The Real Investment Show (Full Show)

More families are experiencing the Boomerang Generation phenomenon, with adult children moving back home because of housing costs, student debt, career changes, or other life events. Before saying "yes," parents should understand the financial, legal, and retirement planning implications. Richard Rosso & Jonathan McCarty discuss how you can protect your retirement while helping your adult children...

Flattening yield curves, violent sector rotations, and shifting market leadership often trigger recession headlines—but do they really predict when markets will peak? Lance Roberts & Michael Lebowitz look at why investors frequently confuse condition indicators with timing indicators. While yield curve flattening and rapid rotations between growth and value stocks can reveal that the market enviro...

It's Q&A Wednesday, and Lance Roberts examines whether the momentum-driven rally in semiconductors can continue, how the Iran cease-fire breakdown could affect markets, and what investors should watch ahead of the FOMC decision. We also answer your questions on the differences between the NASDAQ VIX and S&P VIX, whether government policies continue to support elevated real estate prices, investing...

Could you recognize a Ponzi scheme before it's too late? Most victims believe they're too smart to be scammed—until they're not. Lance Roberts & Jon Penn look at how Ponzi schemes, affinity fraud, and romance scams exploit trust, emotion, and urgency rather than intelligence. From promises of guaranteed returns to online relationships that suddenly turn into investment opportunities, scammers cont...

Does rising margin debt really signal an imminent stock market crash? Not necessarily. Lance Roberts examines why many commonly cited margin debt charts can be misleading, which measures deserve investors' attention, and how leverage should be interpreted within the context of liquidity, economic growth, and market trends. 0:00 INTRO 0:50 - July 4th Recap, FIFA Soccer, & Earnings Season Launch 5:3...

The loss of a spouse is one of life's most difficult transitions, and for many retirees, it can also result in a significant reduction in Social Security income. Richard Rosso & Jonathan McCarty explain the Social Security "Widow's Penalty," why survivor benefits often leave widows and widowers with less household income, and the planning strategies that can help protect your retirement. We discus...

Every market rally, pullback, and recession eventually comes back to one powerful force: interest rates. While investors often focus on breaking news and political headlines, the Federal Reserve's interest-rate policy has a far greater impact on stocks, bonds, inflation, retirement income, and long-term investment returns. Lance Roberts & Michael Lebowitz explain what the Federal Reserve actually...

It's Q&A Wednesday, where we answer your biggest questions about investing, retirement, the economy, and today's markets. With stocks testing key resistance, artificial intelligence continuing to drive market leadership, interest rate expectations evolving, and retirement planning challenges becoming more complex, investors have plenty of questions. This live discussion with Lance Roberts covers t...

Should you leave your old 401(k) with a former employer, roll it into an IRA, move it to a new employer's retirement plan, or consider another option? The right answer depends on your goals, investment choices, fees, taxes, and retirement timeline. Lance Roberts & Jon Penn examine the advantages and disadvantages of each option, including investment flexibility, creditor protection, Required Minim...

Was Milton Friedman right about inflation? Yes—but only if you quote the entire sentence. For decades, investors, economists, and financial media have repeated Friedman's famous statement that "inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon." Unfortunately, most stop at the comma, missing the critical qualification that changes the entire meaning. Lance Roberts reveals what Friedman actu...

Social Security is back in the headlines, with warnings about trust fund shortfalls, benefit cuts, and proposed reforms creating anxiety for retirees and pre-retirees alike. But before making emotional decisions, it's important to understand what is actually at risk, what Congress is likely to do, and how to build a retirement income plan that works regardless of future changes. Richard Rosso brea...

Has Micron's earnings report changed the outlook for semiconductor stocks and the broader artificial intelligence trade? With expectations running exceptionally high following a massive rally in chip stocks, investors are looking beyond headline numbers to what Micron's results and outlook may reveal about future demand, pricing power, and earnings growth across the industry. Lance Roberts & Micha...

Markets can remain resilient longer than many expect, but understanding what is fueling the rally is critical for managing risk and protecting long-term financial goals. Lance Roberts & Danny Ratliff tackle your questions about what is really driving stocks higher, whether earnings expectations are becoming too optimistic, the risks of narrow market leadership, portfolio positioning in today's env...

Markets are near highs, but momentum is slowing, breadth remains narrow, buybacks are entering blackout periods, and investors are looking for ways to participate in gains without exposing themselves to a major drawdown. Lance Roberts & Jon Penn discuss practical portfolio protection strategies that don't require moving entirely to cash. Here's a topical rundown of today's show: 0:00 - INTRO 0:58...

Markets remain near record highs, but the technical backdrop is becoming more complex. Strong money flows continue to support asset prices, while a more hawkish Federal Reserve threatens to tighten financial conditions and limit upside potential. Lance Roberts looks at how liquidity, institutional flows, market momentum, and investor sentiment are interacting with Fed policy. We also explore wheth...

Richard Rosso & Jon Penn connect some of the biggest investing stories with the realities of retirement planning. From Elon Musk, SpaceX, and Social Security to Black Swan events and retirement planning, today's discussion explores how investors get drawn into powerful stories, confirmation bias, and headline-driven decisions. We examine why SpaceX is a unique market outlier, the importance of pri...

What happens when a new Federal Reserve Chair takes office during a period of elevated market valuations, persistent inflation concerns, and growing pressure on interest rate policy? Lance Roberts discusses what investors should watch on Kevin Warsh's first day at the Fed, including potential shifts in monetary policy, inflation management, interest rates, bond markets, and stock valuations. Will...

Markets have rebounded sharply from their recent correction, but investors are now asking what comes next. Lance Roberts & Danny Ratliff answer your questions about the economy, interest rates, inflation, market valuations, bonds, retirement planning, artificial intelligence, geopolitics, and the biggest risks facing investors today. Will the Federal Reserve remain on hold? How could oil prices, e...

SpaceX has become one of the most anticipated investment stories in modern market history. Between Elon Musk's popularity, the company's technological achievements, and years of speculation about a public offering, investor excitement is reaching fever pitch. But what happens after the hype? Lance Roberts & Jon Penn examine the lessons to be learned from previous high-profile IPOs, and why some of...

The market finally delivered the pullback we expected, with stocks retreating roughly 4.5% before finding support at the 50-day moving average. Was that enough to reset bullish sentiment, or is another correction still ahead? In this episode, Lance Roberts examines why the 50-DMA remains one of the most important technical support levels during an ongoing bull market and whether the recent decline...

More Americans are entering retirement without a spouse, children nearby, or a built-in support system. Aging alone presents unique financial, legal, healthcare, housing, and caregiving challenges that require proactive planning long before a crisis occurs. Richard Rosso & Devoda Owens discuss the essential steps solo agers should take to maintain independence, protect their finances, prepare for...

It's Q&A Wednesday, where we tackle your investing, retirement, market, and economic questions live. Today's topics include whether defense and drone companies remain attractive investments, if weak cryptocurrency performance is a warning sign for broader markets, how Kevin Warsh could impact interest rates and financial markets, and what size correction would warrant deploying additional cash. We...

Investors continue to focus on familiar concerns such as the U.S. dollar, bond yields, oil prices, and geopolitical tensions. But are the biggest risks and opportunities actually hiding in plain sight? Lance Roberts & Jon Penn discuss several important questions facing investors, like what market risks and opportunities may be receiving too little attention right now, and why predicting portfolio...

One of the biggest challenges retirees face is balancing the need for portfolio growth with the need to protect hard-earned savings. With markets near record highs, valuations elevated, and investor sentiment increasingly optimistic, when should retirees consider reducing portfolio risk? Lance Roberts discusses the principles of risk management for retirees and why successful investing is often mo...

Investors continue wrestling with uncertainty, frustration, and the fear of making the wrong move in today’s market environment. Jon Penn & Sarah Buenger discuss why waiting for the “perfect” entry point often keeps investors sidelined, how hindsight bias and regret aversion impact decision-making, and why investing does not have to be an all-or-nothing approach Here's a topical rundown of today's...