Sat.Apr 05, 2025 - Fri.Apr 11, 2025

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FOMC Minutes: "Inflation was likely to be boosted this year"

Calculated Risk

From the Fed: Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee, March 1819, 2025. Excerpt: With regard to the outlook for inflation, participants judged that i nflation was likely to be boosted this year by the effects of higher tariffs, although significant uncertainty surrounded the magnitude and persistence of such effects. Several participants noted that the announced or planned tariff increases were larger and broader than many of their business contacts had expected.

Planning 270
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Inspired Discovery: Asking Vision Questions To Focus On Clients’ “Ideal Self”

Nerd's Eye View

It's natural for advisors to begin discovery meetings by asking questions about a client's current financial situation – understanding cash flow, debt, investments, risk tolerance, or even the burning tax concern that brought them to the advisor's door in the first place is crucial for financial planning. However, starting with these questions can have unintended consequences.

Clients 200
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Tuesday links: radical uncertainty

Abnormal Returns

Markets During periods of market stress rumors have the power to move markets. (sherwood.news) How long does it take for the stock market to recover? (ofdollarsanddata.com) Basis trade What is the basis trade? (apolloacademy.com) Why the basis trade is so important to Treasury market liquidity. (ft.com) Strategy How strategy diversification helps you hold on through tough times.

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Daffy Announces New Suite of AI-Powered Tools

Wealth Management

Daffy, the donor-advised fund-focused charitable giving platform, announced a new set of AI-enabled features, include Quick Donate.

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Data Talks, CFOs Listen: Why Analytics Is The Key To Better Spend Management

Speaker: Claire Grosjean

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.

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YoY Measures of Inflation: Services, Goods and Shelter

Calculated Risk

Here are a few measures of inflation: The first graph is the one Fed Chair Powell had mentioned two years ago when services less rent of shelter was up around 8% year-over-year. This declined and is now up 3.3% YoY. Click on graph for larger image. This graph shows the YoY price change for Services and Services less rent of shelter through March 2025.

Food 272
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Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (April 12–13)

Nerd's Eye View

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that the U.S. Senate has confirmed Paul Atkins to be the next Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In terms of enforcement actions, Atkins is expected to prioritize instances of investor harm and be less inclined to issue sanctions for technical rule violations (which were more frequent under previous SEC Chair Gary Gensler).

More Trending

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Direct Indexing Still Only Used By 'Small Segment' of RIAs

Wealth Management

Cerulli finds that the direct indexing boom still has significant runway among advisors, with 26% actively choosing not to use it despite having access.

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Part 2: Current State of the Housing Market; Overview for mid-April 2025

Calculated Risk

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Part 2: Current State of the Housing Market; Overview for mid-April 2025 A brief excerpt: Yesterday, in Part 1: Current State of the Housing Market; Overview for mid-April 2025 I reviewed home inventory, housing starts and sales. In Part 2, I will look at house prices, mortgage rates, rents and more.

Marketing 248
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#FASuccess Ep 432: Crafting “Input Deliverables” That Show Financial Planning Value To Clients Without Creating Busy-Work, With Seth Scott

Nerd's Eye View

Welcome everyone! Welcome to the 432nd episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast! My guest on today's podcast is Seth Scott. Seth is the founder of Heartwood Financial Planning, an advisory firm affiliated with PlanMember Securities Corporation that is based in Fresno, California, and oversees approximately $100 million in assets under management for 850 client households.

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Adviser links: in times like these

Abnormal Returns

Podcasts Michael Kitces talks with Nick Rodkin, managing partner of Stoic Financial, about working with client couples. (kitces.com) Matt Zeigler talks with Danika Waddell, founder of Xena Financial Planning. (epsilontheory.com) Aging How financial literacy declines with age. (knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu) Why advisers may spot dementia in clients first.

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What Your Financial Statements Are Telling You—And How to Listen!

Speaker: David Worrell, CFO, Author & Speaker

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.

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The Kitces FinTech Map: Charting Wealth Management's Tech Evolution

Wealth Management

The Kitces Financial Advisor FinTech Solutions Map has nearly tripled in size since 2018, reflecting the rapid growth and evolution of technology solutions in wealth management.

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Recession Watch Metrics

Calculated Risk

Early in February , I expressed my "increasing concern" about the negative economic impact of "executive / fiscal policy errors", however, I concluded that post by noting that I was not currently on recession watch. Now I am on recession watch , but still not yet predicting a recession for several reasons: the U.S. economy is very resilient and was on solid footing at the beginning of the year, the administration might reverse many of the tariffs (we've seen that before), and Congress might take

Sales 242
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Wealthbox’s Upcoming Built-In AI Meeting Notes Tool Signals Competition For Standalone Providers (And More Of The Latest In Financial #AdvisorTech – March 2025)

Nerd's Eye View

Welcome to the April 2025 issue of the Latest News in Financial #AdvisorTech – where we look at the big news, announcements, and underlying trends and developments that are emerging in the world of technology solutions for financial advisors! This month's edition kicks off with the news that Wealthbox has announced it is planning to launch a new built-in AI meeting note tool that it seeks to integrate seamlessly with its existing CRM solution – which serves as a prominent warning for

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Research links: index volatility

Abnormal Returns

Quant stuff The case for simple models using more data. (mrzepczynski.blogspot.com) Are researchers building portfolios all wrong? (papers.ssrn.com) Portfolio rebalancing The benefits of portfolio rebalancing are overstated. (roberthuebscher.substack.com) Your portfolio rebalancing frequency doesn't matter all that much. (elmwealth.com) Alternatives Private equity performance degrades with asset growth.

Portfolio 144
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How to Avoid Pitfalls In Automation: Keep Humans In the Loop

Speaker: Erroll Amacker

Automation is transforming finance but without strong financial oversight it can introduce more risk than reward. From missed discrepancies to strained vendor relationships, accounts payable automation needs a human touch to deliver lasting value. This session is your playbook to get automation right. We’ll explore how to balance speed with control, boost decision-making through human-machine collaboration, and unlock ROI with fewer errors, stronger fraud prevention, and smoother operations.

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Large IBDs Sweeten Their Recruiting Deals for Commonwealth FAs

Wealth Management

Firms including Osaic, Cetera, Raymond James and Kestra are boosting their typical deals to capture Commonwealth advisors in the wake of the acquisition by LPL, sources said.

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Leading Index for Commercial Real Estate Decreased 7% in March

Calculated Risk

From Dodge Data Analytics: Dodge Momentum Index Declines 7% in March The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) , issued by Dodge Construction Network, receded 6.9% in March to 205.6 (2000=100) from the revised February reading of 220.9. Over the month, commercial planning declined 7.8% while institutional planning fell 5.0%. Increased uncertainty around material prices and fiscal policies may have begun to factor into planning decisions throughout March , stated Sarah Martin, associate director of forecas

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Stand Up with Pete! on How Not to Invest

The Big Picture

Yeah, yeah, more of me, I know. But this is a fun conversation with Pete Dominick discussing the economy, the market and of course, the new book! Here’s Pete’s description: Check out StandUpwithPete.com to learn more How Not To Invest: The ideas, numbers, and behaviors that destroy wealth – and how to avoid them T he GREAT Barry Ritholtz whohas spent his career helping people spot their own investment errors and to learn how to better manage their own financial behaviors.

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Personal finance links: the golden age of scams

Abnormal Returns

Podcasts Jim Dahle talks with Rob Orman about building a resilient, long-lasting career. (whitecoatinvestor.com) Christine Benz and Amy Arnott talk with Jay Zigmont, the author of a new book called "The Childfree Guide to Life and Money." (morningstar.com) Dan Haylett talks with Riley Moynes about the four phases of retirement. (humansvsretirement.com) Housing Not every financial decision has to make perfect sense.

Taxes 144
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Book of Secrets on the Month-End Close

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.

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New Analysis Shows Record Low Number of IRS Audits

Wealth Management

A new analysis of historical data found that the IRS audit rate of individual taxpayers has decreased by about two-thirds since 2010.

Numbers 271
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Part 1: Current State of the Housing Market; Overview for mid-April 2025

Calculated Risk

Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Part 1: Current State of the Housing Market; Overview for mid-April 2025 A brief excerpt: This 2-part overview for mid-April provides a snapshot of the current housing market. At this moment, we cant talk housing without mentioning the overall economy. Just over two weeks ago, I revised down my outlook for housing this year, see Policy and 2025 Housing Outlook.

Marketing 217
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Understanding What Drives Momentum in Global Stock Markets

Alpha Architect

With over nearly 150 years of data, the study finds that when inflation and interest rates rise, stocks and bonds tend to move together, reducing diversification benefits. This has critical implications for portfolio construction and risk management. Understanding What Drives Momentum in Global Stock Markets was originally published at Alpha Architect.

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Market Drama

Zoe Financial

Market Drama Featuring Zoe CEO & Founder, Andres Garcia-Amaya, CFA April 7th, 2025 Watch Time: 5 min. Welcome to this week’s Market Drama! Stock Market Update: S&P 500: Down 9% this week, now down ~1314% YTD. Nasdaq: Down 10% this week, now down 19.3% YTD. Oil: Also down nearly double digits for the week. Main driver: April 2nd announcement of aggressive new tariffs caused sharp sell-offs on Thursday and Friday.

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Stop Falling Short When It Matters Most—The Elite Advisor’s Playbook to Success

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?

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How Equita Empowers Women-Led Firms Through Community, Growth, and Tech

Wealth Management

Equita Financial Network was built to solve a problem: solo women advisors lacking the support, pay equity and flexibility to grow on their own terms.

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Cleveland Fed: Median CPI increased 0.3% and Trimmed-mean CPI increased 0.2% in February

Calculated Risk

The Cleveland Fed released the median CPI and the trimmed-mean CPI. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, the median Consumer Price Index rose 0.3% in February. The 16% trimmed-mean Consumer Price Index increased 0.2%. "The median CPI and 16% trimmed-mean CPI are measures of core inflation calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland based on data released in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) monthly CPI report".

Food 162
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The power of holistic advising: Stronger client relationships, greater success

Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT)

By Ellis N. Liddell, BS As we all do, your clients experience the joys and challenges of lifes many different stages. This may include buying homes, having children, getting married, expanding their business and retiring. Because I practice holistic financial planning, I help clients navigate through all of this. Creating wisdom teams To fully serve my clients in this capacity, I encourage my clients to have a wisdom team.

Clients 85
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How to Survive Chaotic Markets

A Wealth of Common Sense

Last Thursday the S&P 500 finished the day down 4.8%. Then on Friday it declined another 6%. That’s a loss of more than 10% in just two days. The -10.5% loss was the fifth worse two-day stretch for the stock market since 1950. The other times this happened occurred in 1987, 2008 and 2020, some of the most volatile market environments we’ve ever seen.

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The Future Of Finance: How To Manage Spend The Right Way

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

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The Benefits of QSBS for Private Equity and Venture Capital

Wealth Management

Discover how Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) offers significant tax benefits for investors and entrepreneurs, boosting returns and attracting capital.

Taxes 272
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BLS: CPI Decreased 0.1% in March; Core CPI increased 0.1%

Calculated Risk

From the BLS : The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 0.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in March, after rising 0.2 percent in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.4 percent before seasonal adjustment. The index for energy fell 2.4 percent in March, as a 6.3-percent decline in the index for gasoline more than offset increases in the indexes for electricity and natural gas.

Food 147
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Investing Isn’t About Being Mostly Right 

Alpha Architect

Investing isnt about being mostly right. In fact you can be mostly wrong and beat portfolios that were mostly right! Today, well explore how investors can potentially improve portfolio outcomes by targeting two seemingly contradictory but deeply complementary systems as outlined in the latest Mauboussin-Callahan paper, Probabilities & Payoffs: The Practicality and Psychology of Expected Value.

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Three Things – Tariffs, Of Course

Discipline Funds

Here are three things I am thinking about that are really only one thing, of course. 1) Why Tariffs are Bad. I got back into making YouTube videos this weekend. This time I touched on tariffs, how they work, the many myths around them and why they’re bad. This whole thing really blows my mind because this was never a controversial topic in economics.

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Next-Level Fraud Prevention: Strategies for Today’s Threat Landscape

Speaker: Sierre Lindgren

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.