A Wealth of Common Sense
FEBRUARY 2, 2023
A reader asks: Without getting into the politics of throwing the U.S. government into default the threat is very real. How bout a discussion of how should retirees position themselves to protect their portfolio? Us old guys don’t have years to recover from a political sabotage of the markets and the economy. You know old folks read and listen to your stuff too!
The Reformed Broker
JANUARY 28, 2023
We had a great time learning from Nathan Vardi this week. Nathan is the author of the new book For Blood and Money, which documents the story behind the biggest winners the stock market has ever. It’s also the story of some very interesting characters who were involved, including the hedge fund manager Joe Edelman, who is the best performing hedge fund manager from 1999 to 2020.
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Calculated Risk
FEBRUARY 3, 2023
From the BLS : Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 517,000 in January, and the unemployment rate changed little at 3.4 percent , the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Job growth was widespread, led by gains in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and health care. Employment also increased in government, partially reflecting the return of workers from a strike.
Wealth Management
JANUARY 30, 2023
Taxpayers would have to pay annual taxes on asset values rather than income.
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.
The Big Picture
JANUARY 30, 2023
We live in an age of contextless slogans. It is the stock in trade of Instagram Influencers, TikTok Investors, and grinding side hustles. It’s a new flavor of b t designed to sell unwitting dupes some garbage product or worse, a destructive half-assed philosophy. In 2020, all you had to do was Hodl Meme stocks; In 2021, it was day trade your way to wealth; before that, just be a Crypto bro, or you can “ Have fun being poor !
The Reformed Broker
FEBRUARY 1, 2023
Now listen up and listen good. Last May 4th, Fed Chairman Jay Powell told a press conference that “A 75 basis point increase is not something that the committee is actively considering.” Five weeks later, the Fed hiked rates by 75 basis points. Then he did another 75 basis points, then another 75 basis points, then another 75 basis points.
Financial Advisor Source brings together the best content for financial advisor professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Wealth Management
FEBRUARY 1, 2023
The integration will enable advisors using Tamarac to manage client defined contribution accounts from within the platform.
The Big Picture
FEBRUARY 2, 2023
My morning train WFH reads: • How Extreme Bets Fueled an $11.4 Billion Fortune : A look inside BlueCrest reveals Michael Platt’s many acts — including outsize returns and some harrowing losses. ( Bloomberg ) • Stock, Bond and Crypto Investors Call Fed’s Bluff on Interest Rates : Many are skeptical as central bank says battle against inflation isn’t over. ( Wall Street Journal ) see also Wall Street: We Want Lower Rates.
The Reformed Broker
FEBRUARY 1, 2023
Gavin Spitzner loved the wealth management industry and the industry loved him back. Gavin was the founder of Wealth Consulting Partners and he was one of the most well known and beloved voices in the business. He passed away on Monday according to his family after struggling with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) which he was diagnosed with in September.
Calculated Risk
JANUARY 30, 2023
Fannie Mae reported that the Single-Family Serious Delinquency increased to 0.65% in December from 0.64% in November. The serious delinquency rate is down from 1.25% in December 2021. This is at the pre-pandemic lows. These are mortgage loans that are "three monthly payments or more past due or in foreclosure". The Fannie Mae serious delinquency rate peaked in February 2010 at 5.59% following the housing bubble and peaked at 3.32% in August 2020 during the pandemic.
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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.
Wealth Management
FEBRUARY 1, 2023
As investment in life sciences real estate slows a bit, CBRE provides a deep dive into which cities are seeing the most interest from tenants right now, and how those statistics compare to the current market vacancy and amount of pre-leased space under construction.
The Big Picture
JANUARY 31, 2023
My Two-for-Tuesday morning train WFH reads: • The U.S. Consumer Is Starting to Freak Out : The flush savings accounts and cheap credit that helped keep Americans spending at high rates since 2020 are disappearing. ( Wall Street Journal ) see also The Decline of the Nice-to-Have Economy : Consumers are reining in their spending on pandemic-era luxuries and conveniences, just as investors are doing the same—putting startups in a double bind ( Wall Street Journal ) • After 30 Years, the King of ETF
The Reformed Broker
JANUARY 28, 2023
Somehow, incredibly, January is already pretty much in the books. That’s how fast 2023 is going. We got through the first wave of Q4 earnings reports from the likes of Intel, IBM, Microsoft, Netflix, the banks, Visa and American Express – so far, not terrible. Some bad reactions but some genuinely good ones. Just adds to the existing confusion.
Calculated Risk
FEBRUARY 1, 2023
From the Census Bureau reported that overall construction spending decreased: Construction spending during December 2022 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,809.8 billion, 0.4 percent below the revised November estimate of $1,817.3 billion. The December figure is 7.7 percent above the December 2021 estimate of $1,681.0 billion. The value of construction in 2022 was $1,792.9 billion, 10.2 percent above the $1,626.4 billion spent in 2021. emphasis added Both private and public
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.
Wealth Management
FEBRUARY 1, 2023
Family members often turn into unpaid caregivers seemingly overnight.
The Big Picture
JANUARY 28, 2023
The weekend is here! Pour yourself a mug of Guatemala Quetzaltenango coffee, grab a seat outside, and get ready for our longer-form weekend reads: • Who Owns the Generative AI Platform? Many hot technology trends get over-hyped far before the market catches up. But the generative AI boom has been accompanied by real gains in real markets, and real traction from real companies.
The Reformed Broker
FEBRUARY 1, 2023
Josh Brown breaks down Wednesday’s post-Fed market action from CNBC. The post Clips From Today’s Closing Bell appeared first on The Reformed Broker.
Calculated Risk
JANUARY 30, 2023
Altos reports inventory was down 1.4% week-over-week. Usually inventory bottoms in February; in 2022, inventory bottomed in early March. Here are the same week inventory changes for the last five years: 2023: -6.5K 2022: -5.3K 2021: -8.3K 2020: -3.7K 2019: +2.7K Click on graph for larger image. This inventory graph is courtesy of Altos Research. As of January 27th, inventory was at 466 thousand (7-day average), compared to 472 thousand the prior week.
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.
Wealth Management
FEBRUARY 2, 2023
What to focus on when working with Gen X prospects and clients.
Abnormal Returns
FEBRUARY 1, 2023
Podcasts Christine Benz and Jeff Ptak talk with Ann Garcia the author of the book "How to Pay for College." (the-long-view.simplecast.com) Larry Bernstein talks with Victor Hagani and Myron Scholes about the essentials of investing. (elmwealth.com) Layoffs Steps to take, and not, if you get laid off. (thisisthetop.substack.com) Make sure you take advantage of all the resources available to you when you get laid off.
The Reformed Broker
FEBRUARY 3, 2023
Welcome to the latest episode of The Compound & Friends. This week, Michael Batnick, Jason Hsu, and Downtown Josh Brown discuss the latest FOMC meeting, the Chinese market, hard vs soft data, the housing market, earnings for Apple, Amazon, and Google, the Adani rout, and much more! You can listen to the whole thing below, or find it wherever you like to listen to your favorite pods!
Calculated Risk
JANUARY 31, 2023
The Census Bureau released the Residential Vacancies and Homeownership report for Q4 2022. The results of this survey were significantly distorted by the pandemic in 2020. This report is frequently mentioned by analysts and the media to track household formation, the homeownership rate, and the homeowner and rental vacancy rates. However, there are serious questions about the accuracy of this survey.
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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
Wealth Management
FEBRUARY 1, 2023
ElmTree Funds’ Annie Hsieh talks about how investment managers are capitalizing on current market opportunities.
Nerd's Eye View
JANUARY 31, 2023
Welcome back to the 318th episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast ! My guest on today's podcast is Ali Swart. Ali is a Partner and the Managing Director for Waldron Private Wealth, a multi-family office based in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania that oversees nearly $3 billion in assets under management for 280 ultra-high-net-worth family households.
The Reformed Broker
FEBRUARY 2, 2023
Final Trades: Uber, Palo Alto, Albemarle & more from CNBC. The post Clips From Today’s Halftime Report appeared first on The Reformed Broker.
Calculated Risk
JANUARY 28, 2023
At the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter this week: • New Home Sales at 616,000 Annual Rate in December; Previous 3 Months Revised Down Sharply • Final Look at Local Housing Markets in December • 1.51 million Total Housing Completions in 2022 including Manufactured Homes; Most Since 2007 • Has Housing "Bottomed"? This is usually published 4 to 6 times a week and provides more in-depth analysis of the housing market.
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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
Wealth Management
FEBRUARY 1, 2023
Managing a real estate asset through uncertain economic times largely relies on controlling expenses and optimizing revenue. Getting these fundamentals right is something that good property managers excel at.
Abnormal Returns
JANUARY 30, 2023
Markets How worried should investors be about the debt ceiling drama? (theirrelevantinvestor.com) Is the VIX broken? No, but the options market is changing. (ft.com) Strategy What can you assume about stock, bond and cash returns over the long run. (awealthofcommonsense.com) Rubin Miller, "The stock market is brashly indifferent to our opinions." (fortunesandfrictions.com) Why you need a well-articulated investment strategy to ride out tough times.
The Reformed Broker
JANUARY 31, 2023
Join Downtown Josh Brown and Michael Batnick for another round of What Are Your Thoughts? On this week’s episode, Josh and Michael discuss the biggest topics in investing and finance, including: ►S&P Reshuffles – “Growth and value indexes run by S&P Dow Jones Indices saw record turnover, with almost a third of their market capitalization affected” ►Top 10 Stocks – “A remind.
Calculated Risk
JANUARY 28, 2023
The key reports scheduled for this week are the January employment report and November Case-Shiller house prices. Other key indicators include January ISM manufacturing and services surveys, and January vehicle sales. The FOMC meets this week, and the FOMC is expected to announce a 25 bp hike in the Fed Funds rate. -- Monday, January 30th -- 10:30 AM: Dallas Fed Survey of Manufacturing Activity for January.
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.
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