Calculated Risk
MARCH 22, 2023
Note: This index is a leading indicator primarily for new Commercial Real Estate (CRE) investment. From the AIA: Architecture Billings Index (ABI) Slowdown Continues into February More architecture firms reported a decline in billings in February, indicating an extension of a recent downturn in design activity according to a new report released today from The American Institute of Architects (AIA).
The Big Picture
MARCH 22, 2023
Bank failures since 2001, scaled by amount of assets in 2023 dollars. The graphic above, via Flowing Data , puts recent events into perspective: At $209 billion in assets, the Silicon Valley Bank failure since Washington Mutual crashed in 2008 (JPM Chase took them over from the FDIC). The post U.S. Bank Failures, 2001 – Present appeared first on The Big Picture.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Wealth Management
MARCH 22, 2023
Many regional banks also have trust departments and/or associated trust companies.
The Reformed Broker
MARCH 18, 2023
And if you haven’t subscribed yet, don’t wait. Check it out below or wherever fine podcasts are played. . The post This Week on TRB appeared first on The Reformed Broker.
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
Calculated Risk
MARCH 24, 2023
Realtor.com has monthly and weekly data on the existing home market. Here is their weekly report released yesterday from Sabrina Speianu: Weekly Housing Trends View — Data Week Ending Mar 18, 2023 • Active inventory growth continued to climb with for-sale homes up 59% above one year ago. Inventories of for-sale homes rose, but at a slightly slower pace than last week’s gain, as new sellers on the market held back more.
The Big Picture
MARCH 20, 2023
Silicon Valley Bank depositors made whole; Credit Suisse counter-parties saved; First Republic bondholders protected — are these bailouts or something else? Were these people “bailed out?” What are the differences between insured depositors getting their cash back, a private sector rescue orchestrated by the Fed or the Swiss government, and a taxpayer-funded bailout?
Financial Advisor Source brings together the best content for financial advisor professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Abnormal Returns
MARCH 23, 2023
Books A Q&A with Jenny Odell author of "Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock." (wired.com) An excerpt from "Mixed Signals: How Incentives Really Work" by Uri Gneezy. (behavioralscientist.org) Technology What jobs are generative AI going to eliminate? (unchartedterritories.tomaspueyo.com) An awe inspiring visit to a state-of-the-art semiconductor fab.
Calculated Risk
MARCH 21, 2023
From the NAR: Existing-Home Sales Surged 14.5% in February, Ending 12-Month Streak of Declines Existing-home sales reversed a 12-month slide in February, registering the largest monthly percentage increase since July 2020, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Month-over-month sales rose in all four major U.S. regions. All regions posted year-over-year declines.
The Big Picture
MARCH 18, 2023
This week, we speak with Cliff Asness , co-founder and managing partner at AQR Capital Management. The firm has ~$100 billion in assets under management. An active researcher, Asness contributes to numerous publications and has received a variety of accolades, including the James R. Vertin Award from CFA Institute in recognition of his lifetime contribution to research.
Wealth Management
MARCH 23, 2023
With this acquisition, the two firms now have a collective $21 billion in platform assets.
Advertisement
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.
Abnormal Returns
MARCH 20, 2023
Podcasts Brendan Frazier talks with Deirdre Van Nest about communicating with clients in an emotionally-compelling way. (wiredplanning.com) Daniel Crosby talks with Emily Koochel about defining and seeking financial wellness. (standarddeviationspod.com) Banks The combined UBS-CS will be a money management giant. (barrons.com) The FDIC is planning to sell SVB Private separately from the rest of the bank.
Calculated Risk
MARCH 23, 2023
The DOL reported : In the week ending March 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 191,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 192,000. The 4-week moving average was 196,250, a decrease of 250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 196,500. emphasis added The following graph shows the 4-week moving average of weekly claims since 1971.
The Big Picture
MARCH 18, 2023
The weekend is here! Pour yourself a mug of coffee, grab a seat outside, and get ready for our longer-form weekend reads: • The A to Z of economics : Economic terms, from “absolute advantage” to “zero-sum game”, explained to you in plain English. ( The Economist ) • The Incredible Tantrum Venture Capitalists Threw Over Silicon Valley Bank : Remind me why, exactly, these guys have so much control over technological innovation?
Wealth Management
MARCH 23, 2023
The situations with First Republic and SVB pose yet another cautionary tale for advisors affiliated with banks.
Advertisement
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?
Abnormal Returns
MARCH 22, 2023
Markets Bond market volatility is at GFC-type levels. (axios.com) Chasing 'smooth returns' is a fool's errand. (capitalallocators.com) Crypto Does your portfolio have more crypto exposure than you think? (morningstar.com) Crypto hype has died down, but the environmental effect hasn't. (theatlantic.com) AI Google ($GOOGL) is opening up access to its ChatGPT competitor, Bard.
Calculated Risk
MARCH 22, 2023
From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey — Mortgage applications increased 3.0 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending March 17, 2023. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 3.0 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.
The Big Picture
MARCH 22, 2023
Note: We are off to California and Arizona for a few events; no Morning Reads for the next few days… My mid-week morning train plane reads: • How the Swiss ‘trinity’ forced UBS to save Credit Suisse : The takeover of its local rival could end up being a generational boon for UBS. But the government-orchestrated deal has angered many investors. ( Financial Times Alphaville ) • Why Job Reshoring Is Merely a Trickle : U.S. manufacturing can’t compete on cost, but it has a leg up in some areas
Wealth Management
MARCH 21, 2023
Clients who think their advisor really hears what they’re saying tend to stick around for longer.
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
Abnormal Returns
MARCH 22, 2023
Podcasts Morgan Housel talks about his top 30 rules of the money game. (open.spotify.com) Jeff Ptak and Christine Benz talk financial independence with Brad Barrett, co-founder of ChooseFI. (morningstar.com) Retirement Retirement is filled with all sorts of challenging decisions. (humbledollar.com) Stranded retirement accounts are a big problem. (nytimes.com) What goes into the decision about taking a lump sum pension payout.
Calculated Risk
MARCH 20, 2023
From the MBA: Share of Mortgage Loans in Forbearance Decreases to 0.60% in February The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) monthly Loan Monitoring Survey revealed that the total number of loans now in forbearance decreased by 4 basis points from 0.64% of servicers’ portfolio volume in the prior month to 0.60% as of February 28, 2023. According to MBA’s estimate, 300,000 homeowners are in forbearance plans.
The Big Picture
MARCH 20, 2023
My back to work morning train WFH reads: • Your NCAA Tournament Bracket Is a Business School in Disguise : What can you learn from the biggest upsets in college basketball? ( Wall Street Journal ) • What CEOs Are Getting Wrong About the Future of Work—and How to Make It Right : To build better companies, leaders need to experiment more, quit ‘living in fear of opening Pandora’s box,’ says Wharton management professor Adam Grant. ( Wall Street Journal ) see also Why Job Reshoring Is Merely a Tric
Wealth Management
MARCH 23, 2023
Recent MSCI data shows trouble brewing in the capital markets even before this month’s bank failures.
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.
Abnormal Returns
MARCH 19, 2023
Markets Ben Carlson, "History is chock-full of panics, crises, crashes, ups, downs and the unexpected." (awealthofcommonsense.com) Surprises shouldn't be surprising. (mrzepczynski.blogspot.com) Energy stocks are now struggling. (allstarcharts.com) Companies Growth in spending on SaaS services is slowing. (tomtunguz.com) Why Berkshire Hathaway's ($BRK.A) proxy statement is so short.
Calculated Risk
MARCH 23, 2023
From Black Knight: Black Knight’s First Look at February 2023 Mortgage Data: Prepayments Rebound from All-Time Low; Overall Mortgage Delinquencies Inch Up As 30-Days Late Payments Rise • The national mortgage delinquency rate increased 7 basis points in February to 3.45% , but remains down 12.6% year over year • Prepayment activity (SMM) inched up to 0.35% – breaking a four-month streak of record lows, with relief likely to extend as the spring homebuying season takes hold • A 36K rise in overal
The Big Picture
MARCH 21, 2023
Note: We are off to California and Arizona for a few events later this week; publishing will be spotty… Welcome to Spring! Start the new season with our Two-for-Tuesday morning train reads: • Are Banks OK? Where the sector stands after a turbulent week. ( Slate ) see also Déjà Vu? Why 2023 is Not 2008 : But that is incomparable to the 2008-09 era, where every financial institution had consumed CDOs, where toxic sub-prime loans were securitized into ticking time bombs.
Wealth Management
MARCH 23, 2023
According to the SEC, Darryl Matthew Cohen steered the money for his own use and to fund his son’s basketball league.
Advertisement
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 $100 Amazon gift card as a thank you for your time.
The Reformed Broker
MARCH 19, 2023
Dan McMurtrie crushed it on TCAF this week. In case you haven’t gotten to it yet, the whole video is embedded below. You can also listen to it if you’re on the go. At the 25 minute mark, he does this really great explanation of why shorting stocks is so hard, including the toll it can take on a trader’s mental health – even when they end up being right.
Calculated Risk
MARCH 18, 2023
At the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter this week: • Pandemic Economics, Housing and Monetary Policy: Part 2 • Current State of the Housing Market; Overview for mid-March • Lawler: Early Read on Existing Home Sales in February • February Housing Starts: Average Length of Time from Start to Completion increased Sharply in 2022 • Q4 Update: Delinquencies, Foreclosures and REO • 2nd Look at Local Housing Markets in February This is usually published 4 to 6 times a week and provides more in-de
Abnormal Returns
MARCH 23, 2023
Strategy Why isn't the stock market going down? (theirrelevantinvestor.com) Bonds have had a rough five years. Things are different moving forward. (morningstar.com) Novel Investor, "Investors must make bets on imperfect information to earn sought-after long-run returns." (novelinvestor.com) Crypto Why is Bitcoin going higher? (newsletter.mollywhite.net) Coinbase ($COIN) is at-risk if the SEC forces it to delist coins it believes to be securities.
Wealth Management
MARCH 24, 2023
De-risking the business is key to ensuring the client is left on financially solid ground post sale.
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.
Expert insights. Personalized for you.
361 
Let's personalize your content