Nerd's Eye View

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024

Over the last 60 years, the top Federal marginal tax bracket has steadily decreased from over 90% in the 1950s and 60s to 'just' 37% today. However, with the national debt expanding rapidly, observers of U.S. tax policy are predicting that Congress will inevitably be forced to again increase tax rates in order to raise revenue and balance the national budget – and that the current regime of relatively low tax rates will prove to be a temporary phenomenon.

Taxes 246

Taxes Retirement Tax Planning Accounting 246

Abnormal Returns

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024

Podcast Barry Ritholtz talks with Brian Portnoy about whether money can buy happiness. (ritholtz.com) Peter Lazaroff on the importance of simplicity in personal finance. (peterlazaroff.com) Carl Richards talks money and life with journalists Jodi Kantor and Ron Lieber. (50fires.com) Tim Ranzetta talk financial literacy with Tony and Dina Isola of Ritholtz Wealth Management.

Retirement 234

Retirement Wealth Management Taxes Insurance 234

The Big Picture

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

This week, we speak with Kyla Scanlon , creator, host of YouTube’s,“Let’s Appreciate” podcast , writer of daily short-form videos about economy + markets. She has been published at Bloomberg, New York Magazine, FT, and the NYT. Her new book “ In This Economy?: How Money & Markets Really Work ” just came out this Summer. We discuss how she came up with the idea of a “ Vibecession ” and how it became a popular New York Times guest essay.

Healthcare 176

Healthcare Economy Numbers Assets 176

A Wealth of Common Sense

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024

Gallup has a poll that asks Americans what income strata they belong in. The results are relatively stable over the past 20+ years: Most people say middle class while very few people think they are upper class. The Pew Research Center has a new tool that allows you to enter your income and see where it is you fit both nationally and locally. Their numbers show the Gallup poll is right on the money as far as middle-class.

Numbers 139

Numbers 139

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Accounting

Nerd's Eye View

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

Starting a new firm can be a nerve-wracking time for an entrepreneurially minded financial advisor, as making the jump involves a significant amount of professional and financial risk. Nonetheless, after a year or 2 in business, some firm owners will find that their plate is becoming full and their available time is shrinking as they balance servicing current clients with marketing for new ones and also possibly managing staff.

Fee Only 246

Fee Only Clients Planning Management 246

The Big Picture

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024

The weekend is here! Pour yourself a mug of coffee, grab a seat outside, and get ready for our longer-form weekend reads: • America may be on the brink of an epic vibe shift : Stock prices at records, gas prices falling, and the Fed is cutting. Will it be enough to lift the sour consumer mood that set in during the pandemic? ( Sherwood ) • The Mr. Beast Memo is a Guide to the Gen Z Workforce: Mr.

Assets 157

Assets Banking Clients Management 157

Calculated Risk

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

Note: This is a repeat sales index (like Case-Shiller and FHFA). ICE is releasing this index early this month. Several cities in Florida are now seeing year-over-year price declines (as inventory surges). From ICE: • Home prices continued to cool in August, with prices up +3.0% from the same time last year according to the ICE Home Price Index, marking the slowest rate of home price growth in over a year • On an adjusted basis prices rose by +0.12% in the month – the slowest adjusted monthly gro

Sales 113

Sales Marketing Marketing 113

Nerd's Eye View

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that a recent study by Cerulli has shown a sharp increase in the number of affluent investors willing to pay for advice, which on the one hand reflects the increasing financial complexity in peoples' lives (while they've also gotten busier than ever at work and at home) to the extent that they're more willing to work with someone to navigate those financial challenges; while al

Financial Planner 215

Financial Planner Fiduciary Duty CFP Accounting 215

Abnormal Returns

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

Markets U.S. earnings estimates, and margins, continue to tick higher in 2024. (carsongroup.com) Covid was boon for U.S. corporate profitability. (sherwood.news) Strategy How would you do if had tomorrow's newspaper today? (ft.com) Investing is simple but not easy. (thefinancialbodyguard.com) Finance Not every sovereign wealth fund is created alike.

Financial Advising 224

Financial Advising Media Economy Investments 224

Speaker: Don Gallianza, Credit Manager at Chevron Phillips Chemical and Indy Chakrabarti, Chief Marketing Officer at HighRadius

4 Case Studies to Optimize DSO 26 Days Sales Outstanding. Already better than most. But, should you improve on that? Why would 3 fewer days even matter? It matters because it fundamentally transforms business outcomes. Join this webinar to explore 4 things companies do to reclaim hard dollars - not just soft costs - and go from good to great! What You'll Learn 6 operational KPIs every AR manager should track: Define and track these metrics to enhance performance, drive efficiency, and make infor

Sales

A Wealth of Common Sense

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

The bull market of the 1980s and 1990s is the stuff dreams are made of.1 The S&P 500 was up nearly 18% per year over the course of those two decades.2 It’s one of the great bull markets in history. But if we want to get picky, the bull market didn’t truly start until 1982. There were back-to-back recessions in 1980 and 1981-82. You had a 17% correction in 1980 along with a near-30% bear market that bottome.

Marketing 113

Marketing Marketing 113

Calculated Risk

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

From BofA: Since our last weekly publication, our 3Q GDP tracking estimate is down two-tenths to 2.3% q/q saar while 2Q GDP came in at 3.0% q/q saar in the final official estimate. [Sept 27th estimate] emphasis added From Goldman: The details of yesterday’s durable goods report and this morning’s Advance Economic Indicators report were stronger than our previous GDP tracking assumptions, while the details of the PCE report were slightly softer.

Economics 113

Economics Sales Investing Investments 113

Nerd's Eye View

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024

Welcome everyone! Welcome to the 404th episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast ! My guest on today's podcast is Ann Garcia. Ann is a partner of Independent Progressive Advisors, an RIA based in Portland, Oregon, that oversees approximately $115 million in assets under management for 120 client households. What's unique about Ann, though, is how she crafted a nationally recognized expertise in college financial planning, and the ways that specialization has evolved as Ann’s advisor

Planning 130

Planning Financial Advisor Clients Retirement 130

Abnormal Returns

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

Top clicks this week on Abnormal Returns Ted Lamade, "Is increased complexity the path to better performance, or would investors be better off if they simply removed a few things?" (collabfund.com) No matter how you spin the numbers, day trading is a losing proposition. (morningstar.com) Paying for stuff is getting complicated. (sherwood.news) Buying the dip isn't easy, or particularly profitable.

Retail 235

Retail Numbers Assets Marketing 235

Speaker: Igli Laci, Strategic Finance Leader

In today’s competitive market, pricing is more than just a number — it’s the cornerstone of profitability. The right pricing strategy ensures that you capture the true value of your offering, paving the way for sustainable growth and long-term success. Join Igli Laci, Strategic Finance Leader, in this exclusive session where he will explore how a well-crafted pricing approach balances customer perception with business objectives, creating a powerful tool for securing both competitive advantage a

Numbers

Advisor Perspectives

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

The U.S. economy grew at an expected pace during the second quarter of this year. Real gross domestic product increased at an annual rate of 2.99% in Q2 2024, according to the final estimate. The latest estimate is the same as the forecasted 3.0% growth and is a pickup from the Q1 2024 GDP final estimate of 1.6%.

Economy 113

Economy 113

Alpha Architect

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

While the skewness metric did demonstrate that it could select funds with managers skilled a security selection, the fund’s expenses and implementation meant that the fund was just about able to cover its expenses, and that was before the negative impact of active management on after-tax returns—and the finding was not statistically significant at even the 10% level of confidence.

Taxes 109

Taxes Management Investing Investments 109

Wealth Management

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

In other RIA news, Merchant stakes an investment banking firm, Focus partner firm Transform Wealth buys fellow Denver business Custom Portfolio Group, and Cetera's employee RIA acquires an Austin-based practice with $185 million in assets.

Banking 109

Banking Portfolio Assets Investments 109

Abnormal Returns

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

Strategy Beware anyone offering high, guaranteed returns. (wsj.com) Better process leads to better outcomes. (mrzepczynski.blogspot.com) Immigration Noah Smith, "Trump’s lies about the Haitians of Springfield have given America a glimpse of the dark vision that lies beneath the populist anger." (noahpinion.blog) Immigrants are helping revitalize Rust Belt cities like Springfield, OH.

Financial Advising 233

Financial Advising Media Economy Economics 233

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As we step into 2024, the lending landscape evolves rapidly with technology, regulations, and market dynamics driving change. For banks and financial institutions to stay competitive and meet the evolving needs of their customers, these drivers must be understood and engaged with. Lenders can anticipate significant transformation fueled by technological advancements, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer behaviors.

Banking

Calculated Risk

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Inflation Adjusted House Prices 1.5% Below 2022 Peak Excerpt: It has been over 18 years since the bubble peak. In the July Case-Shiller house price index on Tuesday, the seasonally adjusted National Index (SA), was reported as being 74% above the bubble peak in 2006. However, in real terms, the National index (SA) is about 11% above the bubble peak (and historically there has been an upward slope to real house prices).

Numbers 111

Numbers 111

Advisor Perspectives

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

Personal income ( excluding transfer receipts ) rose 0.23% in August and is up 5.4% year-over-year. However, when adjusted for inflation using the BEA's PCE Price Index, real personal income (excluding transfer receipts) was up 0.14% month-over-month and up 3.1% year-over-year.

104

104

Wealth Management

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

Financial advisors’ confidence in the current state of the economy sank last month to its lowest point year-to-date, while optimism in the stock market continued to rise.

Economy 113

Economy Financial Advisor Marketing Marketing 113

Abnormal Returns

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

Books A look at "Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy Inside the Catholic Church" by Gareth Gore. (nymag.com) An excerpt from “Fools on the Hill: The Hooligans, Saboteurs, Conspiracy Theorists and Dunces who Burned Down the House,” by Dana Milbank. (wapo.st) A Q&A with Alok Sama author of "The Money Trap: Lost Illusions Inside the Tech Bubble.

Government 214

Government Investments Investing 214

Speaker: Joe Buhrmann, MBA, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC® Senior Financial Planning Practice Management Consultant eMoney Advisor

During an era of evolving consumer preferences, the banking sector is undergoing a profound shift. As customers continue to broaden their perspectives, banking professionals must support their customers' financial wellness by providing holistic financial advice that aligns with individual goals and circumstances. Without adapting, financial institutions will find that loyalty may crumble amid uncertainty.

Financial Advice

Calculated Risk

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Watch Months-of-Supply! A brief excerpt: Both inventory and sales are well below pre-pandemic levels, and I think we need to keep an eye on months-of-supply to forecast price changes. Historically nominal prices declined when months-of-supply approached 6 months - and that is unlikely any time soon - however, as expected, months-of-supply is back to 2019 levels.

Sales 111

Sales 111

Trade Brains

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024

India’s business landscape is buzzing with excitement. Big companies are preparing to showcase their star players in the stock market. There’s something for everyone, from electric cars to green energy, from loans to insurance. These upcoming IPOs aren’t just about raising money. They’re about shaping India’s economic future.

Banking 111

Banking Financial Services Insurance Assets 111

Wealth Management

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024

Gamified trading apps and niche ETFs have a cost that’s harder to spot but is little different from the damage inflicted on portfolios by high fees.

Retail 125

Retail Portfolio 125

Abnormal Returns

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

Economy Barry Ritholtz talks with Kyla Scanlon author of "In This Economy? How Money and Markets Really Work." (ritholtz.com) Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway talk industrial policy with Vivek Chibber, a professor at NYU. (podcasts.apple.com) Ted Seides Patrick O'Shaughnessy talks with Ted Seides author of "Private Equity Deals: Lessons in Investing, Dealmaking, and Operations from Private Equity Professionals.

Economy 205

Economy Investments Investing Marketing 205

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Investing

A Wealth of Common Sense

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

Studying market history has made me a better investor. Calculating historical performance data is one of my go-to moves for this blog. It helps provide some insight into the potential risks and range of outcomes in the markets. Market history also helps keep you grounded. It’s important to understand the booms and busts — the South Sea Bubble, the panic of 1907, the roaring 20s, the Great Depression, the Nifty.

Marketing 109

Marketing Marketing 109

Calculated Risk

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: New Home Sales Decrease to 716,000 Annual Rate in August Brief excerpt: The Census Bureau reported New Home Sales in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 716 thousand. The previous three months were revised up. The next graph shows new home sales for 2023 and 2024 by month (Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate).

Sales 103

Sales 103

Wealth Management

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024

According to SEC Enforcement Director Gurbir Grewal, Qatalyst Partners did not have to pay a monetary penalty because it self-reported the results of its investigation.

Communication 113

Communication 113