The W.I.P.: Recent Episodes
Walter
The W.I.P. cracks into the week’s must know investment news. Hosted by Walter, new episodes are available every Friday.
THE W.I.P. RSS Domenico discusses farming in western Michigan, storytelling, and much much more.
THE W.I.P. RSS Kyle discusses the benefits of real estate as an investment and much more
THE W.I.P. RSS The CEO and President of Centennial discusses giving and fostering a vibrant community.
THE W.I.P. RSS Guest interviewer asks Walter about work, life, and the best question he’s never been asked.
THE W.I.P. RSS Josh Sapp discusses the state of the Labor movement, benefits of unionization, and much more.
Nvidia released blowout earnings which sent the stock to record highs. Nividia’s results are also impacting other big tech companies — who are the winners and losers? The annual Jackson Hole Economic Symposium is back, and Fed watchers will be listening closely to Jerome Powell’s comments. We preview the event and what Powell is expected to say. A listener asked about the stock market and next year’s election. How do equities perform in an election year and what should you do about it?
With the start of school upon us, we interview Certified College Financial Consultant Jeff Wierenga. Jeff discusses the ins and outs of how to save and invest for a child’s education plus much more. You don’t want to miss this informative conversation!
Apple and Amazon rounded out big tech’s earnings with very different results. Who is on the up and who is not? July’s CPI was a return to pre-pandemic normalcy. We look at last month’s prices and the implications for Fed rate policy. Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway is sitting on a historic pile of cash. Why is Buffett hoarding cash and what is his plan?
Bond trader Mike Ochoa has traded bonds since the 1980's and has just about seen it all when it comes to interest rates, market cycles, and building bond strategies. With rates at a 22 year high, how is a professional managing bonds?
Microsoft, Alphabet, and Meta all reported earnings this week. What is the state of Big Tech right now? The US economy is on a roll. How well is economy doing? The Fed raised rates this week to a 22 year high. Are we at the peak of interest rates?
China’s government released gloomy economic data for Q2. How reliable is the data, where are the economic bright spots, and why are the US and China talking again? AT&T and Verizon are having a rough moment. What is going on with legacy telecom? Many major companies released earnings this week. We look at who reported and how the auto, banking, and healthcare sectors are doing.
Jun’e inflation report showed inflation continuing to cool. What contributed to inflation’s recent decline? Google’s AI chatbot Bard is growing in usage. What is Bard and how is Google increasing its availability? The Dollar is at a 15 month low, but is a lower dollar bad? We look at the implications of a weakening greenback.
Booze is big business. We look at the industry in numbers, recent trends, and what changing consumer behavior may mean for the economy. The Supreme Court struck down the administration’s student debt forgiveness plan. What happens now? Important economic indicators were released this week. How will unemployment claims, consumer confidence, and personal consumption expenditures impact Fed rate policy?
Jerome Powell was questioned by the Senate Banking Committee on where interest rates are headed and future bank regulations. What did the Fed Chair say? The Yield Curve is the most inverted since this March. Why is this happening and why should you care? Darden Restaurants reported earnings this week. How is the consumer spending on dining out?
May’s inflation report showed prices cooling. Where is inflation slowing down and where is it sticking around? The Fed’s met this week and their language on interest rates was telling. What did the Fed say about where rates are headed? The EV charging station landscape made a BIG shift this week! We discuss who wins and who loses.
The S&P500 is up this year, but those gains come from just ten companies. Who is driving returns and what does that means for your portfolio? Vanguard’s Head of Fixed Income says that “bonds are back”. What reasons does she give for this claim? Finally, we answer a listener question!
THE W.I.P. RSS Brian Cox, CFA discusses his investment philosophy, opportunities in the market, and more.
The market rebounded after comments from Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. We discuss what Powell said, why the market rallied, and what comes next. Did you know the VIX is also known as the “fear index”? How does this index measure volatility? Finally, tax strategies for investors of all ages.
Crypto currency exchange FTX imploded in what will become a case study in corporate mismanagement. What lead to a $32B company’s demise and what next for crypto? Warren Buffett was busy in Q3. We look at his buys, sells, and what they mean for Berkshire’s portfolio. Tax Loss Harvesting season is upon us. How does this strategy work, what are the benefits, and should you be harvesting?
Inflation showed some signs of cooling last month. Where did prices drop, where are prices still going up, and how will the Fed react? The job market continues to defy economists’ predictions. Are signs of weakness starting? The midterms are over, hurrah! Now what? We discuss historical trends post midterm elections and how the next year could play out.
The Fed raised interest rates by an expected .75%, so investors were hoping for clues on when the Fed may stop raising rates. What guidance did Jerome Powell’s give? Government bonds are generally seen as boring. Not this year! Why? The biggest oil companies are raking in historic profits. Where is the money going?
The IRS made the biggest Cost of Living Adjustments in decades for retirement accounts. What are the new limits for 2023? US listed shares of Chinese companies took a big hit this week after President Xi’s cabinet reshuffle. Why the negativity and where is the opportunity? Earnings this week were mixed, especially from some of Tech’s biggest players. We discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly.
30-year mortgage rates are now at a 20 year high of almost 7%. How have rate increases affected the housing market and who is being left out? Tesla announced plans for a big share buyback. Who will benefit from the buyback and what else was said on the earning’s call? BlackRock is the world’s largest asset manager and their size complicates relationships with investors and financial markets.
September’s inflation data was higher than expected, again. What’s contributing to higher prices and how will the Fed respond. Jamie Dimon weighed in on recession risk. What did JP Morgan’s CEO say? The October Effect suggests that this month is deadly for stocks. How did this theory come about and how much truth is really there?
US Debt hit a record high of $31T this month. How did we get here, who do we owe, and what should concern you? Elon Musk offered to honor his original buyout deal for Twitter. Why the change of heart and what next for this ongoing saga? Brazil’s stock market is red hot: can the good vibes continue and what could derail a rare bright spot for international investors?
Financial markets are treating the UK like a developing economy. Why the upheaval and what are the risks? Investor sentiment is extremely negative right now. Is this a contrarian indicator? Two metrics used to gauge the health of the US economy were revised this week. What do the new numbers suggest about the current health of the economy and what does the future hold?
The Fed raised raised rates by an anticipated 3/4 percent this week. What else did the Fed say, how did the stock market react, and how do you benefit? Supply chains are still recovering from pandemic-era constraints and companies are paying for it. We look at Ford’s latest supply chain pain as well as possible fixes to a global problem. The W.I.P. has over 1,000 subscribers and many more who tune in through investwithwalter.com. Thank you for listening!
August’s inflation number was larger than expected. Where is inflating squeezing consumers the most and what will be the Fed’s response when they meet next week? An economic calamity was avoided this week when a temporary arrangement kept rail workers on the job. What makes rail so important to the US economy? Quantitive strategists, or Quants for short, use statistical analysis to better understand how markets may perform. Quants from Sanford Bernstein made bold predictions regarding the future of the stock market and we review their results.
Apple launched new products this week, including the latest iPhone 14 and Apple Watch models. Historically, how has Apple’s stock price reacted to product launches? The results may surprise you! The European Central Bank increased interest rates by .75% on Thursday despite warnings of a looming recession and gas rationing this winter. What did the ECB say about future rate policy and how will those comments influence The US Fed when they meet later this month? The Four Day Work is not a new concept. We discuss past proponents, data from current trials, and what workers want most out of their jobs today.
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s comments at the economic symposium held in Jackson Hole, WY shook markets in a major way. What did Powell say, what do his comments tell about the Fed’s next policy moves, and are we paying too much attention to the Fed’s language? Spending on Military Defense is BIG business, with some of the US’s largest contractors reaping billions in profits. The War in Ukraine is proving profitable for a number of firms and we examine some of the biggest corporate beneficiaries. CA signaled a huge shift toward electric vehicles, effectively mandating that EVs be 100% of new cars sold by 2035. What does CA’s policy mean for the auto industry? America’s auto giants have spoken — find out what they said!
Tesla finalized a 3-1 stock split this week, with existing shareholders getting an additional two shares for every one they already owned. Tesla said that this will make their stock more accessible, but will it? The W.I.P. investigates. The White House announced plans to provide student debt relief. What is being proposed and what are the ramifications for this controversial program? Finally, we answer an audience question: are pensions still around? Yes! Despite being available to only 17% of private sector workers, pensions aARE widely available in other sectors. Where? Listen to find out!
Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway reported their second quarter stock trades to the SEC this week. We look at what Buffet bought, sold, and what those trades say about the “Oracle of Omaha’s” view of the market. Thanks to the “Wall Street Bets” Reddit forum, Bed Bath & Beyond has joined the meme stock craze. We discuss at the stock’s performance, analysts’ view of the company, and I give my perspective as a former day trader turned long-term investor. According to Boston University’s Center for Retirement Research, America has BIG retirement gap problem. How did the problem start and what are potential solutions to get Americans back on track?
The Fed has consistently raised interest rates all year to slow inflation. At what point does the raising stop? We discuss the peak in rates, called the terminal rate, and look at where and when the Fed could stop increasing. Out of nowhere, a big piece of economic legislation looks like being passed in Congress: The Inflation Reduction Act. What is the potential impact, who are the winners, and what is the projected cost? The market rebounded in a big way in July. Is this rally short-lived or the start of a longer upward move for stocks?
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by .75% on Wednesday. This was the second consecutive 3/4 point increase and was largely anticipated by markets. Why didn’t the Fed raise interest rates by more and what guidance was given on future rate hikes? Gross Domestic Product measures collective economic activity and is used to gauge if an economy is growing or shrinking. GDP shrank in Q2 and, after Q1’s decrease, could be accepted as announcing a recession. Economists disagree where the economy is headed and we discuss why. Gold has long been valued by humanity. What place does gold have in a portfolio and how does gold stack up as a long-term investment?
Congress debated a $52B bill in support of domestic semiconductor production. We look at what is this bill trying to achieve and how close it is to becoming reality. The European Central Bank raised interests rates for the first time in 11 years. How big is the Europe’s inflation problem and is the ECB’s plan to “front load” rate hikes a good one? Some of the world’s biggest companies reported earnings this week with varied results. There was, however, a general consensus in economic outlook: gloomy.
Inflation data from June showed that the year-over-year cost of living increased more than anytime in the last 40 years. We take a closer look at what factors contributed most, the cost to working Americans, and the possible policy response later this month. Elon Musk pulled out of his $44B bid to buy Twitter. What next for this deal gone very wrong? The Currency Exchange Market, or Forex, is called the “market that never sleeps”. We discuss the market for currencies, including the impact that global currency fluctuations have on investors.
The price of oil tumbled this week on recession fears slowing global demand. What are industry experts saying about oil prices? The Biden Administration proposed cutting tariffs on Chinese goods. Is reducing tariffs a political stunt or would it actually help lower inflation? We explore these questions and look at who would benefit from a rollback of Chinese tariffs. The tech-heavy NASDAQ is down by almost 30% this year. We take a deeper look at this index: it’s components, long-term performance, and the opportunities for investment.
Food industry giant Kellogg is breaking up into three separate companies in an effort to unlock growth. We discuss Kellogg’s plan for the future and the competition’s potential reaction. Companies exist who’s services are needed even in a slowing economy. We explore “recession-proof” industries to better understand what makes these companies so resilient. The Federal Reserve meets later this month and has already indicated that they will raise interest rates — again. What should you be aware of before the Fed makes it next move?
Every year, Americans are surveyed to better understand their preparedness for retirement. We look at recent data, discuss demographic differences, as well as how to plan on maximizing your golden years. June is almost over and so it’s “half-time” in 2022’s stock market. What does history suggest the next six months could have in store? Utilities are a basic necessity of everyday life. We review utility services, investment options, and market conditions for this important sector of investing.
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by .75% this week, the biggest single increase in almost 30 years. Why did the Fed raise more than was originally anticipated, how did the stock market react, and what comes next for interest rate policy? Robinhood stock is trading at all time lows. Why is the company worth less than their cash on hand and what comes next for the trading platform? Every month, The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases data on employment in the US. What does May’s report say about the economy’s health and how useful are labor statistics?
Corporations, like individuals, are spending down cash accumulated during the pandemic. Barclays reports which companies have cash in case the economy worsens and which companies don’t. The European Central Bank outlined plans to raise interest rates for the first time since 2011. What is the ECB’s rate strategy and will it slow record inflation in the Eurozone? Stock buybacks are on a record pace this year, with $1T in purchases expected by year end from S&P500 companies. We look at stock buybacks: how they work, their purpose, and who they benefit.
The CEOs of Bank of America, JPMorgan, and Goldman Sachs debated the future of the US economy. Who said what and what was the consensus? Sheryl Sandberg left her role as Meta COO this week. As one of the most visible women in corporate America, what does this mean for Facebook and what is her next career move? Small, mid, and Large Cap: we explore what these terms mean, why are they used, and the characteristics of stocks in each category.
Shares in Snap, the owner of the SnapChat App, tumbled this week after disappointing earnings. Other social media and advertising firms followed suit. What does this tell us about the economy? Ukraine is a major food producer and Russia’s military blockade is restricting corn and wheat exports. Who is most at risk of a food shortage? Large endowment funds, billionaires, and many in America’s heartland invest in farming. With a long term average return of 11.5% it is not hard to see why. We discuss the opportunities and risks for investing in farmland.
Many of American biggest retail companies announced earnings this week with disappointing results. What were the causes and what do they say about the state of the consumer? Fed Chairman Jerome Powell signaled that rates are going higher this week. Powell also provided a clearer indication of how those policy moves will impact the stock market. The US Housing market is running red hot despite higher rates. Why is this and what can be learned from the past?
April’s inflation data was released this week — what did it reveal? We look into the data and find both positives and negatives. Crypto currencies are in free fall. With this area of the market experiencing severe volatility, what should crypto investor expect and what will a test of their resolve mean for the digital currency marketplace? The US money supply has increased five fold in the last two years. We look at currency crises throughout history and how current economic dynamics could effect the US dollar.
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates this week. The half a point increase was largely expected, so what caused markets to soar on the news only to give back those gains the next day? Big Tech companies announced earnings with mixed results. We look at the winners and losers. Warren Buffet, arguably the most famous investor of all time, was busy in Q1 2022 buying $51B in stocks. What did he buy and what do his purchases tell us about his investment strategy?
Elon Musk’s offer to buy Twitter was accepted by the company’s board of directors. How will this purchase be financed, is it a done deal, and what are the implications for Tesla? A looming recession in America is being debated by economists. What are the factors that could lead to a recession and what positives could help stave off economic distress? Dividend investing was once considered only for retirees and low-risk investors. We discuss dividends and look at why this strategy may benefit a well-diversified portfolio.
Netflix stock dropped over 35% on Wednesday after announcing a surprise loss of users. Netflix is the work performing stock in the S&P500 year to date and is seeing increasing competition from other platforms. Elon’s takeover of Twitter has turned hostile, with the company using the “poison pill” technique to ward off the unwanted advances of the world’s richest man. How does a poison pill work and what is Elon really after? Stress tests were once only available to Wall Street’s elite. Now, this tool allows every day investors to “look back” at how their portfolio would have performed under the most extreme of circumstances. What can we learn from stress testing?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released Mach’s Consumer Price Index, and prices are up 8.5% year over year. How will policy makers react to record inflation? Inflation and rising interest rates have made for the worst bond market in decades. Charles Schwab suggests these conditions are creating opportunities in bonds. With tax day coming up, we discuss taxable investing strategies.
The Fed released minutes from their March meeting which highlighted reducing a $9T balance sheet. How will that process work and to what effect on the economy? Elon Musk announced a 9% stake in Twitter, making the world's richest man the micro-blogging site's biggest shareholder. What does Elon want with Twitter? EVs are the future and, right now, lithium-ion batteries power that reality -- consider these risks before investing.
The two year Treasury yield briefly exceeded the ten year. What does a yield curve inversion mean and what does this unique scenario portent? Tesla announces a stock split to keep its status as a retail investor darling. We discuss Roth vs. Traditional retirement accounts and three factors to consider when choosing between the two.
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates and outlined an agressive strategy to combat inflation. Crypto regulation is coming with stable coins and Central Bank Digital Currencies or CBDCs in focus. Cresco Labs buys Columbia Care for $2B, creating the largest legal marijuana company by revenue.
Multinational companies pulled back from Russia in a big way this week -- why the change of heart? February's inflation data is out, and prices continue to move higher at record pace. Electric truck manufacturer Rivian announces earnings this week. With the stock on a post IPO rollercoaster, let's look at what is expected by analysts.
What is SWIFT and what does Russia’s removal mean for its economy? A look at oil markets and price dynamics right now. The Fed meets this month and interest rates are going up, but by how much?
The Ukraine-Russia conflict is now full WAR and markets react. Corrections and Bear markets happen — what these terms mean and what history tell us may come next. Chinese tech giant Alibaba reports Q4 2021 earnings.
The Ukraine-Russia conflict, what is Stagflation and what history tell us about investments during this unique economic phenomenon, exploring International markets and investment opportunities.
Inflation roared back in January putting pressure of the FED to raise interest rates. Frontier and Spirit annouce a $6.6B merger. Peloton is under the mircoscope after the stock nosedives.
Companies report Q4 2021 results, Congress debates how they trade stocks & bonds, ESG Investing