2 Question Tuesday Presented by Focused Wealth Management

Phil, Mike, and Larry examine the debt ceiling debate going on in Washington and what it means for the markets and people’s money if it continues to drag on. They also look at the current state of the housing market, which plunged to a 12-year low in December. With housing resales down 34% year over year, they consider whether the market is close to finding a floor or beginning a sharp correction....

Last year was one of the worst years on record for the bond market. Phil, Mike, and Larry discuss whether bonds will see a rebound this year. Will it be just Treasury bonds or corporates as well? And what about high yield bonds? They then discuss why the price of copper and other metals are surging. Is this related to China? And they tell us what their prediction for where metals are going in 2023...

Phil, Mike, and Larry discuss whether the classic 60/40 portfolio (60% stocks, 40% bonds) is still a valid strategy for investing and if index investing is a losing proposition. They then discuss the 72% plunge Tesla’s stock has experienced over the past year. They look at whether Tesla needs to fall more, if it will fall more, or if the stock is now a buying opportunity. Submit your questions to...

As we start a new year, we present our annual “Firm, Economic, and Market Update”. 2022 has been quite a turbulent year. Events such as the Russia-Ukraine war, global inflation, the quickest series of Federal Reserve rate hikes ever, and devastating natural disasters all have weighed on the markets and global economy.  2022 saw stocks and bonds both decline for each of the first three quarters. Th...

Phil, Mike, and Larry discuss tax loss harvesting, the process where you sell securities that have losses for the year to offset capital gains produced from selling other securities during the year. This is a great way to lower your tax bill. They talk about what moves you should make this week. They then discuss when the new rules for taking Required Minimum Distributions, or RMDs, from IRAs and...

Phil, Mike, and Larry discuss the consumer price index, a key inflation marker, coming in lower than expected and U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen predicting that inflation will be much lower by the end of next year. They then discuss when will the market stop focusing on the Federal Reserve and interest rates and move back to focusing on corporate earnings. Submit your questions to question@2...

Phil, Mike, and Larry discuss how much higher the Federal Reserve will raise the Federal Funds Rate and whether this will cause the yield on the 10-year US Treasury bond to rise back above 4%. They then discuss the state of high-interest corporate bonds and whether this is a good time to buy or has the moment passed? Submit your questions to question@2questiontuesday.com As always, if you have any...

In the wake of Monday’s 1.5% drop across the markets on news of protests in China around its Covid restrictions, Phil, Mike, and Larry discuss why China’s problems are affecting U.S. stocks. They then discuss if the Federal Reserve has enough cash on hand to fund the total losses it will incur for all the asset liquidation to which it is committed. Submit your questions to question@2questiontuesda...

In the wake of Goldman Sachs predicting the bear market will last into 2023, and Cleveland Federal Reserve President Loretta Mester not ready to stop advocating for rate hikes, Phil, Mike, and Larry discuss their view of the economy right now. They then discuss if the holiday shopping season will be good or bad for the retail sector. Submit your questions to question@2questiontuesday.com As always...

In the wake of massive tech industry layoffs at places such as Amazon, Facebook and Twitter, Phil, Mike, and Larry discuss how this will change the tech industry and whether this is a good time to invest in the sector. They then discuss the bankruptcy of cryptocurrency exchange FTX and how it’s demise may cause a liquidity crisis throughout the other financial  markets. Submit your questions to qu...

In the wake of last week’s rate hike by the Federal Reserve, Phil, Mike, and Larry discuss how much higher they think Fed will raise interest rates? They then discuss why Apple’s stock has fallen 10% this month, even as the broad market was rallying. Submit your questions to question@2questiontuesday.com As always, if you have any questions at any time, please feel free to call your adviser direct...

Phil, Mike, and Larry discuss where people who plan on retiring with just an IRA or 401K account as their primary source of income should be putting their money today? They then discuss whether the Fed will stop raising interest rates after Wednesday’s meeting or will rate hikes continue considering the high level of inflation in the US. Submit your questions to question@2questiontuesday.com As al...

Phil, Mike, and Larry discuss why market participants said the Chinese market is “uninvestible,” and why Chinese stocks tanked after President Xi wrapped up the Communist Party Congress by paving the way for an unprecedented third term as president. They then discuss whether the market has priced in a long, deep recession or it’s just “whistling past the graveyard?” Submit your questions to questi...

Phil, Mike, and Larry discuss what’s next for the British markets after the financial mishaps of new Prime Minister Liz Truss. Last week, she issued a radical economic plan of tax cuts for the rich. Then after the pound hit historic lows, Truss reversed herself on Monday. They then look at the dismal month of September and the rally in stocks that started the fourth quarter. They analyze whether t...

Phil, Mike, and Larry discuss what’s next for the chaotic British bond markets after the Bank of England announced its second expansion of its emergency bond-buying operation in two days and if U.S. investors should buy British bonds. They then look at JP Morgan’s CEO Jamie Dimon, who told CNBC that he thinks the S&P 500 could fall another 20% and that the U.S. and global economy could fall in...

Phil, Mike, and Larry discuss why the market had one of its biggest one-day rallies after the Consumer Price Index showed that inflation is not under control and the feeling that the Federal Reserve will have to raise interest rates again.  Then they look at the situation with investment bank Credit Suisse.  The company looks to have a huge capital shortfall in the near future. Should we be concer...

Phil, Mike, and Larry examine why the stock market doesn't like rising interest rates. However rising rates lift the yields on bonds. They then talk about the bond-yield bull market forming and the terrific yields in credit that need to be taken advantage now. They discuss whether now is the time to start buying bonds and which ones are best. Submit your questions to question@2questiontuesday...

Phil, Mike, and Larry examine the tax cuts proposal from Liz Truss, the United Kingdom’s new prime minister. The amount of borrowing that will be needed to pay for these tax cuts sent the British 5-year gilt up half a percentage point and pushed the British pound to a 37-year low against the dollar. And in the wake of the Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting a new low for the year, they then exami...

On Tuesday, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed inflation is running hotter than expected. Phil, Mike, and Larry talk about what we should expect from the Federal Reserve this month and how high the Federal Funds Rate will go. They then look at the railroad unions' threats to go on strike this week, and break down how this will affect the U.S. markets and economy. Submit your questions to q...

With the summer over and the market entering the dangerous months of September and October, Phil, Mike, and Larry break down what we should expect to happen in the last third of the year and if people should go to cash. They then look at the United Kingdom’s turnover in leadership. With Liz Truss expected to be named the new Prime Minister, what kind of policies is she looking to implement, how wi...

Phil, Mike, and Larry break down Friday’s comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on why the Fed plans to keep raising interest rates, and the market’s reaction. They then look at why the current recession doesn’t feel like a recession and what should we expect for the rest of the year. Submit your questions to question@2questiontuesday.com As always, if you have any questions at any tim...

Phil, Mike, and Larry break down what the cooling housing market and the decline in existing house sales means for the market. They then look at the current market rally to see if it has legs, the recent positive reports on inflation and whether this will stop the Federal Reserve from raising rates and where should people be investing their money now. Submit your questions to question@2questiontue...

Phil, Mike, and Larry break down whether the U.S. is in, or entering, a stagflation environment? What does this mean for the economy and where are the best places to put money to work amidst stagflation? They then look at some new products that have recently hit Wall Street: single-stock ETFs. What are they? How do they work? And should you buy them? Submit your questions to question@2questiontues...

Phil, Mike, and Larry break down if the U.S. is really in a recession and how much higher the Federal Reserve will continue to raise interest rates. They then look at the new Inflation Reduction Act passed by the Senate last weekend, which contains corporate tax hikes and climate change laws, and discuss how it will affect the stock market. Submit your questions to question@2questiontuesday.com As...

Phil, Mike, and Larry look at the recent upturn in the market and examine if the market is bouncing off the bottom of the recent correction or is this just a bear rally? They also explain how do do tax-loss harvesting by selling losers and using them to offset taxes. Submit your questions to question@2questiontuesday.com As always, if you have any questions at any time, please feel free to call yo...