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1. Investors Shift Focus to Potential Red Sweep: What It Means for the Market
Interest rates and oil prices are drifted south last last week on news of worse-than-expected economic growth out of Beijing amidst continued sluggishness in the stateside real estate sector. But equities aren’t gaining much on this monthly options expiration day, as market participants gear up for elections which are just 17 sunsets away. — Jose Torres
2. The GOAT Just Called the Election
The greatest living trader, Stanley Druckenmiller, who says the markets are “very convinced” one candidate is going to win… Druckenmiller pretty much just called the election. This week, the world’s greatest living trader said he thinks Trump will beat Harris this November. But Druck didn’t say this because of what he’s seeing in the polls or on betting websites like Polymarket. He said it because of what he’s observing in the market. — Stephen McBride
3. The True Economic Realities of Illegal Immigration
The Postpandemic U.S. Immigration Surge: New Facts and Inflationary Implications, a new working paper from The Dallas Fed answers an economic question that has become a highly political one. Has the significant rise in unauthorized immigration exacerbated inflation? — Tim Pierotti
4. Why You Should Never Apologize for Raising Your Fees
Raising your fees can feel like walking a tightrope without a safety net. You’re keenly aware that the moment you mention a fee increase, you’re stepping into potentially uncomfortable territory. But here’s the thing: apologizing for raising your fees is a mistake. It’s time to shift your mindset. You deserve to be compensated fairly for the exceptional value you provide, and your clients need to understand that. — Matthew Jarvis
5. What’s the True Worth of Your Financial Advisor Practice?
What is Your Practice Worth? Do you influence the maximizing of your practice’s value? As an advisor, you provide immense value to your clients every day. But what is often overlooked is the value they offer you. Beyond the fees they pay you for your service and advice, your clients provide you with practice "value.” This blog explores the three critical factors that build value in your practice – all of which are entirely in your circle of influence. — Jeff Thorsteinson
6. Latest Trends in Portfolio Construction: What You Need to Know
We continue to stick to our base case where the US economy exhibits muted near term recession risk as the global economy expands. Major economies demonstrated persistent expansion amid improved global financial conditions and firmer manufacturing activity, even as the global environment became more varied. — Fidelity Investments
7. Forced To Retire: How Advisors Help Clients Recover and Reboot Their Lives
Financial advisors excel at guiding clients through the complexities of planning for a secure and fulfilling retirement. But what happens when circumstances out of their control force clients into an unplanned early retirement? Job loss, layoffs, or the need to care for a loved one can upend even the most meticulously crafted retirement strategies. — David Conti
8. How the Looming US Elections Will Impact the Markets
Historical wisdom holds that US elections don’t really matter for markets. But we argue that they do matter today, given the rise of political polarization. This contentiousness leads to increasingly polarized policies and—ultimately—increasingly polarized winners and losers. — Richard Brink
9. Strong Economy: Positive for Earnings, Negative for Rate Cuts?
In this episode, Chris Versace, Bob Lang, and Lindsey Bell debated the reliability of S&P 500 targets from investment banks and considered Q3 earnings estimates to be potentially understated. They also highlighted the surge in ETF popularity, particularly active ETFs, while stressing the need for investors to actively understand their investments. — What Does It Mean?
10. Are Financial Advisors Doing What's Right or Just What’s Popular for Clients?
Most advisors are careful about investment selection and making sure recommendations fit the client’s financial and psychological risk profile. Many hold themselves to a fiduciary standard. Markets go through fads – popular investment themes seem to inflate and deflate all the time. Popular investments fads have included cryptocurrency, real estate, as well as the current love affair investors have with AI chip stocks such as Nvidia. When investments are popular, investors may clamor for them. Many advisors do the right thing in talking to clients about risks, and ensure that any exposure to popular assets is at an appropriate risk level. — Jay Mooreland
11. Rising Longevity: A New Challenge for Advisors and Clients
The average life expectancy in the U.S. is 77.43 years, good for the tenth-highest in the world and up noticeably over the decades. Thank advances in healthcare and medical science for that positive development and it is indeed good news. On the other hand, the bulk of the noticeable increases in longevity in developed countries occurred over a few decades in the 20th century. Since the 1990s, those numbers have been mostly stagnant and are likely to remain that way barring significant scientific breatkthroughs. How one views the potential expansion or lack thereof of longer lifespans is an individual matter, but advisors and clients alike know that there are challenges that come with increasing longevity. — Todd Shriber