The Financial Exchange Show

This week, Todd Lutsky explains what the five-year look back period is and why it matters to you when you are setting up your estate plan. Todd also takes questions from listeners about owning land in a different state from your primary residence and what happens if you move out of state during the look back period.

Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane discuss Trump taking on housing costs. Will his ideas help? The Supreme Court will decide if Fed independence has any legal teeth. How to prevent aging parents and relatives from making financial mistakes. Go ahead and resent boomers, but do it for the right reasons. AI answering systems are 'saving the day' for New England pizzerias.

Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane discuss what a break with Europe means for the American economy. A recent study found that Americans are the ones paying for tariffs. Soaring electricity costs are no a hot political issue. CEOs are blaming choicefullness as to why their products are not selling. Can a $1,700 espresso machine help Walmart challenge Amazon?

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss the search for the next Fed chair gets a little messier with the ongoing investigation into Powell and the Fed. Mortgages at 6% pose critical test for frozen housing market. China and Canada announce tariff relief after a high-stakes meeting between Xi and Canada. Paul LaMonica (Barron's) joins the show to explain why IMAX is succeeding while theaters are dyi...

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss markets continuing to fail to broaden out beyond big tech. Taiwan pledges $250B in US spending in exchange for lower tariffs. Trump moves to have tech giants pay for surging power costs. Verizon outage tied to software update. What happens to society if the current system breaks down?

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss the world being a dumpster fire and the stock market doesn't care. Michael Santoli (CNBC) joins the show to chat about how markets have performed since the start of the year, if market broadening out will be different this time, and how the Mag 7 gets out of its funk. Verizon customers experience an hours-long widespread outage. Despite Trump's claims, grocer...

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss TSMC's blockbuster spending plans and results and if it shows that the AI boom will continue. Goldman's stock traders beat their own Wall Street record. BlackRock total assets hit record $14T as ETFs surge. Why have the vibes on megabanks changed? 7 signs you need a financial advisor in 2026.

Chuck Zodda and Marc Fandetti discuss bigger tax refunds coming in 2026. What could this mean for the economy? Netflix weighs amending its Warner Bros. bid to make it all cash. More drivers have a $1,000 or more car loan payment. What can buyers expect in 2026? Is Delta on the right path even if investors don't see it? Pimco says rally sweeping emerging markets could last years.

Chuck Zodda and Marc Fandetti discuss wholesale inflation coming in softer than expected. Why you should care more about the labor market than inflation. Trump wants to run the economy hot. Will he succeed? Bank of America's profit climbs as consumer spending rises. Why are bank stocks dropping despite solid earnings? US mortgage rates slide to one of the lowest levels since 2022. The Trump admini...

Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti discuss how the latest inflation report will impact future rate cuts. Trump unveils barrage of proposals to address affordability. Bill Ackman pitches prepayment penalties as way to cut mortgage rates. Why won't the government use the simple tool to solve affordability. 

Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti discuss the December CPI report that shows prices rose less than expected. Trump allies and officials fear blowback from Powell probe. Will Jerome Powell remain at the Fed after his term as Chair concludes? JPMorgan investment-banking fees drop on underwriting miss. Boston has given out 64 free liquor licenses. How does this change the city?

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss Trump calling for a 10% cap on credit card interest rates. The dream of Florida retirement is fading for the middle-class. Retiring early is looking more difficult. What is the FIRE movement? The great millennial career crisis. Walmart teams up with Google Gemini on shopping tool.

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss Jerome Powell under investigation over renovations. Is Central Bank independence a good or bad thing? Americans are right to be worried about the labor market. Why do we care so much about jobs data? Magnificent 7's stock market dominance shows signs of cracking. GOP lawmakers back stock trading crackdown.

Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane discuss Trump telling Fannie and Freddie to buy $200B of mortgage debt. Why would he do that? GM takes $6B hit tied to EVs as demand sinks. Meta unveils sweeping nuclear-power plan to fuel its AI ambitions. Tech titans divided over whether to pay billionaire tax or flee California. Paul LaMonica (Barron's) joins the show to chat about Wealthfront's IPO.

Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane discuss US payrolls rising 50,000 in December, less than expected. Unemployment falls to 4.4%. The productivity boom has arrived. AI may not be the reason. The stock market rally isn't just about tech anymore. What happens if the Supreme Court rules against Trump on tariffs? Trump is getting a new Fed. He may not be happy with what it does.

Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti discuss consumers loving cheap gas, but the oil patch will pay the price. The US pumps more crude than anyone else. Why does it want Venezuela's? Warner Brothers board rebuffs Paramount's latest buyout offer. The return of the IPO could spell trouble for private equity. Ford enters the race to offer eyes-off driving tech. New campaign in Massachusetts seeks to end...

Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti discuss the recent jobs data releases and how it impacts the broader economy. New data points to a 'slow' job market in Massachusetts. Why Trump's proposal to ban corporations from buying single-family houses and why it won't solve anything. Trump says he will not permit dividends and stock buybacks for defense companies. Goldman sees consumer stocks gaining amid A...

Paul Lane and Marc Fandetti wonder if stocks will crash in 2026. Ted Rossman (Bankrate) joins the show 2026 interest rate forecasts. Emerging markets haven't had the run recently that many expected. OpenAI says AI will free households from chores and boost hidden productivity.

Paul Lane and Marc Fandetti discuss the ADP report that shows private payrolls gained 41,000 jobs in December and US JOLTS coming in well short of expectations. AI fatigue leaves investors focused on the S&P 500's other 493 stocks. Todd Lutsky joins the show for his weekly segment, Ask Todd. This week, Todd explains how procrastinators can plan for long term care at the last minute.

This week, Todd Lutsky explains how procrastinators can catch up on their long term care planning despite getting a late start. Todd also takes a question for a listener about selling property in an irrevocable trust.

Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane discuss the Fed's six big challenges in 2026. Matt Gagnon (CEO Maine Policy Institute & Morning Show Host WGAN Portland) joins the show to chat about the impact of the increases to minimum wage. How are some older job seekers breaking through the bruising labor market? Hiring in the age of AI means proving you need a human. A mystery trader made $400,000 betting on...

Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane discuss Venezuela bracing for economic collapse from the US blockade. Two simple ways to fix housing in America. Nvidia details new AI chips and autonomous car project with Mercedes. Mike is excited for the next generation of self-driving cars.  GM and Toyota hint at tough year ahead for US auto sales. Tesla is swapping its EV crown for even more promises.

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss some major questions that need to be answered in 2026. Is the US losing its battle to break up Big Tech? US auto sales are poised to slip as middle-class buyers retreat. Seven numbers shaping retirement in 2026. Zillow's CEO is ready for another slow year in the US housing market. How has NYC's surge toll pricing fixed traffic?

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss what could be next for the US and Venezuela. How will oil energy markets react? Wall Street expects the market to keep rallying in 2026 despite high valuations. Modest US hiring to cap a sluggish year for the job market. US to extend productivity lead on back of the AI boom. These states raised their minimum wage. Is America falling out of love with pizza?

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss everyday traders going from fringe players to the dominant market force. Will the next class of Senators do anything about the Social Security crunch? Buffett says Berkshire Hathaway has the best odds of any company for lasting 100 more years. Paul LaMonica (Barron's) joins the show to chat about the Dogs of the Dow.