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1. Economic Misery Looms: What the Latest Survey Tells Us About What's Coming
It's not often that consumers expect the economy to deliver both higher prices and fewer jobs—but that’s exactly what the latest University of Michigan (UMich) survey shows. Inflation expectations have jumped, and unemployment fears have surged to levels not seen since 2008. Together, these shifts suggest households are bracing for stagflation. — Sam Garza, Joseph Mezyk, Fei He, CFA and Sunyu Wang
2. The Big Financial Shift No One’s Paying Attention To
The “stablecoin” giant just filed to go public. It’s aiming for a valuation between $4 billion and $5 billion and plans to list on the NYSE as early as June under the ticker CRCL. It will be the biggest crypto IPO since Coinbase (COIN) went public back in 2021. — Stephen McBride
3. Trump’s Economic Revolution: Boom, Bust, or Both?
Deuteronomy 11:26 – “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse.” This biblical passage has been used countless times to describe the global economic structure in place since 1944. As World War II raged and Britain suffered significant financial stress, the allied forces signed the Bretton Woods Agreement. As part of the pact, the US dollar would replace the British pound as the world’s reserve currency. Since then, many of the original commitments have gone away. — Michael Lebowitz
4. What’s Fueling Market Chaos? A Deep Dive into Tariffs and Economic Shocks
I was boarding a plane for a trip to Latin America late in the evening last Wednesday (April 2), and as is my practice, I was checking the score on the Yankee game, when I read the tariff news announcement. Coming after a few days where the market seemed to have found its bearings (at least partially), it was clear from the initial reactions across the world that the breadth and the magnitude of the tariffs had caught most by surprise, and that a market markdown was coming. Not surprisingly, the markets opened down on Thursday and spent the next two days in that mode, with US equity indices declining almost 10% by close of trading on Friday. — Aswath Damodaran
5. How You Show Up in a Crazy Market Really Matters
Markets are a mess, your inbox is full, and you’re probably feeling like you’re having the same conversation 100 times in a row. Maybe you're exhausted, maybe a little discouraged, and definitely stretched thin between trying to market yourself, stay visible, and manage nervous clients. — Libby Greiwe
6. Investing Smarter in a High-Volatility World
The Trump Administration’s Tariff announcements certainly accelerated our "Cautiousness." The Tariff package was broad and larger than most expected sending the markets into a tailspin as of this writing. Also at present, the Tariff announcement actually didn’t decrease uncertainty as some hoped as responses from other countries are awaited. Post this announcement, Citi expects forceful rate cuts and a recession while other banks expect higher inflation and no rate cuts — how’s that for clarity? — Cliff Corso
7. Market Crash or Buying Opportunity? Finding Hope in the Panic
The question is whether the “tariffs” are an event that causes a massive negative revision to earnings and/or the onset of a credit-related crisis or recession. The answer to that question is critically important to today’s analysis: Was last week’s market crash a buying or selling opportunity? — Lance Roberts
8. Why Volatile Markets Are Prime Time to Ask for Referrals
When the market feels like a roller coaster—volatile stocks, whispers of a bear market, inflation, and economic uncertainty—some advisors go quiet. Big mistake! Others reach out to their clients with mass communication. Not the best! And certainly, most advisors totally forget about referrals and introductions – just at a time when many clients are looking to move to a new advisor. — Bill Cates
9. Liberation Day: No Way To Spin It as a Positive
One thing is clear from this week’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcement –the market has decided that there is pretty much no way to spin it as a positive. Thus, here we are with a substantial selloff on our hands, abetted somewhat by traders whose commitment to buying every dip left them wrong-footed. — Steve Sosnick
10. Your Real Competition Isn’t Other Advisors—It’s Client Overwhelm
As a financial advisor, your role is not just to provide advice, but to empower your clients to make clear, simple, and compelling financial decisions. You’re not competing with other advisors, but against your clients’ doubts, procrastination, and everyday distractions. Clients hesitate not because they lack options, but because they feel overwhelmed. By simplifying complex financial concepts, you can help them feel more confident and empowered to take action. — Jeff Thorsteinson
11. The Case for Calling Every Client Immediately
No one is going to forget the events of last Thursday and Friday anytime soon. Accountants might be in the final days of getting April 15th tax returns done, but any financial professional connected with investing has a client base whose emotions range from startled to terrified. Every one of them should get a phone call or some form of individual personal outreach. — Bryce Sanders