Money Life With Chuck Jaffe Daily Podcast

Darrell Cronk, chief investment officer at Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management -- president of the Wells Fargo Investment Institute -- says the market's current rally has it ahead of where it should be, and he expects a slowdown both for the economy and the stock market early in 2024, lasting until the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates and stimulates the economy, kicking off a strong second half of the year. In discussing Wells Fargo's outlook for 2024, Cronk recommends that investors keep some dry powder waiting for that inflection point. Tom Lydon, vice chairman at VettaFi looks to a genomics fund that has been a bit out of favor for his ETF of the Week, noting that he thinks the fund and the area it invests in are ready for a takeoff. Plus, Glenn Tompkins, senior global market strategist at VectorVest makes his debut in the Market Call, and Chuck has a surprise extra segment based on the day's headlines.

Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise Asset Management -- the nation's largest crypto index fund manager -- says that cryptocurrency has historically moved in four-year cycles, with a big move upwards followed by a big reset. Last year, when crypto suffered losses bigger than the down market, was the setback; now crypto assets are in the recovery phase -- which he says most investors aren't paying attention to -- setting up "a significant and sustained bull run in crypto." Also on the show, Brendan Ahern, chief investment officer, KraneShares -- the editor of ChinaLastNight.com -- says that a four-year losing streak in China has positioned the market there as a global value play, noting that he thinks many investors are lost in the headlines over trade concerns and focusing portfolios on the "very crowded trade" of U.S. markets rather than eyeing the potential for an economic turnaround/comeback in China. In the Market Call, portfolio manager Brian Mulberry of Zacks Investment Management, talks abo

Jurrien Timmer, director of global macro at Fidelity Investments, says that at surface levels it looks "like the Fed will stick the soft landing," but he notes that the markets "are primed and priced for that," and if the central bank falls short on its goals and inflation is more persistent than expected, that could be where trouble shows up for the stock market. Timmer says that part of his outlook on the Federal Reserve is that many of the conditions that lead to recession have played out, but have happened in fits and starts, allowing the economy to get through trouble without, on the whole, falling into a full recession. He expects that to continue -- at least delaying any recession if not postponing it indefinitely -- as the economy works through its remaining trouble spots. Also on the show, Toni Turner, president of TrendStar Group, says she expects the market to challenge new highs during a Santa Claus rally, though she does expect the market "to pull into a rest stop soon." Plus, David Snowball, fou

Michael Rosen, chief investment officer at Angeles Investments, says that while he believes the Federal Reserve is done increasing interest rates, it's not yet close to cutting them, and investors will want to lock in good returns for the longer term, so he is starting to lengthen maturities now to protect against reinvestment risk. Rosen notes that he does not currently expect a severe economic downturn in 2024, because he doesn't see the major imbalances or problems that typically cause a recession. Also on the show, Ted Rossman discusses a new Bankrate.com study which shows that holiday tipping -- annual gifts to service workers people see regularly rather than the kind of tipping that happens in restaurants -- is on the rise this season, despite economic conditions which would seem to motivate pullbacks, David Trainer of New Constructs weighs in on energy -- the top sector for stocks right now -- and real estate (the worst) in The Danger Zone, and Peter Tuz, president of Chase Investment Counsel, talks ab

Axel Merk, president and chief investment officer of the Merk Funds and Merk Investments, says that "higher for longer is not a strategy," which means that the Federal Reserve is setting up investors for a longer-lasting fallout than investors expect now. As a result, Merk says that the downside risk of the market right now is much greater than the upside potential now. Jeff Bishop of Raging Bull and Bullseye Trades sees the market as taking a small setback before the start of a Santa Claus rally that carries into the New Year, portending a strong year ahead for the market in 2024. Plus, Mike Taggart, closed-end fund specialist at Aberdeen, says that discounts in closed-end funds are "overplayed," and that investors who focus instead on income will likely be happier with the long-term outcome from their investments, and Patrick Healey, president of Caliber Financial Partners, talks stocks in the Market Call.

Jay Jacobs, U.S. Head of Thematic and Active Equity ETFs at BlackRock, says in The Big Interview that artificial intelligence will move from the early stage where people are investing because they love the concept into its commercialization phase where investors are attracted by the profits as they see new technologies emerge and start to take hold in 2024. Among his other investment themes for the year ahead, medical innovation, which he also expects to be helped along by the use of AI. Also on the show, Tom Lydon, vice chairman at VettaFi looks at what's glittering now with his ETF of the Week, Will Hansen of the Plan Sponsor Council of America discusses the group’s 66th Annual Survey of Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plans, which shows that Americans' have cut back on savings with the end of pandemic-driven stimulus dollars, and Amber Fairbanks of Impax Asset Management -- co-manager of the firm's new Global Social Leaders fund -- talks stocks in the Market Call.

Alan McKnight, chief investment officer at Regions Asset Management, sees a series of rolling recession hitting certain sectors and industries in 2024, but does not see a broad-based, classic and deep recession akin to one triggered by the Great Financial Crisis of 2008. He's not alone in suggesting the economy can escape next year without a recession, as Charlie Bobrinskoy, vice chairman at Ariel Investments says in the Market Call that he believes the stock market and economy are strong enough to put off a widespread and meaningful downturn for another year. Plus, the show starts with Jamila Soufrant, discussing her new book "Your Journey to Financial Freedom: A Step-by-Step Guide to Achieving Wealth and Happiness" and she offers some advice for listeners, no matter where they are on their own journey toward financial independence.

John Petrides, portfolio manager at Tocqueville Asset Management, says that both stocks and bonds are relatively cheap right now, noting that if you back out the companies that have led the market this year -- the so-called "Magnificent Seven" --  stocks are trading at about 14 times earnings, which is a discount to where the market has been since the 1950s. Petrides says the biggest issues for 2024 will be whether the Federal Reserve can stick the landing without throwing the economy into recession and the outcome of the presidential election, but he doesn't think either of those will necessarily derail the market, with trouble more likely to arrive later in the year. Also on the show, Robin Saks Frankel discusses a recent USA Today Blueprint study showing that parents are supporting adult children to the tune of $718, on average, per month, long-time options trader Tony Saliba of Liquid Mercury makes his debut on the show talking technical analysis, and Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, talks E

Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab & Co., says the best situation for the economy and market is 'a continuation of the roll through,' where rolling recessions allow some sectors to rebound while current weakness plays out. Sonders notes that while others include the presidential election cycle into their thinking, she doesn't put much emphasis on the election especially when there are constraints -- like debt, deficit and interest costs -- that make it hard for politicians to make any needle-moving actions. In The Danger Zone, David Trainer looks at understated profits, and offers up a stock where investors are at risk of missing out on a strong buying opportunity. In the Market Call, Andrew Graham, founder / portfolio manager at Jackson Square Capital, talks stocks.

Quincy Krosby, chief global strategist at LPL Financial, says that rolling recessions haven't eliminated the possibility of a true, classic recession but she doesn't think there will be anything more than a shallow downturn in 2024 as the economy continues slowing to resolve inflation and other headline issues. She expects stocks to deliver "a comfortable return" in 2024, but with volatility and a "healthy" move toward equilibrium. Don Vandenbord, chief investment officer at Revere Asset Management, makes his debut on the show talking technicals and notes that short-term trends are all strong and that the market's recent run shows that performance is broadening out, which is a bullish sign. He sees mostly positives, although the longest-term indicators he follows have not yet turned fully green. Axel Merk of the ASA Gold and Precious Metals, says that gold prices are most tightly correlated to "the confidence the market has in the central bank to manage inflation over time," so gold's rally over the last six

Barry Bannister, chief equity strategist at Stifel, says that the stock market "is a couple of hundred points ahead of where we should be," which means there's not a lot of upside here, but he does expect the factors driving the market to keep shifting away from growth and more towards value stocks. He says value and international stocks move together, and he expects them to turn positive now as value, international and small-cap stocks have been oversold. In the ETF of the Week, Tom Lydon of VettaFi says there is no place like home, and no sector like home builders. And in the Market Callm Jonathan Smucker of Marietta Investment Partners talks about using macro factors to guide asset-allocation decisions before applying fundamentals and a bottoms-up approach to pick actual investments.

Steven Dover, chief market strategist at Franklin Templeton and head of the Franklin Templeton Investment Institute -- says the stock market currently is priced for perfection that is unlikely to happen, noting that there has never been a time when the economy has slowed down but earnings have increased, but with consensus earnings growth estimates running in double digits, something appears to be off-kilter now.  That makes Dover cautious on stocks, though he acknowledges that dividend-paying stocks and slow-and-steady stocks should be solid performers. Also on the show, Amanda Agati, chief investment officer at PNC Asset Management Group, discusses the firm's 40th annual Christmas Price Index, comparing inflation in the broad economy to the price hikes that someone faces if they try to buy all the gifts in "The 12 Days of Christmas." And in the Market Call, Roger Conrad of Conrad’s Utility Investor talks about income-producers in utility and energy companies, REITs and more.

Two different analysts -- looking at the economy and market from varying viewpoints -- agree on today's show that there is trouble ahead for the stock market and economy in 2024, and that the election cycle -- which historically holds that presidential election years are good times for the market -- isn't going to be able to keep trouble at bay until 2025. Erik Weisman, chief economist and portfolio manager at MFS Investments, says that the Federal Reserve's actions have postponed recession and a reasonably soft landing into 2024, but notes that he is looking for safe havens in bonds -- where he is looking longer term despite the inverted yield curve -- to ride out troubles. Meanwhile, Tom McClellan, editor of The McClellan Market Report, says that he expects a few more months of solid markets, particularly in large-cap stocks, before things turn and start a widespread decline that should start late in 2024 and that could last into 2026. Also on the show, Chuck answers a listener's question about finding ways

It's Cyber Monday and Chuck offers an alternative to the usual gift-buying pattern by talking about how savers and investors can now give gifts of stock easily and efficiently, teaching children and young adults like-long lessons about saving and investing. Moreover, Ted Rossman of Bankrate.com stops by and discusses gifts from the past that haven't worked out so well, based on the site's research showing that Americans routinely have gift cards they have not used. Plus, Jeffrey Hirsch of Hirsch Holdings returns to the show to discuss the latest edition of the Stock Trader's Almanac, and we revisit a recent conversation with Brad Lamensdorf of The Lamensdorf Market Timing Report.

Clyde McGregor, portfolio manager for the Oakmark Equity and Income fund -- who is retiring at the end of the year -- returns to Money life noting that one of his former partners liked to say that "The hardest time to invest is always right now." That's how he feels today, with stocks feeling expensive and with so much money piled into the top stocks in the big indexes -- because past times when there was that concentration have played out poorly for the broad market -- but he notes that his fund is moving out of growthier companies he bought on sale last year to stocks that have done poorly this year but which are positioned for good returns moving forward. Celebrating Black Friday the Money Life way, Chuck goes discount shopping in closed-end funds with John Cole Scott, president of Closed-End Fund Advisors -- chairman of the Active Investment Company Alliance -- examining three funds to determine whether big current discounts represent a real deal, an average play or a fake-out. Plus, Maya Corbic, author o

Jeffrey Hirsch, editor of the Stock Trader's Almanac, says that the stock market is right on track with expected calendar effects, which he sees as continuing through a Santa Claus rally and a positive January Barometer -- which portends a good year ahead for 2024. Further, citing the history of election-year market patterns, Hirsch says he expects the market to stay strong during 2024, holding off a recession and a bear market until 2025. That would be in keeping with classic election-cycle patterns. Also on the show, Tom Lydon, vice chairman at VettaFi, looks toward international small caps -- an area that has recovered to where the trend is turning positive -- for his ETF of the Week, and Adam Rozencwajg of Goehring and Rozencwajg talks natural resources and commodities investing in an extended Big Interview.

Brent Schutte, chief investment strategist at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co., says a recession is likely for 2024, which will create some market pain as it extinguishes "the final embers of inflation which aren't burned out yet, namely wage growth." Schutte expects the market to struggle but notes that conditions are great for fixed income, though he warns against investors hiding in the short-end of the yield curve because rates will start to change next year, and investors who are focused on making the highest yield now will wind up facing reinvestment risk once the yield curve flattens or reverses its current inversion. Meanwhile, talking technicals, Brad Lamensdorf of the Lamensdorf Market-Timing Report and the Ranger Equity Bear ETF says the market is due for "a scary moment" likely in the spring or the summer of 2024, when there is a value reset. Lamensdorf notes that "We don't need a recession to have a 20 or 25 percent correction and I think one of those probably is due next year at some po

George Kinder, president of The Kinder Institute of Life Planning and one of the leading lights in the financial planning industry, talks about his new initiative, "Fiduciary in All Things," which seeks to apply a fiduciary standard to more than just money relationships. While most stripes of financial adviser have an obligation to act as a fiduciary -- meaning they put the client's interest ahead of their own -- Kinder believes a straightforward golden-rule like standard cold help restore civility in politics and society, would make consumers happy and would make politicians more interested in serving their voters than being reelected by them. Also on the show, Lily Vittayarukskul, chief executive officer at Waterlily -- which won the FinTech competition at the recent FinCon conference -- discusses the real costs of long-term care and how families making care decisions need to think beyond insurance to do a thorough analysis, plus Ed Slott of IRAhelp.com returns to the show to answer another question from a

Financial journalist Allan Sloan, a seven-time winner of the Loeb Award -- business journalism's highest honor -- discusses his recent Fast Company column sizing up just how much money Elon Musk and his investors have lost in his dalliance with Twitter, and while the huge losses won't impact Musk's net worth, how bad deals like this do impact real people and ordinary investors who fall for the hype of a successful entrepreneur. Bryce Doty, senior portfolio manager at Sit Investments, returns to the show discussing closed-end funds and the massive discounts on muni funds -- currently at roughly 13.5 percent, compared to a historic average of about 4 percent -- and what has to happen for investors to profit from those discounts narrowing. Also returning to the show, Nancy Tengler, chief investment officer at Laffer Tengler Investments, who today discusses "The Women's Guide to Successful Investing,” which she recently updated with a second edition. Plus, Ed Slott of IRAhelp.com is back to answer another questi

Dec Mullarkey, head of investment strategy and asset allocation at SLC Investments, says rate volatility has driven most market activity this year, and now the stock market is pricing in interest rate cuts toward the end of 2024. He thinks that timing is about right, but he notes that the market's fortunes for next year will rest almost entirely on the Federal Reserve, with the market understanding that the central bank has "reserved the right to be tougher here.  Also on the show, Tom Lydon, vice chairman at VettaFi has his ETF of the Week, and the VCR he's discussing is not the one gathering dust in your basement, economist Lawrence Marsh discusses his book "Money Flow in a Dynamic Economy," and how changes in the way money is moving have altered the picture for both the country and the world -- and how further changes could solve many of those problems -- plus Stan Haithcock "Stan the Annuity Man" returns to answer a personal question from Chuck about whether to take a lump-sum buyout offer on an old pensi