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From the BLS: Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary The number of job openings was little changed at 7.6 million in February , the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires and total separations held at 5.4 million and 5.3 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (3.2 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.8 million) changed little. emphasis added The following graph shows job openings (black line), hires (dark blue), Layoff, Discharges and other (red column
Here’s a crazy stat from Bloomberg: Half of American households account for 97.5% of the wealth in this country. This is the breakdown from Federal Reserve data: On the one hand these numbers — 2.5% of wealth — seem almost impossible for the bottom 50%. On the other hand, this is an improvement from the last decade. It was much worse coming out of the Great Financial Crisis.
From the Census Bureau reported that overall construction spending decreased: Construction spending during February 2025 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,195.8 billion, 0.7 percent above the revised January estimate of $2,179.9 billion. The February figure is 2.9 percent above the February 2024 estimate of $2,133.8 billion. emphasis added Both private and public spending increased: Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,686.4 billi
March 2025 The S&P 500 returned -5.63% in March 2025. (on.spdji.com) How major asset classes performed in March 2025. (capitalspectator.com) The asset asset quilt updated for Q1 performance. (novelinvestor.com) Alternatives How to use private equity in your portfolio. (morningstar.com) Is the Yale Model dead? (ft.com) Companies OpenAI was recently valued at $300 billion.
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.
Wards Auto released their estimate of light vehicle sales for March: March U.S. Light-Vehicle Sales Surge in Preemptive Move to Potential Tariff-Based Price Increases (pay site). March sales were proof that U.S. consumers are very much paying attention to tariffs, as demand on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis surged to 17.8 million units , highest for any month in nearly four years, and far above January-Februarys combined total of 15.8 million.
Rates Why the Treasury bond market matters. (econofact.org) How increased bond indexing has changed how bonds trade. (papers.ssrn.com) Why term premia models disagree. (ft.com) Research Don't pay alpha fees for beta exposure. (aqr.com) Where stock market returns have come from. (marginalrevolution.com) Why is the real price of gold rising? (mrzepczynski.blogspot.com) Checking in on spot Bitcoin ETFs one year in.
(Posted with permission). The ISM manufacturing index indicated expansion. The PMI was at 49.0% in March, down from 50.3% in February. The employment index was at 44.7%, down from 47.6% the previous month, and the new orders index was at 45.2%, down from 48.6%. From ISM: Manufacturing PMI at 49% March 2025 Manufacturing ISM Report On Business Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in March after two consecutive months of expansion preceded by 26 straight months of contraction,
(Posted with permission). The ISM manufacturing index indicated expansion. The PMI was at 49.0% in March, down from 50.3% in February. The employment index was at 44.7%, down from 47.6% the previous month, and the new orders index was at 45.2%, down from 48.6%. From ISM: Manufacturing PMI at 49% March 2025 Manufacturing ISM Report On Business Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in March after two consecutive months of expansion preceded by 26 straight months of contraction,
Note: Mortgage rates are from MortgageNewsDaily.com and are for top tier scenarios. Wednesday: At 7:00 AM ET: The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) will release the results for the mortgage purchase applications index. At 8:15 AM, The ADP Employment Report for March. This report is for private payrolls only (no government). The consensus is for 119,000 payroll jobs added in March, up from 77,000 added in February.
The Memphis-based $583 million firm Vishira Bird Financial Group will boost Mercer's Tennessee presence. The $300 million D. Scott Neal marks its first partner firm in Kentucky.
A recurrent theme here has been the opportunity provided by a large installed base, but that is aged and entering the prime years for repair if not replacement. For example, in 2023, we discussed how an older car fleet would provide a long tailwind for auto parts retailers. More recently, we discussed the opportunity present in our nation’s old housing stock.
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.
Some advisors worry that Commonwealths boutique culture will be lost once LPL acquires the IBD, but both CEOs say theyre committed to keep that community and service model intact inside of the larger organization.
In the last few days, I've had the opportunity to look at a couple of different model portfolios from different places and providers that I would describe as being overly complex. I'm not going to call them out publicly or anything but I think we can learn some things. As you can see, there are 18 ETFs in the model and it outperformed by a hair, nothing wrong with that, but it clearly looks identical to the basic two index fund portfolio I used.
By Matt Pais, MDRT senior content specialist Lets say you want to donate $100,000 to charity. Would you rather give that amount directly to the organization or withdraw $100,000, pay $40,000 in taxes and have only $60,000 of your contribution left to donate? Obviously, youd choose to avoid taxes and give the full amount, especially if that approach brought additional tax benefits with it.
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
In his annual investors letter, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink focused on the growing trend of offering private markets access to the wealth channel. Morningstar took a hard look at some of the new access points for private credit. These are among the investment must reads we found this week for wealth advisors.
If your employer offers restricted stock units (RSUs) as a form of equity compensation, you likely have questions about managing it effectively alongside the other pieces of your financial picture. The good news is, RSUs are relatively simple with fewer options than other types of equity comp. That being said, you will still need to be cognizant of when they vest, how they can impact your tax bill, and when may be the best time to sell or hold shares.
The new company is attempting to carve out an underserved niche in the increasingly crowded market of firms attempting to bring private markets access to the wealth channel.
Gas prices rose for a second straight week, surging to their highest level since October. As of March 31st, the price of regular and premium gas were up 5 and 6 cents from the previous week, respectively. The WTIC end-of-day spot price for crude oil closed at $71.48, up 3.4% from last week.
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.
After a huge success launching its inagural PSN Mid-Year Outlook in 2024, Zephyr's PSN Outlook for 2025 aims to bring the platforms capabilities to light, offering a deeper understanding of how SMAs bring a competitive advantage investors.
We are excited to welcome Francheska Ruiz, CFP and Chad Williamson, CFP to our team as Wealth Advisors. Francheska brings a personalized, forward-thinking approach to financial planning, helping clients navigate complex financial decisions with confidence. She earned both her Bachelors and Masters in Finance from the University of Florida and spent seven years at Merrill Lynch.
The 10-year Treasury yield has experienced dramatic fluctuations, ranging from a peak of 15.68% in October 1981, during the height of the Volcker era, to a historic low of 0.55% in August 2020, amidst the economic uncertainty of the pandemic. As of March 31, 2025, the weekly average stood at 4.33%.
Welcome everyone! Welcome to the 431st episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast ! My guest on today's podcast is Nick Rodkin. Nick is the managing partner of Stoic Financial, an LPL-affiliated advisory firm based in Boynton Beach, Florida, that oversees $107 million in assets under management for 70 client households. What's unique about Nick, though, is how, after nearly 15 years of practicing as a financial advisor, he went back to graduate school to get a master's degree in marriage a
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?
They took the concept of a mutual fund, rewrapped it in a low-cost, easily traded package, and offered it to investors on a silver platter. Today, ETFs account for $15 trillion AUM globally, making them one of the most dominant forces in modern markets. And behind the scenes, they’re working even harder than you think.
Everyone wants to use best practices. But how do you identify the best practices for your situation? Tom Brakke of The Investment Ecosystem blog shares a simple exercise that you can do. In Common Practices, Best Practices, and Next Practices , he suggests that you ask, How would you describe what you do in comparison to the standards that are prevalent across the industry in like positions and situations?
February's Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) revealed a larger-than-anticipated drop in job openings, falling to 7.568 million from January's revised 7.762 million. The latest reading was below the forecast of 7.690 million. Additionally, layoffs and hiring saw slight increases, while quits declined.
The Validea Warren Buffett investment approach, based on principles outlined in Mary Buffett’s “Buffettology,” represents a disciplined methodology focused on identifying exceptional businesses with sustainable competitive advantages. This strategy prioritizes companies demonstrating consistent operational excellence and financial stability over extended periods.
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.
Three powerful strategies may help investors diversify concentrated positions while deferring or minimizing immediate capital gains taxes: Section 351 transactions (often used to seed new ETFs) Exchange funds (offered by firms like UseCache and traditional private banks) Long/short tax loss harvesting strategies (offered by firms like AQR or Quantinno using active trading to generate offsetting losses) Portfolio Tax Strategies: Section 351 vs.
Investors just can’t get enough of ETFs, and issuers are more than happy to oblige. Through the middle of last week—still with a handful of days left in the quarter—208 new U.S. ETFs were launched in Q1, according to Wall Street Horizon data.
After the election in November 2016, I pointed out that the economy was solid, that there were significant economic tailwinds and that it was unlikely that Mr. Trump would do everything he said during the campaign. See: The Future is still Bright! and The Cupboard is Full. I was pretty optimistic on the economic outlook! By early 2019, I was becoming more concerned : "So far Mr.
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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