Markets are tough right now, even for the veterans. Clients are looking to stay in cash as the twin deities of diversification and buy-and-hold they used to worship have tag team-wrestled their hearts to the mat. Gross production is down, attrition is up all over The Street.

So how do the wirehouse brokerages respond? They pay record amounts for brokerage and advisor talent. Brilliant!

Some seriously important links for you this morning.

The hottest Halloween costume of the year?

Handsome Alert!: Video of my live chat with SMB Capital.

A geographic look at our overgrown FIRE Economy.

Diagnosing America’s ills, stocks higher on the Basel III banking regs, housing prices, mutual fund managers all in, the Harrisburg bailout and more!

Infograph.

There are three basic ways for most investors to play a potential Agriculture Boom, two of them being the most facile.

Some well-curated links for your Sunday reading pleasure.

The Dude meets Morpheus. 90’s film buffs rejoice.