Calculated Risk
MARCH 22, 2023
Note: This index is a leading indicator primarily for new Commercial Real Estate (CRE) investment. From the AIA: Architecture Billings Index (ABI) Slowdown Continues into February More architecture firms reported a decline in billings in February, indicating an extension of a recent downturn in design activity according to a new report released today from The American Institute of Architects (AIA).
The Big Picture
MARCH 22, 2023
Bank failures since 2001, scaled by amount of assets in 2023 dollars. The graphic above, via Flowing Data , puts recent events into perspective: At $209 billion in assets, the Silicon Valley Bank failure since Washington Mutual crashed in 2008 (JPM Chase took them over from the FDIC). The post U.S. Bank Failures, 2001 – Present appeared first on The Big Picture.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Wealth Management
MARCH 21, 2023
It’s rare to find a firm that grows strongly and consistently without a strategic growth framework approach.
The Reformed Broker
MARCH 18, 2023
And if you haven’t subscribed yet, don’t wait. Check it out below or wherever fine podcasts are played. . The post This Week on TRB appeared first on The Reformed Broker.
Advertisement
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.
Calculated Risk
MARCH 24, 2023
Realtor.com has monthly and weekly data on the existing home market. Here is their weekly report released yesterday from Sabrina Speianu: Weekly Housing Trends View — Data Week Ending Mar 18, 2023 • Active inventory growth continued to climb with for-sale homes up 59% above one year ago. Inventories of for-sale homes rose, but at a slightly slower pace than last week’s gain, as new sellers on the market held back more.
The Big Picture
MARCH 18, 2023
This week, we speak with Cliff Asness , co-founder and managing partner at AQR Capital Management. The firm has ~$100 billion in assets under management. An active researcher, Asness contributes to numerous publications and has received a variety of accolades, including the James R. Vertin Award from CFA Institute in recognition of his lifetime contribution to research.
Financial Advisor Source brings together the best content for financial advisor professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Nerd's Eye View
MARCH 24, 2023
Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week’s edition kicks off with the news that the CFP Board of Standards launched its 1st ad campaign, dubbed "It’s Gotta Be A CFP", following its transition to a 501(c)(6) organization. In a change from previous campaigns, the first ad directly recommends that consumers seek out a CFP professional for financial advice, and future ads could more directly explain the benefits of earning the CFP marks.
Calculated Risk
MARCH 21, 2023
From the NAR: Existing-Home Sales Surged 14.5% in February, Ending 12-Month Streak of Declines Existing-home sales reversed a 12-month slide in February, registering the largest monthly percentage increase since July 2020, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Month-over-month sales rose in all four major U.S. regions. All regions posted year-over-year declines.
The Big Picture
MARCH 18, 2023
The weekend is here! Pour yourself a mug of coffee, grab a seat outside, and get ready for our longer-form weekend reads: • The A to Z of economics : Economic terms, from “absolute advantage” to “zero-sum game”, explained to you in plain English. ( The Economist ) • The Incredible Tantrum Venture Capitalists Threw Over Silicon Valley Bank : Remind me why, exactly, these guys have so much control over technological innovation?
Wealth Management
MARCH 23, 2023
The situations with First Republic and SVB pose yet another cautionary tale for advisors affiliated with banks.
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.
Abnormal Returns
MARCH 20, 2023
Podcasts Brendan Frazier talks with Deirdre Van Nest about communicating with clients in an emotionally-compelling way. (wiredplanning.com) Daniel Crosby talks with Emily Koochel about defining and seeking financial wellness. (standarddeviationspod.com) Banks The combined UBS-CS will be a money management giant. (barrons.com) The FDIC is planning to sell SVB Private separately from the rest of the bank.
Calculated Risk
MARCH 23, 2023
The DOL reported : In the week ending March 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 191,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 192,000. The 4-week moving average was 196,250, a decrease of 250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 196,500. emphasis added The following graph shows the 4-week moving average of weekly claims since 1971.
The Big Picture
MARCH 22, 2023
Note: We are off to California and Arizona for a few events; no Morning Reads for the next few days… My mid-week morning train plane reads: • How the Swiss ‘trinity’ forced UBS to save Credit Suisse : The takeover of its local rival could end up being a generational boon for UBS. But the government-orchestrated deal has angered many investors. ( Financial Times Alphaville ) • Why Job Reshoring Is Merely a Trickle : U.S. manufacturing can’t compete on cost, but it has a leg up in some areas
Wealth Management
MARCH 24, 2023
De-risking the business is key to ensuring the client is left on financially solid ground post sale.
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.
Abnormal Returns
MARCH 22, 2023
Podcasts Morgan Housel talks about his top 30 rules of the money game. (open.spotify.com) Jeff Ptak and Christine Benz talk financial independence with Brad Barrett, co-founder of ChooseFI. (morningstar.com) Retirement Retirement is filled with all sorts of challenging decisions. (humbledollar.com) Stranded retirement accounts are a big problem. (nytimes.com) What goes into the decision about taking a lump sum pension payout.
Calculated Risk
MARCH 22, 2023
From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey — Mortgage applications increased 3.0 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending March 17, 2023. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 3.0 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.
The Big Picture
MARCH 21, 2023
Note: We are off to California and Arizona for a few events later this week; publishing will be spotty… Welcome to Spring! Start the new season with our Two-for-Tuesday morning train reads: • Are Banks OK? Where the sector stands after a turbulent week. ( Slate ) see also Déjà Vu? Why 2023 is Not 2008 : But that is incomparable to the 2008-09 era, where every financial institution had consumed CDOs, where toxic sub-prime loans were securitized into ticking time bombs.
Wealth Management
MARCH 23, 2023
With this acquisition, the two firms now have a collective $21 billion in platform assets.
Speaker: Kim Beynon, CPA, CGMA, PMP
The most overlooked, yet most critical, element of transformation is preparing people for change. Automation and AI aren't just technical upgrades, they’re cultural shifts which can challenge identities. That’s why change management isn’t a side project—it’s the foundation. In finance, where precision and process rule, navigating change can feel especially disruptive.
The Reformed Broker
MARCH 19, 2023
Dan McMurtrie crushed it on TCAF this week. In case you haven’t gotten to it yet, the whole video is embedded below. You can also listen to it if you’re on the go. At the 25 minute mark, he does this really great explanation of why shorting stocks is so hard, including the toll it can take on a trader’s mental health – even when they end up being right.
Calculated Risk
MARCH 20, 2023
From the MBA: Share of Mortgage Loans in Forbearance Decreases to 0.60% in February The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) monthly Loan Monitoring Survey revealed that the total number of loans now in forbearance decreased by 4 basis points from 0.64% of servicers’ portfolio volume in the prior month to 0.60% as of February 28, 2023. According to MBA’s estimate, 300,000 homeowners are in forbearance plans.
Abnormal Returns
MARCH 23, 2023
Strategy Why isn't the stock market going down? (theirrelevantinvestor.com) Bonds have had a rough five years. Things are different moving forward. (morningstar.com) Novel Investor, "Investors must make bets on imperfect information to earn sought-after long-run returns." (novelinvestor.com) Crypto Why is Bitcoin going higher? (newsletter.mollywhite.net) Coinbase ($COIN) is at-risk if the SEC forces it to delist coins it believes to be securities.
Wealth Management
MARCH 21, 2023
Clients who think their advisor really hears what they’re saying tend to stick around for longer.
Advertisement
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.
A Wealth of Common Sense
MARCH 21, 2023
John Marsden grew up in a wealthy family. He was a brilliant student who went to Harvard, graduated from law school and eventually fulfilled his dream of becoming a successful lawyer. John got married in his 30s and had children. Leo DeMarco also went to Harvard where he dreamed of becoming a famous writer. But after college he became a high school teacher and loved working with his students so much that his dream never c.
Calculated Risk
MARCH 23, 2023
From Black Knight: Black Knight’s First Look at February 2023 Mortgage Data: Prepayments Rebound from All-Time Low; Overall Mortgage Delinquencies Inch Up As 30-Days Late Payments Rise • The national mortgage delinquency rate increased 7 basis points in February to 3.45% , but remains down 12.6% year over year • Prepayment activity (SMM) inched up to 0.35% – breaking a four-month streak of record lows, with relief likely to extend as the spring homebuying season takes hold • A 36K rise in overal
Abnormal Returns
MARCH 24, 2023
Markets The stock market bottomed three years ago in the early days of the pandemic. (demystifyingmarkets.com) Financial stress has increased but is not at GFC-type levels. (econbrowser.com) Banks The banking crisis could play out in tighter credit for small and mid-sized businesses. (wsj.com) Why selling SVB has proven to be a difficult task. (theinformation.com) Further banking consolidation could create 'banking deserts.
Wealth Management
MARCH 23, 2023
Recent MSCI data shows trouble brewing in the capital markets even before this month’s bank failures.
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
A Wealth of Common Sense
MARCH 24, 2023
I was always a saver growing up. Whenever I got money for birthdays, holidays, church stuff, my allowance, or summer jobs, I would sock it away. At first that was in a secret compartment in a wallet in the top drawer of my dresser. In high school, I finally opened up my first bank account. My first job was as a bus boy. I probably saved a thousand dollars that summer.
Calculated Risk
MARCH 18, 2023
At the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter this week: • Pandemic Economics, Housing and Monetary Policy: Part 2 • Current State of the Housing Market; Overview for mid-March • Lawler: Early Read on Existing Home Sales in February • February Housing Starts: Average Length of Time from Start to Completion increased Sharply in 2022 • Q4 Update: Delinquencies, Foreclosures and REO • 2nd Look at Local Housing Markets in February This is usually published 4 to 6 times a week and provides more in-de
The Reformed Broker
MARCH 24, 2023
Welcome to the latest episode of The Compound & Friends. This week, Michael Batnick, Jill Schlesinger, and Downtown Josh Brown discuss the Fed decision aftermath, unlimited FDIC insurance for banks, the SEC’s crypto crackdown, banning TikTok, and much more! You can listen to the whole thing below, or find it wherever you like to listen to your favorite pods!
Wealth Management
MARCH 23, 2023
According to the SEC, Darryl Matthew Cohen steered the money for his own use and to fund his son’s basketball league.
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.
Expert insights. Personalized for you.
Let's personalize your content