Diamond Consultants

MAY 27, 2025

Scale can provide a competitive advantage. Yet there might be scenarios in which bigger isnt always better. What do Morgan Stanley, Schwab, Edward Jones, Creative Planning, and LPL have in common? At first glance, not much. They span wirehouses, custodians, broker dealers, and RIAs. But look closer, and one common thread emerges: scale. These are the biggest fish in their respective ponds, each having leveraged size to solidify their standing in a rapidly evolving wealth management industry.

Wealth Management 52

Wealth Management Management Compliance Recruitment 52

The Big Picture

MAY 29, 2025

Sometimes, the data is so overwhelming that little commentary is needed. From SPIVA , here is the data on large-cap fund performance in the United States, showing the percentage of all large-cap funds that over and underperformed the S&P 500 over various time frames: 1 Year: 65.24% of funds underperformed the S&P 500; 34.76% outperformed the S&P 500 3 Years: 84.96% underperformed; 15.04% outperformed 5 Years: 76.26% underperformed; 23.74% outperformed 10 Years: 84.34% underperformed;

Portfolio 306

Portfolio Financial Planning Taxes Assets 306

Wealth Management

MAY 28, 2025

The Department of Labor rescinded its 2022 guidance cautioning against cryptocurrency in 401(k) plans, reaffirming a neutral stance on digital assets in retirement accounts.

Retirement 289

Retirement Accounting Assets Planning 289

Calculated Risk

MAY 27, 2025

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Case-Shiller: National House Price Index Up 3.4% year-over-year in March Excerpt: S&P/Case-Shiller released the monthly Home Price Indices for March ("March" is a 3-month average of January, February and March closing prices). January closing prices include some contracts signed in November, so there is a significant lag to this data.

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Accounting

Nerd's Eye View

MAY 30, 2025

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" – this week's edition kicks off with the news that a recent survey of financial advisory firm employees found that about half of respondents are currently working in the office five days a week, with the remainder divided among hybrid formats or full-time work from home.

Financial Planner 225

Financial Planner Risk Tolerance Retirement Retirement Planning 225

Abnormal Returns

MAY 27, 2025

Strategy Good luck trying to time the bond market. (awealthofcommonsense.com) Despite public opinion, the stock market spends at lot of time near all-time highs. (optimisticallie.com) ETFs Money just keeps pouring into ETFs. (wsj.com) Where is all that money coming from? (awealthofcommonsense.com) Finance Eliminating the PCOAB is a gift to fraudsters.

Media 182

Media Economy Marketing Marketing 182

Calculated Risk

MAY 29, 2025

From the NAR: Pending Home Sales Declined 6.3% in April Pending home sales decreased 6.3% in April , according to the National Association of REALTORS. All four U.S. regions experienced month-over-month losses in transactions. Year-over-year, contract signings rose in the Midwest but descended in the Northeast, South and West with the West suffering the greatest loss.

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Sales Marketing Marketing 235

Nerd's Eye View

MAY 28, 2025

Retirement has long been associated with leisure, relaxation, and winding down from a long career. But as more individuals confront the emotional realities of this life transition, many find that the absence of structure, socialization, and identity once provided by work can create a gap that traditional retirement planning doesn't fully address. In this guest post, Kathleen Rehl, a "ReFired" financial advisor and educator in legacy planning, shares a framework to help advisors guide clients thr

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Retirement Clients Planning Retirement Planning 148

Abnormal Returns

MAY 28, 2025

Podcasts Barry Ritholtz talks with Morgan Housel about how to spend money. (ritholtz.com) Katie Gatti Tassin talks with JL Collins, author of the revised edition of "The Simple Path to Wealth: Your Road Map to Financial Independence and a Rich, Free Life." (podcast.moneywithkatie.com) Brendan Frazier talks retirement planning with Dan Haylett. (podcasts.apple.com) Scott Barry Kaufman talks with Sahil Bloom, author of "The Five Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life.

Retirement Planning 147

Retirement Planning Retirement Education Numbers 147

Wealth Management

MAY 29, 2025

Recognize the emotions of the ongoing disruption in the wealth management world and use them as a catalyst for growth.

Wealth Management 277

Wealth Management Management 277

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.

Accounting

Calculated Risk

MAY 28, 2025

The FDIC released the Quarterly Banking Profile for Q1 2025: Net Income Increased from the Prior Quarter, Led by Higher Noninterest Income Quarterly net income for the 4,462 FDIC-insured commercial banks and savings institutions totaled $70.6 billion, up $3.8 billion (5.8 percent) from the prior quarter. The banking industry reported an aggregate return on assets of 1.16 percent in first quarter 2025, up from 1.11 percent in fourth quarter 2024 and up from 1.09 percent in the year-ago quarter.

Banking 251

Banking Numbers Portfolio Sales 251

Nerd's Eye View

MAY 29, 2025

Financial planning is inherently complex, especially when it comes to data gathering, analysis, and crafting well-reasoned recommendations. But delivering those recommendations in a way that clients can understand and act on is a separate skill. Advisors not only need to do the deep technical work, they also need to translate that complexity into clarity – a step that can be surprisingly time-consuming and cognitively demanding.

Clients 130

Clients Communication Tax Planning Financial Advice 130

The Big Picture

MAY 27, 2025

Click for video. Source: Paul Krugman I am in the 4th quarter of the HNTI promo tour, and we saved some of the best for last. Last week, Paul Krugman (Nobel Laureate, former NYT columnist) spoke with me about the new book. It was a fun chat about so many things! A surprise discussion was all of the ideas within HNTI that also applied to non-finance-related topics and issues.

Investing 162

Investing Investments 162

Wealth Management

MAY 28, 2025

Explore historical tariff impacts on markets and learn strategies for guiding clients through current trade tensions and economic uncertainties.

Marketing 272

Marketing Marketing Economics Clients 272

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

Calculated Risk

MAY 28, 2025

From the Fed: Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee, May 67, 2025. Excerpt: In considering the outlook for monetary policy, participants agreed that with economic growth and the labor market still solid and current monetary policy moderately restrictive, the Committee was well positioned to wait for more clarity on the outlooks for inflation and economic activity.

Economics 207

Economics Government Risk Management Economy 207

Abnormal Returns

MAY 26, 2025

Podcasts Paul Krugman talks with Barry Ritholtz about his book "How NOT to Invest." (paulkrugman.substack.com) Jess Bost and Mark Newfield talk with Ashley Quamme about her journey to financial advice. (podcasts.apple.com) Charles Schwab Charles Schwab ($SCHW) is launching a new program aimed at helping financial advisors go independent. (thinkadvisor.com) Charles Schwab ($SCHW) is willing to step on some toes to take RIA mindshare.

Financial Planning 182

Financial Planning Financial Advice Financial Advisor Retirement 182

The Big Picture

MAY 30, 2025

This week, I speak with Tom Barkin , Richmond Federal Reserve President & CEO. He previously spent 30 years at McKinsey & Company , eventually becoming Chief Risk Officer and Chief Finaacial Officer. He also sits on the Federal Open Market Committee. A transcript of our conversation is available here Tuesday. You can stream and download our full conversation, including any podcast extras, on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube , and Bloomberg.

Wealth Management 173

Wealth Management Assets Portfolio Management 173

Wealth Management

MAY 28, 2025

Even as the advisor industry has embraced fee-based compensation models, nearly one-quarter of affluent investors still prefer a one-off, commission-based structure.

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Commission 279

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Clients

Calculated Risk

MAY 29, 2025

What this means: On a weekly basis, Realtor.com reports the year-over-year change in active inventory and new listings. On a monthly basis, they report total inventory. For May, Realtor.com reported inventory was up 30.6% YoY, but still down 16.3% compared to the 2017 to 2019 same month levels. Now - on a weekly basis - inventory is up 29.7% YoY. Realtor.com has monthly and weekly data on the existing home market.

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Sales Numbers Marketing Marketing 205

Discipline Funds

MAY 28, 2025

Here are some things I think I am thinking about this week: 1) Google’s VEO 3 is Mind Blowing. So far AI has been interesting, but not earth shattering. I use ChatGPT dozens of times a day and it is basically refined search. For me personally, I’d argue it’s turned me into a sort of hyper efficient financial advisor. I am kind of a Jack of All Trades, expert in none type of financial advisor, but ChatGPT makes me an expert in almost any financial field as I know all of the righ

Government 115

Government Economy Financial Advisor Taxes 115

Nerd's Eye View

MAY 27, 2025

Welcome everyone! Welcome to the 439th episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast ! My guest on today's podcast is Alvin Carlos. Alvin is the CEO of District Capital Management, an RIA based in Washington, D.C., that generates $850,000 of annual, primarily retainer-based, revenue serving 155 client households. What's unique about Alvin, though, is how he has grown his firm by using project management software Monday.com as a central hub for financial plan presentations and efficient client

Financial Planning 130

Financial Planning Planning Management Financial Advisor 130

Wealth Management

MAY 27, 2025

Ashton Thomas Private Wealth adds Lance Millar and Stewart Preziose from SVB Private, forming Speritas Private Wealth Team with $900 million in AUM in San Francisco.

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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

Calculated Risk

MAY 27, 2025

S&P/Case-Shiller released the monthly Home Price Indices for March ("March" is a 3-month average of January, February and March closing prices). This release includes prices for 20 individual cities, two composite indices (for 10 cities and 20 cities) and the monthly National index. From S&P S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index Records 3.4% Annual Gain in March 2025 The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S.

Marketing 182

Marketing Marketing 182

The Big Picture

MAY 27, 2025

The transcript from this weeks MiB: Ron Shaich, Au Bon Pain, Panera Bread & CAVA , 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. ~~~ 00:00:02 [Speaker Changed] Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio News.

Food 130

Food Numbers Investing Investments 130

Abnormal Returns

MAY 27, 2025

IRRs The many problems with private equity IRRs. (on.ft.com) Doing the math on private equity performance. (valueandopportunity.com) Research Even the best performing stocks go through gut-wrenching drawdowns. (morganstanley.com) How macro effects move factor returns. (mrzepczynski.blogspot.com) How Warren Buffett's performance can inform us about sustainable rates of return.

Math 147

Math Assets 147

Wealth Management

MAY 27, 2025

Advisor and author George Stefanou details the estate planning challenges faced by first-generation millionaires, drawing insights from boxer Leon Spinks' financial journey and legacy.

Estate Planning 223

Estate Planning Planning 223

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.

Distribution

Calculated Risk

MAY 28, 2025

From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey Mortgage applications decreased 1.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Associations (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending May 23, 2025. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 1.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.

Economics 162

Economics Marketing Marketing 162

A Wealth of Common Sense

MAY 27, 2025

When everyone discovered the new pope was from Chicago people immediately dug into Pope Leo’s back story. From Chicago. White Sox fan, not Cubs. Probably liked Portillos, Malort and Lou Malnati’s. It was also uncovered the Pope’s childhood home on the southside of Chicago was listed for sale. It was a relatively small house built in the 1950s with 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, measuring in at 1,050 square fe.

Sales 121

Sales 121

Advisor Perspectives

MAY 27, 2025

The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index® experienced its largest monthly increase in over four years in May. The index rose 12.3 points to 98.0 this month, marking the first monthly rise since November.

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98

Wealth Management

MAY 28, 2025

Dolly Partons life and career offer valuable insights for long-term investors, emphasizing resilience, endurance and adaptability.

Investing 260

Investing Investments 260

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.

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