WashingtonWise

Competing Signals: Markets Ahead of the Midterms

History tells us that markets are usually flat in the run-up to midterm elections. Can strong earnings continue to power the market through the election and beyond? On th

Congress Heads Out, but Washington Keeps Working

Congress may be heading out the door for its annual summer recess, but there is still plenty going on in Washington that could affect markets and portfolios. Host Mike To

Too Much of a Good Thing in Your Portfolio?

After a down first quarter of 2026, stocks rebounded sharply in the second quarter, with major indexes seeing double-digit gains. Now the market environment is both surpr

Strong Bond Market Catching Investors' Attention

With high-profile IPOs generating investor excitement but also increasing volatility in the stock market, it's a good time to remember that bonds can help smooth volatili

Bad Vibes Appear No Match for This Bull Market

After a negative performance during the first quarter, the market has surged, with April and May producing one of the best two-month performances on record. But can the b

Ready or Not, the Digital Stock Market Is Coming

Show Notes:   One of the hottest buzzwords on Wall Street is "tokenization." While the term has long been used in the context of cryptocurrency, exchanges and companies a

Headlines Take a Backseat to Fundamentals in Rally

After a rough first quarter of 2026, April saw the best monthly gain in major indexes in more than five years. Is it a sign that investors are refocusing on fundamentals

What's Behind the Rally & Is It Sustainable?

A rocky first quarter for the equities markets gave way to a surprisingly strong start to April, despite ongoing uncertainty from the Middle East conflict, stubborn gas p

Key Issues in Washington Overshadowed by War

The war in Iran is dominating the headlines, but it's not the only issue percolating in Washington that investors need to be paying attention to. In this episode of Washi

Protecting Your Portfolio Amid Market Uncertainty

The war in Iran has created uncertainty in both the equity markets and the bond markets, as even the Federal Reserve acknowledged in its recent decision to hold interest

War Headlines Whipsaw Markets & Portfolios

The military conflict in Iran is roiling markets around the globe. In this episode, host Mike Townsend is joined by Kevin Gordon, head of macro research and strategy at t

AI: Fear of Missing Out or Just Fear?

Just as investors were getting comfortable increasing their artificial intelligence holdings, the "AI trade" has been shifting, affecting a wide range of companies across

Making Solid Choices in a Volatile Market

As the markets get off to a slow start to 2026, investors have a lot on their minds. Daniel Stein, manager of two Charles Schwab branches in Virginia, joins host Mike Tow

Don’t Let Headline Drama Disrupt Your Portfolio

The barrage of unsettling headlines has investors wondering how to manage their investments amid ongoing changes and disruptions coming from Washington. On this episode o

Six Issues That Could Move Markets in 2026

Policy and politics are likely to have an outsized impact on the markets in 2026 as the administration, Congress, and the courts seek to shape the policy landscape in adv

Positive 2026 Outlook Amid Affordability Concerns

Affordability is the political buzzword of the moment, contributing to a widening gap between what consumers and investors think about the economy versus how the economy

Investors Eyeing Big Issues as Washington Reopens

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history may be over, but Washington now finds itself facing several tough issues that will have significant implications for the m

Using Bonds Wisely in a Bull Market for Equities

With the Fed cutting rates and the bull market in stocks continuing its run of more than three years, some investors are wondering whether bonds still play an important r

Shake Off Emotions and Control Your Portfolio

We are living in highly emotional times. But how can investors make sure those emotions don't get in the way of good investing decisions? In this episode of WashingtonWis

Bull Market Keeps Running—What Could Trip It Up?

The bull market has been running since April, despite persistent economic and political headwinds, including tariffs, sticky inflation, a weakening jobs outlook, question