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1. Higher Interest Rates Are Benefiting Advisors
From the start of 2022 through the end of last year, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates a whopping 11 times, marking one of the central bank’s most scorched earth campaigns of rate tightening in recent memory. As a result and not surprisingly, bonds endured significant punishment. Even with the benefit of a modest 2023 rebound, the widely followed Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index is down 8.2% over the past two years. In theory, the resulting high Treasury yields are problematic for advisors and clients alike. After all, rising yields mean declining prices. — Todd Shriber
2. This Company Is Seriously Impressing Me
Facebook (META) has a real shot at building the next trillion-dollar device. I just watched an awesome live demo of its new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered Ray-Bans. They’re sleek, unlike those dorky $3,000 Apple (AAPL) ski-goggles you won’t catch me wearing. On the left: Sleek. On the right: Dorky. — Stephen McBride
3. New Year Investing Resolutions for 2024
With 2023 behind us, what does a stellar “Santa Claus” rally tell us about what to expect? What about this year being a Presidential election year? These questions make it an excellent time to review our “investor resolutions.” However, before we commit to our resolutions, let’s check what January may have in store. — Lance Roberts
4. What Themes Will Drive the Market in 2024?
We cannot predict what theme will dominate the markets in 2024, but we can control how we react to positive and negative surprises by having a measured approach to portfolios. As 2023 comes to a close, newspapers, magazines, and social media outlets are littered with “Best of” lists and “Year in Review” pieces on social, cultural, political, and world events. Each year, there is also often a defining theme that dominates markets. In 2020, it was the pandemic. In 2021 supply chain issues plagued companies and consumers. — Meera Pandit
5. Where Will My New Clients Come From in 2024?
Is the calendar an artificial barrier? Yes. The stock market’s closing numbers on Friday, December 29th give us the stock market’s opening numbers on Tuesday, January 2nd. However, we close the door on 2023 and treat 2024 as a brand new situation. In reality, it is a continuation of what the stock market was doing before. To the market, January 2nd is just another day. Advisors are different! They start the new year wondering “Where will my new clients come from? — Bryce Sanders
6. Wealth Management Research Uncovers 3 Trends That Will Shape 2024
The key to business success - especially in a hyper-competitive operating environment driven by accelerating rates of change like ours - relies on strategies that are built firmly around and stay very close to your clients. Changing investment options, service delivery systems, client engagement tools, and enhancements to holistic advice are altering the way consumers look at financial services and their expectations of wealth management advisors and firms. — Bill Hortz
7. The Case for Alternative Investments
Alternative investments provide access to investment opportunities generally not available in a traditional stock/bond portfolio allocation. With enhanced return and income potential, and a wide array of diversified strategies, alternative investments can be a valuable addition to a portfolio. They can also be highly effective when the markets are experiencing greater volatility, higher inflation, and increased correlations in traditional assets. — iCapital
8. Will 2024 Be the Year of the Other 493?
As we welcome in 2024, one of the most critical questions facing investors is which stocks and sectors will beat the market. Can the Magnificent 7 retain its crown? Or will some subset of the 493 other S&P 500 stocks and their neglected sectors take the throne in 2024? The Magnificent 7 stole the show in 2023. — Michael Lebowitz
9. How the Capital Cycle Could Impact 2024
In life, and certainly in economics and finance, emotion can interfere with rational decision making. The observed behavior of others can create a bandwagon effect that results in unexpected outcomes. Entrepreneurs and investors have always been drawn to high-return investment opportunities and repelled by low-return ones. This pull from low- and push to high return prospects is the driver of the capital cycle and is often linked to economic and financial market excesses. — Robert M. Almeida
10. What Investors Need To Know About the Race to the White House
Never in U.S. political history has a presidential race looked like the one that apparently will be inflicted on the American public in 2024 – Joe Biden, 81, against Donald Trump, 77. Both candidates are so gaffe-prone that voters are clamoring for another choice, but that is a very long shot. It’s looking like Biden vs. Trump in a race that once again could inflame the country. — Greg Valliere
11. 9 Gifts To Make Your Practice Grow in 2024
The best gift you can give yourself is to start time blocking and using a Surge schedule this coming year. Surge can take on so many different flavors, but at its essence, Surge is being hyper-intentional in your practice so that you can deliver massive value to your clients. Take a look at your calendar. When are you delivering massive value to your team? Being more intentional with your time and Surge calendar is the best gift you can give your family this year. — Matthew Jarvis