Sat.May 06, 2023 - Fri.May 12, 2023

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Offering Tax Preparation As A Solo Advisor: How To Attain Designations And Create A Schedule By Next Tax Season

Nerd's Eye View

Traditionally, financial advice and tax preparation have existed as 2 related, but separate, services. Besides the fact that many financial advisors don’t hold the necessary credentials (e.g., CPA, EA, or JD) to prepare tax returns and represent clients before the IRS, there has also been the impression that there is simply not enough time for one person to do both.

Taxes 246
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YoY Measures of Inflation: Services, Goods and Shelter

Calculated Risk

Here a few measures of inflation: The first graph is the one Fed Chair Powell has been mentioning. Click on graph for larger image. This graph shows the YoY price change for Services and Services less rent of shelter through March 2023. Services were up 6.8% YoY as of April 2023, down from 7.2% YoY in March. Services less rent of shelter was up 5.2% YoY in April, down from 6.1% YoY in March.

Food 363
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“Glass Half-Empty” Investors

The Big Picture

There’s an old joke about a hypochondriac who is constantly complaining to his doctor about his many numerous, mysterious ailments. The Doc runs a full battery of tests, and delivers the bad news to the patient: “ Unfortunately, everything is okay… ” And that seems to be the same way many of today’s glass half-empty investors are digesting information about the markets.

Banking 321
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The Enduring Wisdom of Fred Reish

Wealth Management

Lessons learned from recent defined contribution plan litigation.

Planning 308
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Are Robots Replacing You? Keeping Humans in the Loop in Automated Environments

Speaker: Erroll Amacker

As businesses increasingly adopt automation, finance leaders must navigate the delicate balance between technology and human expertise. This webinar explores the critical role of human oversight in accounts payable (AP) automation and how a people-centric approach can drive better financial performance. Join us for an insightful discussion on how integrating human expertise into automated workflows enhances decision-making, reduces fraud risks, strengthens vendor relationships, and accelerates R

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Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (May 13-14)

Nerd's Eye View

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 clients of advisors providing comprehensive planning services are significantly more satisfied than those receiving a lower tier of service. The study also highlighted the importance of advisors taking the time to build trust with clients and to understand a client’s goals and needs, as this can not only differentiate an ad

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Fed Survey: Banks reported Tighter Standards, Weaker Demand for All Loan Types

Calculated Risk

From the Federal Reserve: The April 2023 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices The April 2023 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 first quarter of 2023.

Banking 363

More Trending

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Orion Debuts ChatGPT 3.5 Integration, ‘Redtail Speak’

Wealth Management

The firm joins others in the industry including FMG Suite, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, Hearsay Systems, Morningstar and Nitrogen to embrace generative artificial intelligence.

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Personal finance links: paying for the life you want

Abnormal Returns

Podcasts Peter Lazaroff talks with Mike Piper author of "After the Death of Your Spouse: Next Financial Steps for Surviving Spouses." (peterlazaroff.com) George Grombacher talks with Jonathan Clements about his new book "My Money Journey." (lifeblood.live) Banks Bank failures affect people who are not even customers of the bank. (thisisthetop.substack.com) Charlie wants to be a neobank for seniors.

Math 246
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Weekly Initial Unemployment Claims increase to 264,000

Calculated Risk

The DOL reported : In the week ending May 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 264,000 , an increase of 22,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 242,000. This is the highest level for initial claims since October 30, 2021 when it was 264,000. The 4-week moving average was 245,250, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 239,250.

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3% or Bust

The Big Picture

The good news: Consumer Price Index (CPI) came in modest at 0.4%, with a year-over-year 4 handle at 4.9%. I expect this will continue to fall over the next few months and is likely to have a 3 handle before Christmas, maybe even Halloween. The inflation that appeared so pernicious in 2021 and into 2022 was driven by the combination of 3 things: – Unique pandemic factors – Massive monetary stimulus (CARES ACT I, II & III) – Structural (long-term) shortages in labor and singl

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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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Publicly-Traded REITs Were Flat in April, Remain Up for the Year

Wealth Management

Healthcare and residential REITs led the way with gains over 4% in April. Some other segments were down 2% during the month.

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Tuesday links: putting bad companies out of business

Abnormal Returns

Strategy The 60/40 portfolio is flawed, but you need an alternative. (morningstar.com) Investors don't need to make snap judgments. (behaviouralinvestment.com) Finance Inside Vanguard's bond indexing money machine. (wealthmanagement.com) Why Arm Holdings is bypassing London for New York for its IPO. (cnbc.com) Venture capital Airbnb, Pinterest and Snowflake stand out as VC-backed companies from the past decade that are actually trading above their IPO values.

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Second Home Market: South Lake Tahoe in April

Calculated Risk

With the pandemic, there was a surge in 2nd home buying. I'm looking at data for some second home markets - and I'm tracking those markets to see if there is an impact from lending changes, rising mortgage rates or the easing of the pandemic. This graph is for South Lake Tahoe since 2004 through April 2023, and shows inventory (blue), and the year-over-year (YoY) change in the median price (12-month average).

Marketing 333
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MiB: Julian Salisbury, CIO, Goldman Sachs

The Big Picture

This week, we speak with Julian C. Salisbury , chief investment officer of asset and wealth management at Goldman Sachs. He is also a member of the management committee, and Co-Chairs the Asset Management Investment Committees, which includes private equity, infrastructure, growth equity, credit, and real estate. Previously, he was head of the European Special Situations Group from 2008-13, and head of the Global Special Situations Group: 2013-19.

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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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Farmland Produces A New Crop Of Investment Opportunities

Wealth Management

Investors now have options in both public and private markets to take stakes in American farmland.

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Instead Of Asking “Why”, Try “What Else” To Get Clients To Open Up About Goals

Nerd's Eye View

In meetings with current and prospective clients, asking follow-up questions can be a valuable tool for uncovering information about the client’s underlying values, goals, and motivations… and for deepening the personal connection that drives the advisor-client relationship. But while it’s one thing to know that it’s good to ask questions, it’s another thing to know which questions to ask to make the client feel comfortable enough to open up and discuss the personal

Clients 246
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Fannie "Real Estate Owned" inventory essentially unchanged in Q1

Calculated Risk

Fannie reported results for Q1 2023. Here is some information on single-family Real Estate Owned (REOs). Foreclosure have increased slightly since the end of the foreclosure moratorium. Fannie Mae reported the number of REOs increased to 8,780 at the end of Q1 2023, essentially unchanged from 8,779 in Q4 2022, and up 18% from 7,430 at the end of Q1 2022.

Numbers 317
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Transcript: Julian Salisbury, GS

The Big Picture

 The transcript from this week’s, MiB: Julian Salisbury, CIO, Goldman Sachs , is below. You can stream and download our full conversation, including any podcast extras, on iTunes , Spotify , Stitcher , Google , YouTube , and Bloomberg. All of our earlier podcasts on your favorite pod hosts can be found here. ~~~ ANNOUNCER: This is Masters in Business with Barry Ritholtz on Bloomberg Radio.

Assets 299
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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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Beyoncé is Contesting a $2.7M Tax Bill From the IRS

Wealth Management

The star is fighting back against a notice of deficiency.

Taxes 290
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#FA Success Ep 332: Transitioning From (A Father’s) Commissions-Based Practice To Fee-Based Planning As A G2 Advisor, With Liz Hand

Nerd's Eye View

Welcome back to the 332nd episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast ! My guest on today's podcast is Liz Hand. Liz is the co-owner of Pleasant Wealth, a hybrid advisory firm based in Canton, Ohio that oversees $146 million in assets under management for 522 client households. What's unique about Liz, though, is how she and her brother have taken ownership of what was originally their father’s broad commission-based practice with more than 1,500 clients, and have managed the balance

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MBA: Mortgage Applications Increased in Weekly Survey

Calculated Risk

From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey Mortgage applications increased 6.3 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending May 5, 2023. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 6.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.

Economics 313
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Adviser links: a fundamental misalignment

Abnormal Returns

Podcasts Michael Kitces talks with Jake Northrup, Founder of Experience Your Wealth, about scaling his practice. (kitces.com) David Armstrong talks with Larry Swedroe of Buckingham Strategic Wealth about how he talks with advisers about investing topics. (wealthmanagement.com) Daniel Crosby talks with Michael Thomas Jr. about building 'financial empathy.

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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.

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Real Estate Professional Status and Passive Activity Loss Rules

Wealth Management

IRS scrutiny over who qualifies as a real estate professional is a constant. Recent court decisions serve as a strong reminder of the substantiation required to qualify as a real estate professional.

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10 Monday AM Reads

The Big Picture

My back-to-work morning train WFH reads: • How Sam Bankman-Fried Peddled a Story Everyone Wanted to Believe : In an excerpt from his upcoming book, Axios’s Brady Dale explores “what we think we know” about Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX, and the crypto industry. ( Institutional Investor ) • Where to Invest in Real Estate Now : Four experts offer timely ideas on where — and whether — to invest in this messy market. ( Bloomberg ) • 2023 World Changing Ideas Awards : Fast Company’s annual World Changing Id

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BLS: CPI increased 0.4% in April; Core CPI increased 0.4%

Calculated Risk

From the BLS : The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.4 percent in April on a seasonally adjusted basis, after increasing 0.1 percent in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 4.9 percent before seasonal adjustment. The index for shelter was the largest contributor to the monthly all items increase , followed by increases in the index for used cars and trucks and the index for gasoline.

Food 295
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Thursday links: starting with the end in mind

Abnormal Returns

Markets What's the best asset to hold during a recession? (morningstar.com) If you invest in stocks there are going to be extended periods of poor performance. (bestinterest.blog) Companies Disney+ ($DIS) shed 4 million subscribers in Q1. (variety.com) How fast is Starbucks ($SBUX) growing outside the U.S.? (investmenttalk.co) What Google ($GOOGL) has going on in AI.

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Demo SkyStem’s Award Winning Month-End Close Solution & Earn $100

Is your finance team bogged down by endless data requests and disorganized spreadsheets during the month-end close? It’s time to consider a better option – automate with ART! SkyStem’s solution works alongside your ERP to transform the close and account reconciliation process and speed up month-end work. Explore SkyStem’s ART - the award-winning account reconciliation automation platform - and receive a $100 Amazon gift card as a thank you for your time.

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Commercial Real Estate Loan Originations Recorded a Big Drop in the First Quarter, Partially Due to Lack of Demand

Wealth Management

Lenders tightened their underwriting criteria in recent months. But they have also reported a drop in demand as investors wait out the storm.

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Why You Should Stop Asking “Why” – And Ask “What Else” To Get Clients To Open Up About Goals

Nerd's Eye View

In meetings with current and prospective clients, asking follow-up questions can be a valuable tool for uncovering information about the client’s underlying values, goals, and motivations… and for deepening the personal connection that drives the advisor-client relationship. But while it’s one thing to know that it’s good to ask questions, it’s another thing to know which questions to ask to make the client feel comfortable enough to open up and discuss the personal

Clients 240
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MBA: "Mortgage Delinquency Rate in First-Quarter 2023 Declines to Second-Lowest Level in MBA’s Survey"

Calculated Risk

From the MBA: Mortgage Delinquency Rate in First-Quarter 2023 Declines to Second-Lowest Level in MBA’s Survey The delinquency rate for mortgage loans on one-to-four-unit residential properties decreased to a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.56 percent of all loans outstanding at the end of the first quarter of 2023, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) National Delinquency Survey.

Marketing 288
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Sunday links: killing bad ideas

Abnormal Returns

Strategy The case for international diversification is still solid. (humbledollar.com) Concentrated portfolios come with a lot of psychological stress. (awealthofcommonsense.com) Good luck trying to identify skilled investment managers with any certainty. (fortunesandfrictions.com) Berkshire Hathaway Everything that went down at the Berkshire Hathaway ($BRK.A) annual meeting.

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Less Stress, More Success: Accounting Best Practices & Processes for 2025

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.