Around the Table with Stacy Smith

The Democratic candidate for Senator in Maine had to drop out of the race over accusations of sexual improprieties. That has led to questions as to how he became a candidate in the first place.  How strong is the Democratic Socialist movement? How vulnerable is the  GOP in the midterm election? And some ideas about campaign donations.  It is coming up in this edition of “Trunk N’ Tails.”

Markets move up and down, but the overriding theme so far this year is up, and that includes the small cap market. Will 2nd quarter earnings propel the markets higher? And “there’s an ETF for that,” but be careful. My panel of financial advisors and experts discuss these topics and more in the latest edition of “The Bull, The Bear and You.”

What is a trillion? It’s hard to comprehend, but the blockbuster IPO for Space X made it a multi trillion-dollar company in a day and it made Elon Musk a trillionaire. But as he plots his path to Mars, will his company, and the A-I companies, bring investors the returns they expect? Or are we back in the late 90’s and “irrational exuberance”? That, and how the Fed will operate under its new chair...

How high is the sky? That seems to be the case with the stock market over the past month or more, as A-I and tech stocks push the markets to new records highs… But is it too late to join the party? How are other sectors of the market doing? And should you be protecting yourself from a bubble that might burst? Some opinions on are coming up in this edition of “The Bull, the Bear and You.”

The President has shown his power in the primaries, but will that carry over to the Mid-Term election especially with high prices and the conflict with Iran? The Democrats have seen their Progressive wing flex its muscle in the primaries, but how strong will that wing be in the fall?  Also, both parties are dealing with anti-Semitism. It’s a lively discussion in the latest edition of “Trunk n’ Tai...

You may have heard of the K shaped economy, now there is talk of an E shaped economy.  Whatever shape it is, people who have good jobs and money are doing just fine.  Others are not.  How long can this last with higher prices? And fears about AI is also part of our discussion this week in “The Bull, The Bear and You.” 

Why does the stock market keep going up even though the conflict with Iran continues and oil prices are so high? And if prices remain high what happens if the consumer stops spending? My panel of financial advisors and experts also discuss the growing number of corporate buybacks, and is it too soon to be choosing winners and losers in AI? We explore those topics in the 50th episode of “The Bull,...

Have political threats and violence become normal? And what is the impact of social media on such violence? That is part of what we explore in the latest edition of “Trunk n’ Tails.”  Former Republican Gov Tom Corbett, PA State Democratic Party Chair Eugene DePasquale and political veteran Joe Mistick also give their opinions on what will happen in the mid-term elections and the future of Senator...

If you have a 401-K or a stock portfolio, it is on everyone’s mind… where are the markets headed? What impact long term will the price of oil have? What about inflation and interest rates? And what should your financial advisor be discussing with you? Some opinions in the latest episode of “The Bull, The Bear and You.”

Call it a rollercoaster or volatility or whatever you like, but there is no question the war in Iran has rattled the oil markets and the stock market.  But are the indices reflective of what is happening in the broader market? And how should you view what is happening for the long term? Some opinions and more by my panel of analysts and investment advisors in this edition of “The Bull, The Bear an...

Dramatic intraday moves in the stock market. In the latest edition of “The Bull, The Bear and You,” we discuss the volatility, the impact of oil prices and what my panelists would do if they were members of the Fed faced with potential inflation caused by oil prices and a softening labor market. They also explore some investment strategies during uncertain times. 

The war with Iran is dominating the news cycle and the political conversation.  In this edition of “Trunk n’ Tails,” my panel of political analysts discuss the war’s impact on both domestic and international fronts and the political ramifications for the Trump administration. We also look at the upcoming midterm elections and voter enthusiasm and whether it favors one side over the other.

Between the supreme court ruling on tariffs and what may happen next to new concerns about AI moving forward, there is a lot for investors to ponder.  we tackle those issues in this latest edition of “The Bull, the Bear and You.”

There have been some big swings in the markets, and this volatility has been influenced by advancements and concerns about A-I.  In this edition of “The Bull, The Bear and You,” we analyze the implications of AI on various sectors, its potential to change the economy and concerns about how some companies will survive.

The Trump Administration is making a lot of headlines, but will any of these issues play a part in the midterm election? I hope you join us as my analysts, PA Democratic Party Chair Eugene DePasquale and veteran GOP political analyst Keith Schmidt, give their views on the upcoming midterms. We explore the impact of global issues on voter sentiment, the impact of the economy and the strategies both...

Right now, it seems the markets are digesting the latest world and economic news and then shrugging off any bad news and moving higher.  In this edition of “The Bull, The Bear and You,” my group of financial advisors and experts answer the question…Why? And, there is a great discussion on Wall Street’s changing thoughts and attitudes about AI and software stocks.   

It’s a New Year and there is new optimism and concerns when it comes to investing.  In the latest edition of “The Bull, The Bear and You,” we talk about encouraging signs for returns on your investments in 2026. We also discuss A-I versus other sectors and the impact of possible criminal indictments against the Fed Chair. I invite you to listen or watch.

Are you doing as well as the stock market indices?  With a half a month to go, the indices are registering double digit percentage gains for the year.  Should your investments have the same sort of growth? That is one of the subjects we explore in the latest edition of “The Bull, The Bear and You.”  We also discuss what you should be doing before the year comes to a close. 

We are only 11 months away from the midterm elections, which in politics can be a lifetime. In this episode of Trunk and Tales, my panel of political analysts, including the PA Democratic Party Chairman discuss the upcoming midterm elections, changing to an open primary, the shifting political landscape in Pennsylvania, and the role of independents. Our conversation covers Republican strategies, D...

No question about it, talk of A-I has dominated the stock markets.  The major indices swing  up or down on the latest A-I news. But what about other sectors of the economy? How are they faring in this time of  A-I domination? That is part of what we discuss in this latest edition of “The Bull, The Bear and You.”

Is that stock really worth its current valuation? That is what a lot of investors are asking as they take a closer look at some sectors as the markets have stumbled.  The panelists for The Bull, The Bear and You have their opinions on whether we are headed for a market decline.  And, if you think a stock is headed down, should you short it? Those topics and more in this edition of The Bull, The Be...

The Trunk n’ Tails political analysts discuss the recent election results taking a look at voter motivation and how economic factors played a part and what the impact might be for future elections. The veteran politicians reflect on the dynamics of party identity, the role of independents, and the impact of the recent government shutdown on public perception. They also explore the potential for a...

In this episode we focus on the impact of AI, earnings reports, job displacement, and the implications of government shutdowns on economic data. We delve into the ongoing demand for AI, the valuation of tech companies, and the potential for job creation amidst layoffs. The discussion also touches on interest rates, inflation, and the importance of understanding economic trends for investors.

The political analysts weigh in on the November 2025 election, with emphasis on whether various state elections can be interpreted as a referendum on national politics. The analysts focus on several races, but emphasis is placed on the retention of Supreme Court justices in Pennsylvania which has become highly polarized because of redistricting and other decisions.

Gold has been reaching new all-time highs, but is it a good long-term investment? And market volatility has picked up measured by something called the “VIX.” How you should interpret it. Oh, third quarter earnings are coming in, but are there issues with some banks? Those are some of the topics we discuss in this week’s edition of “The Bull, The Bear and You.”