WashingtonWise

Everyday investors are inundated with troubling news from around the world, but it’s hard to know what the impact could be on the U.S. economy and markets. Jeff Kleintop, Charles Schwab’s chief international strategist, joins host Mike Townsend to dive into China’s struggling economy, actions by central banks around the globe, trade concerns, elections in over 80 countries and the impact on policies, and what it all means for investors.

Mike looks at how the recent continuing resolution passed by Congress avoided a government shutdown but pushes the funding deadline to December 20 and into the hands of the "lame duck" session when Congress returns after the elections. Mike also looks at the bipartisan decision by the SEC to move to half-cent pricing on some stocks, and he shares insights on the latest efforts in Congress to provide a better regulatory structure and more protection for investors when it comes to cryptocurrency.

WashingtonWise is an original podcast for investors from Charles Schwab. For more on the series, visit schwab.com/WashingtonWise.

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

Important Disclosures

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.

The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. All expressions of opinion are subject to changes without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic, and geopolitical conditions. Data herein is obtained from what are considered reliable sources; however, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

Examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results and the opinions presented cannot be viewed as an indicator of future performance.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

International investments involve additional risks, which include differences in financial accounting standards, currency fluctuations, geopolitical risk, foreign taxes and regulations, and the potential for illiquid markets. Investing in emerging markets may accentuate these risks.

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.

Commodity-related products carry a high level of risk and are not suitable for all investors.

Commodity-related products may be extremely volatile, may be illiquid, and can be significantly affected by underlying commodity prices, world events, import controls, worldwide competition, government regulations, and economic conditions.

Digital currencies [such as bitcoin] are highly volatile and not backed by any central bank or government. Digital currencies lack many of the regulations and consumer protections that legal-tender currencies and regulated securities have. Due to the high level of risk, investors should view digital currencies as a purely speculative instrument.

Currency trading is speculative, volatile and not suitable for all investors.

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

All names and market data shown above are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

​This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal, or investment planning advice. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, you should consult with a qualified tax advisor, CPA, Financial Planner, or Investment Manager.

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

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

The MSCI United Kingdom Index captures the performance of the larg...

While most investors are thrilled with 2024's market performance, many are also anxious about the future, particularly with the uncertainty of how the incoming administration's policies could impact the markets. On the final WashingtonWise episode of the year, host Mike Townsend is joined by Kevin Gordon, Schwab's senior investment strategist, to discuss why the markets are more attuned than usual to the policy and political environment, and how investors should position themselves for a potential increase in market volatility in 2025. Mike and Kevin break down five major policy issues—immigration, tariffs, taxes, the budget deficit, and deregulation—and how the markets are thinking about the potential changes that could emerge from President-elect Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress. Kevin also offers his thoughts on how investors should approach 2025.

Check out the 2025 outlook article from Kevin and Liz Ann: "U.S. Stocks and Economy 2025 Outlook."

WashingtonWise is an original podcast for investors from Charles Schwab. For more on the series, visit schwab.com/WashingtonWise.

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

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES:

Investors should consider carefully information contained in the prospectus, or if available, the summary prospectus, including investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. You can request a prospectus by calling 800-435-4000. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

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.

The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. All expressions of opinion are subject to changes without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic, and geopolitical conditions. Data herein is obtained from what are considered reliable sources; however, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

Examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

All names and market data shown above are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

The information and content provided herein is general in nature and is for informational purposes only. It is not intended, and should not be construed, as a specific recommendation, individualized tax, legal, or investment advice. Tax laws are subject to change, either prospectively or retroactively. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, individuals should contact their own professional tax and investment advisors or other professionals (CPA, Financial Planner, Investment Manager) to help answer questions about specific situations or needs prior to taking any action based upon this information.

Diversification and asset allocation strategies do not ensure a profit and cannot protect against losses in a declining market.

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, small capitalization securities and commodities. Each individual investor should consider these risks carefully before investing in a particular security or strategy.

Rebalancing does not protect against losses or guarantee that an investor's goal will be met. 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.

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

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.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results and the opinions presented cannot be viewed as an indicator of future performance.

T...

For investors, 2024 has more than its share of unknowns, including what steps the Fed and other central banks will take, the direction of ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and how elections both in the U.S. and more than 60 countries around the world will play out. These unpredictable factors can lead to volatility in the markets and anxiety for investors, which can contribute to poor decisions. One way for investors to navigate a challenging environment is to understand how fund managers make decisions when facing uncertainty. On today’s episode, host Mike Townsend talks with Omar Aguilar, CEO and chief investment officer at Schwab Asset Management, about how fund managers keep their emotions in check when volatility increases. They discuss how to diversify when it feels like every investor is invested in the same small number of companies, what to watch for in the first quarter earnings season, and whether now is the time to put some cash that has been earning decent returns back into the market. They also talk about how staying invested, staying diversified, and staying disciplined are critical to reaching your investing goals during times of market stress.

Mike also provides updates from Washington on the latest talks to avert a looming government shutdown and the president’s request for emergency aid for Ukraine, Israel, and other global priorities.

WashingtonWise is an original podcast for investors from Charles Schwab. For more on the series, visit Schwab.com/WashingtonWise.

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

Important Disclosures

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.

The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. All expressions of opinion are subject to changes without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic, and geopolitical conditions. Data herein is obtained from what are considered reliable sources; however, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

Examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results and the opinions presented cannot be viewed as an indicator of future performance.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

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

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

Small cap investments are subject to greater volatility than those in other asset categories.

​Commodity-related products carry a high level of risk and are not suitable for all investors. Commodity-related products may be extremely volatile, may be illiquid, and can be significantly affected by underlying commodity prices, world events, import controls, worldwide competition, government regulations, and economic conditions.

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

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

All names and market data shown above are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal, or investment planning advice. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, you should consult with a qualified tax advisor, CPA, Financial Planner, or Investment Manager.

Rebalancing does not protect against losses or guarantee that an investor’s goal will be met. 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.

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

In this episode of WashingtonWise Investor, Annie Liu, Schwab regional branch executive in Bellevue, Washington, joins Mike Townsend to address some of the most pressing concerns that clients have—including buying bonds when yields are so low, tilting your portfolio to be more defensive, and taking advantage of special provisions in the CARES Act.

Mike also shares his insights on what’s likely coming in the next stimulus bills for individuals and small businesses, as well as the continued disruption of the primary process.

WashingtonWise Investor is an original podcast from Charles Schwab. For more on the series, visit Schwab.com/WashingtonWise.

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

Important Disclosures

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

The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision.

All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market 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. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results and the opinions presented cannot be viewed as an indicator of future performance.

Examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve.

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

Diversification, asset allocation, and rebalancing a portfolio cannot assure a profit or protect against a loss in any given market environment. Rebalancing may cause investors to incur transaction costs and, when rebalancing a non-retirement account, taxable events may be created that may affect your tax liability.

Investing involves risk including loss of principal.

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. High-yield bonds and lower rated securities are subject to greater credit risk, default risk, and liquidity risk.

Tax-exempt bonds are not necessarily a suitable investment for all persons. Information related to a security's tax-exempt status (federal and in-state) is obtained from third-parties and Schwab does not guarantee its accuracy. Tax-exempt income may be subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). Capital appreciation from bond funds and discounted bonds may be subject to state or local taxes. Capital gains are not exempt from federal income tax.

Preferred securities generally have lower credit ratings and a lower claim to assets than the issuer's individual bonds. Often have higher yields than the firm's individual bonds due to these risk characteristics. Preferred securities are often callable, meaning the issuing company may redeem the security at a certain price after a certain date. Such call features may affect yield. Like bonds, prices of preferred securities tend to move inversely with interest rates, so they are subject to increased loss of principal during periods of rising interest rates. Investment value will fluctuate, and preferred securities, when sold before maturity, may be worth more or less than original cost. Preferred securities are subject to various other risks including changes in interest rates and credit quality, default risks, market valuations, liquidity, prepayments, early redemption, deferral risk, corporate events, tax ramifications, and other factors.

Commodity-related products, including futures, carry a high level of risk and are not suitable for all investors. Commodity-related products may be extremely volatile, illiquid and can be significantly affected by underlying commodity prices, world events, import controls, worldwide competition, governmen...

In this episode of WashingtonWise Investor, Mike Townsend is joined by Marianne Hayes, senior strategist in Schwab’s Wealth Strategy group, to discuss the impact of the coronavirus on small businesses and the 120 million people they employ. Mike and Marianne dive into the government’s efforts to support small businesses during the closures and consider how well they are working, as well as what the small-business segment of the economy may look like in the future.

Mike also covers the next round of stimulus—the CARES Act 2—that is being debated in Congress. And he addresses 2020 Election challenges in the era of stay-at-home orders.

WashingtonWise Investor is an original podcast from Charles Schwab. For more on the series, visit Schwab.com/WashingtonWise.

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

Important Disclosures

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

The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision.

All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market 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. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results and the opinions presented cannot be viewed as an indicator of future performance.

Examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve.

Investing involves risk including loss of principal.

This information does not constitute and is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal, or investment planning advice. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, Schwab recommends consultation with a qualified tax advisor, CPA, financial planner, or investment manager.

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