Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT)

OCTOBER 8, 2024

By Caroline A. Banks, FPFS Worldwide, we face a dreadful undercoverage of insurance. Too many financial advisors have become simply wealth managers, not realizing that insurance is the foundation of a financial plan. It’s crucial we make sure that this foundation is strong enough to support clients financially, no matter what happens. My own company received a critical illness payout when my husband, who was both the finance and IT director, was ill.

Financial Planning 87

Financial Planning Insurance Planning Wealth Management 87

The Big Picture

OCTOBER 9, 2024

 ATM: Valuation is an exercise in faith with Aswath Damodaran. (October 9, 2024) Do you understand the difference between price and value? How much faith do you have that any stock or market will eventually return to its intrinsic value? Full transcript below. ~~~ About this week’s guest: Professor Aswath Damodaran of NYU Stern School of Business is known as the Dean of Valuation.

Valuation 325

Valuation Investing Investments Numbers 325

Abnormal Returns

OCTOBER 6, 2024

Top clicks this week The U.S. is in the midst of an 'epic bull market.' (awealthofcommonsense.com) Don't ever hand your phone over to the police. (theverge.com) The time to prepare for a bear market is before it is on the horizon. (optimisticallie.com) Are small cap stocks declining in quality? (advisorperspectives.com) Earnings are the most important driver of stock prices.

Assets 298

Assets Marketing Marketing 298

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 11, 2024

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" - this week's edition kicks off with the news that a CFP Board ad campaign promoting a career in financial planning to high school and college students sparked an uproar in the planning community, as some advisors questioned whether the messages being sent in the ads – in particular, certain static ads that did not provide as much context into the messaging as a series of 15-second video ads – realistically rep

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner CFP Financial Planning Retirement Planning 246

Speaker: Duke Heninger, Partner and Fractional CFO at Ampleo & Creator of CFO System

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

OCTOBER 8, 2024

Each year the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) updates consumer expenditure data on how Americans collectively spend and earn their money. These numbers are averages so your personal household budget probably looks different in some ways. Your circumstances — where you live, your standard of living, how much you make, family situation, etc. — often dictate how you spend.

Budgeting 145

Budgeting Numbers 145

Abnormal Returns

OCTOBER 7, 2024

Podcasts Blair duQuesnay talks with George Kinder about his new book "The Three Domains of Freedom." (blairbellecurve.com) Daniel Crosby talks behavioral finance with Greg Davies, Head of Behavioral Finance at Oxford Risk. (standarddeviationspod.com) Frazer Rice talks with Megan Gorman quthor of "All the Presidents' Money: How the Men who Governed America Governed Their Money.

Compliance 290

Compliance Wealth Management Financial Advice Government 290

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 8, 2024

Welcome everyone! Welcome to the 406th episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast ! My guest on today's podcast is Michael Kramer. Michael is the manager of Natural Investments, an RIA based in San Francisco, California that has offices across the country, overseeing $1.9 billion in assets under management for 1,300 client households. What's unique about Michael, though, is how his firm used the unique perpetual purpose trust structure to facilitate an internal succession plan, allowing th

Financial Advisor 246

Financial Advisor Clients Distribution Planning 246

A Wealth of Common Sense

OCTOBER 10, 2024

Nick Maggiulli joined me on the show this week to tackle questions about investing in total stock market index funds, how to value your pension, factors that allow you to take more risk in your portfolio and when to sell your big winners. Further Reading: An Epic Bull Market 1It’s worth noting these are price returns only, no dividends included.

Marketing 143

Marketing Marketing Portfolio Investing 143

The Big Picture

OCTOBER 11, 2024

Live from FutureProof in Huntington Beach, California, Barry Ritholtz speaks with Joe Lonsdale of 8VC. Previously, he co-founded Palantir Technologies , founded Adapar , a wealth management platform, and Opto , a private market investment platform. In this episode, Lonsdale discusses the importance of technology in various sectors, the need for innovation in defense, and the potential of AI to transform the services industry.

Wealth Management 173

Wealth Management Government Management Investing 173

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

Abnormal Returns

OCTOBER 8, 2024

Markets Q3 earnings estimates are muted. (sherwood.news) The yield curve is coming to terms with a new Fed regime. (mrzepczynski.blogspot.com) Strategy Two questions you should ask about any piece of market information. (behaviouralinvestment.com) For taxable investors a preference for dividends doesn't make a lot of sense. (rethinking65.com) Why trading successfully is difficult.

Electronics 285

Electronics Financial Advising Media Marketing 285

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 7, 2024

Welcome to the October 2024 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 digital estate planning platform Wealth.com has raised a whopping $30 million in Series A funding, following on the heels of Vanilla's follow-on $20M capital round just a few months ago – which

Clients 246

Clients B2B Estate Planning Planning 246

Calculated Risk

OCTOBER 10, 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 and is now up 4.4% 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. Services were up 4.7% YoY as of September 2024, down from 4.8% YoY in August.

Food 131

Food 131

The Big Picture

OCTOBER 5, 2024

The weekend is here! Pour yourself a mug of Colombia Tolima Los Brasiles Peaberry Organic coffee, grab a seat outside, and get ready for our longer-form weekend reads: • After Shark Tank, Mark Cuban Just Wants to Break S**t—Especially the Prescription Drug Industry : The billionaire is done with his hit TV show, but he’s still invested in fighting pharma’s middlemen, being a dad, and needling Elon Musk. ( Wired ) • Is the World Really Running Out of Sand?

Nonprofit 162

Nonprofit Healthcare Engineering Investing 162

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

Abnormal Returns

OCTOBER 11, 2024

Finance JP Morgan Chase ($JPM) says the consumer is in good shape. (sherwood.news) One company's loss is another's gain. (ft.com) Biotech IPOs keep happening. (biopharmadive.com) Fund management A closer look at the proposed SPDR SSGA Apollo IG Public & Private Credit ETF. (citywire.com) Blackrock ($BLK) now manages some $11.5 trillion. (s24.q4cdn.com) AI How Flexport is using AI.

Math 279

Math Financial Advising Media Economy 279

Nerd's Eye View

OCTOBER 9, 2024

Gifting is a common planning topic discussed between advisors and clients – often raising questions about which gifts are taxable, need to be reported to the IRS, or may be exempt from reporting altogether. The rules around gifting are nuanced and can create confusion for clients, but advisors with a clear understanding of gifting strategies can guide them toward informed decisions.

Taxes 244

Taxes Medical Clients Education 244

Calculated Risk

OCTOBER 9, 2024

From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey Mortgage applications decreased 5.1 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending October 4, 2024. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 5.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.

Government 128

Government Economics Marketing Marketing 128

The Big Picture

OCTOBER 7, 2024

My back from vacay morning reads: • Pandemic Start-Ups Are Thriving, and Helping to Fuel the Economy : A record surge in new businesses has helped drive job growth, and could have longer-term benefits. ( New York Times ) • Fidelity: Twitter is worth 80% less than 2 years ago when Elon Musk bought it. That’s according to estimates from investment giant Fidelity: As of the end of August, the firm is worth just $8 billion, according to a Sunday filing by Fidelity’s Blue Chip Growth Fund.

Electronics 147

Electronics Recruitment License Healthcare 147

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

Abnormal Returns

OCTOBER 11, 2024

Listening Google's NotebookLM is a game-changer. (wsj.com) How 'Smartless' became a big and growing business. (nytimes.com) Venture capital Patrick O'Shaughnessy talks with Kareem Zaki who is a General Partner at Thrive Capital. (joincolossus.com) Barry Ritholtz talks with Joe Lonsdale of 8VC. (bloomberg.com) Rick Buhrman and Paul Busser talk with Ravi Gupta who is a partner at Sequoia Capital.

Math 277

Math Portfolio Management Management Portfolio 277

Wealth Management

OCTOBER 9, 2024

The bad news is, AI will further commoditize the work advisors do. But it won’t take over the advisor’s role as a guide.

124

124

Calculated Risk

OCTOBER 10, 2024

The DOL reported : In the week ending October 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 258,000 , an increase of 33,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 225,000. This is the highest level for initial claims since August 5, 2023 when it was 258,000. The 4-week moving average was 231,000, an increase of 6,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 224,250. emphasis added The following graph shows the 4-week moving average of weekly claims since 1971.

126

126

A Wealth of Common Sense

OCTOBER 6, 2024

The world has never been better but it feels like things are getting worse. We see so much more bad stuff than previous generations because of our access to a limitless amount of information. Don’t get me wrong — we have a lot of problems and always will. But things are much better than the headlines would have you believe.

124

124

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

Abnormal Returns

OCTOBER 10, 2024

Wealth Who died and paid the IRS a $7 billion estate tax bill? (sherwood.news) A profile of Denise Coates, founder of Bet365, and the richest woman in England. (theguardian.com) Global How Iceland became a hotbed for online scams. (nytimes.com) Checking in on the reconstruction of Notre Dame. (gq.com) Lebanon has a lot of geographical advantages. Why is the country so troubled?

Taxes 277

Taxes 277

Wealth Management

OCTOBER 10, 2024

The emails started around Wednesday with an attached PDF document that the brokerage regulator warned could include “malicious” content.

122

122

Calculated Risk

OCTOBER 7, 2024

Altos reports that active single-family inventory was up 0.4% week-over-week. Inventory is now up 48.6% from the February seasonal bottom. The first graph shows the seasonal pattern for active single-family inventory since 2015. Click on graph for larger image. The red line is for 2024. The black line is for 2019. Inventory was up 36.7% compared to the same week in 2023 (last week it was up 36.7%), and down 23.1% compared to the same week in 2019 (last week it was down 23.4%).

121

121

Alpha Architect

OCTOBER 11, 2024

Because the Sahm rule focuses solely on the unemployment rate, caution is warranted before assuming it is signaling a recession. The Sahm Rule as a Recession Indicator was originally published at Alpha Architect. Please read the Alpha Architect disclosures at your convenience.

113

113

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

Abnormal Returns

OCTOBER 7, 2024

Companies What are the chances that Google ($GOOGL) gets broken up? (ft.com) Pfizer ($PFE) has an activist in Starboard Value. (wsj.com) ETFs Cambria and Alpha Architect are teaming up for the Cambria Tax Aware ETF ($TAX). (wealthmanagement.com) Derivatives-based ETFs are booming, with retail piling in. (bloomberg.com) Jane Street Jane Street is seeing extraordinary profits on the back of the ETF boom.

Investing 279

Investing Investments Financial Advising Retail 279

Wealth Management

OCTOBER 10, 2024

The estate-planning platform currently boasts over 13,000 advisors.

Estate Planning 122

Estate Planning Planning 122

Calculated Risk

OCTOBER 10, 2024

With the release of the CPI report this morning, we now know the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), and the contribution base for 2025. From Social Security: Social Security Announces 2.5 Percent Benefit Increase for 2025 Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5 percent in 2025 , the Social Security Administration announced today.

Retirement 115

Retirement Taxes 115