Government Policy
Understand how policy decisions coming out of Washington may impact financial markets and your investments.
Lose Yourself in the Inflation Data
Inflation is a touchy subject, and given there are many ways to analyze it, investors should take note of the nuances that exist within the data.
Is China Investable?
Reasons prompting concern around investing in China may be improving, but volatility is likely to remain characteristic of Chinese stocks in 2024.
The Future of Social Security and Medicare?
Medicare and Social Security are projected to run out of money in less than a decade. Mike Townsend discusses possible solutions to the shortfalls and the likelihood of each.
Congress Averts Government Shutdown … Again
The bill will keep the federal government running into early 2024, but likely increases the risk of a shutdown in February.
Financial Fraud: Savvy Investors Aren't Immune
Financial fraudsters are getting smarter, and their tools, like AI, are getting better. So how do you identify a scam and protect yourself from becoming a fraud statistic?
The View from Washington D.C.
Kathy Jones and Liz Ann Sonders discuss issues in Washington with Mike Townsend—and provide their weekly market outlook.
Divergence: Rate Cuts, Pauses, and Hikes
Central bank policies are set to diverge from the steady hikes characterizing the first half of 2023, contributing to increased market volatility for the remainder of the year.
Congress Clears Debt Deal, Averting Default
The measure ends weeks of negotiation and unease about a potentially catastrophic government default.
U.S. Agency Bonds: What You Should Know
Bonds issued by government-sponsored enterprises can offer slightly higher yields than U.S. Treasuries, without requiring investors to take on too much additional risk.
Debt Problem More Than Just a Ceiling
Although few nations have a debt ceiling similar to the U.S.', rising government debt levels are a widespread global risk that may lead to lower economic output and weaker growth.