scott. Seth is the founder of Heartwood Financial Planning, an advisory firm affiliated with PlanMember Securities Corporation that is based in Fresno, California, and oversees approximately $100 million in assets under management for 850 client households.

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Bill Keen and Matt Wilson On How a Hyper-Local Niche Built a $1B RIA Organically

Steve Sanduski

Guests: Bill Keen, Founder and CEO, and Matt Wilson, Chief Investment Officer and President, of Keen Wealth Advisors , a billion-dollar-plus RIA in Overland Park, Kansas. In a nutshell: Bill Keen named his book Keen on Retirement: Engineering the Second Half of Your Life. It’s a title that speaks to his firm’s intentional, comprehensive planning process.

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BLS: CPI Decreased 0.1% in March; Core CPI increased 0.1%

Calculated Risk

From the BLS : The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 0.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in March, after rising 0.2 percent in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.4 percent before seasonal adjustment. The index for energy fell 2.4 percent in March, as a 6.3-percent decline in the index for gasoline more than offset increases in the indexes for electricity and natural gas.

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Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (April 12–13)

Nerd's Eye View

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that the U.S. Senate has confirmed Paul Atkins to be the next Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In terms of enforcement actions, Atkins is expected to prioritize instances of investor harm and be less inclined to issue sanctions for technical rule violations (which were more frequent under previous SEC Chair Gary Gensler).

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The Consequences of Chaos

The Big Picture

This market has been trying to digest a series of unexpected policy disappointments. Most corporate executives thought we would be getting tax cuts, deregulation, and a business-friendly environment. Instead, we have gotten April 2nd Liberation Day tariff announcements. With tariffs, we have seen two big issues: First, it’s GOALS. What is the purpose of these tariffs?

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How to Streamline Payment Applications & Lien Waivers Through Innovative Construction Technology

Speaker: Dylan Secrest, Founder of Alamo Innovation and Construction Digital Transformation Consultant

Construction payment workflows are notoriously complex when you consider juggling multiple stakeholders, compliance requirements, and evolving project scopes. Delays in approvals or misaligned data between budgets, lien waivers, and pay applications can grind progress to a halt. The good news? It doesn't have to be this way! Join expert Dylan Secrest to discover how leading contractors are turning payment chaos into clarity using digital workflows, integrated systems, and automation strategies.

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Market Commentary: Investment Takeaways as Tariffs Take Their Toll on Markets

Carson Wealth

What Just Happened and How Rare Was It? Wednesday afternoon was President Trumps much-anticipated tariff announcement, branded Liberation Day. Theres a lot to sort out on the potential impact, but the short-term market reaction has been decidedly negative and thats been rough. It brings up a lot of emotion and a lot of legitimate concerns. But these are also times when its easy to make costly investing mistakes.

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YoY Measures of Inflation: Services, Goods and Shelter

Calculated Risk

Here are a few measures of inflation: The first graph is the one Fed Chair Powell had mentioned two years ago when services less rent of shelter was up around 8% year-over-year. This declined and is now up 3.3% YoY. Click on graph for larger image. This graph shows the YoY price change for Services and Services less rent of shelter through March 2025.

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Rough Day For Markets & Fascinating Fund Outcomes

Random Roger's Retirement Planning

First up, I sent this out as an email to clients about 40 minutes into the day with subject Market Up Big, So Is It Over? The answer is probably not. John Authers from Bloomberg is calling it the end of the beginning. It is possible it's over but I would be ready for more volatility. The history of huge up days during events like this isn't great. On December 24, 2008, the Dow Jones was down 1000 points and then on December 26th it was up 1000 points but of course that market event still had sev

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Transcript: Lisa Shalett, CIO Morgan Stanley

The Big Picture

The transcript from this weeks, MiB: Lisa Shalett, CIO Morgan Stanley , is below. You can stream and download our full conversation, including any podcast extras, on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube , and Bloomberg. All of our earlier podcasts on your favorite pod hosts can be found here. ~~~ This is Masters in business with Barry Ritholtz on Bloomberg Radio Barry Ritholtz : This week, really an extra, extra special guest.

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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.

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Ten Top S&P 500 Stocks After the Big Decline

Validea

The recent market correction has sent the S&P 500 tumbling nearly 20% at its lowest point, primarily driven by concerns over new tariff policies. While this volatility has rattled investors, it also presents a compelling opportunity to identify fundamentally sound companies trading at more attractive valuations. The S&P 500’s impressive gains prior to this correction were disproportionately driven by the “Magnificent Seven” technology titans: Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet,

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Housing April 7th Weekly Update: Inventory up 2.3% Week-over-week, Up 34.7% Year-over-year

Calculated Risk

Altos reports that active single-family inventory was up 2.3% week-over-week. Inventory is now up 10.7% from the seasonal bottom in January and is increasing. Usually, inventory is up about 4% or 5% from the seasonal low by this week in the year. So, 2025 is seeing a larger than normal pickup in inventory. The first graph shows the seasonal pattern for active single-family inventory since 2015.

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Inspired Discovery: Asking Vision Questions To Focus On Clients’ “Ideal Self”

Nerd's Eye View

It's natural for advisors to begin discovery meetings by asking questions about a client's current financial situation – understanding cash flow, debt, investments, risk tolerance, or even the burning tax concern that brought them to the advisor's door in the first place is crucial for financial planning. However, starting with these questions can have unintended consequences.

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Tuesday links: radical uncertainty

Abnormal Returns

Markets During periods of market stress rumors have the power to move markets. (sherwood.news) How long does it take for the stock market to recover? (ofdollarsanddata.com) Basis trade What is the basis trade? (apolloacademy.com) Why the basis trade is so important to Treasury market liquidity. (ft.com) Strategy How strategy diversification helps you hold on through tough times.

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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.

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Aligning for Success: From Conflict to Consensus

Advisor Perspectives

The fifth edition of our annual “Voice of the American Workplace” survey, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Franklin Templeton, includes the perspectives of both employers and workers. The 2025 survey found US workers are prioritizing work-life balance and their mental health. Employers are listening and strengthening their focus on improving benefits and communication.

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Recession Watch Metrics

Calculated Risk

Early in February , I expressed my "increasing concern" about the negative economic impact of "executive / fiscal policy errors", however, I concluded that post by noting that I was not currently on recession watch. Now I am on recession watch , but still not yet predicting a recession for several reasons: the U.S. economy is very resilient and was on solid footing at the beginning of the year, the administration might reverse many of the tariffs (we've seen that before), and Congress might take

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Three Things – What. Is. Happening.

Discipline Funds

Here are some things I think I am thinking about. 1) PAUSE. What. Is. Happening. With tariffs? They say there are years where nothing happens and then weeks where years happen. Well, that’s what this last week feels like. My head is spinning. But I actually feel a strange clarity amid all the confusion. After all, I’ve been very vocally critical of the tariffs from the start and one of my main arguments was that if they go big on this then it could cause mass confusion, recession and

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Tariffs vs. Resilient Economy : Jim Paulsen on Who Wins

Validea

In this episode of Excess Returns, we are joined by Jim Paulsen of Paulsen Perspectives. We unpack the complexities of tariffs, Federal Reserve policies, and investor psychology amidst a turbulent market environment. Jim brings his decades of experience to provide context, rational analysis, and long-term perspectives, steering clear of bold predictions and focusing instead on practical advice for navigating these uncertain times.

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You upgrade everything else. Why not your close process?

You wouldn’t keep using a 2009 flip phone - so why settle for outdated close processes? It’s time for an upgrade. SkyStem's Guide to Month-End Close Software walks you through what today’s best tools can do (and what your team shouldn’t have to deal with anymore). Get smart, fast, and a whole lot less stressed when it’s time to close the books.

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Facts Vs Feelings Take 5 – Will the Good News Last?

Carson Wealth

After weeks of volatility, the markets finally gave us something to smile about! In this episode of Carson’s Take 5, Ryan and Sonu break down what sparked the historic market rally, what it could mean for investors, and whether this good news has staying power. Spoiler: It might all come down to tariffs, catalysts, and a little bit of July 4th optimism.

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Cleveland Fed: Median CPI increased 0.3% and Trimmed-mean CPI increased 0.2% in February

Calculated Risk

The Cleveland Fed released the median CPI and the trimmed-mean CPI. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, the median Consumer Price Index rose 0.3% in February. The 16% trimmed-mean Consumer Price Index increased 0.2%. "The median CPI and 16% trimmed-mean CPI are measures of core inflation calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland based on data released in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) monthly CPI report".

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Investing Isn’t About Being Mostly Right 

Alpha Architect

Investing isnt about being mostly right. In fact you can be mostly wrong and beat portfolios that were mostly right! Today, well explore how investors can potentially improve portfolio outcomes by targeting two seemingly contradictory but deeply complementary systems as outlined in the latest Mauboussin-Callahan paper, Probabilities & Payoffs: The Practicality and Psychology of Expected Value.

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100 Baggers Leave Fingerprints: Chris Mayer on How to Find Them

Validea

In this episode of Excess Returns, Matt Zeigler is joined by special co-host Bogumil Baranowski to sit down with Chris Mayer. As the author of the acclaimed book 100 Baggers: Stocks That Return 100-to-1 and How to Find Them, former editor of influential newsletters, and co-founder of Woodlock House Family Capital, Chris brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to the table.

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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

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Leveraging Social Proof: How Financial Advisors Can Use Client Testimonials and Case Studies to Engage Millennial Investors

Don Connelly & Associates

Its well established that many millennials almost entirely rely on the internet for their daily consumption of information and social engagement. They would rather seek information for themselves than be told what is true. For these digital natives, if it cant be found on the Web, it doesnt exist. Or, if it cant be validated through a quick internet search, it is not to be trusted.

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Leading Index for Commercial Real Estate Decreased 7% in March

Calculated Risk

From Dodge Data Analytics: Dodge Momentum Index Declines 7% in March The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) , issued by Dodge Construction Network, receded 6.9% in March to 205.6 (2000=100) from the revised February reading of 220.9. Over the month, commercial planning declined 7.8% while institutional planning fell 5.0%. Increased uncertainty around material prices and fiscal policies may have begun to factor into planning decisions throughout March , stated Sarah Martin, associate director of forecas

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Understanding What Drives Momentum in Global Stock Markets

Alpha Architect

With over nearly 150 years of data, the study finds that when inflation and interest rates rise, stocks and bonds tend to move together, reducing diversification benefits. This has critical implications for portfolio construction and risk management. Understanding What Drives Momentum in Global Stock Markets was originally published at Alpha Architect.

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Thursday links: extreme uncertainty

Abnormal Returns

Volatility The S&P 500 has gone up 9%+ six times in history. (priceactionlab.com) A great reminder that stock market volatility clusters. (sherwood.news) This was the fourth most volatile week in 60 years. (stocktwits.com) Markets The big picture isn't a pause in tariffs but an entirely different way of interacting with the rest of the world. (howardlindzon.com) Is the U.S. getting a big downgrade from investors?

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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.