Sat.Nov 23, 2024 - Fri.Nov 29, 2024

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2025 Tax Brackets, Social Security Benefits Increase, and Other Inflation Adjustments

MainStreet Financial Planning

The IRS and Social Security Administration recently announced changes for 2025. Here are some highlights: The SSA has announced that benefit checks will rise 2.5% in 2025. Social Security and SSI beneficiaries are normally notified by mail starting in early December about their new benefit amount. The fastest way to find out your new benefit amount is to access your personal my Social Security account to view the COLA notice online.

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Kitces & Carl Ep 152: Advisory Fee Confidence And Building The Happy-Client Stoke File

Nerd's Eye View

How much to charge for financial advice is rarely a decision made lightly. A firm's pricing strategy often reflects both the local market (or niche-related) norms – such as the nearly-ubiquitous 1%. Others may align with broader industry trends, like transitioning to fee-only structures to buffer against market volatility. Still others may choose a hybrid model, combining AUM fees with additional charges for other services like tax planning.

Clients 244
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Never Mix Payroll and Household Survey Data

The Big Picture

@TBPInvictus here (link is now to Bluesky) Let’s cut to the chase: A Hoover Institution analysis of California private job creation is off by a factor of 100. Between January 2022 and June 2024, the state created 523,700 private sector jobs — not 5,400 as claimed. MSM uncritically repeated the false number. I spend far too much time debunking economic b t.

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Friday links: the siren song of FOMO

Abnormal Returns

Markets A look at the best performing stocks of the past 20 years. (bespokepremium.com) The great bond bull market is over. (mrzepczynski.blogspot.com) Strategy No one is immune from investment FOMO. (awealthofcommonsense.com) How much foreign equity does your target-date fund own? (wsj.com) Finance The ownership base of Berkshire Hathaway ($BRK.A) stock is set to dramatically change.

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Fall In Love With the Month-End Close

It's the time of year to give our close process some TLC. Join us in this one hour webinar where we discuss how to adopt leading practices and infuse technology into the month-end close process to improve our experience and increase our productivity during month-end and quarter-end close. Learning Objectives: This course's objective is to understand how the month-end close can be improved with automation and adoption of leading practices.

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Personal Income increased 0.6% in October; Spending increased 0.4%

Calculated Risk

The BEA released the Personal Income and Outlays, October 2024 report for October: Personal income increased $147.4 billion (0.6 percent at a monthly rate) in October , according to estimates released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Disposable personal income (DPI), personal income less personal current taxes, increased $144.1 billion (0.7 percent) and personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $72.3 billion (0.4 percent).

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Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (November 30–December 1)

Nerd's Eye View

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" – this week's edition kicks off with the news that a recent study from Cerulli Associates shows that consumer trust in financial services companies has increased significantly over the past decade, with firms that provide a more personalized approach to providing financial advice seeing the best results.

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Podcast links: recycled guests

Abnormal Returns

Listening Podcasters are increasingly wary of recycling guests. (bloomberg.com) Now CEOs want to go on podcasts to tell their stories. (semafor.com) Don't kid yourself, podcasting isn't an easy business. (garbageday.email) The best psychology podcasts including 'The Psychology Podcast with Scott Barry Kaufman.' (psypost.org) VC Matt Reustle talks VC secondaries with Ravi Viswanathan is the founder and Managing Partner of NewView Capital.

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How to Introduce Crypto to Clients

Wealth Management

A former skeptic explains the benefits and risks.

Clients 119
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#FASuccess Ep 413: Building An Internal Advisor Training Program To Solve The Talent Pipeline As A Growing $4B Advisory Firm, With Kevin Leahy

Nerd's Eye View

Welcome everyone! Welcome to the 413th episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast ! My guest on today's podcast is Kevin Leahy. Kevin is the CEO of Connecticut Wealth Management, an RIA based in Farmington, Connecticut, that oversees approximately $4 billion in assets under management for 1,100 client households. What's unique about Kevin, though, is how his firm has built a systematized internal advisor training program to efficiently onboard young new talent straight out of college, main

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At the Money: Matt Hougan on Responsible Crypto Investing

The Big Picture

 At the Money: Crypto Curious. November 26, 2024 Are you crypto-curious? Are you interested in owning some bitcoin, Ethereum, or other crypto-coins? How can investors get exposure to the space? Full transcript below. ~~~ About this week’s guest: Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise Asset Management discusses the best ways to responsibly manage crypto assets.

Investing 147
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Next-Level Fraud Prevention: Strategies for Today’s Threat Landscape

Speaker: Sierre Lindgren

Fraud is a battle that every organization must face – it’s no longer a question of “if” but “when.” Every organization is a potential target for fraud, and the finance department is often the bullseye. From cleverly disguised emails to fraudulent payment requests, the tactics of cybercriminals are advancing rapidly. Drawing insights from real-world cases and industry expertise, we’ll explore the vulnerabilities in your processes and how to fortify them effectively.

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Personal finance links: a boring portfolio

Abnormal Returns

Podcasts Peter Lazaroff talks with Jason Zweig about neuroeconomics and the future of finance. (peterlazaroff.com) Christine Benz and Amy Arnott and talk with Mark Berg about helping your kids financially. (morningstar.com) Thomas Kopelman and Jacob Turner talk with Daniel Crosby author of "The Soul of Wealth." (podcasts.apple.com) Home buying Good luck trying to time the housing market.

Portfolio 144
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Range Raises Another $28M In Effort to Replace Financial Advisors

Wealth Management

The Virginia-based startup plans to use the new capital to pursue expansion plans, including platform development and adding engineers.

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Enhancing Client Conversations About Charitable Giving: Sample Questions, Scripts, and Tools for Better Engagement

Nerd's Eye View

Charitable giving is an essential aspect of many people's financial lives. Some give through established channels, such as by donating to charities or volunteer work, others may give informally to family members on a regular but less structured basis – and some simply aspire to "do more". Yet, despite the important role that charitable giving can play, studies show that many advisors hesitate to bring up the topic with clients.

Clients 175
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MiB: Michael Morris on Tribalism

The Big Picture

This week, we speak with Michael Morris , cultural psychologist and Chavkin-Chang Professor of Leadership at the Columbia Business School. Prior to joining Columbia, he was a tenured professor at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and Psychology Department. Morris has published over 200 articles in leading behavioral science journals and has received countless international awards from scholarly societies across several fields.

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Profit in the Details: Rethinking Spend for Monumental Impact

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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Top clicks this week on Abnormal Returns

Abnormal Returns

Newsletters If you haven't already you can sign up for our daily e-mail newsletter, please do. (abnormalreturns.com) And for financial advisors you can sign up for our weekly e-mail newsletter with industry insights. (newsletter.abnormalreturns.com) Top clicks this week 'Amazon Haul' is another sign of the degradation of Amazon ($AMZN). (theatlantic.com) Why is the U.S. healthcare system so much worse than its peers?

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10 Investment Must Reads for This Week (Nov. 26, 2024)

Wealth Management

Morningstar published its 2025 investment outlook for financial advisors. Morgan Stanley has looked to add employees of startup companies as wealth management clients in anticipation of future IPOs, reports Inc. These are among the investment must reads we found this week for wealth advisors.

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A 3-Step Sales Process To Clearly Demonstrate Financial Planning Value To Prospects

Nerd's Eye View

Over the past decade, a growing number of advisors have expanded into offering comprehensive financial planning services, reflecting a shift that not only helps them stand out from (increasingly commoditized) portfolio management offerings but also supports clients' broader financial goals. However, comprehensive planning is an intangible service, which can make it challenging for advisors to convey its value – especially when meeting with prospective clients who may be unfamiliar with wha

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New Home Sales Decrease Sharply to 610,000 Annual Rate in October

Calculated Risk

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: New Home Sales Decrease Sharply to 610,000 Annual Rate in October Brief excerpt: Important: Sales in October were impacted by the hurricanes. The south region was down 27.7% year-over-year (“South” includes Florida, the Carolinas and Georgia - states hit hardest by hurricanes Helene and Milton). Excluding the South, sales were up about 8% year-over-year.

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Less Stress, More Success: Accounting Best Practices & Processes for 2025

Speaker: Duke Heninger, Partner and Fractional CFO at Ampleo & Creator of CFO System

Are you ready to elevate your accounting processes for 2025? 🚀 Join us for an exclusive webinar led by Duke Heninger, a seasoned fractional CFO and CPA passionate about transforming back-office operations for finance teams. This session will cover critical best practices and process improvements tailored specifically for accounting professionals.

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Your True Calling: Solving Problems, Not Selling Solutions

Advisor Perspectives

As an advisor, you must recognize that you’re not simply in the financial advice business. First and foremost, you’re in the problem-solving business.

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Arete Snags Alts-Focused Firm From B. Riley

Wealth Management

HudsonPoint Capital, a Jersey City, N.J.-based firm, joins from B. Riley Wealth Management, which is to be sold to Stifel Financial.

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Is It Too Late to Buy Bitcoin?

A Wealth of Common Sense

On this week’s show we also touched on questions about diversification as a younger investor, a pep talk for younger generations, financial planning with Chat GPT and paying down your mortgage vs. investing in fixed income. Further Reading: Why I’m Selling Some Bitcoin The post Is It Too Late to Buy Bitcoin? appeared first on A Wealth of Common Sense.

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Calendar Anomalies, Much Ado About Nothing

Alpha Architect

An anomaly is a pattern in stock returns that deviates from what is expected based on established financial theories or models. These patterns can sometimes present opportunities for abnormal returns. However, they are often inconsistent and challenging to exploit. Many anomalies have achieved consensus and, thus, have been incorporated into factor-based models, including size, value, [.

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Avoiding Lease Accounting Pitfalls in 2025: Lessons Learned from Spreadsheet Errors

Speaker: Abdi Ali, Sr. Lease Accounting Consultant

Join this insightful webinar with industry expert Abdi Ali, who will discuss the challenges that can arise from managing lease accounting with spreadsheets! He will share real-world examples of errors, compliance issues, and risks that may be present within your spreadsheets. Learn how these tools, while useful, can sometimes lead to inefficiencies that affect your time, resources, and peace of mind.

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10 Thanksgiving Day Reads

The Big Picture

My Turkey Day reads: • 101 Simple Joys of Life We Must Not Forget : No matter what is happening in our lives, we can always find something to appreciate and be grateful for. ( The Plain Simple Life ) • Buffett’s Life Advice May Be More Valuable Than His Portfolio : The Oracle of Omaha’s latest letter shares his insight on how to leave behind a strong family and a lasting legacy. ( Bloomberg ) • 18 Thanksgiving dishes Post readers make every year : Stuffed ham.

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401(k) Episode 131: November 27, 2024

Wealth Management

Open, honest and candid discussion about DOL guidance on AI, the agency’s practice of sharing information with plaintiff’s attorneys, record keeper consolidation helping RPAs grow and more.

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The Big Four Recession Indicators: Real Personal Income Up 0.6% in October

Advisor Perspectives

Personal income ( excluding transfer receipts ) rose 0.6% in October and is up 4.7% year-over-year. However, when adjusted for inflation using the BEA's PCE Price Index, real personal income (excluding transfer receipts) was up 0.3% month-over-month and up 2.3% year-over-year.

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Factors are global, respectable and repeatable

Alpha Architect

The propagation of factors actually reflect valid characteristics of the markets and market fluctuations. Factors are global, respectable and repeatable was originally published at Alpha Architect. Please read the Alpha Architect disclosures at your convenience.

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Confronting the Change Challenge

Change is difficult, whether in our private or work life. However, without change, growth and learning are difficult not to mention keeping up with the market and staying competitive. We have all worked for or ourselves are the bosses that prefer to keep the status quo. We will discuss how to address the "change challenge" to enable you to be a changemaker and a graceful recipient of change.

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Ask the Compound

The Big Picture

Fun conversation with Ben Carlson on various ways people make mistakes about Investing, Real Estate and our emotional decision making about all of the above. On episode 150 of Ask The Compound, Ben Carlson and Duncan Hill are joined by Ritholtz Wealth Management CIO and Masters In Business Host Barry Ritholtz to discuss politics and investing, timing the sale of a house, dollar cost averaging vs lump summing at all-time highs, and much more!

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Bain Capital Closes On Envestnet Acquisition

Wealth Management

The major technology provider to RIAs and IBDs has been delisted, and the search for a new permanent CEO is ongoing.

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Consumer Confidence Rises in November

Advisor Perspectives

The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index® rose in November to the highest level since January. The index increased to 111.7 this month from October's upwardly revised 109.6. This month's reading was slightly lower compared to the 111.8 forecasted.

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20 Lessons From 20 Years of Managing Money

A Wealth of Common Sense

I’m on vacation for Thanksgiving this week. Here’s one of the most popular posts on the blog from the past year. * I entered the workforce in 2005. That means I’ve been working in the investment business for 20 years now. The longer I’m in the money management business the more there is to learn but these are some of the things I’ve learned thus far: 1.

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Crafting Impact: Revenue Growth And Efficiency For Finance Professionals

Speaker: Ashley Harlan, MBA

What if your role as a fractional CFO went beyond operational support to actively shaping the future of your clients’ businesses? 💼 ✨ In this session, discover how fractional finance professionals can position themselves as architects of growth, guiding their clients toward sustainable success and preparing them for full-time financial leadership.