The Big Picture
DECEMBER 30, 2024
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.
Nerd's Eye View
DECEMBER 30, 2024
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!).
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Advisor Perspectives
DECEMBER 30, 2024
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.
Harness Wealth
DECEMBER 30, 2024
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
Speaker: Aaron Berson
Managing spend is more than a cost cutting exercise – it's a pathway to smarter decisions that unlock efficiency and drive growth. By understanding and refining the spending process, financial leaders can empower their organizations to achieve more with less. Explore the art of balancing financial control with operational growth. From uncovering hidden inefficiencies to designing workflows that scale your business, we’ll share strategies to align your organization’s spending with its strategic g
Calculated Risk
DECEMBER 30, 2024
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.
Financial Advisor Source brings together the best content for financial advisor professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Calculated Risk
DECEMBER 30, 2024
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.
Advisor Perspectives
DECEMBER 30, 2024
BlackRock Inc.’s iShares unit offers more than 1,400 exchange-traded funds around the world, yet none of them have performed quite like this.
Calculated Risk
DECEMBER 30, 2024
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.
Advisor Perspectives
DECEMBER 30, 2024
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.
Speaker: Duke Heninger, Partner and Fractional CFO at Ampleo & Creator of CFO System
Are you ready to elevate your accounting processes for 2025? 🚀 Join us for an exclusive webinar led by Duke Heninger, a seasoned fractional CFO and CPA passionate about transforming back-office operations for finance teams. This session will cover critical best practices and process improvements tailored specifically for accounting professionals.
Validea
DECEMBER 30, 2024
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.
Advisor Perspectives
DECEMBER 30, 2024
We prefer equities over fixed income, in particular U.S. equities as the outlook for the U.S. economy is solid and promising.
Random Roger's Retirement Planning
DECEMBER 30, 2024
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.
Advisor Perspectives
DECEMBER 30, 2024
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.
Speaker: Ashley Harlan, MBA
What if your role as a fractional CFO went beyond operational support to actively shaping the future of your clients’ businesses? 💼 ✨ In this session, discover how fractional finance professionals can position themselves as architects of growth, guiding their clients toward sustainable success and preparing them for full-time financial leadership.
Don Connelly & Associates
DECEMBER 30, 2024
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?
Advisor Perspectives
DECEMBER 30, 2024
As is our custom, we conclude the year by reflecting on the 10 most-read practice management articles over the past 12 months. Enjoy!
Investment Writing
DECEMBER 30, 2024
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.
Advisor Perspectives
DECEMBER 30, 2024
We’re continuing the Advisor Perspectives tradition of highlighting the most-read investing articles for 2024. Enjoy!
Speaker: Abdi Ali, Sr. Lease Accounting Consultant
Join this insightful webinar with industry expert Abdi Ali, who will discuss the challenges that can arise from managing lease accounting with spreadsheets! He will share real-world examples of errors, compliance issues, and risks that may be present within your spreadsheets. Learn how these tools, while useful, can sometimes lead to inefficiencies that affect your time, resources, and peace of mind.
A Wealth of Common Sense
DECEMBER 30, 2024
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.
Advisor Perspectives
DECEMBER 30, 2024
We prefer equities over fixed income, in particular U.S. equities as the outlook for the U.S. economy is solid and promising.
Cornerstone Financial Advisory
DECEMBER 30, 2024
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.
Advisor Perspectives
DECEMBER 30, 2024
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.
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Financial Symmetry
DECEMBER 30, 2024
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.
Advisor Perspectives
DECEMBER 30, 2024
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.
Abnormal Returns
DECEMBER 30, 2024
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.
Advisor Perspectives
DECEMBER 30, 2024
Gold is heading for one of its biggest annual gains this century, with a 27% advance that’s been fueled by US monetary easing, sustained geopolitical risks, and a wave of purchases by central banks.
Speaker: Chandra McCormack, CPA, MBA, NACD.DC
Imagine being a financial leader who not only ensures the books are balanced but also shapes the future of your organization. 🤔 ✨ This session will take you beyond the routine reporting and into the realm of strategic financial leadership. We’ll explore how today’s finance professionals can juggle the day-to-day operations while also delivering the long term vision that drives growth.
The Big Picture
DECEMBER 30, 2024
My almost back-to-work morning WFH reads: The C.E.O.s Are Tripping. Can Psychedelics Help the C-Suite? A growing cottage industry is dedicated to the theory that mind-altering drugs can improve business leadership. ( New York Times ) MicroStrategys secret sauce is volatility, not bitcoin : Self-reinforcing market forces are creating demand for Michael Saylors lottery ticket convertible bonds. ( Financial Times ) see also The Investing Cult Fueling MicroStrategys Ascent: Have Fun Staying Poor R
Advisor Perspectives
DECEMBER 30, 2024
By this time last year, the stock market’s rally had blown past even the most optimistic targets and Wall Street forecasters were convinced it couldn’t keep up the dizzying pace.
Wealth Management
DECEMBER 30, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump's victory in the election means that the tax cuts from his last administration are likely to remain in place.
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