On Investing

In this special bonus episode from WashingtonWise , host Mike Townsend takes an in-depth look at the key policy debates that are coming in 2025 and the difficulties the incoming administration will have turning broad campaign promises into reality on Capitol Hill.  Kathy and Liz Ann give their overview of where we stand, a week after the election and the Fed's rate cut. Then, Mike explores how raz...

In this week's episode, Liz Ann Sonders, Schwab's Chief Investment Strategist, and Kathy Jones, Schwab's Chief Fixed Income Strategist, discuss the immediate market reactions following the recent election, focusing on the equity and bond markets. They explore the implications of potential fiscal policies, the Federal Reserve's upcoming decisions, and the importance of cautious investment strategie...

In this episode marking the one-year anniversary of the podcast, Liz Ann and Kathy discuss the significant market events and trends they've noted over the past year. They examine the volatility in interest rates, the dynamics of the equity market, and the performance of corporate earnings. The conversation also highlights memorable guests and moments from the podcast, as well as the evolving natur...

In this episode, Kathy Jones and Liz Ann Sonders discuss several of the latest economic indicators, focusing on inflation, employment, and the housing market. They analyze the current state of the S&P 500®, bond yields, and the implications of global interest rate cuts. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding market rotations and the impact of economic data on investment strategi...

In this episode, Kathy Jones and Liz Ann Sonders discuss the current state of the bond market and the bull market in equities. They explore the volatility in bond yields, the significance of credit spreads, and the importance of employment and inflation data. This week, Kathy speaks with Carol Spain , managing director and head of credit research for Schwab Asset Management. Kathy and Carol delve...

How can the stock market be a hedge against inflation? What are some pros and cons of the current market environment? In this conversation, Kathy Jones and Liz Ann Sonders discuss the recent jobs report, which exceeded expectations, and its implications for the economy and Federal Reserve policy. They explore the strength of the labor market, the bond market's reaction, and the importance of consu...

In this episode, Liz Ann and Kathy discuss the unique characteristics of the current economic cycle, emphasizing its differences from historical cycles. They explore the implications of geopolitical events on market behavior, the Fed's potential reactions to inflationary pressures, and the significance of historical Fed cycles in understanding market trends.  Finally, Kathy and Liz Ann offer the o...

In this episode, Kathy and Liz Ann open by discussing the implications of the recent rate cut by the Federal Reserve, focusing on the labor market and upcoming economic indicators. They explore how the rate cut may affect various economic sectors, including borrowing rates and consumer spending. They also highlight the importance of under-the-surface labor market data in predicting future Fed acti...

With the Federal Reserve cutting rates by 50 basis points at its September meeting, what are the implications for the bond market and the economy? In this episode, Kathy Jones and Liz Ann Sonders analyze the market's reaction to the rate cut, the balance between panic and greed in investment strategies, and the upcoming economic indicators that could influence market movements. Their discussion hi...

In this episode, Kathy and Liz Ann follow up on the release of last week's unemployment numbers and the reaction of the stock market to the jobs report. The expectation is still for a 25-basis-point cut at next week's Fed meeting. The conversation also touches on the un-inversion of the yield curve and its implications for the bond market.  This week, Kevin Gordon joins the podcast to discuss equi...

Why are payroll numbers reported as "nonfarm" jobs? What other jobs are excluded from the unemployment rate? Why is "hours worked" an important recession indicator? For this shorter week, Liz Ann and Kathy discuss various aspects of the labor market and its indicators.  They touch on the monthly jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall unemployment rate, initial jobless claims,...

In this conversation, Kathy and Liz Ann discuss quotes and sayings from industry legends that have resonated with them over the years. You can read Liz Ann's article about her reminiscences in the industry and watch the clip of Marty Zweig calling the crash of ’87 on YouTube .  Kathy and Liz Ann also talk about the Federal Reserve's annual conference at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and why the economic...

Kathy and Liz Ann catch up on recent market volatility, the Fed's next move, and changes in the economic data. There is some debate about whether the Fed should cut by 50 basis points in September or the expected 25 basis points. They also touch on the importance of inflation, the labor market, and global growth in the Fed's decision-making process.  Next, Kathy is joined by Matt Hastings, managin...

Kathy and Liz Ann discuss recent events in the market, including fluctuations in the equity market, a global tech outage, and the potential for rate cuts by the Fed. They also provide insights for investors, such as focusing on higher-quality small-cap stocks and the importance of rebalancing. Liz Ann interviews Ed Hyman, chairman of Evercore ISI and vice chairman of Evercore overall. They discuss...

Inflation fell in June, and Kathy and Liz Ann discuss the potential implications for the Fed. The markets continue to anxiously await the first rate cut, and speculation around the timing of the cuts dominates market headlines. Liz Ann interviews market veteran Ned Davis. They discuss his start in the business and the formation of Ned Davis Research Group. He explains the concept of 360-degree res...

Kathy and Liz Ann discuss this week's expectations around the upcoming jobs report and its influence on the Fed. Their discussion highlights the importance of full employment and wage growth for the Fed. The conversation also mentions other important metrics like long-term unemployment, part-time versus full-time employment, and hours worked. The recent data on service-sector activity, initial une...

Inflation is coming down and is close to the Fed's target rate, which sets up the potential for rate cuts by the Fed. At the same time, the economy has experienced a series of slowdowns with crosscurrents and bifurcations in the indicators and in the equities market. So what's in store for the rest of 2024? In this episode, Kathy and Liz Ann discuss the broader macroeconomic outlook and central ba...

All eyes were on the Fed in the first half of 2024, but with core PCE holding steady and no rate cuts, how did the other parts of the economy and the markets fare? In this midyear episode, Schwab experts look ahead to the second half of 2024 to consider what investors might expect from the U.S. stock market , the global markets , and policy and politics in Washington D.C. First, Liz Ann Sonders an...

In this episode, Kathy interviews her colleagues Collin Martin and Cooper Howard about the team's midyear fixed income outlook, with a theme of looking beyond Treasuries. The conversation covers investment-grade corporate bonds, high-yield bonds, preferred securities, and the municipal bond market. Key topics include credit quality, tax implications, and the potential impact of the upcoming electi...

In this episode, Liz Ann Sonders sits down with Ariel Investments co-CEO Mellody Hobson . They discuss Mellody's early career at Ariel, her co-CEO relationship with John Rogers, the importance of being an active and patient investor, the value of sitting on corporate boards, and the launch of Project Black, Ariel's private equity fund. They also touch on global trends, the dominance of growth stoc...

In this episode, Kathy interviews Linda Klingman and Lynn Paschen about money market funds. They discuss the structure and types of money market funds, the history of their popularity, and how they are managed. They also touch on the differences between retail and institutional money market funds, the impact of Fed policy on money market funds, and reforms taking place in the industry. Lynn and Li...

In this episode, Liz Ann Sonders and Kathy Jones discuss the latest CPI data and the impact for investors. Then, Liz Ann interviews NYU Professor Scott Galloway about his latest book and discusses the importance of financial literacy and strategies for achieving economic security. Galloway shares personal anecdotes and insights on topics such as the power of compounding, the definition of "rich,"...

In this episode, Liz Ann Sonders sits down with Chuck Schwab, founder of Charles Schwab & Co. They discuss how the company was founded, Chuck's decision to cut commissions on trades, how innovation plays a crucial role in driving growth in the economy, and how investing allows individuals to participate in the growth of the country. You can watch the new documentary film they mention, Chuck , for...

In this episode, Liz Ann Sonders and Kathy Jones analyze this week's FOMC meeting and its impact on the economy and financial markets. The Fed's message was one of patience, with no change in interest rate policy. While the Fed acknowledged some caution about inflation, Fed Chair Powell said he believes that the current interest rate is high enough to bring inflation down in the long run. The Fed...

In this episode, Liz Ann Sonders and Kathy Jones analyze the state of the markets and discuss the current expectations around the Fed's potential rate cuts.  Sébastien Page, chief investment officer at T. Rowe Price, joins the podcast to discuss his work on asset allocation and the correlation between stocks and bonds. He emphasizes the importance of understanding asset allocation and the role of...