On Investing

In this episode, Liz Ann Sonders and Collin Martin discuss what may be one of the most important long-term shifts facing investors: the end of the "Great Moderation" Era, the roughly 25-year period characterized by globalization, low inflation, relatively stable economic growth, and favorable conditions for both stocks and bonds. Liz Ann argues that investors may be entering a more "Temperamental"...

In this episode, Liz Ann Sonders sits down with Keith McCullough, founder of  Hedgeye , to revisit his “quads” framework—a model that categorizes market environments based on the direction of economic growth and inflation. McCullough emphasizes process over prediction, arguing that investors should focus on the momentum of these variables to adapt to rapidly shifting market conditions. The convers...

At his first Fed meeting as chair, Kevin Warsh signaled a more hawkish stance focused squarely on inflation, while launching a sweeping reform agenda.  Policymakers are split between holding and potentially hiking, with strong emphasis on restoring price stability. Warsh introduced a significant shift in Fed governance and communication: shorter statements, less forward guidance, and five task for...

In this episode, Collin Martin and Liz Ann Sonders focus on the outlook for equities, fixed income, and the overall U.S. economy in the second half of 2026. They begin by discussing recent inflation data, noting that while CPI remains elevated, core inflation came in slightly better than expected. Both agree inflation is not quickly returning to the Fed's target, but easing expectations and stable...

Liz Ann Sonders and Collin Martin discuss the recent wave of IPO hype and the surge in investor interest driven by high-profile listings and large valuation headlines. They explain why headline market caps can be misleading, emphasizing the importance of float-adjusted valuations and how much stock is actually available to public investors. Despite attention-grabbing figures, the impact of these I...

Markets may be entering a fundamentally different era. In this episode, Liz Ann Sonders and Collin Martin explore why long-term bond yields remain elevated, how rising uncertainty is driving a higher term premium, and what a potential shift away from the “Great Moderation” could mean for investors. They discuss how inflation volatility, reduced likelihood of Fed asset purchases, and geopolitical t...

In this episode, Liz Ann Sonders and Collin Martin explore how rising Treasury yields and persistent inflation pressures are reshaping the relationship between stocks and bonds, reviving a more volatile, “temperamental” market regime where higher yields can weigh on equities. They discuss the likelihood of a “higher for longer” rate environment, the challenges facing incoming Fed leadership, and w...

Liz Ann Sonders and Collin Martin discuss hotter-than-expected inflation data, with volatile energy prices playing a central role. Because the Fed can’t directly influence oil prices, inflation staying above target likely keeps policy on hold, with rate cuts off the table for now and even the possibility of hikes if core inflation or labor strength accelerates. They also explore how consumers feel...

Liz Ann Sonders and Collin Martin examine the market backdrop shaped by the Middle East conflict, noting that while oil price volatility has influenced inflation expectations and Treasury yields, its broader economic impact has been limited so far due to lag effects and structural shifts in the U.S. economy. Meanwhile, investor attention has returned to earnings season and AI-driven growth, with a...

The Federal Reserve faces a pivotal moment: the transition from Jerome Powell as Fed chair to Kevin Warsh, with Powell opting to remain at the Fed as a governor. Collin Martin and Liz Ann Sonders discuss what Warsh’s confirmation signals for future Fed policy, noting his interest in reshaping how the Fed communicates with markets—potentially scaling back press conferences, reducing the emphasis on...

In this episode, Schwab’s Chief Investment Strategist Liz Ann Sonders and Head of Fixed Income Research and Strategy Collin Martin reflect on the questions they’re hearing most from investors—dominated by geopolitical risks, rising oil prices, inflation, and growing anxiety about U.S. debt and deficits. They explain why concerns about a “tipping point” for Treasuries or the dollar have not shown u...

Earnings season kicks off with a mixed but generally constructive signal for markets, as Liz Ann Sonders and Collin Martin examine what corporate profits reveal about macroeconomic and market health. While equity investors tend to focus on near‑term earnings growth, Collin emphasizes that bond markets care more about long‑term cash flows and companies' ability to service debt. Aggregate corporate...

In this episode, Liz Ann Sonders and Collin Martin discuss recent market volatility, highlighting a sharp equity rally following news of a temporary ceasefire abroad. Liz Ann cautions that the dramatic, short‑term swings across asset classes reflect an increasingly “casino‑like” mentality in markets, where trading and speculation often blur with long‑term investing.  Turning to fixed income, Colli...

In this episode, Liz Ann Sonders and Collin Martin focus on the market and economic ripple effects stemming from the war in Iran—particularly through energy markets, inflation, interest rates, and investor sentiment. Liz Ann and Collin begin by addressing a common misconception: that the U.S. being a net exporter of oil insulates the domestic economy from geopolitical energy shocks. Liz Ann explai...

In this episode, Liz Ann Sonders and Collin Martin discuss the state of heightened market volatility driven by geopolitical risk in Iran. Elevated oil prices have introduced an “asymmetric” risk environment, where traders perceive more downside than upside in crude prices if the conflict de-escalates, contributing to sharp and rapid market swings.  Collin highlights that bond markets, often consid...

In this episode, Liz Ann Sonders welcomes Collin Martin as her new co‑host. Collin outlines his role as Schwab’s head of fixed income research and strategy, highlighting his broad coverage of the bond market—from Treasuries and Fed policy to corporate credit, municipals, mortgages, and global bonds.  The conversation then turns to markets and geopolitics, focusing on the ongoing conflict involving...

This episode marks Kathy Jones' farewell as co-host of On Investing. Collin Martin, Schwab's head of fixed income research, takes over as co-host starting on March 20. As Kathy prepares for retirement after a decades-long career in finance, she reflects back on some of the most important lessons she learned throughout her career. She recounts how she started out as a runner at the Chicago Board of...

In this episode, Kathy Jones announces that she will be retiring soon and that Collin Martin, Schwab’s Head of Fixed Income Research, will take over as co-host of On Investing . Liz Ann and Kathy also discuss the latest bout of volatility caused by future concerns around AI.  Then, Kathy is joined by Claudia Sahm, former economist for the Federal Reserve, former economist for the White House Counc...

What's the state of the economy now? How much of the latest GDP growth is driven by capex? In this episode, Liz Ann Sonders and Kathy Jones discuss the release of the latest Fed minutes, mixed signals on inflation and unemployment, and weakness in the survey data itself.  Then, Liz Ann and Kathy are joined by  Kevin Gordon , Schwab's head of macro research and strategy. Kevin shares his perspectiv...

In this episode, Liz Ann Sonders and Kathy Jones cover the latest jobs report and downward revisions to previous data. They also look at the employment numbers for implications on Fed policy and the overall economy. Then, Liz Ann and Kathy discuss recent AI-related headlines that caused some disruption in the financial sector. Liz Ann frames AI adoption in three phases: create, catalyze, and casca...

In this episode, Liz Ann Sonders and Kathy Jones discuss the market’s reaction to Kevin Warsh’s nomination for Fed Chair, the potential rationale for lowering interest rates, and the drivers behind recent volatility in precious metals, while highlighting a broadening in market leadership thanks to more widespread earnings strength. Then, Liz Ann is joined by Dennis DeBusschere, President and chief...

First, Liz Ann Sonders and Kathy Jones discuss the current state of the markets, focusing on the recent Federal Reserve meeting, the reaction of the bond market, and insights from the ongoing earnings season.  Then, Kathy Jones is joined by Jack Schwager, author of the bestselling book  Market Wizards: Interviews with Top Traders . Jack then discusses a few of the most important lessons he has lea...

In this conversation, Liz Ann Sonders and Kathy Jones discuss the current state of the markets, focusing on the implications of tariffs, global economic influences, and the dynamics of the bond market. They explore evergreen strategies for navigating market volatility, emphasizing the importance of disciplined investment approaches. The discussion also touches on inflation expectations, the Federa...

This week, Liz Ann Sonders and Kathy Jones discuss the current state of the Federal Reserve, the bond and equity markets, the challenges facing the housing market, and the ongoing issues with inflation. They explore the implications of a criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell, the stability of the bond market amidst political pressures, and the somewhat mixed signals from the equity m...

In this episode, Liz Ann Sonders and Kathy Jones discuss the current state of the markets, focusing on the impact of global events, particularly military actions in Venezuela and how that might affect oil prices and the US economy. They delve into the bond market's response, the influence of retail traders, and the ongoing challenges in the US labor market. The discussion also covers the complexit...