The Big Picture

DECEMBER 18, 2024

To prove their point, a number of friendly commentators, academics, and hired guns all wrote endless white papers, Op-Eds and commentaries. But they made one super-sized mistake: they cheated with the numbers. Its numbers are fake (June 12, 2024) Can Stanford tell the difference between scientific fact and fiction?

Food 306

Food Math Numbers Economics 306

The Big Picture

MARCH 18, 2025

The challenge in writing How NOT to Invest was organizing a large number of ideas, many of which were only loosely connected, into something coherent, understandable, and, most importantly, readable. Bad Numbers : 4. It is March 18th! Publication day is finally here! Investing is simple but hard, and therein lies our challenge.

Investing 317

Investing Investments Math Media 317

Calculated Risk

MARCH 20, 2025

above year-ago levels The number of homes for sale has now been higher than the previous year for 71 consecutive weeks. Realtor.com has monthly and weekly data on the existing home market. Here is their weekly report: Weekly Housing Trends ViewData for Week Ending March 15, 2025 Active inventory increased, with for-sale homes 28.5%

Sales 276

Sales Numbers Marketing Marketing 276

Calculated Risk

JANUARY 8, 2025

A number of participants indicated that they incorporated placeholder assumptions to one degree or another into their projections. All participants judged that uncertainty about the scope, timing, and economic effects of potential changes in policies affecting foreign trade and immigration was elevated. emphasis added

Economics 273

Economics Accounting Financial Market Numbers 273

Calculated Risk

JANUARY 14, 2025

t took a number of years following the housing bust for new home inventory to return to the pre-bubble percent of total inventory. Then, with the pandemic, existing home inventory collapsed and now the percent of new homes is 22.4% of the total for sale inventory, down from a peak of 27.2% in December 2022.

Marketing 278

Marketing Marketing Numbers Sales 278

Calculated Risk

JANUARY 29, 2025

Typically, after a sharp increase in prices, it takes a number of years for real prices to reach new highs (see House Prices: 7 Years in Purgatory ) There is much more in the article! The real National index and the Composite 20 index increased slightly in real terms in November. It has now been 30 months since the real peak in house prices.

Numbers 265

Numbers 265

Calculated Risk

MARCH 11, 2025

From the BLS: Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary The number of job openings was little changed at 7.7 Note: The difference between JOLTS hires and separations is similar to the CES (payroll survey) net jobs headline numbers. The number of job openings (black) were down 9% year-over-year. million in January , the U.S.

Numbers 165

Numbers Economy Marketing Marketing 165

Calculated Risk

FEBRUARY 7, 2025

The headline jobs number in the January employment report was below expectations, however, November and December payrolls were revised up by 100,000 combined. Part Time for Economic Reasons From the BLS report : " The number of people employed part time for economic reasons, at 4.5 million, changed little in January. million from 4.36

Numbers 179

Numbers Economics 179

Calculated Risk

MARCH 7, 2025

The headline jobs number in the February employment report was slightly below expectations, and December and January payrolls were revised down by 2,000 combined. Part Time for Economic Reasons From the BLS report : " The number of people employed part time for economic reasons increased by 460,000 to 4.9 million in February.

Numbers 147

Numbers Economics 147

Calculated Risk

FEBRUARY 16, 2025

above year-ago levels For the 66th consecutive week, the number of homes for sale has increased compared with the same time last year. Here is their weekly report: Weekly Housing Trends ViewData for Week Ending Feb. 8, 2025 Active inventory increased, with for-sale homes 27.5%

Sales 261

Sales Numbers Marketing Marketing 261

Calculated Risk

MARCH 14, 2025

Note: The FDIC reports the dollar value and not the total number of REOs. This graph shows the nominal dollar value of Residential REO for FDIC insured institutions based on the Q4 FDIC Quarterly Banking Profile released this week.

Insurance 191

Insurance Banking Numbers 191

Nerd's Eye View

MARCH 21, 2025

Also in industry news this week: While inter-channel advisor moves often make headlines, a recent study from Diamond Consultants found that most advisor transitions occur between firms in the same channel The number of disciplinary cases and restitution orders from FINRA increased in 2024 (the total amount of fines declined) as the self-regulatory (..)

Financial Planner 227

Financial Planner Commission Communication Clients 227

Calculated Risk

MARCH 13, 2025

Quarter-over-quarter, the total number of mortgage residential properties with negative equity increased by 9.3% The states that saw the largest gains were New Jersey ($39,400), Connecticut ($36,300), and Massachusetts ($34,400), while the largest losses were in Hawaii ($-28,700), Florida ($-18,100), and the District of Columbia ($-14,700).

Numbers 191

Numbers Government Accounting Marketing 191

Calculated Risk

FEBRUARY 7, 2025

Important: There were the same number of working days in January 2025 (21) as compared to January 2024 (21). Note that most of these early reporting markets have shown stronger year-over-year sales than most other markets for the last several months.

Marketing 261

Marketing Marketing Sales Numbers 261

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 29, 2024

Also in industry news this week: While many financial advisors are paying close attention to the potential extension of sunsetting measures within the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in the coming year, legislation related to retirement savings could be on Congress' agenda as well Fidelity is planning to change the default for its existing RIA non-retirement (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Financial Advice Retirement Financial Advisor 246

Calculated Risk

JANUARY 22, 2025

The score is derived from a monthly survey of architecture firms that measures the change in the number of services provided to clients. The ABI score is a leading economic indicator of construction activity, providing an approximately nine-to-twelve-month glimpse into the future of nonresidential construction spending activity.

Clients 270

Clients Investing Investments Numbers 270

Nerd's Eye View

FEBRUARY 7, 2025

During his nearly two-decade tenure, Keller oversaw a near-doubling of the number of CFP professionals, the establishment of a new 501(c)(6) professional organization to promote the benefits of financial advice and planning careers, and updates to the CFP Board's investigation and disciplinary processes, among many other changes.

Financial Planner 241

Financial Planner CFP Financial Planning Retirement 241

Calculated Risk

FEBRUARY 10, 2025

It took a number of years following the housing bust for new home inventory to return to the pre-bubble percent of total inventory. Then, with the pandemic, existing home inventory collapsed and now the percent of new homes is 25.1% of the total for sale inventory, down from a peak of 27.2% in December 2022.

Marketing 214

Marketing Marketing Numbers Sales 214

Calculated Risk

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

According to the latest numbers from the U.S. Besides the uncertainty regarding the U.S. election and mortgage rate volatility, the mixed signals around the current state of the U.S. economy may be dampening demand and price appreciation.

Economy 254

Economy Numbers Economics Marketing 254

Calculated Risk

NOVEMBER 26, 2024

From Intercontinental Exchange (ICE): • Home price growth edged slightly higher in October to +3.0% (from +2.9%

Numbers 147

Numbers Sales 147

Calculated Risk

JUNE 23, 2023

of serious delinquencies in May, up only marginally from April and still more than a full percentage point below the March 2020 rate at the start of the pandemic • The number of loans in active foreclosure improved by 4K during the month and is now down 41K (-15%) from March 2020, with foreclosure sales (completions) rising 5.5%

Numbers 363

Numbers Sales 363

Nerd's Eye View

JANUARY 10, 2025

Also in industry news this week: A survey indicates that nearly 71% of new financial advisors drop out in the first 5 years, with firms offering better training and mentorship opportunities (as well as entry-level positions that don't come with business development targets) seeing higher employee retention rates How broker-dealer self-regulatory organization (..)

Financial Planner 189

Financial Planner Clients Financial Advice Numbers 189

Calculated Risk

MAY 2, 2023

From the BLS: Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary The number of job openings decreased to 9.6 Over the month, the number of hires and total separations were little changed at 6.1 Note: The difference between JOLTS hires and separations is similar to the CES (payroll survey) net jobs headline numbers. million and 5.9

Numbers 361

Numbers Economy Marketing Marketing 361

Calculated Risk

JUNE 4, 2024

From the BLS: Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary The number of job openings changed little at 8.1 Over the month, both the number of hires and total separations were little changed at 5.6 Note: The difference between JOLTS hires and separations is similar to the CES (payroll survey) net jobs headline numbers. million and 5.4

Numbers 331

Numbers Economy Marketing Marketing 331

A Wealth of Common Sense

FEBRUARY 25, 2025

These numbers have all increased since 1989 as well — total wealth (60.8% The top 10% owns 87% of the stocks in this country. They also own 84% of the private businesses, 44% of real estate and two-thirds of overall wealth. to 67.3%), stocks (81.7% to 87.2%), private businesses (78.4% to 84.4%) and real estate (38.2%

Accounting 144

Accounting Numbers 144

Calculated Risk

MAY 6, 2024

Fannie Mae reported the number of REOs decreased to 7,791 at the end of Q1 2024, down 5% from 8,403 at the end of the previous quarter, and down 9% year-over-year from Q1 2023. For Fannie, this is down 95% from the 166,787 peak number of REOs in Q3 2010. Here is some information on single-family Real Estate Owned (REOs).

Numbers 330

Numbers 330

Calculated Risk

DECEMBER 24, 2024

Thus, for Vintage 2023 the 2024 numbers are projections, and for Vintage 2024 the 2025 numbers are projections. Note: Each population Vintage includes projections of the resident population for the subsequent year.

Numbers 173

Numbers 173

Calculated Risk

AUGUST 13, 2024

Fannie Mae reported the number of REOs decreased to 7,179 at the end of Q2 2024, down 10% from 7,971 at the end of the previous quarter, and down 17% year-over-year from Q2 2023. For Fannie, this is down 96% from the 166,787 peak number of REOs in Q3 2010. Here is some information on single-family Real Estate Owned (REOs).

Numbers 323

Numbers 323

Nerd's Eye View

DECEMBER 20, 2024

Senate appears poised to pass legislation that would eliminate the long-established WEP and GPO provisions and increase the Social Security benefits of many state and local workers in the process From there, we have several articles on investment planning: While index funds are often viewed as 'passive' investments, advisors can add value for their (..)

Financial Planner 246

Financial Planner Certification CFP Education 246

Calculated Risk

MARCH 21, 2025

From ICE: ICE First Look at Mortgage Performance: Mortgage Delinquencies Continue to Slowly Rise with FHA Performance in the Spotlight The national delinquency rate edged up 5 basis points (bps) to 3.53% in February ; thats up 19 bps from a year ago but still 32 bps below where it was entering the pandemic FHA mortgages accounted for 90% of the 131K (..)

Numbers 127

Numbers Sales Accounting 127

Calculated Risk

DECEMBER 3, 2024

From the BLS: Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary the number of job openings was little changed at 7.7 The number of total separations was little changed at 5.3 Note: The difference between JOLTS hires and separations is similar to the CES (payroll survey) net jobs headline numbers. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.

Numbers 147

Numbers Economy Marketing Marketing 147

Calculated Risk

APRIL 20, 2023

The number of homeowners shifting home listing timelines around spring holidays helped push active inventory growth up this week. Despite the big surge, the number of homes for-sale continues to trail pre-pandemic levels, keeping many cards in the hands of sellers sitting on very high levels of home equity. •

Numbers 362

Numbers Sales Marketing Marketing 362

Nerd's Eye View

NOVEMBER 25, 2024

Over the past decade, a growing number of advisors have expanded into offering comprehensive financial planning services, reflecting a shift that not only helps them stand out from (increasingly commoditized) portfolio management offerings but also supports clients' broader financial goals.

Financial Planning 234

Financial Planning Sales Planning Retirement 234

Calculated Risk

JANUARY 23, 2025

For the 63rd consecutive week, the number of homes for sale has increased compared to the same time last year. This week brought the highest number of new listings to the market since October suggesting that sellers are ready to get into the market this year. above year-ago levels.

Numbers 147

Numbers Sales Marketing Marketing 147