For What It's Worth

As we head into the (statistically) most charitable time of the year, aggregate U.S. giving is poised for a rebound from last year's softened figures. Nicole Hisler, director of charitable solutions at Raymond James Trust, discusses philanthropic trends and important reminders for year-round generosity. [Recorded Aug. 17, 2023]

How do fraudsters compromise email accounts, and what steps can you take to protect yours? Review timeless tips for sidestepping both high- and low-tech scams, courtesy of Christa Far, Raymond James director of anti-money laundering and financial crimes management. [Recorded Aug. 15, 2023]

Essential estate planning documents help ensure your intentions will be honored, especially if you're not in a position to express them yourself. Liz Ochoa, Raymond James private wealth strategist, discusses the differences between some of these powerful documents and shares which ones should be established as early as age 18. [Recorded Aug. 3, 2023]

When it comes to planning for the future of your wealth – and the impact it will have beyond your lifetime – what matters most? Joe Weaver, president of Raymond James Trust, discusses the critical role that proactive communication plays in a successful wealth transfer. [Recorded July 27, 2023]

All three major U.S. equity indices showed remarkable strength through the first half of 2023. Can they sustain this level of performance, or is a long-predicted recession lurking in the quarters ahead? Raymond James Chief Investment Officer Larry Adam shares his midyear investing outlook. [Recorded July 11, 2023]

Did you know that American forests offset 12% of total U.S. emissions? With wildfires back in the headlines, Energy Analyst Pavel Molchanov discusses the crucial role of reforestation efforts. [Recorded June 14, 2023]

Powered by generative artificial intelligence, OpenAI's ChatGPT has demolished prior records while becoming the fastest consumer application in history to reach 100 million users. What's behind its meteoric rise? Kemal Kvakic, Raymond James IT head of innovation, discusses what sets this innovation apart – and what risks it poses. [Recorded April 6, 2023]

Determining how you want your wealth distributed at the time of your passing can be challenging and emotional. For many families, this complexity is heightened by the presence of addiction or substance abuse among heirs. Will Lucius, chief trust officer at Raymond James Trust, discusses planning approaches available to affected families and why they may choose to include or exclude specific substance abuse provisions in their estate documents. [Recorded Feb. 21, 2023]

Raymond James Chief Investment Officer Larry Adam expects the U.S. economy to experience a recession this year – but he also forecasts a base case S&P 500 return of nearly 15%. What's powering this dual-faceted outlook? Hear his perspective in the latest episode of For What It's Worth. [Recorded Jan. 31, 2023]

Outsized stock positions arise in various ways, including business ownership, inheritance and investment performance over time. Ben Crayton, director of structured investments product management at Raymond James, outlines strategies that can mitigate related risks, including approaches that allow for continued ownership of the shares in question. [Recorded Oct. 5, 2022]

Billionaires' public pledges make headlines, but strategic and impactful philanthropy isn't exclusive to celebrities. Nicole Hisler, director of charitable giving at Raymond James Trust, discusses how families craft thoughtful, proactive giving plans tailored to the causes they value most. [Recorded Nov. 1, 2022]

What Medicare decisions have to be made if you retire early? Continue working beyond age 65? Care for young children? Contribute to an HSA? Tim Brady, Raymond James private wealth consultant, walks through important considerations. [Recorded 10/11/22]

The FBI reported last year's potential cybercrime losses at nearly $7 billion – and Chief IT Security Officer Todd Ferguson believes that to be an underestimation. Learn about common scams and how you can help keep vulnerable loved ones safe. [Recorded 10/12/22]

Downside volatility has reappeared with markets responding sharply to Fed comments about the future of interest rates. Raymond James CIO Larry Adam discusses the outlook for inflation, U.S. consumer strength and various sectors. [Recorded 8/31/22]

Is the war in Ukraine responsible for soaring gas prices? How do U.S. economic conditions affect the global oil market? And what does it all mean for decarbonization? Raymond James director and energy analyst Pavel Molchanov offers his perspective. [Recorded 6/2/22]

Supporting an aging parent or less-independent loved one can be a mutually meaningful experience. Providing that care also comes with emotional, physical and financial costs to consider. Amanda Stahl, director of longevity planning at Raymond James, discusses the growing population of caregivers and the resources available to help them. [Recorded 4/6/22]

Younger generations aren't the only ones balancing the benefits of technological innovation with drawbacks like digital addiction, privacy concerns and mental health effects. Dr. Joe Coughlin, founder and director of the MIT AgeLab, discusses how future technological advances may affect the well-being of older individuals. [Recorded 12/2/21]

Creating products that better fit the needs of older people isn't just a nice thing to do – it's a tremendous economic opportunity, one that offers wins for businesses and consumers alike. Dr. Joe Coughlin, founder and director of the MIT AgeLab, explains why retirees are “the world's most misunderstood market.” [Recorded 12/2/21]

Everyone has expectations about what their golden years will look like. But too often, retirement is thought of as a finish line – a destination, rather than a new, decades-long phase of life. Dr. Joe Coughlin, founder and director of the MIT AgeLab, discusses the ways in which investors – and society – often miss the mark when it comes to retirement reality. [Recorded 12/2/21]

Is the Federal Reserve concerned about price levels? What's the significance of asset purchases ending? Will supply chain struggles resolve? Raymond James Chief Economist Dr. Scott Brown shares his outlook for 2022. [Recorded 12/8/21]

In the second installation of this two-part feature about the LIBOR transition, you'll hear from Bill Geis, head of private client banking at Raymond James Bank, who details how the move will affect individual and corporate borrowers. [Recorded 10/19/21]

LIBOR, the London Interbank Offered Rate, has been a primary benchmark in financial markets since the early 1980s. But it's being phased out. Why is the industry moving away from LIBOR? What will replace it? And what will this transition mean for investors, borrowers and banks? In the first installation of this two-part feature, Greg Sitrin, head of fixed income trading at Raymond James, discusses the reasons behind the shift and implications for investors holding LIBOR-tied securities and contracts. [Recorded 10/22/21]

Your individualized Social Security strategy should reflect your life expectancy, work history, spousal situation and tax profile. Bob Spence, manager of Raymond James' financial planning consultant team, sheds some light on this important and complex retirement income source. [Recorded 7/29/21]

How do COVID-19 vaccines perform against the delta variant? When is FDA approval expected? And is herd immunity really achievable? Raymond James Biotechnology Analyst Steve Seedhouse, Ph.D., addresses these questions and more in the latest episode of For What It's Worth. Hear him discuss the latest data around vaccine effectiveness, the transition from pandemic to possible endemic and how COVID-prompted innovation may open the door for the prevention of other illnesses. [Recorded 8/3/21]

In the last year, the oil market has contended with a pandemic, pipeline cyberattack and significant Iranian election. Raymond James Energy Analyst Pavel Molchanov discusses how these inflection points have impacted the industry. [Recorded 6/21/21]

Your trusted financial institutions should have solid privacy protocols in place. But you can take steps to protect sensitive information on your end, too. Hear from Raymond James Chief Privacy Officer Rob Patchett. [Recorded 5/13/21]

What can long-term investors expect in terms of tax adjustments, regulation changes and additional economic stimulus? Raymond James Washington Policy Analyst Ed Mills weighs in. [Recorded 5/11/21]

For people with disabilities, establishing a holistic wealth strategy can be all the more important, explains Will Lucius, director of special needs trusts at Raymond James Trust. These investors often face additional planning considerations that include aid eligibility, benefits coordination, income replacement and coverage of disability-related expenses. [Recorded 3/25/21]

The current U.S. housing market reflects a perfect storm of demand – the virus has led buyers of all ages to seek larger residences for work and relaxation as low interest rates and demographic factors add fuel to the fire. Bill Geis, head of private client banking at Raymond James Bank, discusses this sudden reversal of prior trends. [Recorded 1/21/21]

Raymond James Stadium will host America’s biggest football game on Sunday, February 7 in Tampa Bay. But how does this monumental event come together – especially amid a pandemic that’s rewritten the logistical rulebook? In this special edition episode, Peter O’Reilly, NFL executive vice president of club business and league events, offers a glimpse into the planning (and problem solving) that’s made this year’s game possible. [Recorded 1/28/21]

Surprisingly, U.S. equities notched strong annual growth in 2020. Will domestic and global financial markets push even higher in 2021? Raymond James CIO Larry Adam offers his outlook. [Recorded 1/13/21]

“We've had an increase in savings over the last year because people haven't been able to spend money,” explains Raymond James Chief Economist Dr. Scott Brown. “So that should be able to fuel a lot of the spending in recovery, probably more so in the second half of next year.” [Recorded 12/18/20]

Individuals can spot warning signs. Communities can offer training and education. Financial firms can report red flags. Learn more about this crime and the work being done to eliminate it. Anna Manning, director within Raymond James’ anti-money laundering and financial crimes management team, offers her perspective. [Recorded 10/22/20]

Investors of all ages and professions can be targeted by fraudsters who are after their money and personal information. Fortunately, knowing what red flags to spot and what questions to ask can help you and your loved ones sidestep scams. Hear more from Alexandra Sagaro, fraud risk management lead at Raymond James. [Recorded 10/23/20]

Though some election uncertainty remains, Raymond James CIO Larry Adam expects markets to continue on a positive trajectory driven by fundamentals. “The most important decision investors make is choosing an asset allocation that is consistent with their risk profile,” he reiterates. [Recorded 11/9/20]

Generous families remain a positive force amid this tough year – though some have adjusted their strategies due to the CARES Act. Hear more about the year’s giving trends from Nicole Hisler, director of charitable solutions at Raymond James Trust. [Recorded 10/12/20]

Yes, the pace of the national debt’s growth needs to be addressed, says Chief Economist Scott Brown – but not right now. Learn why, and hear Brown’s take on recent employment data, the ongoing economic recovery and what investors may see in 2021. [Recorded 10/5/20]

How close is Congress to passing another relief deal? “Not very,” says Washington Policy Analyst Ed Mills. “We need some sort of breakthrough on what looks like an impossible situation right now.” [Recorded 9/22/20]

Can the money in a 529 plan cover virtual learning costs? What if your student takes a gap year? Will you need to take action if the school issues a refund? 529 Plan Specialist Travis Brickfield addresses these and other timely questions. [Recorded 8/24/20]

“When the COVID virus first broke out … we immediately started seeing threat actors registering COVID-related domains,” explains Senior Cyber Threat Analyst Marcus Cavil. [Recorded 7/24/20]

Washington Policy Analyst Ed Mills discusses the timing of a second round of coronavirus relief, his current election outlook and other ongoing policy initiatives. [Recorded 7/6/20]

Managing distraction, connecting with colleagues and setting work-life boundaries all take on new meaning when your home doubles as your office. Corporate coach Lori Raiti is back with insights around making the transition. [Recorded 6/4/20]

The recent jobs report cited 14.7% unemployment, but the true figure is closer to 20% when you count furloughed workers. Chief Economist Scott Brown shares his outlook for an eventual recovery. [Recorded 5/11/20]

To know the real COVID-19 infection rate, we’d need to run enough tests that less than 10% come back positive – a scale that hasn’t yet been reached, says Healthcare Policy Analyst Chris Meekins. [Recorded 4/24/20]

How the outbreak unfolds will likely impact both whom Americans elect and how ballots are physically cast, says Washington Policy Analyst Ed Mills. [Recorded 4/8/20]

The Federal Reserve has made another emergency announcement in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses the Fed’s decision and shares his outlook for the coming weeks. [Recorded 3/16/20]

Raising capital, forming a professional team, overcoming self-doubt – owning a business is rife with challenges, both personal and professional. Ken Grider, managing director and head of Raymond James’ business development group, offers his perspective. [Recorded 1/16/20]

“Fatalities rates are still pretty low, historically speaking,” says Healthcare Policy Analyst Chris Meekins, “but there is a bigger impact than I think people appreciate.” [Recorded 2/11/20]

Whether you’re an employee, retiree, business owner, parent, student or any combination thereof, you should be familiar with the SECURE Act changes. Hear from Financial Planning Consultant Jim Kidney, CFP®. [Recorded 1/31/20]

“We are optimistic for the upcoming year, but we’re not euphoric,” says CIO Larry Adam. “I do want to caution investors about becoming overly complacent.” [Recorded 1/14/20]

There’s a broad spectrum of risk level across different companies’ equity. Get to know some of the factors that contribute to those differences. Amer Ali, senior manager of high risk securities, weighs in. [Recorded 1/9/20]