WashingtonWise
Episodes
War Headlines Whipsaw Markets & Portfolios
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 resear...
AI: Fear of Missing Out or Just Fear?
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Just as investors were getting comfortable increasing their artificial intelligence holdings, the "AI trade" has been shifting, affecting a wide range...
Making Solid Choices in a Volatile Market
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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,...
Don’t Let Headline Drama Disrupt Your Portfolio
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The barrage of unsettling headlines has investors wondering how to manage their investments amid ongoing changes and disruptions coming from Washingto...
Six Issues That Could Move Markets in 2026
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 pol...
Positive 2026 Outlook Amid Affordability Concerns
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Affordability is the political buzzword of the moment, contributing to a widening gap between what consumers and investors think about the economy ver...
Investors Eyeing Big Issues as Washington Reopens
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The longest government shutdown in U.S. history may be over, but Washington now finds itself facing several tough issues that will have significant im...
Using Bonds Wisely in a Bull Market for Equities
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Shake Off Emotions and Control Your Portfolio
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 epis...
Bull Market Keeps Running—What Could Trip It Up?
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The bull market has been running since April, despite persistent economic and political headwinds, including tariffs, sticky inflation, a weakening jo...
Fed's Dilemma: Boost Job Growth or Fight Inflation
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At last week's remarkable Federal Reserve meeting, the Fed's decision to cut the baseline interest rate for the first time in 2025 took a backseat to ...
Washington Decisions That Could Move the Markets
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The coming weeks will see a series of major policy decisions in Washington that will play out in Congress and in the courts. On this episode, host Mik...
Is Delayed Tariff Pain About to Hit U.S. Markets?
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
2025 has been the Year of the Tariff. Since he took office, President Trump has unveiled aggressive tariffs on imports from foreign countries, reshapi...
Crypto Goes Mainstream: What Investors Should Know
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As cryptocurrency makes its way into the investing mainstream, investors have lots of questions. In today's episode, Nate Peterson, director of deriva...
One Big Beautiful Bill: Implications for Investors
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The One Big Beautiful Bill, the Republicans’ massive tax and spending package, has passed the House of Representatives, but now the Senate is making...
One More Risk for Your Portfolio: Financial Fraud
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Financial fraud is not new, but it evolves so quickly that it can be hard to keep track of the latest developments. Host Mike Townsend is joined on th...
Market Uncertainty Seems Like the Only Sure Thing
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of WashingtonWise, Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab, joins host Mike Townsend for a wide-ranging discuss...
When Markets Talk, the Bond Market Speaks Loudest
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The last several weeks have seen unusual market volatility, not just in the stock market but in the bond market as well. Fixed income investors have b...
China Trade War: A Fight With No Winners
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
China and the United States are locked in an unprecedented trade war, with each imposing tariffs of more than 100% on the other’s imports. On this e...
Tariffs Continue to Fuel Market Uncertainty
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The administration's ever-evolving trade and tariff policy has sent the markets on a wild ride not seen in two decades. In this episode of WashingtonW...