The Big Picture

MARCH 28, 2024

“Our comforting conviction that the world makes sense rests on a secure foundation: Our almost unlimited ability to ignore our ignorance.” – Daniel Kahneman The loss of Danny Kahneman is a reminder that we should review some of his work and apply them to the current market. I am fascinated by the idea of Narrative Fallacy (the term was actually coined by Nassim Taleb in “ The Black Swan “) and how it applies to pretty much ewverything.

Manufacturing 340

Manufacturing Economy Marketing Marketing 340

Calculated Risk

MARCH 26, 2024

S&P/Case-Shiller released the monthly Home Price Indices for January ("January" is a 3-month average of November, December and January 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 Continues to Trend Upward in January 2024 The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S.

Assets 335

Assets 335

Wealth Management

MARCH 25, 2024

Reclaim your attention by embracing intentional disconnection.

334

334

Abnormal Returns

MARCH 24, 2024

Also on the site What is wrong with this picture? How your charitable intentions can get co-opted after you are gone. (abnormalreturns.com) Top clicks this week Ten things to know about building a diversified portfolio. (morningstar.com) How home buying is going to change with the upheaval of realtor commissions. (thebasispoint.com) Byrne Hobart, "Decades of above-average net worth compounding are the reward for taking a big idea seriously, continuously refining it, and implementing it in the re

Commission 306

Commission Numbers Portfolio Marketing 306

Advertisement

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

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 25, 2024

For the advisor leading a virtual team, the day-to-day can offer a rewarding blend of flexibility, creativity, and productivity; at the same time, though, many of the benefits of remote work can also make it challenging to build a tight-knit team culture. For example, with flexibility comes fewer synchronous interactions, which in turn can result in less innovation, team bonding, and collaboration.

Planning 246

Planning Taxes Management Clients 246

Calculated Risk

MARCH 28, 2024

The DOL reported : In the week ending March 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 210,000 , a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 210,000 to 212,000. The 4-week moving average was 211,000, a decrease of 750 from the previous week's revised average.

327

327

Abnormal Returns

MARCH 26, 2024

Markets The equity risk premium is skimpy at the moment. (capitalspectator.com) Higher for longer is helping to push Treasury yields higher. (wsj.com) Books Gary Stevenson’s book “The Trading Game” helps explain the past twenty years in the financial markets. (klementoninvesting.substack.com) What you can learn from Carrie Sun's new book “Private Equity: A Memoir.

Financial Advising 279

Financial Advising Media Banking Economy 279

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 29, 2024

Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” – this week’s edition kicks off with the news that a recent survey suggests Americans are increasingly prioritizing work-life balance over higher salaries, with 2/3 of respondents indicating that they would rather work at a job that they loved rather than a job they disliked but paid more money.

Financial Planner 244

Financial Planner Insurance Coverage Financial Advisor Communication 244

Calculated Risk

MARCH 27, 2024

From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey Mortgage applications decreased 0.7 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending March 22, 2024. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 0.7 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.

Marketing 326

Marketing Marketing 326

Wealth Management

MARCH 25, 2024

Proactive succession planning can ensure a smooth transition and continued success.

Planning 328

Planning 328

Advertisement

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

MARCH 25, 2024

Bonds The U.S. Treasury market is only getting bigger. (wsj.com) The yield curve has been inverted for a record amount of time. (axios.com) Junk bond issuers are rushing to refinance and extend maturities with spreads at multi-year lows. (finance.yahoo.com) Which bonds prove as the best portfolio diversifier? (morningstar.com) AI Don't let AI mumbo jumbo from a fund manager fool you.

Financial Advising 270

Financial Advising Media Portfolio Management 270

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 27, 2024

One way financial advisors can add value for retiring clients is to estimate how much they can spend sustainably during their retirement years without depleting their investment portfolio. Advisors in this position have several options to help them determine a client's initial spending level, from 'static' approaches like the 4% Rule to more dynamic approaches that allow for higher initial withdrawal rates (but introduce the possibility of spending cuts during retirement).

Retirement 190

Retirement Portfolio Clients Financial Advisor 190

Calculated Risk

MARCH 29, 2024

From the BEA: Personal Income and Outlays for February: Personal income increased $66.5 billion (0.3 percent at a monthly rate) in February , according to estimates released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Disposable personal income (DPI), personal income less personal current taxes, increased $50.3 billion (0.2 percent) and personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $145.5 billion (0.8 percent).

Food 295

Food Taxes Economics 295

Wealth Management

MARCH 26, 2024

Lynette Ancona will be part of Raymond James’ employee advisor channel. Previously, she was a branch-based advisor with Charles Schwab.

312

312

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

MARCH 26, 2024

ETFs How the existence of sector ETFs affects analyst estimates. (papers.ssrn.com) How mutual funds and ETFs can exist side-by-side. (papers.ssrn.com) Macro Hedging inflation risk is harder than it looks. (insights.finominal.com) How do macro factors affect trend following returns? (mrzepczynski.blogspot.com) Quant stuff It's not difficult to calculate downside beta.

Portfolio 264

Portfolio Assets Investing Investments 264

Carson Wealth

MARCH 28, 2024

Retirement planning is a journey that generally takes decades to complete and most of us start out along the do-it-yourself path. More than likely, your first step was to enroll in an employer-provided plan such as a 401(k) or setting up an individual retirement account, also known as an IRA. But at some point, most of us need to graduate from the DIY approach and seek advice from a retirement planning professional.

Retirement Planning 142

Retirement Planning Retirement Planning Financial Advisor 142

Calculated Risk

MARCH 28, 2024

From the NAR: Pending Home Sales Rose 1.6% in February Pending home sales in January grew 1.6% , according to the National Association of REALTORS®. The Midwest and South posted monthly gains in transactions while the Northeast and West recorded losses. All four U.S. regions registered year-over-year decreases. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI)* – a forward-looking indicator of home sales based on contract signings – increased to 75.6 in February.

Sales 292

Sales 292

Wealth Management

MARCH 27, 2024

It's time for RIAs to break free from the comfort zones that have defined the industry for many decades.

308

308

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

MARCH 25, 2024

Podcasts Michael Kitces and Carl Richards talk about how to help clients find their 'enough.' (kitces.com) Daniel Crosby talks financial well-being with Philip Courtenay. (standarddeviationspod.com) The biz Goldman Sachs ($GS) wants its place at the model portfolio table. (investmentnews.com) Vanguard is not budging in its negative view on crypto products.

Insurance 147

Insurance Retirement Portfolio Management 147

A Wealth of Common Sense

MARCH 24, 2024

Last week I wrote about how the collective net worth of Americans is at a new all-time high. A reader asked a fair follow-up question: I’d be interested in seeing the concentration of that net worth though…I’m guessing it’s an inverted direction. Just because many households are richer than ever doesn’t mean all of them are.

141

141

Calculated Risk

MARCH 28, 2024

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Final Look at Local Housing Markets in February A brief excerpt: Note: Most analysts were surprised by the increase in sales in February. Not housing economist Tom Lawler, or any readers of this newsletter. The local data clearly showed that sales - as reported by the NAR - would be up solidly in February.

Marketing 289

Marketing Marketing Sales 289

Wealth Management

MARCH 29, 2024

Triad Wealth Partners' Sara Baker details the innovation and tailor client experiences high-growth firms use to differentiate in a 'sea of sameness.

Clients 306

Clients 306

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

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 26, 2024

Welcome back to the 378th episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast ! My guest on today's podcast is Michael Collins. Michael is the CEO & Founder of WinCap Financial, an RIA based in Boston, Massachusetts, that oversees $80M in assets under management for 70 client households. What's unique about Michael, though, is that since 2021 he has been able to grow WinCap Financial at a rate of more than $10M of AUM per year through consistently reaching out to leads purchased through SmartAs

Financial Advisor 130

Financial Advisor Clients Wealth Management Communication 130

A Wealth of Common Sense

MARCH 26, 2024

In March 2020, at the height of uncertainty at the outset of the pandemic, I wrote about what it took to get to the roaring 1920s. This chart sums it up nicely: Here’s what I wrote at the time: How many people at the time would have predicted during the war/pandemic/recession/depression years that the 1920s would be one of the most innovative, prosperous periods our country had ever seen?

Marketing 140

Marketing Marketing 140

Calculated Risk

MARCH 27, 2024

Note: Mortgage rates are from MortgageNewsDaily.com and are for top tier scenarios. Thursday: • At 8:30 AM ET, Gross Domestic Product, 4th Quarter and Year 2023 (Third Estimate) , GDP by Industry, and Corporate Profits. The consensus is that real GDP increased 3.2% annualized in Q4, unchanged from the second estimate. • Also at 8:30 AM, The initial weekly unemployment claims report will be released.

Sales 288

Sales Manufacturing Management 288

Wealth Management

MARCH 28, 2024

Investing in venture capital funds targeting tech start-ups carries high risks and requires a tolerance for decades of illiquidity. But all it takes is one outperforming company to make it worth it.

Investing 306

Investing Investments 306

Advertisement

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

Carson Wealth

MARCH 26, 2024

By Mike Valenti, CPA, CFP®, Director,Tax Planning LLCs can provide legal protections and a level of anonymity, either or both of which can be beneficial for business owners, investors, and others with valid intentions. But those features also attract criminal activity, and layers of shell companies can create excellent cover for those involved in fraudulent activities.

License 129

License Tax Planning CFP Taxes 129

A Wealth of Common Sense

MARCH 29, 2024

I got a new credit card this week. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a good sign-up bonus and the free bags on American flights will basically pay for the annual fee. A new card always comes with a lot of paperwork. They have all sorts of numbers to run by you, along with plenty of fine print. As a personal finance junkie, I always like to thumb through this stuff.

Numbers 139

Numbers 139

Calculated Risk

MARCH 25, 2024

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: New Home Sales at 662,000 Annual Rate in February Brief excerpt: The Census Bureau reports New Home Sales in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 662 thousand. The previous three months were revised up slightly. The next graph shows new home sales for 2023 and 2024 by month (Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate).

Sales 288

Sales 288

Wealth Management

MARCH 27, 2024

Advisors that custody with Altruist get access as a feature of the platform, but non-Altruist advisors can join and use it as a standalone product as well.

306

306

Advertisement

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?

Sales