There has been a flurry of geopolitical developments in recent weeks, from Congress passing a massive foreign aid bill to Cabinet members visiting China to India's elections. But the one that has grabbed the most attention―at least among your kids―is the potential banning of Chinese-owned TikTok. Jeff Kleintop, Schwab's chief global investment strategist, joins host Mike Townsend to discuss the implications of these developments for investors and to answer the question of whether TikTok really could be banned. Jeff also explores whether aid to Ukraine could change the course of its war with Ru ..read more

The Fed says its decisions are data-driven, but recent data on inflation, jobs, and other key economic metrics don't seem to be offering a consistent message. Kevin Gordon, Schwab's senior investment strategist, joins host Mike Townsend to go below the headline data and look at what the Fed is watching as it continues to fight sticky inflation and make decisions on rate cuts. They discuss what impact the reduced expectations for rate cuts in 2024 night be having on the market and whether the sky-high federal debt is contributing to stubborn inflation. Kevin also looks at the state of investor ..read more

Medicare is one of the toughest federal programs to navigate, a maze of confusing choices, odd deadlines, and potential penalties. Yet it's critically important for everyone, even if you're just starting out in your career, to understand it. On this episode, Susan Hirshman, director of wealth management at the Schwab Center for Financial Research and a Medicare expert, joins host Mike Townsend to help demystify Medicare for listeners. Noting that almost everyone pays into Medicare from their very first job, Hirshman discusses how Medicare needs to be part of your financial plan throughout your ..read more

The presidential election and its impact on the markets loom large among investors' concerns. Mike Townsend tapped the resources of Schwab's Center for Financial Research to answer client questions, including the role of third-party candidates; what happens if either of the main candidates leaves the race; and how the markets, as well as individual sectors, typically perform in the run-up to the election and immediately afterward. Mike also looks at historical market correlations with election outcomes, explains why the Congressional elections may be more important to the markets than the pres ..read more

Bonds can be intimidating. While many investors regard them as a necessary component of a balanced portfolio, that doesn't mean they have a good understanding of how they work. When U.S. bonds struggled to their worst performance ever in 2022, investors naturally were spooked. But in 2024 bonds offer attractive yields and can present opportunities to investors. In this episode, Mike is joined by Cooper Howard and Collin Martin, two fixed income strategists from the Schwab Center for Financial Research, to help investors gain a better understanding of the special language of bonds, the pros and ..read more

From China's economic woes and tensions with Taiwan, to escalating fighting in the Middle East and the disruption of shipping routes, to central banks keeping interest rates high, there is no shortage of anxiety about geopolitical risks. On today's episode, host Mike Townsend is joined by Jeffrey Kleintop, Schwab's chief global investment strategist, to look beyond the worrisome headlines to see how economies around the globe are doing and what's driving their markets. Jeff shares his perspectives on China's slowdown, the implications of Taiwan's recent election on U.S.-China relations, and th ..read more

With the S&P 500® and Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting record highs recently, the bear market is officially over. But is this momentum sustainable? Schwab Senior Investment Strategist Kevin Gordon joins host Mike Townsend to dig into the latest economic data and discuss some potentially worrisome signals as well as signs of improvement. They also preview the upcoming Fed meeting and the outlook for rate cuts in 2024, discuss how rolling recessions are starting to become rolling recoveries, and remind investors why they should not let this year’s presidential election become an investin ..read more

For investors, 2024 has more than its share of unknowns, including what steps the Fed and other central banks will take, the direction of ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and how elections both in the U.S. and more than 60 countries around the world will play out. These unpredictable factors can lead to volatility in the markets and anxiety for investors, which can contribute to poor decisions. One way for investors to navigate a challenging environment is to understand how fund managers make decisions when facing uncertainty. On today’s episode, host Mike Townsend talks with Omar ..read more

With 2023 winding down, it’s important for investors to take stock of their financial plan, consider strategies to minimize taxes, and begin looking for opportunities in 2024. Host Mike Townsend is joined by Daniel Stein, who manages two Schwab branches in Virginia, to discuss what investors are most concerned about right now, some key end-of-year planning strategies for investors to consider, and how to think about some of the uncertainties facing the markets next year. Dan provides practical suggestions on minimizing taxes by using tax-loss harvesting and other techniques; the importance of ..read more

In today’s globally interconnected financial world, fraud and scams are all too common, and anyone can become a victim. On this episode of WashingtonWise, host Mike Townsend talks with DJ Johnson, head of Financial Crimes Risk Management at Charles Schwab, about the ever-evolving fraud landscape and how you can protect yourself. They discuss the scope of the problem, the most frequently used ploys, and how fraudsters are using the latest technology, including artificial intelligence, to dupe even savvy investors. They also talk about what Schwab does to protect its clients from fraud and offer ..read more