The Financial Exchange Show

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss how stocks overcame a long list of worries to gain in 2025, thanks to AI. What are market expectations for 2026? How did analysts do with their 2025 predictions? Fed minutes suggest caution about further rate cuts early this year. The condo market hasn't been this bad in over a decade.

Paul Lane and Marc Fandetti discuss the unexpected winner of rising American tariffs is Mexico. The housing market is moving in favor of Gen Z. EVs had a bumpy road in 2025, and one pleasant surprise. After a year of blistering growth, AI chip makers get ready for a bigger 2026. The stealth tactic bosses are using to get back to the office. How did Americans in 1998 think would happen in 2025? The...

Paul Lane and Marc Fandetti discuss how Fed minutes could show how high the bar is for more rate cuts. Bessent sees room for a future revamp of the Fed's 2% target. 2025 US Economy: rising prices, hiring slowdown, and rollercoaster growth. Todd Lutsky joins the show to share his thoughts on balancing asset protection and avoiding estate taxes. Los Angeles tightens rent controls for first time in f...

Chuck Zodda and Marc Fandetti recap the year that was for 2025 and discuss a Bloomberg opinion piece regarding reasons for optimism for the 2026 economy. Plus, more on Michael Burry and his ongoing bets against big AI names. James Cameron has really dominated the box office. Which tech will potentially change your life?  And, stack roulette.

Chuck Zodda and Marc Fandetti preview another shortened holiday week in terms of expected economic data points due out, including Fed Meeting minutes. How are investors preparing for the next Fed Chairman? Also, the latest on the labor market and why companies may not be prioritizing hiring in 2026. And, how did investors fare who "did nothing" this year?

Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti discuss the GDP report showing a massive increase in GDP in Q3 and the guys try to explain how this came about. The economy avoided a recession in 2025, but many Americans are reeling. Car payments now average more than $750 a month. Ford and GM are running out of time to reinvent themselves. Holiday retail spending rose 4.2% this season.

Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti discuss the GDP report that showed the US economy grow by 4.3% in the third quarter, its fastest rate in years. How does the GDP report impact future Fed rate cuts? Will AI kill off entry-level jobs? Annual reminder to not get too caught in yearly forecasts.

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss the year the job market hit the wall. Martha Gimbel (Yale Budget Lab - Executive Director) joins the show to chat about how the labor market slowdown can be reversed in 2026. It's time for Financial Festivus! Chuck and Mike reveal the list of the most annoying economic stories of the year.

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss what is happening in markets this week. What is the latest on the Netflix, Paramount, Warner Brothers deal? the economy survived 2025, but many Americans are reeling. Mortgage rates are falling but owners still won't sell.

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss why you can't trust anyone who gives you a market forecast. AI is the hot topic in tech earnings and a blind spot everywhere else. When did everything become 'K-Shaped'? When retirees go back to work is it a sign of a strong labor force or a recession? Will prediction markets make the stock market obsolete? What happened when the Wall Street Journal had AI ru...

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss the Santa Clause rally. 2026 housing outlook. US says price increases eased last month but data may be distorted and Americans aren't feeling it. Jobs could soon replace prices as the focus of anxiety. The Bank of Japan raised rates. Why you should care.

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong love to chat about feuding billionaires. Warner is making demands from Larry Ellison in Paramount's bid for a takeover. Luke Kawa (Markets Editor - Sherwood News) joins the show to discuss Micron's guidance and AI's growing appetite for memory chips, OpenAI valuation report, CoreWeave's bonds, and if the rest of the market can pick up the slack during an AI downturn....

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss CPI's pullback and the surprisingly strong slowdown in housing inflation that drove it. Micron jumps on rosy outlook as AI boom spurs memory chip demand. Oracle and Blue Owl split over data center rattles markets banking on AI boom. Wall Street gets a taste of blockbuster stock market debuts ahead. Heating costs to rise nearly 10% this winter. Instacart gets...

Estate planning attorney Todd Lutsky of Cushing & Dolan joins the show for his weekly listener call-in segment and discusses the best ways to protect assets through estate planning. What are the top factors to consider when going through this process?

Chuck Zodda and Marc Fandetti discuss Micron earnings coming under the spotlight after Broadcom and Oracle debacles. Mike Simonsen (Compass Chief Economist) joins the show for a conversation with Chuck about the housing markets outlook for 2026. Warner rejects Paramount's hostile bid, saying Netflix deal still superior.

Chuck Zodda and Marc Fandetti discuss white-collar workers seeing their security slip and fears of AI and layoffs rise. Oil rallies as geopolitical risks mount from Russia to Venezuela. Todd Lutsky joins the show to chat about choosing the right asset protection plan for you.

Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti discuss how the Fed is positioned heading into 2026. Ford takes $19.5B hit in Detroit's biggest EV bust. October retail sales fell flat. The eerie parallels between AI and dotcom mania. Zillow has a new challenger for real estate listings, Google.

Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti discuss the return of jobs data and the death of the Sahm rule. Productivity is about to slump -- can AI come to the rescue? Is rent control going to become a national burden? 

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss improving housing affordability in 2026 without a market crash. Corey Adams (Robert Half) joins the show to share his insights into job hopping in 2026. There is still time to maximize the 0% capital gains bracket for 2025. Four new jobs that may be in our AI future.

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss what's really going on in the job market and if we will get some answers on Tuesday. What can break investor skepticism of AI spending? The stock market is rotating out of Big Tech. Is this a good thing? Why everyone got the Trump tariffs wrong. Should you freak out about a possible recession? The bond market will not be fooled...oh really?

Chuck Zodda and Paul Lane discuss how Disney went from AI skeptic to OpenAI investor. Mary Burke (Federal Reserve Bank of Boston) joins the show for a wide ranging interview that covers the beige book, AI impacts on hiring, tariff concerns, and surging beef prices. Ford's car of the future. Paul LaMonica (Barron's) joins the show to chat housing.

Chuck Zodda and Paul Lane discuss Broadcom shares sinking despite record revenue. How resilient will the US consumer be without a job? AI shopping could drive $263B in holiday sales. Fiber is shaping up to be the next grocery obsession. Is silver the next gold?

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss the important questions for the Fed heading into the final months of Jerome Powell's tenure. The Fed will help drive a 10% gain for stocks in 2026, says one of Wall Street’s most accurate forecasters, Tom Lee. Is the affordability crisis overblown? The rising prices of beef have Chuck worried. Are movie theaters soon to be a relic? 

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss the Fed's fractured rate cut vote signals trouble ahead for future cuts. Oracle shares tumble as AI spending ramps up. Chuck is stunned by Disney's decision to sell its soul to OpenAI. 

Chuck Zodda and Paul Lane discuss China's access to powerful Nvidia chips comes at a 'critical moment.' China's DeepSeek uses banned Nvidia chips. Why the AI boom is not like the dot com boom. 53% of investors with RMDs for 2025 still haven't taken it. Instacart is finding themselves in hot water over same store pricing. Could SpaceX launch the highest IPO ever in 2026?