Top Stories
Latest News
For Fed’s Powell, Being ‘Mr. Too Late’ Is Better Than Being Wrong
1745662195 from ADVSRPERSP
Jerome Powell’s determination to ensure any jump in prices stemming from Donald Trump’s tariffs don’t spread through the economy has earned him the moniker “Mr. Too Late” from the president.
Tesla’s Cure for Musk’s Missteps Is More Musk
1745593428 from ADVSRPERSP
Tesla Inc. reported abysmal numbers for the first quarter on Tuesday evening. Naturally, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk kicked off the call with a discussion on why he must fix America’s finances, facing down an army of alleged moochers.
Crypto Industry Is Hedging Its Bets on Format and Timing of US Legislation
1745592563 from ADVSRPERSP
It was supposed to be a slam dunk: once President Donald Trump was reelected, the US crypto industry would get its long-awaited regulatory clarity in the form of fresh new laws to govern the asset class.
Financial Crisis Seen as a Distant Threat at IMF Meeting
1745590443 from ADVSRPERSP
Banking leaders and policymakers gathered for the International Monetary Fund’s spring meetings downplayed the prospect of a looming financial crisis, despite warnings that the US-led trade war threatens global market stability.
Consumer Sentiment Falls for Fourth Straight Month as Inflation Expectations Soar
1745590330 from ADVSRPERSP
Consumer sentiment fell for a fourth straight month in April as ongoing economic uncertainty and inflation worries continue to drag down consumer attitudes. The Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index plummeted to 52.2 in April, one of the lowest levels on record.
Chinese Equities: Investing in Stocks That Transcend Tariff Turmoil
1745578497 from ADVSRPERSP
A raft of reciprocal tariffs between China and the US could bruise China’s export revenues in the short term. But its domestically focused economic engine and shrinking dependency on US trade should minimize fallout in the long run.
Roth IRA Conversions in Retirement: How to Successfully Minimize Taxes & Maximize Wealth
1745577447 from ADVSRPERSP
Many retirees hold substantial assets in traditional IRAs and taxable brokerage accounts. When planning for retirement income and considering your legacy, Roth IRA conversions can be a strategic way to reduce your tax burden and maximize the wealth you pass on to your heirs.
Tax-Advantaged Accounts: A Powerful Addition to Your Financial Plan
1745576800 from ADVSRPERSP
A tax-advantaged account offers certain tax benefits to encourage individuals to save or invest for specific purposes, such as retirement, education or healthcare. These accounts can help you lower your taxable income, defer taxes or avoid taxes altogether if used for qualified expenses.
Kansas City Fed Manufacturing: Activity Declined Modestly in April
1745507864 from ADVSRPERSP
The Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Survey revealed regional activity declined modestly in April, with the composite index at -4. This marks the 20th consecutive month the index has been negative. Future expectations stayed positive, though they eased from 10 in March to 6 in April.
Active Fund Management Isn't Dead Just Yet
1745507062 from ADVSRPERSP
It’s quite easy to do bad deals in asset management. Option one, overpay for a private capital business in the aggressive dash for growth. Option two, defensively merge your existing fund manager with a regional peer and botch the integration as you try to make savings.
Existing Home Sales Sink 5.9% in March
1745504130 from ADVSRPERSP
Existing home sales sank in March with their largest monthly decline since 2022. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), existing home sales fell 5.9% from February, hitting a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.02 million units in March.
AI Was Already Clouding Tech Earnings. Then Tariffs Hit
1745504061 from ADVSRPERSP
The Big Tech stocks are beginning the year’s earnings season with mild optimism. After signs from the White House that President Donald Trump may be softening his scorched-earth tariff plan, the Magnificent Seven stocks have been up more than 6% this week.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index: Economic Growth Decreased in March
1745501698 from ADVSRPERSP
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) fell to -0.03 in March from +0.24 in February. Two of the four broad categories of indicators used to construct the index decreased from February, and three categories made negative contributions in March.
Vanguard CEO Says US Exceptionalism ‘Absolutely’ Hasn’t Peaked
1745501157 from ADVSRPERSP
President Donald Trump’s chaotic policies are spurring some investors to “sell America,” but Vanguard Group Chief Executive Officer Salim Ramji said he still believes in the underlying strength of the US economy.
Unemployment Claims Up 6K, Consistent with Expectations
1745500894 from ADVSRPERSP
In the week ending April 19th, initial jobless claims were at a seasonally adjusted level of 222,000. This represents an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's figure. The latest reading was consistent with the forecast.
Anatomy of a US Treasury Sell-Off
1745496191 from ADVSRPERSP
The bond market has been extremely volatile the past couple of weeks since the introduction of global tariffs by the US. Bond yields have sold off almost 50 basis points, and today we'd like to examine why did that occur, what's next, and how should investors think about duration in this environment?
The Great Wall
1745495808 from ADVSRPERSP
President Trump has been a vocal admirer of China’s Great Wall, built by the country’s emperors to protect their territory from outside aggression. In his first term, he compared his plan to build a border wall with that historic structure.
Is It Time for Investors to Play the Long Game?
1745491116 from ADVSRPERSP
During periods of market volatility and declines, investors get concerned. They question their long-term objectives and whether they have more risk in their portfolios than they can tolerate. These are reasonable thoughts to have at times like these.
Margin Debt: March 2025
1745440210 from ADVSRPERSP
Margin debt is the amount of money an investor borrows from their broker via a margin account. Margin debt is often seen as a measure of investor sentiment and risk appetite. High levels of margin debt can signal confidence, but extreme spikes may also indicate excessive speculation, increasing the risk of market instability.
Tax Planning Should be a Focus for All seasons
1745425547 from ADVSRPERSP
Tax filing season may be over for many, but tax planning is an important focus year-round. Consider post-tax season strategies including optimizing deductions or adjusting retirement contributions. Our Bill Cass shares some tax planning ideas to consider.
Margin Debt Sinks to 5-Month Low in March
1745424036 from ADVSRPERSP
FINRA has released new data for margin debt, now available through March. The latest debt level is at $880.316 billion, down 4.3% from February. This is the second straight month the debt level has declined and is the largest monthly drop since October 2023.