Want to strengthen your professional relationships, expand your referral network and get to the closing table faster? Here's how new agents can partner with an independent mortgage broker in their area to win more clients.

Jochen Reiser, president of the University of Texas Medical Branch, encourages leaders to validate their assumptions and ask difficult questions so they can "dare to act." There are always reasons not to make bold moves for an organization, but being overly cautious can come at the price of innovation, Reiser says.

Executives from leading brands share their primary motivators, advice and other valuable insights, such as Kim Harmon of Marker's Mark who suggests executives "listen with the intent to learn." Julie President Amanda E/J Morrison discusses Tiffany's ability to "stay relevant and in the cultural conversation," and other executives explain why they admire the creator of Nutella Pietro Ferrero and Andre Hueston Mack of Maison Noir Wines.

Young Hispanics, ages 18 to 24, are more interested in virtual and augmented reality (48%), second screens (38%) and shoppable TV experiences (28%) compared to their non-Hispanic counterparts, per Altman Solon research. One in four Hispanic consumers also are interested in interactive content and personalized stories, the research found, with those in households with children scoring higher.

Quartz and white oak in kitchens and vintage furniture are among interior design trends to watch. Striped and plaid fabrics are also on trend.

AI can prove beneficial in "kickstarting the muse" for creativity and help "connect our ideas, concepts and goals" that can then be synchronized between groups and yield positive disruption, writes Vu Dang, leader of agency SCS' Design Studio. AI "creates new opportunities to rethink and reforge not only each of the individual disciplines that exist in marketing but how they all relate together," Dang writes.

In a time when it's easy to fall for disinformation and scams, more people are seeking to learn the meaning of "authentic," which is the Merriam-Webster word of the year for 2023, beating out other popularly searched words such as "kibbutz" and "deepfake." This year represents a crisis in authenticity, says editor at large Peter Sokolowski, which means, "when we question authenticity, we value it even more."

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development has launched the "Plus One ADU" pilot program, offering funding up to $395,000 to homeowners for building accessory dwelling units like backyard cottages and basement apartments. This initiative aims to increase housing options.

The economy could experience a mild recession next year before rebounding in 2025, according to Fannie Mae's November commentary. "The economy is now slowing from the otherwise robust first estimate of third-quarter growth," according to Fannie Mae's Doug Duncan, who pointed to slowing employment gains and stress on consumers.

Investors are increasingly convinced the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in the first half of next year. Interest-rate futures indicate a 52% chance the Fed will lower rates by a quarter percentage point by May, up from 29% in October, CME Group data shows. Investors also expect four rate cuts by the end of 2024.