Market Performance: March 8, 2024.

U.S. stock futures fell on Monday after the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed out its worst week since October. Investors are also looking ahead to inflation data due out later this week.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures dipped 74 points, or 0.19%. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures declined 0.21% and 0.34%, respectively.

Wall Street is coming off a losing week for the major averages. The 30-stock Dow slid 0.93% last week, marking its worst performance since October. The S&P 500 dipped 0.26%, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.17%.

Interior Designers Want You to Embrace Loud Budgeting

What Is Loud Budgeting?

Think of loud budgeting as the antithesis of quiet luxury: While quiet luxury is all about eschewing designer labels and not broadcasting what you spend (albeit while cultivating a fancy, schmancy lifestyle worthy of celebrities and influencers), loud budgeting encourages you to be vocal about what you do and don't want to spend money on—plus, whether or not you think something is worth your hard-earned money.

How to Bring Loud Budgeting Into Your Home Decor

While loud budgeting often goes hand-in-hand with social obligations (and finding excuses to get out of them), some pros say the concept carries over surprisingly neatly into how you think about your home.

"It's about embracing an open conversation on finances, directly impacting our living spaces in a positively audacious way," says Stoy Hall, a certified financial planner and the CEO and founder of the investment advisor firm Black Mammoth. "This openness encourages us to express our individuality in our homes affordably and sustainably, debunking the myth that elegance must come with a hefty price tag. It empowers us to celebrate our financial journeys and decor choices, no matter how modest they may be."

And it's not a new idea. San Francisco designer Emilie Munroe believes loud budgeting in the home is a tale as old as time. (Or, you know, that side table you snagged for a steal at your local antique store.) "High-low design has been a cornerstone of design aesthetics for years," Munroe says, noting that she has noticed her clients being "more vocal about their economically motivated retail choices."

Increasing Cash Flow: Practical Tips for Family Law Firms in 2024

Generating cash flow is paramount to the success and growth of your family law firm. This is especially the case during times of economic uncertainty and following periods of lower activity, such as during holiday periods.

Family lawyers are all-too-familiar with the frustration of chasing late payments, negotiating payment plans and managing deferred fee arrangements. This is time that could be better spent on providing great client service and growing your firm.

To help you enhance your firm's financial health in 2024 and give you back meaningful time, we've compiled a list of practical steps you can take to increase your cash flow and see your firm prosper.

Communicate clearly and upfront

Communication is often the cause and solution to most problems. Avoiding late payments starts with clear communication about your family law firm’s expectations. Be upfront and transparent about your firm’s payment terms, billing frequency, and the consequences for non-payment. If you need to revise your cost estimate, do so as early as possible.

Request funds in trust

Requesting funds in trust at the outset of the matter establishes early on that the law firm expects payment, and that the client is committed to their matter and paying their fees. You may surface concerns or payment challenges which are more helpfully dealt with sooner rather than later.

Experiment with new communication channels

Consider experimenting with a variety of communication channels to reach out to clients about their outstanding invoices. If clients aren’t replying to email, try giving them a call or send them a text.

Automate your payment reminders

If you haven’t done so already, set up automated payment reminders so clients receive notifications as their payment due dates approach. Try incorporating text messages as discussed above. This can help clients to promptly settle their bills on time without the need for manual follow-up from your team. You can also set up reminders after payment is overdue.

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