The Real Investment Show (Full Show)

Is the Federal Reserve getting monetary policy wrong? The bond market may be sending a warning that the Fed is ignoring. With inflation, interest rates, and economic growth sending conflicting signals, the risk of a costly Federal Reserve policy mistake is growing. Lance Roberts & Michael Lebowitz examine whether the Fed is misreading the economy, keeping interest rates restrictive for too long, or risking another inflationary surge by easing too soon. What are Treasury yields and the bond market telling us about the Fed's next move? And what could a monetary policy mistake mean for stocks, bonds, retirement portfolios, and your investments? 0:00 - INTRO 0:54 - Markets Point downward, post-Meta Report 4:10 - There's Narratives...and then there's Reality 5:38 - Markets don't need to crash to fix over-valuations 8:47 - Markets Rally back above 20- & 50-DMA 9:39 - Consolidation does same work as a Market Decline 11:06 - Patience Pays 13:41 - Meta Earnings Beat on Every Metric 14:56 - What "cash flow negative"…

Are stocks headed for a year-end rally, or is the AI investment boom creating new risks for investors? Today, we examine improving stock market breadth, the S&P 500's ongoing consolidation, and the outlook for a potential Santa Claus rally. We discuss whether artificial intelligence stocks are in a bubble, what constitutes an attractive valuation for Nvidia (NVDA), and the risks surrounding CoreWeave, Anthropic's delayed IPO, and growing AI data center infrastructure investments. We also explore the outlook for energy stocks (XLE), rising electricity demand from AI data centers, international investing risks, and whether it's time to reduce overseas exposure. Plus, recommended investing books, the role of optimism in long-term investment success, GE's transformation, and a preview of SimpleVisor AI. With market leadership broadening and seasonal trends approaching, we consider what investors should watch as 2026 draws to a close. 0:00 - INTRO 0:53 - Technical Difficulties (Why we're late this morning) 1:49 -…

Is artificial intelligence making portfolio diversification more difficult than investors realize? AI-driven stocks dominate major market indexes, leaving investors potentially overexposed to a handful of technology companies, even when they own diversified index funds. Lance Roberts and Jonathan Penn examine the hidden risks of AI-driven market concentration, the limitations of traditional diversification, and practical strategies for balancing portfolio risk without sacrificing long-term investment objectives. 0:00 - INTRO 1:00 - What Employment Reports & JOLTS Surveys Say 3:23 - Forward PE's are What the Entire Market Prices Off of 5:13 - S&P 500 Rallies Slightly, Still Trading Sideways 5:48 - Oil Price Rally Putting Pressure on Interest Rates (Time to take profits?) 7:50 - Sector Rotation Within the markets 11:34 - The Autumn Crud 12:22 - Nvidia, AI, & Proper Diversification - Are We In an AI Bubble? 20:42 - The Difference Between Internet Cos and AI Cos of Today 23:00 - Potential Diversifiers from…

Is inflation here to stay, or could higher prices eventually correct themselves? Lance Roberts explains why the difference between "good" and "bad" inflation matters for the Federal Reserve, interest rates, Treasury yields, and the stock market. We examine what inflation trends reveal about consumer purchasing power, Federal Reserve policy, bond yields, and the outlook for investors. Could today's inflation pressures eventually become tomorrow's economic weakness? 0:00 - INTRO 0:51 - Heavy Week of Earnings Driving markets 2:05 - Markets Sell off on Friday 3:52 - Markets Still Stuck in Same Consolidation Range (S&P vs RSP) 5:56 - Banks' Six Weeks' Sell Off = Opportunity? 8:18 - Misunderstanding Inflation - Good vs Bad 10:47 - What Inflation Looks at: Rate of CHANGE in Price 12:49 - The only thing the Fed can control is your spending 14:26 - The Fed is coming after you 15:03 - A history of inflation, supply, & demand (chart: price & quantity) 21:00 - Headline vs Core CPI (chart) 22:50 - Wages are the Problem…

How much does owning a dog or cat really cost over its lifetime? From adoption fees and food to veterinary care, pet insurance, and estate planning, pet ownership comes with financial obligations that can significantly affect your household budget. Richard Rosso & Jonathan McCarty examine the true lifetime costs of pet ownership, including the differences between dogs and cats, unexpected healthcare expenses, dental care, travel arrangements, and ways to manage financial risks. Should pet expenses have their own line item in your financial plan? Is pet insurance worth the premiums? And what happens to your pets when you're no longer able to care for them? Plus, we're discussing the reported 3.6% Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), and examining the rising costs of Halloween candy, pet costumes, and seasonal spending. 0:00 - INTRO 0:20 - The Pregnancy Minefield & The Real McCarty's 4:52 - Social Security COLA = 3.6% 6:00 - Planning for Pets - Dogs vs Cats 7:44 - Estimate Median Lifetime Pet…

Inflation remains stubbornly elevated, raising fresh questions about the Federal Reserve's next move on interest rates. Will the Fed hold rates higher for longer, or will slowing economic growth force policymakers to reconsider? Lance Roberts and Michael Lebowitz examine the latest inflation trends, the Fed's interest rate outlook, and what persistent price pressures could mean for the stock market, Treasury yields, and investors. Can the Federal Reserve bring inflation under control without undermining economic growth? We discuss the challenges facing monetary policymakers, the risks of keeping interest rates elevated, and how changing inflation expectations could influence stocks, bonds, and portfolio strategy. 0:00 - INTRO 0:46 - CPI Comes in Hot 2:24 - Markets Sell Off on Inflation Print 3:36 - RSP Showing Recovery in Rotations 6:46 - Barry White & Sore Throats 7:49 - The Tell of the Tails - Foreign Selling & Domestic Buying 10:45 - Retail Bond Buying (EDIT) 12:10 - Two Reasons: CPI +.01%, Bond Yields…

What do the latest economic developments, stock market trends, Federal Reserve policy, and geopolitical events mean for your investments and retirement plans? Join Lance Roberts and Danny Ratliff for Q&A Wednesday as we examine the past week's financial headlines, market volatility, interest rates, Treasury yields, and investment opportunities. 0:00 - INTRO 0:56 - CPI Day & Financials 3:23 - Rotation from Growth to Value 4:04 - Russell 2000 Breaks 200-DMA 7:07 - Allergies & Interest Rates and Real Estate 12:37 - Investment Capital Movement from Europe to US 13:05 - Bear markets vs Bull markets' behaviors 14:40 - What is the Longest the S&P 500 has been flat? 16:37 - Free Supplements for Life or Train in Empty Gym? 17:22 - Should TIPS Funds be Short Term? 18:25 - Adjustments When Markets Trade 24/7? 21:43 - What is Criteria for Value Stock? 23:03 - Who was Lance's Favorite Guitarist Across KISS Line-ups? 23:28 - Credit Rating Companies Sued for Incorrect Ratings? 26:42 - Do You Like the 20-Year Bond Now?…

Is Gen Z gambling away its financial future? And with 10-year Treasury yields near 5%, are bonds finally offering investors a safer bet? Lance Roberts & Jon Penn examine two very different approaches to financial risk: the growing popularity of sports betting, online gambling, and speculative trading among younger Americans, and the potential investment opportunities emerging in the U.S. Treasury market. 0:00 - INTRO 1:12 - Bill King Recap* & Gen Z Gambling Preview 2:27 - Earnings Season Kicks off: Banks' Buying Opportunity? 4:35 - The Only Thing Holding Market Up is Technology & Energy 5:06 - Financials Will Drive Markets Today 10:01 - Financial Nihilism & Gen-Z 12:51 - Gambling - the Percentages of Addiction & Restrictions (charts) 17:13 - Where the Money Goes (chart) 19:41 - Gamblers Anonymous - the next great investing opportunity? 21:56 - Warning Signs of a Gambling Problem (charts) 23:25 - When the next bear market comes... 26:58 - The Basics of Bonds - E-book coming 28:47 - Why Interest Rates Are…

What happens to the economy when population growth slows—or goes into reverse? Lance Roberts & Bill King explore the demographic forces reshaping the United States and the world, from falling birth rates and China’s One Child Policy to immigration, aging populations, Social Security, housing, inflation, and the future of work. We examine what depopulation really means for economic growth and retirement sustainability, why demographic shifts could alter housing demand and labor markets, and how immigration policy may become increasingly important as countries compete for workers and intellectual capital. The conversation also looks at the geopolitical implications of India’s population momentum versus China’s demographic challenges, the effects of changing demographics on Houston and other major cities, and how tax and public policies can encourage—or discourage—population and economic growth. 0:00 - INTRO 1:18 - Meet Bill King & Depopulation 2:10 - Understanding Epidemics & Demography 3:52 - Population Boom…

Estate planning is about more than deciding who gets what. Poor planning, unequal circumstances among children, prior financial assistance, caregiver responsibilities, and mismatched inherited assets can create family conflicts that last for years. Richard Rosso and Jonathan McCarty discuss how to have the important conversations before an estate plan is finalized, including treating siblings differently when their circumstances are different, caregiver contracts for children who live nearby, inheritance stipulations, beneficiary alignment, and why “equal” isn't always the same as “fair.” We also discuss sequence-of-returns risk, longevity planning, financial literacy in America, what children learn about money from their parents, the problems with financial advice from fin-fluencers, tipping and the DoorDash debate, and why financial education really begins at home. Plus, a preview of estate planning for pets and why even the family dog deserves a place in the planning conversation. 0:00 - INTRO 0:18 -…

Is the Federal Reserve relying on a metric that cannot be reliably measured? Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan recently discussed the role of the Treasury term premium in determining whether rising long-term interest rates are doing some of the Fed’s work for it. Lance Roberts & Michael Lebowitz examine what the term premium actually represents, why different models disagree, and whether policymakers risk putting too much emphasis on an uncertain estimate when setting interest rates. 0:00 - INTRO 0:50 - Earnings Season & Optimistic Guidance 2:10 - Bond Auctions & Interest Rate Dynamics 3:42 - Markets Sitting at all-time highs... 4:38 - Earnings Announcements Should Help Support Markets 5:31 - Election Year Market Performance 8:55 - Commentary on Laurie Logan Commentary 12:33 - What is the Term Premium - Decomposes the Yield 13:49 - Constraints to Yields - What Goes Into a 10-Year Yield (chart) 15:27 - Three Fed Models (chart) Set the Fed up for a Mistake 19:18 - When you buy bonds, you are the lender 22:59 -…

Markets are pushing to record highs, but investors have plenty to question. Can the rally keep going as Treasury yields remain elevated, the labor market cools, AI enthusiasm drives Technology stocks, and geopolitical tensions continue to influence oil and inflation? Lance Roberts and Danny Ratliff answer your questions from the YouTube live chat and examine the economic, geopolitical, and investing stories shaping markets right now. Bring your questions and join the conversation as we separate market signals from headlines and discuss what investors should be watching next. 0:00 - INTRO 1:00 - Fed Policy tease (Daily Market Commentary) 3:15 - Markets Hit a New, All=time High; Divergence: Technology vs everyone else 8:18 - Will Breadth Return? 10:15 - Truth is Stranger than Fiction: Will Lewis & Emails 12:56 - Is There a Dollar Liquidity Crisis? (no) 13:04 - Loss sale in a Roth Account 14:48 - What Will Break First before the Fed Lowers Rates? 16:08 - Is Cap-ex Suffocating the Economy? 18:39 - These are…

You can earn a solid average return in retirement and still run out of money. The reason may be sequence of returns risk — the danger of suffering significant market losses early in retirement, while simultaneously withdrawing money from your portfolio. Lance Roberts & Jon Penn explain why the order of investment returns matters so much once you transition from saving to spending, and examine the math behind the 4% withdrawal rule, why early retirement losses can be so difficult to recover from, how taxes can increase the effective draw on a portfolio, and why starting market valuations matter. The goal isn't to predict the next bear market. It's to build a retirement plan that can withstand one. 0:00 - INTRO 1:01 - ISM Report & Economy Activity Remain Robust 2:47 - Earnings Expectations & Whisper Numbers: Plenty of Room for Disappointment 4:09 - Why We Rebalanced on Monday 5:44 - We're on the Cusp of a Breakout to new, all-time highs 7:33 - Oil Prices & Interest Rates 10:35 - Metallica, Wiggles, & How Far…

Can a strong year for stocks carry its momentum through the fourth quarter? History provides an interesting backdrop for the Q4 market outlook. Lance Roberts examines the forces that could shape markets through year-end, including rising earnings estimates, corporate buybacks, investor sentiment, liquidity, interest rates, and the continuing dominance of Technology. We’ll also look at the other side of the setup: weak market breadth, elevated Treasury yields, narrow leadership, and the risk that strength in the major indexes may be masking weakness beneath the surface. 0:00 - INTRO 1:00 - Earnings Season Begins 3:20 - Friday Employment Weaker than Expected, as Falling Trend Continues 3:45 - There is deterioration in the Economy 6:59 - Markets Close a Decent Week Higher 7:48 - Volatility Showing No Signs of Concern; Breadth is a Different Story 9:07 - Markets Remain Well Above Moving Averages 12:07 - Preview: Sequence of Returns Risk 13:04 - How much Do You Need to Be Happy (chart) 18:21 - Looking Ahead into…

Funeral planning may not be anyone’s favorite financial-planning conversation, but making decisions now can save your family money, confusion, and difficult choices later. Richard Rosso and Jonathan McCarty take a surprisingly entertaining look at the financial side of planning your own funeral, from traditional burial and cremation to cemeteries, niches, pet burials, aquamation, becoming a tree, and even having your cremains launched into space. We’ll examine funeral and burial costs, prepaid arrangements, inflation, cemetery pricing, add-ons, paperwork, and the importance of communicating your final wishes. Can locking in funeral costs today make financial sense? What decisions should you make in advance? And how can planning ahead become an expression of consideration for the people you leave behind? Plus, Richard shares some memorable real-life experiences involving cremains, cemetery niches, his mother’s remains, the Grim Reaper, and why apparently even Buc-ee’s can inspire a conversation about where…

For years, investors lived by TINA: “There Is No Alternative” to stocks. With interest rates near zero and bond yields offering little income, equities dominated the investment landscape. But that math has changed. Today, Treasury yields are above 5%, investment-grade corporate bonds offer competitive income, and real yields have climbed to levels not seen in nearly two decades. Meanwhile, stock valuations remain historically elevated. That creates TIGA: “There Is a Good Alternative.” Lance Roberts & Michael Lebowitz examine what the changing relationship between stocks and bonds means for portfolio diversification, why the equity risk premium has narrowed, and how investors can think about balancing income, risk, and long-term return potential. 0:00 - INTRO 1:04 - TINA, TIGA; Bulls & Bears; no pants 2:28 - Did the Fed make a mistake in hiking rates prior to PCE Index Release? 3:13 - Oil Prices & Inflation vs Price Levels 4:21 - GDP Calculations: Consumers and Businesses 5:17 - What the Fed is Fighting 8:13…

The major indexes remain near record territory, but beneath the surface, the picture is considerably more complicated. Technology continues to provide important support while market breadth has weakened, Treasury yields remain elevated, and small- and mid-cap stocks have faced greater pressure. Meanwhile, investors are weighing the Federal Reserve’s latest rate hike, higher bond yields, oil prices, stretched areas of the market, Nvidia’s massive stock buyback, and questions about whether Technology can continue carrying so much of the market’s weight. Lance Roberts & Danny Ratliff take your questions directly from the YouTube live chat and discuss what these developments could mean for markets, portfolios, interest rates, bonds, retirement planning, and the economy. 0:00 - INTRO 0:56 - Last day of the Quarter; Friday is Employment Day 2:18 - JOLTS Report - Labor Hoarding 6:10 - Markets Continue to Consolidate; Breadth is Very Weak 7:51 - The Set up for a Year End Rally 10:46 - When you're right...and keeping…

Can even the wealthiest investors consistently beat the market? Recent data comparing the Forbes 400 with the S&P 500 raises an important question about investment performance, indexing, and the pursuit of market-beating returns. Lance Roberts & Jonathan Penn examine why Americans across generations remain uncertain about their future financial needs, and what that says about the importance of planning beyond portfolio performance. Then, we put a real-world income decision under the microscope: a 5-year Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuity (MYGA) yielding 6% versus a 5-year U.S. Treasury yielding 5%. Is the additional yield worth the differences in liquidity, guarantees, taxes, and risk? 0:00 - INTRO 1:00 - National Coffee Day 1:55 - ISM Report/Dallas Fed: 4% GDP Growth? 4:02 - Earnings Season About to Begin/Market Seasonality Set up 6:20 - Markets Continue to Bore; very deceptive 7:54 - Reflexive Rally today? 9:36 - Where to bet on Markets' next move? 11:24 - National Coffee Day & Lance's Weekend Indulgence;…

Can the S&P 500 really reach 9,000? Jefferies has set a 9,000 target for the index by the end of 2027, but getting there may require nearly everything to go right. Lance Roberts examines the assumptions behind that forecast, including earnings growth, historically high profit margins, AI-driven capital spending, market valuations, and interest rates. With earnings estimates moving higher instead of following their typical pattern of downward revisions, Wall Street’s outlook has become increasingly optimistic. But what happens if earnings growth slows, margins begin to mean-revert, AI spending fails to generate the expected returns, or Treasury yields remain elevated? We look beyond the headline target to examine the math, the risks, and what investors should consider when market expectations leave little room for disappointment. 0:00 - INTRO 0:53 - End of Quarter Prep 2:00 - October tends to be strong in mid-term election years 4:05 - If you're starting to feel bearish...Markets are sitting near all-time…

With interest rates, inflation, oil prices, Treasury yields, and stock market valuations all competing for investors’ attention, what should you be watching now? As the S&P 500 approaches record territory, can markets sustain a breakout, or are new risks beginning to emerge? Lance Roberts and Danny Ratliff answer your questions from the YouTube live chat, and break down the economic, investing, and consumer stories shaping markets this week. We’ll discuss what the latest economic and market signals could mean for stocks, bonds, portfolio positioning, retirement planning, and consumers, while separating short-term headlines from longer-term financial considerations. 0:00 - INTRO 1:02 - S&P Global Manufacturing Index showing rising costs 3:17 - Market is doing what September Markets do 7:29 - The Dollar is on a tear 9:27 - Coffee & Semi-Conductors 13:39 - S&P Global Manufacturing Index - Market over-reaction to nothing new 16:28 - Capitulation Event for Yields 17:50 - 5-Year Bond Auction - Failed or Poor?…

With interest rates, inflation, oil prices, Treasury yields, and stock market valuations all competing for investors’ attention, what should you be watching now? As the S&P 500 approaches record territory, can markets sustain a breakout, or are new risks beginning to emerge? Lance Roberts and Danny Ratliff answer your questions from the YouTube live chat, and break down the economic, investing, and consumer stories shaping markets this week. We’ll discuss what the latest economic and market signals could mean for stocks, bonds, portfolio positioning, retirement planning, and consumers, while separating short-term headlines from longer-term financial considerations. 0:00 - INTRO 1:08 - Trump - Xi Summit - Much ado about nothing 2:17 - Possible Export Ban on Diesel Exports? 3:35 - Earnings Growth Estimates are Very Large - That's a Risk 5:34 - Markets Hold Up Above Moving Averages 5:56 - Factor Rotation Model performance - VTV Value Index Under Pressure - MGK - Large Cap Growth Stocks proxy 9:48 - Fed Rate…

Can younger investors really afford to invest on their own? For many, financial help from their parents may be making the difference. Lance Roberts and Jonathan Penn discuss the growing financial support parents provide adult children and what it can mean for both generations. Helping with housing, bills, and everyday expenses may give younger adults more room to save and invest, but what does that assistance mean for Mom and Dad's own retirement plans? Plus, we examine the latest economic and Treasury-market discussion, what interest rates and government borrowing could mean for investors, and how artificial intelligence may be changing retirement planning beyond the stock market. It's a conversation about investing, family finances, retirement planning, and the financial trade-offs that can occur when one generation helps support another. 0:00 - INTRO 0:57 - Economic Activity is rising (different from GDP) 2:54 - Oil Price Drop 3:24 - Expectations for a Soft Landing (Bob Farrell Rule #9) 4:28 - Markets'…

Earnings expectations can drive stock prices higher, but what happens when corporate profits fail to meet those expectations? Lance Roberts examines earnings mean reversion, why Wall Street estimates can become overly optimistic, and what falling short of projected earnings could mean for stock valuations and market returns; what is the relationship between earnings growth and economic growth, how expectations become embedded in stock prices, and why elevated valuations can make earnings disappointments more consequential. Importantly, what should investors watch as earnings estimates change, and how can portfolio risk be managed when expectations and fundamentals begin to diverge? 0:00 - INTRO 0:59 - Rebalancing Coming; The History of Pensions (now over-funded) 3:51 - Friday's Options Expiry: Volatile Markets 4:37 - Markets Continue to do what they've been doing - Nothing 7:24 - Be Cautious with Allocations 8:03 - Volatility Remains Compressed 10:29 - Website & Radio History 13:50 - Goldman Earnings…

Living longer changes almost every assumption behind traditional retirement planning. As more Americans reach retirement age and potentially spend decades in retirement, planning must extend well beyond simply building a large enough portfolio. Richard Rosso and Jonathan "Smarty" McCarty examine the financial realities of longevity, including the fear of running out of money, identifying reliable retirement income sources, withdrawal and tax strategies, long-term care and hybrid insurance policies, estate planning, charitable giving, inheritances, housing decisions, and determining which risks you can absorb versus those you should mitigate. Plus, they discuss the lack of credentials among some financial influencers, alternative ways to measure inflation and healthcare costs, the state of workplace financial and retirement-planning benefits, and the provocative question of whether advances in artificial intelligence represent another major societal turning point. Living to 100 may sound like a blessing, but…

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time in three years, but for investors, the bigger question is what comes next. Lance Roberts and Michael Lebowitz break down what the Fed said, what Chairman Kevin Warsh signaled about inflation and future monetary policy, and why the Fed's updated rate projections matter for markets. With most policymakers anticipating another rate increase this year, is this the beginning of a new tightening cycle, or could the Fed be closer to "one and done"? What could higher rates mean for stocks, bonds, economic growth, and portfolio strategy as investors look toward the Fed's remaining meetings in 2026? 0:00 INTRO 1:12 - Retail Sales Better than Expected 3:20 - Market Reaction to Rate Hike, Dot Plots, & Commentary 5:14 - Room for a Rally? Odds vs History 10:40 - Mrs. Roberts' Hamburger Date 13:37 - Fed Hikes Rates: Policy Mistake? 17:02 - No Rate Cuts Next Year? 19:50 - Why Would the Fed Raise Rates? (Looking at PCE) 24:02 - It's All About the Bond Market 24:44…

It’s Fed Day, and markets are waiting for answers. It's also Q&A Wednesday, and Lance Roberts takes your questions from our YouTube Live Chat window. He'll break down the biggest economic, investing, and market developments of the past week, including the Federal Reserve’s September FOMC meeting, interest rates, inflation, rising Treasury yields, oil prices, AI spending concerns, and the recent pressure on stocks. 0:00 INTRO 0:55 - Fed Day: Will They or Won't They? 3:11 - Market Breaks Below 50-DMA 4:12 - Reflexive Rally not surprising, post-Fed 4:30 - Oil Prices Putting Pressure on Economy 9:02 - What's the Expected Market Reaction for FOMC Rate Decision? 12:54 - Are there clear tech support levels for S&P? 15:57 - Does it make sense to owns TIPS in an IRA in a state with high income tax? 16:47 - Lance's Roth Thesis 19:14 - Inflation feeds into everything; isn't it tame for now? (What the Fed SHOULD do) 22:37 - Credit Card Spending and After Tax Wage Growth 25:31 - Do Markets Compound? (no) 30:03 - Gold…

The end of the year will be here before you know it. What financial moves should you make now instead of waiting until December? Lance Roberts and Jon Penn look at 10 important year-end financial planning decisions to consider before December 31, including tax planning, Roth conversions, required minimum distributions (RMDs), qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), retirement plan contributions, and charitable giving. 0:00 INTRO 1:02 - The Challenge in the Markets 2:22 - Will Warsh Hike Rates...or not? 3:19 - Markets Struggle through Narrow Trading Range 4:31 - If the Markets Stay Flat...? 8:47 - Preparing for Q4 (Halloween & Christmas) 12:32 - Gold, Silver, & Precious Metals as Inflation Hedge? (Why to earn certain assets) 14:24 - Figuring out the equity allocation puzzle 19:26 - ...when we're 64. 20:45 - 20% is not enough for equity exposure 23:33 - Diversity Assets AND Account Types 25:20 - Turn off the noise; the problem with being pessimistic 27:31 - Know What You Own 29:40 - What to Focus on Between…

Stock prices and corporate earnings are breaking trends that have held for roughly 90 years. Does artificial intelligence represent a fundamental change in the economy and markets, or are investors once again being tempted by the four most dangerous words in investing: “this time is different”? Lance Roberts examines whether AI has truly changed the earnings equation, what today's valuations suggest about future returns, and why investors don't necessarily have to choose between being bullish and bearish. 0:00 INTRO 1:01 - FOMC Week; AI: To Pause or Not to Pause? 4:35 - Markets Still Stuck 9:47 - A look at Bond Flow Dynamics 13:49 - Why is Everyone Buying Longer Term Bonds? 14:31 - The TINA Trade 17:50 - The Primary Function of Bonds in a Portfolio: Safety 24:02 - Investment Psychology: Narrative and Greed 27:24 - The Gap Between Estimates and Reality 28:18 - The Truth About Compounding 31:29 - The Permanent Impairment of Capital 33:42 - Currency Debasement & Inflation 35:22 - How to Offset Risk of…

The Financial Independence, Retire Early movement promises something many people want: save aggressively, live below your means, build wealth, and gain the freedom to leave work early. But does the FIRE movement really work when retirement could last 40, 50, or even 60 years? Richard Rosso & Jonathan McCarty examine the different approaches to FIRE, including Fat FIRE, Lean FIRE, Barista FIRE, and Coast FIRE, and discuss where retirement calculations can go wrong. We also look at why stocks should not simply be treated as predictable compounding assets, the risks of quitting your job too soon, inflation and the “pink tax,” Trump Accounts for children, and why financial independence remains such an attractive goal. Plus, what the arrival of humanoid robots could mean for work and retirement planning, why financial gimmicks deserve skepticism, and why a sound retirement plan should prepare for the worst while hoping for the best. The program also marks the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, with a…

With CPI and PPI inflation reports in focus, markets are looking for clues about the Fed’s next move on interest rates. Will cooler inflation give policymakers more room to cut rates, or could hotter data force the Fed to remain cautious? Lance Roberts & Michael Lebowitz examine what the latest inflation numbers could mean for Fed policy, interest rates, Treasury yields, and financial markets, as investors try to determine whether inflation is cooling enough to change the Fed’s outlook. 0:00 INTRO 0:49 - PPI, CPI Preview 2:11 - Oil As Factor in Inflation 4:36 - Markets Continue to Do What They Do 6:53 - Volatility Warms Up 10:03 - PPI, CPI - What's Driving the Numbers 12:56 - Inflation vs Deflation 17:21 - We Have a Relatively Weak Economy 18:51 - Will the Fed Hike Rates Twice this Year? 20:04 - Walsh, Bessent, & Signals to the Market 24:58 - Go Back and Watch Truflation Interview w Oliver Rust: https://www.youtube.com/live/603EdhToXq8?si=irUSKOwd9oEDb2hM 25:56 - Scott Bessent "I am the House" 30:39 - Ten…

Markets are entering a critical stretch as investors confront rising oil prices, renewed inflation concerns, higher Treasury yields, shifting expectations for Federal Reserve policy, and continued uncertainty over the direction of stocks. Lance Roberts & Danny Ratliff take your questions live and examine what the latest economic and market developments could mean for your money. 0:00 INTRO 1:01 - Market is hanging out - Going Nowhere Quickly 3:33 - Rise in Rate Hike Odds will Increase Pressure on the Fed? 7:05 - Too Loud? Too Old... 7:43 - Bessent: "I am the House" 9:19 - Dollar vs the Euro? 10:58 - High-risk, High-reward at 2% of Portfolio? 15:56 - What Dividend Sector is Safest for Building a Retirement Portfolio? Dividend Yield vs Fundamentals 17:50 - Stewardship of Capital issue - How to Find Strong Dividend Companies 20:21 - Doomed? Waiting for the Downturn (don't fall in love...) Valuations Matter 23:54 - Buying Puts as Insurance? Mistakes Most Make... 26:48 - Use of MIGA's for Income Component? 30:51…

Why are bond yields moving higher, and what could that mean for investors? Rising Treasury yields can influence borrowing costs, economic growth, stock valuations, and bond prices. Lance Roberts & Jon Penn break down what may be driving yields higher, what the bond market could be signaling, and how changing interest rates can work their way through the economy and financial markets. For investors, the key may not simply be how high yields rise, but understanding what is causing them to move higher. 0:00 INTRO 0:53 - ADP, PPI CPI Previews 1:34 - Meh Market: Don't do anything yet 6:03 - Mid-Terms are up in the air 6:57 - Oil Prices & Inflation 8:06 - Volatility remains compressed 9:53 - Labor Day & Refrigerator Raids 10:30 - What do higher interest rates mean for economy, portfolios? 12:52 - What the Fed really controls 14:53 - There's Good Inflation & Bad Inflation 16:27 - Interest Rates, Debt, & Deficits 17:53 - The Math of Term Premiums 20:15 - When a Treasury Matures (is there any risk to not being…

Is the Consumer Price Index accurately measuring the inflation Americans actually experience? Lance Roberts talks with Oliver Rust of Truflation about how real-time inflation data can differ from traditional CPI measurements. They examine housing and rent concessions, regional price differences, consumer substitution, the K-shaped economy, housing affordability, and the continuing resilience of consumer spending. Oliver also explains how Truflation builds its inflation index, where its methodology differs from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, its work with the Federal Reserve, and what its data says about inflation now. Plus, they discuss what could come next as Truflation expands into employment and other economic indicators. For investors watching inflation, interest rates, housing, and the Federal Reserve, the question is increasingly important: Which inflation data best reflects the economy consumers are actually living in? 0:00 - INTRO 0:55 - What is Wrong with current Inflation/CPI Measurement? 2:46 -…

Retirement planning is about more than building a portfolio. It’s also about deciding what comes next. Richard Rosso & Jonathan McCarty explore the retirement crossroads: making the transition from work to retirement, finding purpose after a career, setting new goals, applying your skills in new ways, and overcoming the reluctance many retirees have to spend the money they’ve accumulated. We also dig into the financial strategies that can make a difference, including Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), donor-advised funds, charitable checks that aren’t cashed, changing tax rules, and potential retirement tax traps. Plus, what movies like The Intern and Cast Away can teach us about identity, purpose, relationships, and life after work. Retirement isn’t simply about whether you have enough money. It’s about answering a much bigger question: Where are you headed? 0:00 INTRO 0:18 - All "news" all the time... 3:33 - The Importance of Staying Current - What Happens in 2028? 5:08 - What We Do is Strategy…

Is the stock market dangerously expensive, or are investors overlooking strong future earnings growth? The S&P 500’s Shiller CAPE ratio has reached 41, yet the PEG ratio, which incorporates expected earnings growth, is signaling one of the cheapest market valuations in decades. Michael Lebowitz and Lance Roberts examine why these two popular valuation measures are sending completely opposite signals. The key difference comes down to expectations: CAPE relies on historical earnings, while PEG depends heavily on Wall Street forecasts for future growth. We look at the reliability of those earnings forecasts, the extraordinary concentration of expected growth among a handful of large technology companies, the role of AI investment, and whether today’s valuations already price in too much optimism. 0:00 INTRO 1:04 - Jobs, JOLTS, & Economic Number Previews 5:01 - Markets are Stuck 11:04 - Vacation & Weekend Plans 12:23 - The Fed: What Will Warsh Do With Rates? 16:12 - The Truth About "Fed Buy Backs" 17:57 -…

September is starting with a new set of challenges for investors: rising Treasury yields, higher oil prices, persistent inflation, renewed geopolitical tensions, and growing questions about whether the Federal Reserve may have to raise rates again. Add historically weak September seasonality and the uncertainty surrounding the midterm elections, and investors have plenty to think about. Lance Roberts and Danny Ratliff answer your questions about market risk, interest rates, inflation, portfolio positioning, retirement planning, and what investors should be watching next. 0:00 INTRO 0:50 - JOLTS Report Review, ADP/Jobs Preview 2:04 - Oil Prices on the rise (oil risk is transient): What's feeding into Inflation? 3:52 - Broadcom report preview 4:14 - Market working down towards 50-DMA to test support 5:15 - Seasonal weakness for September is present; volatility remains low 8:53 - Any market Rotation? 10:28 - Guidance for Acquiring company stock in 401k 12:37 - Recommendation for Rotation in and out of funds -…

What should a good financial planner actually do for you? It should go far beyond choosing investments or building a retirement portfolio. A strong financial planning relationship should provide organization, accountability, objectivity, education, and proactive guidance while coordinating investments, taxes, Social Security, Medicare, insurance, estate planning, and retirement income. Just as importantly, your financial plan should evolve as your life, goals, markets, and tax laws change. Lance Roberts & Jon Penn examine what investors should expect from a financial planner, why personalization and communication matter, how a fiduciary relationship should work, and why good financial advice is ultimately about helping you make better decisions with your money. 0:00 INTRO 0:54 - Economic Previews & late earnings trickle in 3:15 - AI: Dis-inflationary AND Inflationary 4:57 - September is Seasonally Weak: 11:20 - Traditional Buy & Hold vs more active management & fear of gains 14:16 - Capital Preservation is…

Stanley Druckenmiller is warning Washington about the bond market, but the real message may not be an impending debt crisis. The bond market may have already delivered its verdict. Lance Roberts examines Druckenmiller’s criticism of Treasury intervention, Scott Bessent’s expanded long-term Treasury buybacks, and why attempts to manage yields could create a bigger problem than the initial intervention itself. 0:00 INTRO 0:53 - Labor Day Preview, Kevin Warsh Review 4:53 - US-Venezuela Oil Deal 6:08 - August Into September Markets 12:09 - Pumpkins, Spice, & Sickle and Hammer 13:14 - Stanley Druckenmiller & AI 15:41 - Druckenmiller's Bond Warning 18:12 - The Bond Buy back Operation 23:23 - Warsh Wants the Fed Out of the Bond market 25:40 - What Druckenmiller Said vs What's being read 28:10 - What You Should Do if You Own Fixed Income 33:12 - If there's not Crisis... 35:46 - The Myths of Long Term Investing, Part-3 - The Math of Loss 42:55 - Why Valuations Matter 45:35 - When You Retire Matters Hosted by RIA…

Who inherits your IRA could matter just as much as what’s in it. The SECURE Act changed the rules for inherited retirement accounts, while newer IRS regulations created additional planning opportunities for trusts and multiple beneficiaries. Richard Rosso & Jonathan McCarty break down IRA beneficiary designations, the 10-year distribution rule, trusts as retirement account beneficiaries, and why outdated estate plans can create unintended tax consequences. Plus, we explain how properly structured trusts and subtrusts may provide greater flexibility for spouses, children, and other heirs. Before assuming your will or trust has your retirement accounts covered, make sure your beneficiary strategy actually works the way you intend. 0:00 INTRO 0:20 - Nana Nun, teaser: Designating Beneficiaries Can Become a Nightmare 2:03 - Uber & Zipline drone delivery; Why the Young "have no money" 9:23 - Account Titling and Probate Avoidance 14:00 - Revocable Living Trusts 15:57 - Setting Beneficiaries on Assets 18:31 - How to…

Nvidia delivered another blockbuster quarter, reporting record revenue of $96.2 billion, up 106% from a year ago, as demand for AI infrastructure continues to accelerate. But the bigger story may be what comes next. Lance Roberts & Michael Lebowitz break down Nvidia’s latest earnings, its extraordinary growth outlook, Blackwell and Vera Rubin demand, the massive buildout in AI infrastructure, and Nvidia’s growing financial involvement across the AI ecosystem. We also examine the risks, including rising memory costs, margin pressure, enormous capital requirements, and questions about whether today’s AI spending boom can deliver adequate returns. 0:00 INTRO 1:00 - Economic Recap & Multiplier Effect 6:31 - Market Push from NASDAQ 11:45 - Passwords, Needles & Rosso's toys 14:30 - NVIDIA Reports - Markets Respond 21:36 - How Ancillary Business Benefit from NVIDIA 24:03 - NVIDIA Stock Performance 25:32 - The Heat Map Game 27:25 - Portfolio Positioning & Nat Gas play 30:37 - The Economics of Gilligan's Island 35:33…

Markets are facing a growing list of risks as investors head into the final stretch of summer. Stocks are working through a slow-moving correction, Treasury yields remain elevated, technology leadership is being tested, and the Federal Reserve faces renewed questions about inflation and interest rates. Which risks actually matter for your portfolio, and which are mostly market noise? Lance Roberts & Danny Ratliff answer your questions, live, as we break down the latest economic data, market signals, Fed policy expectations, bond yields, and geopolitical developments to separate the real threats from the headlines. 0:00 INTRO 1:00 - Dolly Parton's Passing 1:46 - NVDIA is the Big News Today - will move markets tomorrow 4:34 - Markets Rally and Hold 20-DMA; Mitigating Market Risk 6:38 - NVIDIA Preview 10:26 - Lance's Wardrobe 11:35 - Semi-conductor Strategies 14:44 - 401-k Rotation Strategies 19:52 - Looking at Interest Rate plays - what is your goal? 22:13 - Is the Globalization Narrative breaking down? (TV…

Interest rates are rising, long-term bond prices have pulled back, and investors are once again worried that higher Treasury yields could threaten the economy and markets. But what if today’s rates aren’t historically high at all? After more than a decade of near-zero rates and easy monetary policy, investors may have become accustomed to an environment that was anything but normal. Lance Roberts & Jon Penn put today’s interest rates into historical perspective, examine what higher yields really say about inflation, growth, debt, and deficits, and explain why a 5% long-term Treasury yield may not be the crisis many headlines suggest. We’ll also look at what the changing rate environment means for stocks, bonds, portfolio risk, and investors deciding whether weakness in longer-duration bonds is a warning—or an opportunity. 0:00 INTRO 1:04 - Weekly Preview & Treasury General Account Bond Buy Backs 2:04 - Shorting Treasuries & The Hedge Fund Trade 5:37 - Markets Going Thru a Slow-Motion Correction 8:24 -…

Are Treasury yields still sending investors a reliable signal about inflation, growth, and Federal Reserve policy, or is the massive basis trade distorting the message? Lance Roberts explains how the basis trade works, why it matters for Treasury yields, and whether investors can still trust the bond market as an economic and market signal. 0:00 INTRO 1:02 - Kevin Warsh + Nvidia Report = Volatility? 5:28 - Market Deviations & Bollinger Bands 13:07 - The Basis Trade & Interest Rates 16:17 - What is a Basis Point? 21:31 - Are Interest Rates Really Telling us What's Going on in Markets? 22:42 - What's the Risk/What Happens When Basis Trade Unwinds? 26:47 - Does Kevin Warsh have Enough Time to Fix It? 28:28 - What Happened on Liberation Day 29:39 - What to Do About It 34:29 - The Psychology of Buyers & Sellers: The Houston Housing Market 37:85 - The Index is the Index Hosted by RIA Advisors' Chief Investment Strategist, Lance Roberts, CIO Produced by Brent Clanton, Executive Producer ------- Do you enjoy our…

Giving your kids a financial head start may be one of the most valuable lessons you can teach them. Richard Rosso & Jonathan McCarty explain how a Custodial Roth IRA can help children with earned income start building tax-free retirement wealth early, while learning the importance of saving, investing, and paying themselves first. We also discuss Roth IRA withdrawal rules, the potential transition from Trump Accounts to Roth IRAs, and how even a lemonade stand can become a lesson in long-term wealth building. Plus, we look back at Wall Street history, the value of financial writing, and why understanding the past can make you a better investor. 0:00 INTRO 0:21 - Magic Mike & $100 Hot Dogs 2:46 - Wall Street Magazines from Days of Yore 4:36 - The story of Richard & Cecilia Wycoff & Wall Street Magazine 10:50 - The best knowledge is history 17:17 - Giving Kids a Head Start on Retirement w Custodial Roth IRA's 19:22 - Benefits of Jump-starting Retirement 21:51 - Getting on the Pay-Yourself-First track 22:56 -…

Is the Treasury stepping in to rescue the bond market, or is that the wrong way to interpret its purchases of long-term Treasuries? Lance Roberts and Michael Lebowitz examine why Treasury purchases are not necessarily the same as Federal Reserve quantitative easing, how issuing Treasury debt to fund an asset swap differs from creating new money, and what this could mean for bond yields, inflation, and investors. We’ll also look at the changing relationship between Treasury bonds and gold. 0:00 INTRO 0:50 - Treasury Action & FOMC Meeting Minutes 4:19 - Market Rally on Debt Buy Back 10:03 - Are High Oil Prices Deflationary? 11:13 - Debt & GDP 13:53 - Federal Debt as % of GDP 17:51 - Selling Treasuries is Not a Problem 18:31 - What Happens if Gov't Stops Spending 20:55 - The Treasury Buy Back Plan 24:59 - The History of Buy Back Operations 28:12 - The Basis Trade 31:52 - The Term Premium Model 36:09 - What Would Cause Basis Trade to Unwind? 39:18 - When the Gov't Cuts Spending Hosted by RIA Advisors' Chief…

More investors are turning to TikTok, YouTube, and other social-media platforms for financial advice. But how do you separate useful financial education from bad advice, speculation, and outright scams? Lance Roberts and Jonathan Penn discuss how to evaluate financial advice online, the warning signs investors should watch for, and why popularity, followers, and flashy lifestyles aren't substitutes for expertise. Social media can help people become better investors—but only if they know whom to trust. 0:00 INTRO 0:57 - FOMC Meeting Minutes Preview & Weaker Economic Data 3:26 - Will Earnings Tailwinds Fade in 2207? 5:12 - Market Deviations Continue - Downside Risk Remains 10:15 - Bond Yields & Abnormal Interest Rates (article coming) 16:45 - Why the National Debt is not a Factor in Interest Rates 19:42 - Momentum ETF's & Roth IRA's 27:47 - Shorting Strategies post-IPO? 30:10 - First Houses & Starter Homes 33:27 - Things Aren't That Bad... 37:37 - Buying Bonds and paying accrued interest 38:18 - Putting Money…

More investors are turning to TikTok, YouTube, and other social-media platforms for financial advice. But how do you separate useful financial education from bad advice, speculation, and outright scams? Lance Roberts and Jonathan Penn discuss how to evaluate financial advice online, the warning signs investors should watch for, and why popularity, followers, and flashy lifestyles aren't substitutes for expertise. Social media can help people become better investors—but only if they know whom to trust. 0:00 INTRO 1:02 - Don't Read Too Much Into Indexes 3:14 - Cap-X Spending: Space-X Data Center Grimes County Tax Abatement 5:14 - Market Factors & Dynamics (Momentum Index, Semi-conductor Index, IGV, Value Index, MGK Mega-cap stocks) 11:32 - The Myths of Long Term Investing - Pt-1 13:37 - The Great Wealth Transfer Fail 18:13 - Financial Advice on Social Media 19:47 - Sports Betting as Part of Financial Plan? 21:00 - How We Differ from the Other Guys on Social Media 24:26 - Four Buckets of Social Media…

Stocks are back near record highs, the trend remains bullish, and market breadth is strong. But after a powerful run, the S&P 500 is stretched well above its major moving averages, while investor sentiment and money flows have reached extreme levels. Lance Roberts reviews Yen Intervention Narrative amd examines what is driving the rally, why retail investors are piling back into previously beaten-down trades, and whether strong earnings, buybacks, and broad participation can keep markets moving higher. Rebalancing, taking profits in oversized positions, and maintaining discipline may be more important than trying to squeeze every last percentage point out of the rally. 0:00 INTRO 0:54 - 20-Weeks Until Christmas & Pumpkin Spice 2:00 - Target, WalMart, & Retail Spending 6:59 - Markets Post Third Week of Gains 9:54 - Volatility & Risk/Reward 13:07 - Your vs You're & UR 14:45 - Yen Interventions & Dollar Swaps 19:48 - The 2011 Japan Crisis 28:49 - Do You Chase this Rally? 34:04 - Money Flow & Market Breadth…

How much money do you really need to retire? Headlines touting a retirement “magic number” may do more harm than good, especially when an intimidating savings target becomes an excuse to give up. Richard Rosso & Jonathan McCarty explain why successful retirement planning isn't about reaching one arbitrary number. It's about building sustainable income around your actual spending, lifestyle, Social Security benefits, savings, and other resources. We also examine why many older workers now view Social Security as their retirement plan, whether Social Security alone can provide enough income, and how to build a realistic retirement strategy even if you're starting later or haven't saved as much as you hoped. The goal isn't to hit someone else's magic number. It's to create a retirement plan that works for you. 0:00 INTRO 0:48 - Social Security DLS Recap, Medicare Preview 3:29 - Financial Literacy Continues to Fall 6:35 - The 60/40 Portfolio kind of sucks this year 9:53 - Rampant Market Gambling - 11:01 -…

The latest inflation report came in largely as expected, giving the Federal Reserve something increasingly valuable: more time. Inflation was neither soft enough to eliminate concerns about price pressures nor hot enough to force the Fed's hand. That leaves investors asking what comes next for interest rates, the economy, and markets. Lance Roberts examines what the latest inflation data means for Fed policy, whether officials can remain patient, and what investors should watch as the debate over inflation and interest rates continues. 0:00 INTRO 0:50 - CPI & Bond Auction Action 4:00 - Markets Are Stretched 9:31 - Lebo Merch 11:03 - CPI, Inflation, & Oil Prices 12:31 - What The Fed Should Do 16:08 - Core Inflation 18:01 - Inflation vs Prices 20:29 - Why Inflation is Important 21:01 - Why Leave Your Money at Old Company? 21:55 - Why Inflation Matters 24:48 - What the Fed May Do in September 28:31 - CPI Measurement & Boskin Commission 32:09 - The AI "Circular Financing" Narrative Debunked 35:43 - AI Spend per…