We all know that bulls make money and pigs get slaughtered. But bears make money too. The question often faced by financial advisors is whether they should join them. As a rule, the trajectory of the market is upwards over time. Those who buy and hold long enough will inevitably...
Chicago-based registered investment advisor Hightower is laying off approximately 5% of its staff as part of an “ongoing strategic realignment,” a company spokesperson said. The Hightower representative added that the cutbacks were “aimed at optimizing our resources and ensuring the long-term success of our business.” The streamlining is occurring after a...
For the first time in a long time, advisors are being forced to think about cash. Stashing excess client funds wasn’t an issue for financial advisors at the start of 2022, because cash was barely generating any return. With the federal funds target rate at 1.5% back then and money...
The IPO window is open, or at least it’s noticeably ajar. So what does that mean for financial advisors whose clients are interested in venture capital and seek to invest in a company before its shares hit the big board? Despite the recent sell-off in stocks, a number of high-profile...
Recent market volatility is causing concerned clients to phone their RIAs with worries about whether they will be able to retire as planned. With the largest cohort in American history turning 65 in 2024, a new study shows the calls — and the anxiety — are only going to...
The principal membership organization and trade association for certified financial planners has a new president-elect and treasurer for the coming year. The Financial Planning Association announced Wednesday that its board elected Paul Brahim as 2024 president-elect. Brahim’s one-year term is slated to start Jan. 1. Brahim, managing director and senior...
Anxious Americans feel the need to choose — financially speaking, that is. According to a new survey by diversified financial services provider Thrivent, concerns about the economy and rising levels of personal debt have an increasing number of Americans feeling pressured to prioritize their financial needs. Most notably, Thrivent’s 2023...
The market for U.S. Treasuries may be the largest, safest and most liquid in the world at more than $24 trillion. But securitized fixed-income markets totaling over $12 trillion are nothing to sneeze in the current economic environment, with attractive yields, highly diversified products and a troubled history that’s now...
Investors may not want to bet heavily on an autumn stock surge as the fuel behind this year’s rally runs low, said Lisa Shalett, chief investment officer for wealth management at Morgan Stanley. The S&P 500 Index has jumped more than 16% so far in 2023, a refreshing turnaround for...
Retirement savers are in better shape than last year. But they had better beware the worsening “financial vortex” that could suck them in. According to the 2023 Retirement Survey and Insights Report released Tuesday by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, more U.S. workers have increased their savings over the last year,...