Darrow Wealth Management

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

Updated for 2024 – 2025. Investors often ask: should I be making nondeductible IRA contributions? In the vast majority of cases the answer is no. Why non-deductible? Because many taxpayers earn too much to make pre-tax IRA contributions as they have a 401(k) at work. Although any investor with earned income can make a non-deductible contribution to an IRA (up to $7,000 in 2024-2025 if under age 50) and still take advantage of tax-deferred growth, it still may not be advisable.

Taxes 84

Taxes Distribution Retirement Retirement Planning 84

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” - this week’s edition kicks off with the news that the latest Fidelity RIA Benchmarking Study shows that while RIAs saw gains in AUM and revenue last year, their operating margins tightened, suggesting that rising expenses are cutting into firm profits. The study also looked at what “high performing” firms are doing differently than their peers, finding that these firms have a higher close rat

Financial Planner 240

Financial Planner Asset Allocation Taxes Tax Planning 240

The Big Picture

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

 This week, we speak with Colin Camerer , Robert Kirby Professor of Behavioral Finance and Economics at California Institute of Technology. Prior to joining Caltech in 1994, Camerer was a faculty member at various institutions including the University of Chicago GSB and the Kellogg Graduate School of Business at Northwestern University, and held a visiting professorship at Oxford University.

Portfolio Management 201

Portfolio Management Economics Portfolio Assets 201

Abnormal Returns

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

Podcasts Dan Haylett talks retirement transitions with Victoria Barker, co-founder of Beyond Your Career. (humansvsretirement.com) Katie Gatti Tassin talks money dysmorphia with Clay Cockrell, a therapist for the ultra high-net worth crowd. (podcast.moneywithkatie.com) Home ownership Should you put down more than 20% on a new home? (ofdollarsanddata.com) Add rising HOA fees to the rising costs of home ownership.

Retirement 170

Retirement Insurance Planning 170

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

A Wealth of Common Sense

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

The S&P 500 is up 27% in 2024. We’re quickly closing in on a 30% gain for the calendar year. How rare is that feat? It happens more often than you would think. Here’s a look at every calendar year return on the S&P 500 going back to 1928: The 30% gains are highlighted. By my count, there were 18 years in which the stock market finished with a gain of 30% or more.

Marketing 142

Marketing Marketing 142

The Big Picture

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

Hard to believe a year ghas blown by that quickly, but it’s been that long (or short) since the first At the Money podcast dropped in 2023. With Masters in Business in its 10th year, the nice folks at Bloomberg asked if I had any ideas about any new shows. My initial response was, “Let me think about it.” I looked around to see what else was available and noticed a void.

Investing 190

Investing Investments Media 190

Abnormal Returns

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

Top clicks this week Investors have a lot more cash substitutes than they used to. (advisorperspectives.com) Ben Carlson, "I don’t believe there is a perfect portfolio. It’s only known with the benefit of hindsight." (awealthofcommonsense.com) Hard work isn't enough. Alpha erodes. (thewaiterspad.com) Private equity is going retail whether you like it or not.

Retail 179

Retail Portfolio Management Marketing 179

NAIFA Advisor Today

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

A recent study supported by the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), and conducted by economists Mark Warshawsky and Gaobo Pang, reveals that retirees could see better financial outcomes by incorporating annuities into their retirement income strategy, rather than relying solely on the traditional “4% rule.” This research underscores the importance of a diversified approach to retirement, especially in light of market fluctuations, inflation, and the uncertainty around life expectancy.

Retirement 138

Retirement Insurance Marketing Marketing 138

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

To sustain firm growth, financial advisors often face a dilemma: to focus on what originally drew them to the profession – like financial planning – they often must first do an extensive amount of business development. Marketing activities such as brand development, event planning, and content strategy often demand skills outside advisors' typical expertise and interest.

Marketing 229

Marketing Marketing Communication Engineering 229

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

Calculated Risk

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

From the Federal Reserve: The October 2024 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices The October 2024 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices (SLOOS) addressed changes in the standards and terms on, and demand for, bank loans to businesses and households over the past three months, which generally correspond to the third quarter of 2024.

Banking 128

Banking Marketing Marketing 128

Abnormal Returns

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Corporate finance Why companies are staying private longer. (marginalrevolution.com) A review of "The M&A Failure Trap: Why Most Mergers and Acquisitions Fail and How the Few Succeed" by Baruch Lev and Feng Gu. (blogs.cfainstitute.org) Private equity Quants are turning their attention to model private equity returns. (bloomberg.com) The problem with IRR for private equity funds.

Financial Advisor 170

Financial Advisor Investing Investments Marketing 170

A Wealth of Common Sense

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

Let’s take a look at the list of all-time highs we’re currently experiencing: The U.S. stock market has never been higher: The S&P 500 bottomed in March 2009 at 666. It’s now close to 6,000. The Dow has gone from roughly 6,500 to nearly 44,000. What an incredible run. Gold is also at all-time highs: It’s rare to see stocks and the yellow metal simultaneously taking off like this.

Marketing 129

Marketing Marketing 129

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Welcome everyone! Welcome to the 411th episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast ! My guest on today's podcast is Larry Kriesmer. Larry is the Chairman of Measured Risk Portfolios, an RIA based in San Diego, California, that oversees $350 million in assets under management for a combination of internal retail clients and external financial advisor clients.

Clients 130

Clients Financial Advisor Marketing Marketing 130

Advertisement

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

Calculated Risk

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

From the NY Fed: Household Debt Rose Modestly; Delinquency Rates Remain Elevated The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Center for Microeconomic Data today issued its Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit. The report shows total household debt increased by $147 billion (0.8%) in Q3 2024, to $17.94 trillion. The report is based on data from the New York Fed’s nationally representative Consumer Credit Panel.

Economics 121

Economics Retail Banking Accounting 121

Abnormal Returns

NOVEMBER 9, 2024

EVs What its like to drive a Rolls Royce EV. (theverge.com) Heavy equipment is going electric. (thecooldown.com) Autos Technology can't necessarily save us from problematic beahviors like distracted driving. (fastcompany.com) Toyota's ($TM) big bet on hybrids looks to pay off. (wsj.com) How car colors got so boring. (glennmercer.substack.com) Energy China's solar sector is booming, but profits are few and far between.

Medicine 179

Medicine Financial Advising Communication Media 179

A Wealth of Common Sense

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Politicians don’t control the stock market. When stocks go up presidents get too much credit and when they go down they get too much blame. It’s mostly circumstantial depending on the timing of cycles and such. But the markets move faster than ever these days. Investors are constantly pricing in the future, sometimes right, sometimes wrong, yet never in doubt.

Marketing 117

Marketing Marketing 117

Wealth Management

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

The influence of content marketing goes well beyond simple brand awareness; it is a crucial asset for educating, engaging and building trust with both prospective clients and colleagues.

Marketing 115

Marketing Marketing Education Assets 115

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

Calculated Risk

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

On a monthly basis, retail sales increased 0.4% from September to October (seasonally adjusted), and sales were up 2.8 percent from October 2023. From the Census Bureau report : Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for October 2024, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $718.9 billion, an increase of 0.4 percent from the previous month , and up 2.8 percent from October 2023.

Retail 113

Retail Sales Food 113

Abnormal Returns

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

Books An excerpt from "The Nvidia Way: Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant" by Tae Kim. (barrons.com) An excerpt from “The Second Fifty: Answers to the 7 Big Questions of Midlife and Beyond” by Debra Whitman. (wsj.com) Culture Is the love song really dying? (pudding.cool) The case against 'cotton candy culture.' (honest-broker.com) Why Bill Watterson of 'Calvin & Hobbes' fame stands out.

Taxes 159

Taxes Economics 159

Advisor Perspectives

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Nominal retail sales in October were up 0.40% month-over-month (MoM) and up 2.85% year-over-year (YoY). However, after adjusting for inflation, real retail sales were up 0.15% MoM and up 0.27% YoY.

Retail 110

Retail Sales 110

Wealth Management

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

Creative Planning's purchase of the Lawrence-based RIA Edmonds Duncan comes several weeks after TPG Capital announced a minority investment into the Peter Mallouk-led RIA.

Planning 116

Planning Investing Investments 116

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

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

Here are a few measures of inflation: The first graph is the one Fed Chair Powell had mentioned when services less rent of shelter was up around 8% year-over-year. This declined, but is still elevated, and is now up 4.5% YoY. Click on graph for larger image. This graph shows the YoY price change for Services and Services less rent of shelter through September 2024.

Food 113

Food Accounting 113

Abnormal Returns

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Markets The equity risk premium has fallen. (mrzepczynski.blogspot.com) The S&P SmallCap 600 index is 30 years old. (spglobal.com) Finance Elon Musk's xAI and SpaceX are getting a valuation boost. (ft.com) Is private credit in a bubble? (alphaarchitect.com) How the activist short selling ecosystem works. (on.ft.com) Fund management 2024 could see $1 trillion in U.S.

Financial Advising 146

Financial Advising Valuation Food Media 146

NAIFA Advisor Today

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

NAIFA’s Lifetime Healthcare Center is presenting “The Peak 65 Series: Impact Day for Lifetime Healthcare,” a one-day virtual event, November 19, beginning at 11 am eastern. It features a dozen 20-minute TED Talk-like presentations covering timely topics on the financial implications of longevity and aging. Presenters include recognized thought leaders offering insights on long-term care, disability income, hybrid insurance products, Medicare, federal and state legislative and regulatory consider

Healthcare 105

Healthcare Financial Services Insurance 105

Wealth Management

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Nicholas Takahashi and his team managed about $1.3 billion when it left the wirehouse earlier this year, but Morgan Stanley alleged the rep was breaking his non-solicitation vows.

Management 105

Management 105

Speaker: Carolina Aponte - Owner and CEO, Caja Holdings LLC

In today's rapidly changing business environment, building a resilient balance sheet is crucial to the survival of any business. A resilient balance sheet allows a company to withstand financial shocks and adapt to changing market conditions. To achieve this, companies need to focus on key strategies such as maintaining adequate liquidity, managing debt levels, diversifying revenue streams, and prioritizing profitability over growth.

Financial Planning

Calculated Risk

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Part 1: Current State of the Housing Market; Overview for mid-November 2024 A brief excerpt: This 2-part overview for mid-October provides a snapshot of the current housing market. I always focus first on inventory, since inventory usually tells the tale ! I’m watching months-of-supply closely. New home inventory, as a percentage of total inventory, is still very high.

Marketing 108

Marketing Marketing Numbers Sales 108

Abnormal Returns

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Listening Spotify ($SPOT) is now solidly profitable. (sherwood.news) Happy one year anniversary to Barry Ritholtz's 'At the Money' podcast. (ritholtz.com) Companies Patrick O'Shaughnessy talks with Ernie Garcia who is the co-founder and CEO of Carvana ($CVNA). (joincolossus.com) Stephan Clapham talks with Lionel Barber author of the forthcoming "Gambling Man: The Secret Story of the World's Greatest Disruptor, Masayoshi Son.

Portfolio 146

Portfolio Portfolio Management Management Investing 146

NAIFA Advisor Today

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

Peter Wood is an accomplished financial advisor and active member of NAIFA with over a decade of experience in the industry. Starting as a multi-line captive agent, he now co-owns a multi-state firm that spans over 12 states and runs a mastermind coaching program for insurance agents. Apart from insurance, Peter coaches competitive bands and drumlines, matching his passion for mentorship in music with his professional endeavors.

Insurance 98

Insurance Financial Advisor 98