Money Talk

The End of an Era at the Fed Big global moves this week as the US and China reopen trade channels on beef, oil, and agriculture, even as tensions flare over Taiwan. Meanwhile, political shakeups hit both sides of the Atlantic with Kevin Warsh narrowly taking the helm at the Fed and the UK prime minister stepping down after market jitters. Back home, Trump pushes a gas tax pause and cheaper beef wh...

The Standoff Continues This week’s episode sharpens the focus on major, politically driven developments, from the SEC’s push to rethink decades-old reporting rules to the high-stakes uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. Dave Spano and Dr. Brian Jacobsen unpack key economic signals, including tighter bank lending standards and what they reveal about business confidence and credit condition...

Powell's Swan Song This week Dave Spano and Dr. Brian Jacobsen break down a high-stakes geopolitical and monetary situation, from rising Middle East tensions and OPEC fractures to the puzzling drumbeat for rate hikes with high oil prices. We unpack a divided Fed, increasingly hawkish signals from global central banks, and what may be Chair Powell’s final act as leadership transitions are ahead. Ec...

Saturday, April 25th. Retirement Confidence Is Low. What Do We Do? This week, Dave Spano and Dr. Brian Jacobsen look ahead to what less Fed forward guidance could mean for rate volatility, why strong balance sheets may become a market advantage, and how global energy flows could quietly shift away from geopolitical chokepoints. Plus, the political noise shaking markets and why retirement confidenc...

Saturday, April 18th. What a Rally We Had! This week, Dave Spano and Dr. Brian Jacobsen discuss the sudden halt of Kevin Warsh’s nomination hearing and a huge recovery in the markets. We unpack soft housing data, jittery small businesses, cautious hiring, rising input costs, and a Beige Book full of uncertainty, and if the economy feels less like a recession. Special guest, and former Navy SEAL Jo...

This week, Dave Spano and Dr. Brian Jacobsen break down where income taxes hit hardest, why a third of Americans pay zero federal income tax, and how mandatory spending quietly dominates the budget. Plus, a two‑week U.S.–Iran ceasefire, the Strait of Hormuz, and why geopolitics still has markets, and policymakers, on edge.  What is "Retirement Subtraction", and what are the strategies to guide you...

Saturday, April 4th.  How Oil Prices Affect the Economy This week, Dave Spano and Dr. Brian Jacobsen unpack President Trump’s calls for the U.S. to step back from policing Middle East energy security, his push to exit the Iran conflict after taking away its nuclear and military capabilities, and Tehran’s demand for guarantees to prevent future aggression. We explore why oil price shocks hurt the e...

For the Week in Review, Dave Spano and Dr. Brian Jacobsen unpack a busy week where energy markets once again broke the rules, with negative prices in parts of the US echoing the shock of April 2020 and showing how oil profits can help offset losses in gas. They also take a look at fast moving global developments, from sudden shifts in US Iran dynamics to Turkey considering sales of its gold reserv...

For our Week in Review, Dave Spano and Dr. Brian Jacobsen discuss rising fuel costs, Iran’s attacks on energy infrastructure, and Powell’s defiant stance at the Fed. We break down why backward‑looking data may matter less in a post‑Iran world and new proposals on bank capital and SEC reporting. Plus, we look beyond oil to Nvidia’s trillion‑dollar ambitions, Macy’s surprising “shrink‑to‑grow” strat...

For our Week in Review, Dave Spano and Dr. Brian Jacobsen break down the nonstop developments out of Iran, from a new leader to massive U.S. military spending and a global scramble to replace disrupted oil and fertilizer flows through the Strait of Hormuz. We also unpack why the IEA’s historic 400‑million‑barrel release may not calm markets, how shaky private‑credit headlines are starting to snowb...

For our Week in Review, Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen look at why classic diversification struggled as stocks, bonds, and even gold moved together, and why holding cash with a real plan may matter more than ever. We talk about the rise in hardship withdrawals from retirement accounts and what that reveals about financial stress across the country. We also break down major global tensions, shifting...

For our Week in Review, Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen break down whether the latest Fed minutes truly put another rate hike back on the table, all while markets juggle rising geopolitical tension with Iran and attention on Japan’s massive U.S. investment commitments. They’ll dig into the data, from falling jobless claims and a widening trade deficit to signs of a manufacturing rebound, as well as...

For our Week in Review, Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen unpack Japan’s political shake‑up, where a landslide election win is clearing the way for food‑tax cuts and potential changes to the nation’s post‑war constitution. They turn to the U.S. next, tackling rising economic pressures, from a growing federal deficit and tariff‑driven price hikes to a housing market still millions of homes short. Final...

It was a whirlwind week in politics and economics, from shutdown fallout and delayed labor data to a surprise rebound in U.S. manufacturing. In our Week in Review, Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen break down major Trump-era developments, including a proposed minerals stockpile, a pathway‑to‑ownership housing plan, and an India trade deal shaped by energy and geopolitics. We also cover Fed leadership...

During our Week in Review, Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen break down the new tariff threats from President Trump, a weaker U.S. dollar, and a landmark trade deal between the European Union and India. We also cover the Federal Reserve holding rates steady while signaling a mixed economic picture. On the data front, slowing job growth, plunging consumer confidence, and the weakest population growth s...

We take a deep dive into the political developments that defined the week, with Davos setting the agenda. From tariffs and Greenland to housing policy, credit cards, crypto, and global markets, Dave Spano and Dr. Brian Jacobsen break it down in our Week in Review. As always, we round it out with key international reactions, important data points shaping the macro-outlook, and segments on retroacti...

From Trump’s surprise call for a 10% cap on credit‑card interest to the DOJ’s subpoenas aimed at Jerome Powell, it was a week packed with political and market-moving headlines. Inflation kept cooling, and corporate earnings stayed upbeat, even as consumers grew more cautious. Dave Spano and Dr. Brian Jacobsen walk through it for our Week in Review, and we dive into how ACA subsidies are affecting...

The Santa Rally skipped town this year, but the January Effect is making waves, especially for small caps. Markets are buzzing after U.S. forces captured Venezuela’s president Maduro, fueling bold oil ambitions despite steep challenges. Plus, trade tensions and tariff twists continue, and younger workers being affected by AI-exposed occupations. Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen break it all down in t...

China’s economy hit a rough patch with deflation fears, while U.S. markets soared despite historic tariff hikes and a few headline-grabbing scares. Mark Beck and Brian Jacobsen break down the headlines into the new year with our Week in Review. Gold and silver had a banner year, Bitcoin stumbled, and AI kept stealing the spotlight. Next year looks even bigger for AI with new models from OpenAI and...

This week’s show takes a look back at 2025 and noted how the markets have broadened heading into 2026. We explore decisions high net worth people face, as well as considerations when selling assets. We also explore “money guilt” – the uncomfortable feeling of second-guessing spending decisions.

Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen unpack distorted economic data and what shifting payroll trends could mean for the labor market in our Week in Review. Inflation may be taking a breather, but consumer spending is holding strong as we head into the holidays. Plus, we preview earnings season, explore what to expect in your first meeting with a wealth manager, and dive into creating a lasting ‘living le...

The Fed cut rates but signaled it’s ready to hit pause for a while. In our Week in Review, Tom Parks and Brian Jacobsen break down why their upbeat tone on productivity could make their job easier, what the board’s mindset might be, and why market expectations for 2026 cuts are already taking shape. Also, segments on solo aging, the rules of gifting money and creating a "living legacy".

Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen walk you through a week where strong shopping meets mixed economic news in our Week in Review. They also cover tariff updates, election stories, challenges facing retailers and small businesses, a big moment in charitable giving. Later, trending discussions about equity compensation and planning for solo aging.

This week’s Week in Review covers major political moves, from President Trump’s planned trip to Beijing to the launch of the Genesis Mission and the latest readings on growth, confidence, inflation, and business sentiment. Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen also unpack notable corporate stories, evolving consumer behavior, the data to watch in the week ahead, plus segments on smart ways to gift money a...

Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen break down everything from tariff-driven grocery relief to mixed economic signals heading into the holidays for the Week in Review. They’ll help make sense of what matters now, and what might matter next. We also talk about how parents can build a real plan to help their kids tackle student loans. And later, smart end-of-year decisions for high-net-worth families look...