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Industry Insights
Check out September's Edition of Industry Insights HERE!
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What's going on out there? #34
Let's talk about what's going out there this week! Watch our video and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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What's Going On Out There? #33
Check out the video and let us know your thoughts on what's going on out there in the comments below! :)
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What's Going On Out There? #32 - Insurance Companies Using Drones?👀
Why are some insurance companies using drones? Learn why and what for on today's episode of What's Going On Out There?". Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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What's Going On Out There? #31
Let us know what you think about what's going on out there this week in the comments below.
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🚨New Giveaway Alert!‼️🚨 📸 Financial Planners Spring Profile Picture Giveaway🎁
✨Spring Giveaway✨🎁 We're giving away One Complimentary enrollment in one (1) CFP® education program course or professional designation course (up to $1,350 value, depending on the course chosen)!🎉 To enter all you have to do is add a profile picture to your account during the promotion period of Friday, April 5, 2024, at…
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🚨New Video🚨 📹 What's Going On Out There? #29
Check out the latest episode of What's Going On Out There? and let us know your thoughts in the comments bellow. :)
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What's Going On Out There? #28
Today's version of "What's Going On Out There?" is coming to you via a quick video. Let's discuss the implications of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in our world of financial planning. Watch and share your thoughts with us below.
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Soft Skills for New Financial Advisors
In CFP studies, we primarily teach students a myriad of concepts designed to help them understand how to solve client problems and help clients reach their goals. But, and this is a big BUT, what we'll call soft skills are crucial for financial advisors—especially new financial advisors. Building and maintaining client…
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Ask Us Anything!
Do you have any questions about the Financial Planning field? Ask away in the comments and we will pick a few questions to have our team answer in discussion posts throughout the month. ✨
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What's Going On Out There? #27
Well, the restaurant chain Wendy's sure stirred up some controversy this week and at least one of their competitors is hoping to cash in on their PR mess. Wendy's is finding out that even mentioning dynamic pricing for fast food is not a winner with consumers, especially when food prices in general are still quite high.…
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How to Get Started with Your Taxes💰
The tax deadline is quickly approaching and April 15 will be here before you know it. People are frantically calling their tax professionals and asking questions like, “How many tax pros does it take to change a lightbulb?” The answer is, probably the same as last year. But seriously. As we all prepare to do our civic duty…
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What's Going On Out There? #26
Well, I apparently failed to post this last week and found it in my drafts. Sorry about that! In the Wall Street Journal last week, we read about the SEC expanding it's oversight into government-issued securities. The SEC's position is that this will help protect investors and maintain market efficiency. Industry analysts…
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What's Going On Out There? #25
Well the big news this week is that the Fed decided to take no action with interest rated. The Dow and S&P 500 indexes, which had reached new highs earlier in the week, pulled back on Wednesday. What do you think the Fed will do in future meetings and how do you see it affecting the stock and bond markets? When do you…
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What's Going On Out There? #24
From the WSJ this week, the Dow and the S&P 500 both set new highs so far this month. The Fed is indicating there may be interest rate decreases later this year which will likely be good for the bond market. All good news for now. On the other hand, consumer debt, especially credit card balances, is increasing and bank are…
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What's Going On Out There? #23
In meeting with my clients so far this month, many are asking what I think the market will do in what looks to be a rather contentious election year. Like most of you, my clients run the gamut from very conservative to very liberal and so I respond in a politically neutral way, but I don't sidestep the obvious strengths…
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What's Going On Out There? #22
The theme of several articles and opinion pieces in the Wall Street Journal recently indicate that the US economy did indeed get that "soft landing" everyone was hoping for. Inflation is down, prices are beginning to moderate, though not across the board, and the major stock indexes are at or near all time highs. And yet,…
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💰️Financial Moves To Avoid Before a New Year
Some financial moves are pretty obvious for us to know to avoid when entering a new year; however, there are many financial moves clients don't often think about or know to avoid altogether. Last month, our very own expert @CFP_PHD Sara Stolberg Berkowicz (certified financial planner), was featured in an AARP article on 9…
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Why is the CRPC important?
For the first time, we are starting to see people retire under a system where they had to save on their own and not solely rely on company-provided retirement options. Because of this, a huge wave of people is coming in with questions about Medicare, Social Security, and how to leave money for their families. It is…
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What's Going On Out There? #15
The stock market has made an impressive rally in the last few weeks with the S&P500 up about 17% year-to-date. The iShares Global Clean Energy ETF is down about 30%. With all of the emphasis on reducing carbon emissions, why do you suppose the market as a whole is up, but a green energy ETF is down?
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What's Going On Out There? #12
Today I just have a question about what is driving the stock market. Do you think that all of the geopolitical news (Russia/Ukraine, Israel/Gaza, Biden family issues, Trump legal issues, etc.) is having any impact or is it mostly being driven by interest rates, inflation, and prices? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
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What's Going On Out There? #11
Let's take stock of what IS going on out there. We have war in Ukraine and Gaza, China's economy isn't looking very good, the UAW is on strike, inflation is still an issue, and mortgage rates are approaching 8%. On the other hand, the job market remains strong, consumer spending also remains strong, and despite the higher…
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What's Going On Out There? #10
This week I really don't want to post about the markets or interest rates or inflation. I just want to mourn for the lives that were senselessly lost in Israel this past week and to process how I feel about that. Here in the US, much remains the same at least for now, but that could change quickly if this war escalates and…
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What's Going On Out There #9?
The 10-year Treasury yield has reached 4.8% and the Wall Street Journal indicates this is pulling people out of the stock market. The Dow, S&P 500, and NASDAQ indexes are all down 4.85%, 5.82%, and 6.35% respectively in the past month. What are you seeing in your practice? Are your clients shifting from stocks to bonds?
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What's Going On Out There? #8
If you haven't heard, the UAW is simultaneously striking against all of the Detroit Three car manufacturers. One of the major demands from the UAW is a significant pay increase and a significant decrease in work hours. While a pay increase will certainly help any individual who gets it with the effects of inflation, on the…
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What's Going On Out There #7
Market signals are mixed right now. Unemployment is up a bit, but that's likely because more people have resumed looking for work. Home prices are climbing again, but interest rates are still high. inflation is down, but prices are not and wages aren't keeping up. And there's plenty more, but what I'd like to know is what…
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What's Going on Out There #6
This week's post is quite short and straightforward. After a nice summer rally, the stock market seems a bit jittery. What do you think the market will do this fall and why?
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What's Going On Out There #5
The SEC lost on appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, DC this week in an effort to prevent Grayscale Investments' planned launch of a Bitcoin ETF. This paves the way for Grayscale to offer a Bitcoin ETF . What do you think the appetite of the marketplace is for such an ETF?
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What's Going On Out There #4
In today's Wall Street Journal, there is a report that the SEC has approved "sweeping new rules aimed at overhauling the way private-equity and hedge funds deal with their investors." The rules restrict these funds ability to cut deals with large investors that give them better terms than the average investor can get. What…
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What's Going On Out There #3
In this week's Wall Street Journal, there have been some article and opinion pieces on whether or not the Fed can tame inflation and do so without causing a recession. It appears the odds of the US economy achieving this "soft landing" are looking pretty good. What do you think?
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What's Going On Out There? #2
Each week I plan to post something that I glean from the pages of the Wall Street Journal for a discussion of current events. This week's topic is inflation. While the rate of inflation is declining, prices remain higher than they were prior to the surge in inflation. So, please respond to this thought - even if inflation…
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Welcome to the Financial Planners Kaplan Community!
College for Financial Planning® StudentsWhat is this place? Well, first off, you’re in Kaplan Community – a new collaborative meeting place for people in, and aspiring to, dozens of careers across many, many industries. We’ll be adding spaces for new career paths on an ongoing basis, so keep your eyes on the homepage for…
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Break the Ice!
We're so glad you're here in our new community for aspiring and established financial analysts and we'd love to know more about you. So please feel free to share a little about yourself, where you are in your career path and how we this community can best help you – or how you'd like to help.