Categories
Uncategorized

AI Concentration & the Case for Rebalancing

This week, Liz Ann Sonders and Collin Martin discuss one of the market’s biggest themes, AI, and why the enormous capex spending on AI reinforces the importance of portfolio rebalancing. Liz Ann explains how AI-related companies now make up a significant share of major stock indexes and explores the risks that come with growing concentration in a handful of large-cap names. Rather than trying to predict which AI winners will emerge next, she highlights rebalancing as a disciplined way to trim outperformers, add to lagging areas, and maintain diversification. The conversation also touches on opportunities beyond the largest technology stocks, including equal-weight index funds, small-cap stocks, and quality-focused investing.

On the fixed income side, Collin discusses how investors can think about rebalancing bond portfolios by balancing interest-rate risk and credit risk. He explains why investors sitting in cash or very short-term investments may be able to capture higher yields further out on the yield curve and why selective exposure to higher-quality corporate bonds may still make sense despite relatively tight credit spreads. Finally, Liz Ann and Collin discuss how inflation, AI-related investment spending, and the strength of the consumer could shape both Fed policy and market performance in the months ahead.

On Investing is an original podcast from Charles Schwab. For more on the show, visit schwab.com/OnInvesting. 

If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts.

Important Disclosures

This material is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The securities, investment products and investment strategies mentioned are not suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decisions.

All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic or political conditions. Data contained herein from third party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. 

Performance may be affected by risks associated with non-diversification, including investments in specific countries or sectors. Additional risks may also include, but are not limited to, investments in foreign securities, especially emerging markets, real estate investment trusts (REITs), fixed income, municipal securities including state specific municipal securities, small capitalization securities and commodities. Each individual investor should consider these risks carefully before investing in a particular security or strategy.

Fixed income securities are subject to increased loss of principal during periods of rising interest rates. Fixed income investments are subject to various other risks including changes in credit quality, market valuations, liquidity, prepayments, early redemption, corporate events, tax ramifications, and other factors. 

Lower rated securities are subject to greater credit risk, default risk, and liquidity risk.

Diversification, rebalancing, and asset allocation strategies do not ensure a profit and do not protect against losses in declining markets.

Rebalancing may cause investors to incur transaction costs and, when a non-retirement account is rebalanced, taxable events may be created that may affect your tax liability.

Futures and futures options trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. Please read the Risk Disclosure Statement for Futures and Options: https://www.schwab.com/Futures_RiskDisclosure prior to trading futures products.

All names and market data shown are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

Forecasts contained herein are for illustrative purposes only, may be based upon proprietary research and are developed through analysis of historical public data.

The policy analysis provided by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., does not constitute and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any political party.

Indexes are unmanaged, do not incur management fees, costs, and expenses and cannot be invested in directly. For more information on indexes, please see schwab.com/indexdefinitions 

(0726-KJ39)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Categories
Uncategorized

What’s Really Driving Your Portfolio Decisions?

Making smart portfolio decisions require more than just choosing investments. It requires managing your own behavior. Mark speaks with Schwab Wealth Advisory’s Chief Portfolio Strategist Kasey McCurdy about how emotions influence investing decisions and why investors often struggle with rebalancing, diversification, and staying invested during market volatility. Along the way, they share practical ways to approach portfolio construction and avoid common behavioral investing pitfalls.

After you listen:

  • Learn how a goals-based approach to investing can help you build and manage a portfolio with Schwab Wealth Advisory‚Ñ¢.
  • Check out Schwab’s resources on portfolio management for more about diversification, rebalancing, and other long-term investing strategies.

Financial Decoder is an original podcast from Charles Schwab. 

If you enjoy the show, please leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts.

Reach out to Mark on X @MarkRiepe with your thoughts on the show.

Follow Financial Decoder on Spotify to comment on episodes.

Important Disclosures

This material is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned are not suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decisions.

All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic or political conditions.

Diversification, asset allocation, and rebalancing strategies do not ensure a profit and do not protect against losses in declining markets.

Rebalancing may cause investors to incur transaction costs and, when a non-retirement account is rebalanced, taxable events may be created that may affect your tax liability.

There are risks associated with investing in dividend paying stocks, including but not limited to the risk that stocks may reduce or stop paying dividends.

Schwab Wealth Advisory‚Ñ¢ (“SWA”) is a non‚Äêdiscretionary investment advisory program sponsored by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”). Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. (“SWAI”) is a Registered Investment Adviser and provides portfolio management for the SWA program. Schwab and SWAI are affiliates and are subsidiaries of The Charles Schwab Corporation.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

‚ÄãPast performance is no guarantee of future results.

The Schwab Center for Financial Research is a division of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

0726-GHDM

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Categories
Uncategorized

A Sigh of Relief on Inflation

A better-than-expected June Consumer Price Index (CPI) report offered some welcome relief for investors concerned about persistent inflation pressures. But while the headline numbers came in below expectations, Liz Ann Sonders and Collin Martin explain why underlying inflation trends, including higher oil prices, rising costs tied to AI-related investment, and components that feed into the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, suggest the inflation story is far from over.

They also discuss why macroeconomic factors such as inflation, monetary policy, and labor-market conditions remain essential inputs for portfolio decisions, even when investors are looking for more specific investment guidance. The conversation covers the Federal Reserve’s outlook, what recent data means for bond investors, small-business sentiment and hiring plans, growing concerns about inflation among business owners, and the economic indicators they’ll be watching in the weeks ahead.

On Investing is an original podcast from Charles Schwab. For more on the show, visit schwab.com/OnInvesting. 

If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts.

Important Disclosures

This material is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The securities, investment products and investment strategies mentioned are not suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decisions.

All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic or political conditions. Data contained herein from third party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. 

Performance may be affected by risks associated with non-diversification, including investments in specific countries or sectors. Additional risks may also include, but are not limited to, investments in foreign securities, especially emerging markets, real estate investment trusts (REITs), fixed income, municipal securities including state specific municipal securities, small capitalization securities and commodities. Each individual investor should consider these risks carefully before investing in a particular security or strategy.

Fixed income securities are subject to increased loss of principal during periods of rising interest rates. Fixed income investments are subject to various other risks including changes in credit quality, market valuations, liquidity, prepayments, early redemption, corporate events, tax ramifications, and other factors. Lower rated securities are subject to greater credit risk, default risk, and liquidity risk.

Diversification and asset allocation do not ensure a profit and do not protect against losses in declining markets.

All names and market data shown are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

Forecasts contained herein are for illustrative purposes only, may be based upon proprietary research and are developed through analysis of historical public data.

The policy analysis provided by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., does not constitute and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any political party.

Indexes are unmanaged, do not incur management fees, costs, and expenses and cannot be invested in directly. For more information on indexes, please see schwab.com/indexdefinitions 

Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) are inflation-linked securities issued by the US Government whose principal value is adjusted periodically in accordance with the rise and fall in the inflation rate. Thus, the dividend amount payable is also impacted by variations in the inflation rate, as it is based upon the principal value of the bond. It may fluctuate up or down. Repayment at maturity is guaranteed by the US Government and may be adjusted for inflation to become the greater of the original face amount at issuance or that face amount plus an adjustment for inflation. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities are guaranteed by the US Government, but inflation-protected bond funds do not provide such a guarantee.

(0726-F5V5)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Categories
Uncategorized

Welcome to the Next Temperamental Era

In this episode, Liz Ann Sonders and Collin Martin discuss what may be one of the most important long-term shifts facing investors: the end of the “Great Moderation” Era, the roughly 25-year period characterized by globalization, low inflation, relatively stable economic growth, and favorable conditions for both stocks and bonds. Liz Ann argues that investors may be entering a more “Temperamental” Era marked by greater inflation volatility, shifting supply chains, geopolitical disruptions, and a different relationship between bond yields and stock prices.¬†

The conversation explores how globalization, abundant labor, cheap goods, and plentiful energy helped suppress inflation for decades‚Äîand why those forces may be fading. Collin then examines the bond market, highlighting why Treasury yields remain elevated even as oil prices have retreated from recent highs. Inflation pressures beyond energy, resilient economic growth, and expectations for Federal Reserve policy are helping keep yields high. Finally, Collin and Liz Ann preview earnings season and next week’s economic calendar.¬†

Visit Schwab.com to read the article by Liz Ann Sonders and Kevin Gordon titled “Great Moderation Era: Drift(ing) Away.”

On Investing is an original podcast from Charles Schwab. For more on the show, visit schwab.com/OnInvesting. 

If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts.

Important Disclosures

This material is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The securities, investment products and investment strategies mentioned are not suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decisions.

All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic or political conditions. Data contained herein from third party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. 

Performance may be affected by risks associated with non-diversification, including investments in specific countries or sectors. Additional risks may also include, but are not limited to, investments in foreign securities, especially emerging markets, real estate investment trusts (REITs), fixed income, municipal securities including state specific municipal securities, small capitalization securities and commodities. Each individual investor should consider these risks carefully before investing in a particular security or strategy.

Fixed income securities are subject to increased loss of principal during periods of rising interest rates. Fixed income investments are subject to various other risks including changes in credit quality, market valuations, liquidity, prepayments, early redemption, corporate events, tax ramifications, and other factors. Lower rated securities are subject to greater credit risk, default risk, and liquidity risk.

Diversification and asset allocation do not ensure a profit and do not protect against losses in declining markets.

All names and market data shown are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

Forecasts contained herein are for illustrative purposes only, may be based upon proprietary research and are developed through analysis of historical public data.

The policy analysis provided by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., does not constitute and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any political party.

Indexes are unmanaged, do not incur management fees, costs, and expenses and cannot be invested in directly. For more information on indexes, please see schwab.com/indexdefinitions 

A hyperscaler is a large-scale cloud service provider that offers vast computing, storage, and networking resources through a distributed infrastructure of interconnected servers and software.

(0726-B8XL)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Categories
Uncategorized

What Can America’s First 250 Years Teach Us?

What can America’s first 250 years teach investors? In this special Independence Day episode, Mark Riepe examines key moments in U.S. economic and financial history, including national debt, inflation, currency, taxation, tariffs, and personal finance. Through stories spanning the Revolutionary War to the 20th century, he highlights the people, policies, and financial decisions that helped shape the nation‚Äîand the lessons they still offer today.

After you listen:

  • Curious how today’s policy debates connect to the markets? Listen to the WashingtonWise podcast for Mike Townsend’s analysis of the issues shaping investors’ decisions.

Financial Decoder is an original podcast from Charles Schwab. 

If you enjoy the show, please leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts.

Reach out to Mark on X @MarkRiepe with your thoughts on the show.

Follow Financial Decoder on Spotify to comment on episodes.

Important Disclosures

This material is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned are not suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decisions.

All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic or political conditions.

The policy analysis provided by the Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., does not constitute and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any political party.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

‚ÄãPast performance is no guarantee of future results.

The Schwab Center for Financial Research is a division of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

0726-89T4

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.