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Each week in Weekend Reading For Financial Planners, we seek to bring you synopses and commentaries on 12 articles covering news for financial advisors including topics covering technical planning, practice management, advisor marketing, career development, and more. And as 2024 draws to a close, we wanted to highlight 24 of the most popular and insightful articles that were featured throughout the year (that you might have missed!).
Arthur Zeikel was a founding principal of Standard & Poor’s/InterCapital, Inc., and served as Chairman of the Board. He eventually became president of Merrill Lynch Asset Management, leading the division with a value-oriented approach and a focus on long-term fundamentals. He was an adjunct professor at NYU STern School of Business. He co-authored Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management , now in its fifth edition.
From the NAR: Pending Home Sales Moved Up 2.2% in November, Fourth Straight Month of Increases Pending home sales gained 2.2% in November the fourth consecutive month of increases and the highest level since February 2023 according to the National Association of REALTORS. The Midwest, South and West experienced month-over-month gains in transactions, while the Northeast decreased.
Employee equity compensation, such as Restricted Stock Units ( RSUs ) or Non-Qualified Stock Options (NQSOs), is a relatively common way for companies to attract and retain talent. However, as appealing as these forms of compensation may be, they can result in sizable and unexpected tax bills. In an effort to help employees manage their tax liabilities more effectively, the Internal Revenue Code offers provisions like the 83(b) election , which allows employees to pay tax on the fair market val
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.
Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Final Look at Local Housing Markets in November and a Look Ahead to December Sales A brief excerpt: After the National Association of Realtors (NAR) releases the monthly existing home sales report , I pick up additional local market data that is reported after the NAR. This is the final look at local markets in November.
We’re back with our annual predictions episode, where we look back at our (surprisingly not terrible) 2024 market calls and make fresh predictions for 2025 (which will likely be very wrong). In this episode, we’re embracing the humbling experience of market forecasting to prove to everyone (and ourselves) why market forecasting is a waste of time.
From Matthew Graham at Mortgage News Daily: Mortgage Rates Start New Week With Some Hope Last week wasn't great for mortgage rates. They moved higher on each of the 5 days. Moreover, there was a distinct lack of logical motivation from the economic data. In fact, on a few occasions, the data argued for lower rates only for things to move in the other direction by the end of the day.
From Matthew Graham at Mortgage News Daily: Mortgage Rates Start New Week With Some Hope Last week wasn't great for mortgage rates. They moved higher on each of the 5 days. Moreover, there was a distinct lack of logical motivation from the economic data. In fact, on a few occasions, the data argued for lower rates only for things to move in the other direction by the end of the day.
Today’s Talk Your Book is brought to you by Motley Fool Asset Management: See here for more information on the Motley Fool 100 Index ETF On today’s show, we discuss: How the index is constructed The difference between active and passive management Investing in growth vs value How to have conviction as an analyst The Motley Fool’s Top 100 Index characteristics Thinking about valuation and market concentr.
Weekly Market Insights | December 30th, 2024 Holiday Spending Up Stocks notched a slight gain over the holiday week. A tech-driven rally in the first half of the week was clawed back in the second half as investors took profits following the market holiday. The Standard & Poors 500 Index advanced 0.67 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.76 percent.
At Financial Symmetry, we believe that continuous learning helps us better serve our clients. Today, we’re celebrating Riley Davison and Garrison Weaver, who have taken the next step in their careers by earning the Financial Paraplanner Qualified ProfessionalSM (FPQP) designation … Continued The post Professional Growth in Action: Riley Davison and Garrison Weaver Earn the FPQP Credential appeared first on Financial Symmetry, Inc.
Jimmy Carter, the thirty-ninth president of the United States passed away this weekend, at age 100, the first former president to ever reach that milestone.
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.
The Financial Times did a quick writeup on the Microstrategy ecosystem that looked at the volatility of the common and the great lengths that the 2x funds have had to go to in order to do what they are intended to do. The simple version is the the two 2x funds are so big that counter parties (banks) are not comfortable, or not able, to provide enough the swaps needed to keep up with how big the funds have become.
It’s that time of year again, when pundits are forecasting next year’s stock market performance. I believe investors are being gaslighted more than usual this year because the basic underlying assumptions are optimistic and unlikely.
Can you spot whats wrong in the image below? Please post your answer as a comment. I think that most people will find this mistake quickly. I post these challenges to raise awareness of the importance of proofreading. The post MISTAKE MONDAY for December 30: Can YOU spot whats wrong? appeared first on Susan Weiner Investment Writing.
As businesses increasingly adopt automation, finance leaders must navigate the delicate balance between technology and human expertise. This webinar explores the critical role of human oversight in accounts payable (AP) automation and how a people-centric approach can drive better financial performance. Join us for an insightful discussion on how integrating human expertise into automated workflows enhances decision-making, reduces fraud risks, strengthens vendor relationships, and accelerates R
Altos reports that active single-family inventory was down 2.5% week-over-week. Inventory will continue to decline seasonally until early next year and probably bottom in late January or February. The first graph shows the seasonal pattern for active single-family inventory since 2015. Click on graph for larger image. The red line is for 2024. The black line is for 2019.
Change is a catalyst that can drive innovation and help position businesses in all industries for sustained success. The adoption of wealthtech illustrates the transformative power of embracing change.
From STR: U.S. hotel results for week ending 21 December The U.S. hotel industry reported positive year-over-year performance comparisons, according to CoStars latest data through 21 December. Growth was elevated due to the Hannukah calendar shift as well as the compressed business travel period between Thanksgiving and Christmas. As expected, actual levels were significantly lower than the prior week because of the seasonal slowdown. 15-21 December 2024 (percentage change from comparable week i
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.
Earlier I posted some questions on my blog for next year: Ten Economic Questions for 2025. Some of these questions concern real estate (inventory, house prices, housing starts, new home sales), and I posted thoughts on those in the newsletter (others like GDP and employment will be on this blog). I'm adding some thoughts and predictions for each question.
On a rather quiet final Friday of the year, I used my Bloomberg Terminal to check how key government bond yields in advanced economies have changed in 2024.
Trends A record number of Americans are set to turn 65 in 2025. (wsj.com) Baby Boomers aren't any stingier with their wealth than other generations. (slate.com) Wealth matters when it comes to longevity. (wsj.com) Advisers The wealth management rush into private credit and private equity is on fast forward. (downtownjoshbrown.com) Five big compliance trends in 2024 including fines for off-channel communications.
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?
Finance 2025 is setting up to be a consequential year for the Vanguard Group. (riabiz.com) Singapore has seen a steady drop in listed companies. (ft.com) Fund management Investors poured more than $1 trillion into U.S. ETFs in 2024. (wsj.com) Crypto ETFs dominated the list of most successful launches in 2024. (etf.com) Elon Foreign governments are rethinking their approach to Starlink in light of Musk's newfound power.
Today’s video on the Materials Sector is another in the continuing series of videos where we are looking for value in each of the 10 major sectors as reported by Standard & Poor’s. This particular video is going to be on the Materials Sector.
Key Highlights Enjoy luxury like never before at all-inclusive Caribbean resorts. They have everything you need to relax and feel elegant. Dive into the beauty of the Caribbean Sea. Here, you can have an inclusive experience that meets all your needs. Check out top resorts like Coconut Bay, Jade Mountain, and Sandals Royal Barbados. You will have an unforgettable vacation with pristine beaches and palm trees.
Is your finance team bogged down by endless data requests and disorganized spreadsheets during the month-end close? It’s time to consider a better option – automate with ART! SkyStem’s solution works alongside your ERP to transform the close and account reconciliation process and speed up month-end work. Explore SkyStem’s ART - the award-winning account reconciliation automation platform - and receive a $100 Amazon gift card as a thank you for your time.
As a financial advisor, its essential that your clients ask questions. It means they want to engage with you, and they trust your expertise. Every question a client asks is an opportunity to educate them, which is a good thing. When your clients are comfortable enough with you to ask questions, its a sign of a healthy advisory relationship. But what if a client blindsides you with an unexpected question, one you didnt see coming?
I will be looking at a few indicators in 2025 to tell me where financial markets are going. Most of them relate to the bond market, because it is both a window into the overall economy and an important component of how stocks and other risky assets are valued.
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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