The Big Picture

JUNE 27, 2024

I’ve been observing how radically unusual various sentiment readings have been for a few years now. It made little sense to me that the post-pandemic era saw sentiment levels far below major dislocations such as the ‘87 crash, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Dotcom implosion, or the 08-09 great financial crisis. We have tried to identify the causal factors by considering social media , increases in partisanship , ignorance, even trolling of pollsters.

Economics 318

Economics Budgeting Sales Media 318

Abnormal Returns

JUNE 23, 2024

Strategy Mean reversion happens in the stock market. Good luck trying to time it. (awealthofcommonsense.com) Successful investing requires getting your time horizon correct. (disciplinefunds.com) Always check the ticker. (scheplick.com) Business The degenerate economy is booming. (howardlindzon.com) How veterinary medicine became a big business. (nytimes.com) The defense sector can't hire workers fast enough.

Medicine 309

Medicine Financial Advising Economy Media 309

Nerd's Eye View

JUNE 25, 2024

Welcome everyone! Welcome to the 391st episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast ! My guest on today's podcast is Christopher Jones. Chris is the founder of Sparrow Wealth Management, an RIA based in Orlando, Florida, that oversees approximately $110 million in assets under management for 68 client households. What's unique about Chris, though, is how he has built a highly efficient solo practice that allows him to work fewer than 25 hours/ week to have more time for his family and manage

Clients 198

Clients Financial Advisor Financial Planning Wealth Management 198

A Wealth of Common Sense

JUNE 23, 2024

I posted the following on Twitter this week: It’s turning into another banner year for the U.S. stock market (so far). Here’s a good follow-up question on these numbers: This is a legitimate concern. Since 2020 the S&P 500 has compounded at more than 14% per year. That’s not just a pandemic phenomenon either. Since the start of 2009, the S&P 500 has seen returns of 14.5% per year.

Marketing 126

Marketing Marketing Numbers 126

Speaker: Amanda Adams, Fractional CFO, CPA

Are you ready to elevate your accounting processes for 2025? 🚀 Join us for an exclusive webinar led by Amanda Adams, 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.

Accounting

The Big Picture

JUNE 28, 2024

This week, we speak with Eva Shang , co-founder, general partner, and chief executive officer of Legalist , an institutional alternative asset management firm. She leads the company’s 35-person team of engineers, attorneys, and analysts, and is a member of the firm’s valuation and investment committees. Before co-founding Legalist at 20, Eva studied economics at Harvard College.

Engineering 176

Engineering Valuation Government Accounting 176

Nerd's Eye View

JUNE 24, 2024

The requirements to run a successful, growing advisory firm are often less about doing the technical work with clients and more about marketing value to get prospects in the door in the first place. Yet, many firms' prospecting strategies have often relied on individual advisors being able to bring business to the firm instead of actively shaping and promoting the firm's own reputation.

Financial Advice 189

Financial Advice Clients Financial Planning Planning 189

Advisor Perspectives

JUNE 25, 2024

I have long admired Jonathan Clements. His columns in The Wall Street Journal introduced me to index-based investing. I was deeply saddened to read his column in HumbleDollar, dated June 15, 2024, that, at age 61, he has been diagnosed with lung cancer that has metastasized to his brain and “a few other spots.

Investing 128

Investing Investments 128

The Big Picture

JUNE 22, 2024

“ THEY ARE THE CHAMPIONS : Word has it that Sony Music has prevailed in the contest for Queen’s [link] recording and publishing rights and their attendant revenue—including that from the Disney deal—for which House Stringer and Platt has reportedly tendered the winning offer of a cool 1 billion pounds sterling. Disney, which owns the recording rights in North America thanks to the 1990 deal that cost the Mouse $10m, has hitherto paid a handsome royalty to Queen; that will go to Sony under

License 157

License Estate Planning Advertising Commission 157

Abnormal Returns

JUNE 25, 2024

Alternatives Pension plans could generate equivalent returns with low-cost, index investments. (crr.bc.edu) Equity funds with VC investments don't outperform. (papers.ssrn.com) Just how big is the carried interest loophole. (papers.ssrn.com) 52 week highs Liquidity picks up at 52-week highs. (papers.ssrn.com) Do corporate bonds take note of 52-week stock highs?

Retail 287

Retail Management Planning Investing 287

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.

Accounting

Nerd's Eye View

JUNE 26, 2024

Traditionally, the challenge in using a 529 plan to save for higher education expenses has been figuring out how much to save to cover the beneficiary's college costs without overshooting and saving more in the 529 plan than is actually needed. Because while 529 plans' combination of tax-deferred growth on invested funds and tax-free withdrawals for qualified education expenses (plus many state-level tax deductions or credits on 529 plan contributions) make it a powerful savings vehicle for coll

Education 234

Education Retirement Taxes Distribution 234

Calculated Risk

JUNE 24, 2024

Altos reports that active single-family inventory was up 2.2% week-over-week. Inventory is now up 28.4% from the February seasonal bottom, and at the highest level since July 2020. Click on graph for larger image. This inventory graph is courtesy of Altos Research. As of June 21st, inventory was at 634 thousand (7-day average), compared to 621 thousand the prior week.

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A Wealth of Common Sense

JUNE 28, 2024

I came across a bunch of charts in the past few weeks about Europe’s economic and market struggles. Let’s take a look. These charts that show how the biggest companies in the U.S. stock market are as big or bigger than some of the biggest economic powers in Europe always get me: The UK has something like 1,900 stocks on the London exchange.

Economics 117

Economics Marketing Marketing 117

Abnormal Returns

JUNE 22, 2024

Autos On the barriers to continued growth in EV sales in the U.S. (ft.com) Car dealerships around the country are dealing with a software outage. (theverge.com) Fisker ($FSRN) has filed for bankruptcy. (wsj.com) The Tesla ($TSLA) Model Y is the most made-in America car. (axios.com) Congestion pricing Why congestion pricing has failed in NYC, so far.

Food 282

Food Financial Advising Media Sales 282

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Join us in this webinar, where we share best practices on how to think about the reconciliation work each month, when best to do reconciliations, how they should be prepared, and some common pitfalls to avoid. Learning Objectives: This course objective is to understand how to properly prepare and review balance sheet reconciliations and its impact on the financial statements.

Accounting

Nerd's Eye View

JUNE 28, 2024

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" – this week's edition kicks off with the news that a recent study found that at a time when the number of SEC-registered broker-dealers and their registered representatives is declining, the number of SEC-registered RIAs, their assets under management, and the number of clients they serve all grew in 2023, reflecting the attractiveness of the RIA model to both advisors and clients alike and the ability for firms acro

Financial Planner 215

Financial Planner Clients Compliance Numbers 215

Calculated Risk

JUNE 26, 2024

Note: This index is a leading indicator primarily for new Commercial Real Estate (CRE) investment. From the AIA: ABI May 2024: Business conditions at architecture firms continue to soften The AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score declined to 42.4 for the month , as more firms reported a decrease in billings in May than in April. In addition, there is increasing softness in the pipeline of new work coming into firms.

Clients 126

Clients Economics Numbers Investing 126

Advisor Perspectives

JUNE 26, 2024

What I see emerging, though, is the idea that the CRM isn’t a single pane of glass to view the entire business. Effective CRMs are more like prisms, where the viewer’s role determines what they see, and what information leaps to their fingertips.

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Abnormal Returns

JUNE 27, 2024

Markets By this measure, the stock market is at record-high concentration. (axios.com) It's been awhile since we had a 2% stock market drop. (carsongroup.com) Strategy Investing is planning. (mrzepczynski.blogspot.com) Why you shouldn't care what other investors or the markets are doing. (safalniveshak.com) Companies Monster Beverage ($MNST) is unique not only for its stock performance.

Financial Advising 274

Financial Advising Startup Valuation Manufacturing 274

Advertisement

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

Nerd's Eye View

JUNE 27, 2024

The practice of asking questions has always been an integral part of the financial planning process. In the early days of the advicer industry, those questions almost exclusively dealt with facts around a client's or prospect's financial situation to determine (ultimately) what products the adviser should recommend. However, given the industry's ongoing transition away from being primarily transaction-focused and towards being relationship-based, advicers have had to learn how to develop meaning

Clients 150

Clients Financial Planning Communication Planning 150

Calculated Risk

JUNE 27, 2024

From the NAR: Pending Home Sales Dropped 2.1% in May Pending home sales in May slipped 2.1% , according to the National Association of REALTORS®. The Midwest and South posted monthly losses in transactions while the Northeast and West recorded gains. Year-over-year, all U.S. regions registered reductions. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI)* – a forward-looking indicator of home sales based on contract signings – decreased to 70.8 in May.

Sales 119

Sales Economy Marketing Marketing 119

Wealth Management

JUNE 28, 2024

Asset managers continue to launch investment products that resonate with advisors. But what assets work best in the space, and how to deploy them into client portfolios, remains up for debate.

Assets 119

Assets Investing Investments Portfolio 119

Abnormal Returns

JUNE 28, 2024

Business Matte Reustle talks with Joseph Shaposhnik about the business of Motorola Solutions ($MSI). (joincolossus.com) Barry Ritholtz talks with Peter Rawlison, CEO of Lucid Motors ($LCID). (ritholtz.com) Finance Ted Seides talks market narratives and more with Ben Hunt. (capitalallocators.com) Matt Zeigler talks with Epsilon Theory co-founder Rusty Guinn.

Assets 271

Assets Management Investing Investments 271

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

Alpha Architect

JUNE 28, 2024

While both the S&P 500 and the Nikkei indices have recently hit all-time highs, the valuation and balance sheet data we have reviewed indicate that the downside risks in Japanese stocks appear to be far less than the risks in U.S. stocks. Evidence such as this helps explain why legendary investor Warren Buffett has been buying Japanese stocks. U.S.

Valuation 117

Valuation Investing Investments 117

Calculated Risk

JUNE 26, 2024

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: New Home Sales Decrease to 619,000 Annual Rate in May Brief excerpt: The Census Bureau reports New Home Sales in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 619 thousand , however the three previous months were revised up sharply. The next graph shows new home sales for 2023 and 2024 by month (Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate).

Sales 114

Sales 114

A Wealth of Common Sense

JUNE 25, 2024

Here’s a headline you only see during a bull market: This is from the article: “It’s a new way of making money,” Nova told Fortune. “New possibilities for people: that you don’t have to, in this day and age, work as hard. Work smarter, not harder.” Following the stars has worked out for Nova. She quit her job as a tarot reader and astrology consultant this year to day-trade, fin.

Marketing 109

Marketing Marketing Consulting 109

Abnormal Returns

JUNE 24, 2024

Podcasts Josh Brown and Michael Batnick talk digital assets with Ric Edelman. (youtube.com) Callie Cox talks with Jeff Benjamin about her new role at Ritholtz Wealth and the state of the markets and economy. (etf.com) Daniel Crosby talks with Nuala Walsh, author of "TUNE IN: How to Make Smarter Decisions In a Noisy World." (standarddeviationspod.com) Fisher Investments Some estimates on how much a stake in Fisher Investments went for.

Financial Advising 273

Financial Advising Assets Retirement Economy 273

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

Advisor Perspectives

JUNE 24, 2024

Will the energy transition, from fossil fuel to other sources of energy, happen? It seems almost sacrilegious to suggest that it might not, or that the transition will be halting and incomplete.

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110

Wealth Management

JUNE 26, 2024

With lessons learned from his previous experience running Sanctuary, Dickson's Elevation Point was formed with United Atlantic Capital’s Mark Penske and launches with the acquisition of Mount Yale Capital Group.

Investing 111

Investing Investments 111

Trade Brains

JUNE 23, 2024

Downside Tasuki Gap Candlestick Pattern: Candlestick patterns are integral to technical analysis, offering traders insights into market psychology and potential price movements. The Downside Tasuki Gap is one such pattern, known for signalling bearish continuation during a downtrend. In this article, we shall explore the meaning, psychology, formation, and trading strategy of the Downside Tasuki Gap candlestick pattern with an example.

Risk Management 105

Risk Management Management Marketing Marketing 105