Tape Talk | Investing, Business, Wealth, and Your Money

On this episode of Tape Talk Radio, Quint and Daniel bid farewell to listeners who tune in via local Lexington radio. Stay tuned to the podcast channel for as needed podcast-only episodes when the headlines and market movements warrant. 

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss what it takes to be on the same page financially with your partner and why that's important. 

On this episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel review the recent volatility uptick in the markets and take listener questions about car buying and cash versus credit. 

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss the basics of saving and investing for financial goals and why planning is a dynamic journey.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss some of the perils that might face you in your financial planning journey and some strategies to navigate these.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss some of the psychology that accompanies investing as well as why it's important to understand your investing goals. 

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel review recent market developments and answer listener questions about building credit and paying student loans.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss the different ways to go about investing. Whether you choose to do it completely yourself or utilize an investment advisor, it's important to know what to expect.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk Quint and Daniel review the latest market developments and take some listener questions about small business finances and education while working.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss why it's essential to set and know your own goals so that your financial life doesn't follow someone else's priorities.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss the importance in finding the "Why" behind your goals and investing.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel review where the market ended the second quarter and how it's moves in recent weeks have left it mostly unchanged.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss the market's recent moves, take some listener questions, and address some blind spots for investors in this environment.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel review some of the unsurprising events which seem to be taking the market by surprise here.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss the importance of sticking with your plan amidst the ups and downs in the market.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Daniel talks through what he's watching for signs of health in this market, the key pieces of financial plans now, and answers two new questions for the DIY Money podcast.

Quint takes a quick look at the overall market which has improved on hopes of further recovery post Covid 19. Also, back by popular demand we introduce a few more DIY Money segments with calls discussing the difference in Retirement accounts as well as how to save with sporadic income.

In this week's episode to Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel give a looks inside their personal finance podcast DIY Money as well as assess the recent market complacency.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss how to discern the value of stocks in this market and why that's important for your financial plan.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss the psychology of investment markets and how it's impossible to escape risk.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss the obstacles faced as states begin reopening the economy.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel use the recent market moves to have a discussion on the difference of value versus price. Oil Negative This week marked the first time you could get paid to "buy" a barrel of oil. What does that mean and why is it significant? Price vs Value Price is what you pay and value is what you get. What does this mean when stock, commodities, or other things trade for lower prices? How can investors determine what they're really getting for the price they pay? Current Market Value While stocks have moved wildly over recent weeks, Quint breaks down how the value of this market may not have really changed much at all! Patience is Key When looking to find value it's important to remember that patience is the key factor, waiting to find the prices match the value you require is an important part of investing.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss the continued bear market rally and what the strategy might look like going forward. Psychology Emotions and psychology have been the theme of the recent decline and subsequent rally. Investors fled the market at any cost and are now on the verge of rushing back in at signs of good news. This is a great example of the psychology that goes along with investing in volatile markets. Allocation Matters When it comes to your financial plan and reducing volatility, allocation matters. The recent volatility illustrates why thinking of your allocation as different buckets of volatility and time horizon are important for your inevitable withdrawal strategy in retirement. Diversify and Rebalance Diversification goes a step beyond simple asset allocation by adding in very uncorrelated assets such as metals and real estate. By including these in your portfolio some of your assets will move in different directions to allow you to make the most of rebalancing.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel review the recent rally in the stock market after March's severe decline. Headlines This week we continued to receive record headline numbers in the weekly jobless claims report and the US now stands at a higher continuing unemployment rate than it saw doing the most recent recession during the Financial Crisis. However, the stock market as a whole continued its rally in the face of this news. While much of the headline number may be baked into the market the real question is how this number will recover after quarantines resolve and how quickly the economy might ramp back up. Investing Stage Strategies Since it can be difficult to avoid the headlines and noise during market volatility it becomes important to know what this volatility means for the various stages of your investing journey. Quint and Daniel break down how certain demographics should actually welcome this volatility while others may need to have a plan to help mitigate it. What To Look For Now With the market off lows, investors now have a chance to review their allocation, the temperament, and how markets digest news going forward. Quint and Daniel review what they're watching now to indicate this bear market may subside or further declines may be in store.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss what they're watching in the market this week and what investors need to consider moving forward. Unemployment Claims This week's unemployment claims shot to new record highs far surpassing last week's record number. Yet, the market was mostly higher on Thursday following the news. Many investors might consider it a disconnect but it might just be a good sign that the market has priced in much of the bad news in the job market. Oil Rally Oil rallied nicely this week on speculation that Russia and Saudia Arabia may find a truce in the oil war. However, this news has yet to be confirmed. If we can see confirmation from both countries soon, oil may just be able to put in a bottom. Allocation is King Your investment allocation is one of the key ways you can manage or mitigate some of the risks in your portfolio. If you've found these recent moves difficult to sleep through and are unsure how your allocation lines up with your financial goals, it may be time to revisit your financial plan and investment management.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss how they're analyzing the current market moves and what they're keeping an eye on to indicate where we go from here. Where We Go? No one really knows for certain where markets will move from here. While many may attempt to call the bottom or top of the recent volatile moves, the situation in health, credit, and oil markets are all rapidly evolving which makes any prediction more of a guess. From Oil to Credit Before markets started to move on the COVID-19 pandemic there was an emerging crisis in oil prices. While consumers may cheer lower gas prices, even with nowhere to travel right now, the ripple effects in the economy are being felt. As oil prices slip below profitability levels for domestic drillers their entire supply chain comes under pressure and eventually the financial institutions that finance all those companies do as well.  Signs of Life So where are we looking for signs of life now? Daniel is watching credit markets for an indication that the Federal Reserves' historic interventions are going to provide the needed liquidity which may then calm other markets. Quint is watching oil prices to see some stabilization which will then give other areas of the market the peace of mind that the ripple effects may cease. 

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss how they're assessing the recent volatility in investing markets. Under the Surface While the coronavirus pandemic is making most of the headlines these days there are underlying issues in financial markets that are exacerbating the volatility investors are experiencing. Since last fall the Federal Reserve has been intervening in lending markets to provide liquidity which has only been accelerated as economic conditions have worsened recently. Risk-Off Investors must consider that there are really three key issues in the financial market today; an oil price crisis, a fragile credit market, and the headline-grabbing coronavirus pandemic. As these three events converged recently Joule Financial implemented a plan to reduce both equity and fixed income exposure which Quint and Daniel discuss. Finding Opportunity While reducing risk is an important aspect of financial management it's done for an eye towards the next opportunity. Quint and Daniel discuss what they're watching for clues to add back to investments at some point and where they might look for opportunity in the midst of all the panic.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss what it looks like to navigate the recent bear market moves. Circuit Breakers Circuit breakers were in the news repeatedly last week as US stock indices ran into these control levels twice throughout the week. Quint and Daniel break down how the circuit breakers function and why they might be important to ensure healthy market functions. Power of Planning No one who is invested in stocks, or many other investable assets, has been able to completely avoid the recent and swift decline in asset prices. However, having a plan ahead of time can make a significant difference in investors' success in navigating these turbulent times. Planning is critical to understanding your required asset allocation which is critical in ensuring you can handle the market volatility when it comes. What To Do Now? Quint and Daniel discuss some of the key life stages investors might find themselves in and what that means during market corrections like the one we're currently in. 

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel review this week's selloff in equity markets and what that might mean for investors. Week in Review Over the course of the trading week, stocks cascaded lower about 15% on increasing fears of the spreading coronavirus outbreak. With headlines coming out each day about new cases in new countries it became increasingly difficult for large investors to price in the short and long term affects of this outbreak. How a Virus Affects Stocks While the coronavirus is certainly a serious disease that is quickly coming into focus of many around the world it may not simply be the virus that stocks are reacting to. In fact, Quint and Daniel discuss how much of this week's move is the result of the impact of attempts to control and contain the virus on the worldwide economy. With entire cities in China shutdown and the global supply chain disrupted it has become difficult to assess how any individual company is going to be impacted. What Next? No one is certain at what prices the current stock selloff will find stability but there are a few logical next possibilities on the horizon. Quint and Daniel discuss how supply chain changes and Fed rate cuts may come into focus in the coming weeks.

On this week's shortened episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss the recent headlines making news as well as what it means to time the market in this environment.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss what investors might consider in light of recent volatility and market valuations here. Headlines The evolving coronavirus epidemic continues to paint the headlines as more cases are reported both in and outside of China. It appears the market is still assessing just what type of impact this event is going to have in economic terms. However, investors appear to have begun taking the seriousness of the situation to heart as the market came under increased pressure as this week unfolded. Valuations in Focus Valuation is best described as what you are getting in relation to what you're paying. Currently, many stocks and sectors in this market are being valued higher than their historical norms. While part of this is the result of the Fed's easing and low interest rates, it also indicates investors are taking on more risk as they pay a greater price for each dollar of earnings.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss why it's important for your investments to have a goal and that you ensure they're allocated appropriately to achieve it. Headlines Before getting into this week's topic we first hit the headlines. This week it's news dropping from Washington about potential new tax cuts on the horizon as well as the Fed continuing to inject liquidity into the overnight lending markets. However, stocks continue to shrug off most headlines good and bad as they methodically move higher. What's the Goal? One of the things that Quint and Daniel have been seeing more lately, as the market continues to set new highs, is a general lack of focus on investors around what their investing goals are and how their portfolio is working towards those goals. We discuss a bit about why it's important to not just own investments but understand why you own what you own and how you are working your way towards your own goals. At the end of the day, it's nice to know how the S&P 500 performed but it's more important to know whether you're on track for the goals that are important to you.

In this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss the complacent mentality taking hold of investors as the market ticks higher. Headlines The impeachment process progressed and Phase one of the US/China Trade war was resolved this week but markets mostly gave both of these events very little fanfare. Risk Management As markets continue to drift higher and most asset classes finished 2019 with gains the overarching theme of 2019 may simply be "risk management." While everyone would love to make as much as possible on their investment portfolios, managing risk can be key to both sleeping at night and ensuring you achieve the goals intended for your portfolio. Risk, Returns, and Temperament In this season of bullish markets, we are more focused than ever with aligning clients' risk tolerance, risk temperament, and their required rate of return. Understanding how these three interact are critical to the success of any financial plan and will serve well when markets hit rough waters sometime in the future.

In this week's shortened episode, Quint and Daniel discuss what goes into a financial plan and why that's important as investors start planning their new year. Headlines The headlines this week are all focused on increasing US-Iran tensions which kicked off trading in the new year with some volatility.  Planning Ahead After a year of solid gains in the stock market and the new year starting with some headline risk, Quint and Daniel review why the financial plan is key to your investment success. Additionally, it's important to know what goes into making a successful plan as well as why your required rate of return is key. 

In this episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss the year as it closes out and what investors might look ahead to in the new year. Investor Psychology While the US stock indices are on track for a better than 30% finish to the year many investors seem to be filled with a sense of skepticism and an eye towards a coming decline. One of the benefits of this attitude still being present in a good amount of retail investors is that the latest move higher has yet to be fueled by general euphoria which often marks market tops. Required Rate of Return As investors look forward to the new year it's an appropriate time to consider and revisit your required rate of return. This number, which is the return you require to meet the goals for your investments, is a critical part of your financial planning and investment allocation process. If you are entering the new year without knowing this number and how it applies to your portfolio it may be time to review your financial plan. SECURE Act and IRA Changes Congress recently passed new legislation with significant changes to various tax rules affecting retirement savings. One of the most notable of these changes is the increase of the age for required minimum distributions as well as changes to distribution rules for inherited IRAs.  

In this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss why the recent headlines don't seem to interest markets and how disruption becomes an investable theme. Impeachment The impeachment progress this week in the US House of Representatives pretty much made the stock market yawn. What might seem on the surface like it should be market-moving news is simply a non-event at this point. Both sides of the aisle have already put their cards on the table for how they intend to handle the situation going forward. This means unless something significant changes or is revealed in the upcoming proceedings the market will likely continue to ignore the big headlines on the impeachment news. End of Year Tax Moves With the holiday season quickly approaching it's time to consider what your tax picture may be shaping up to look like for 2019. In fact, you still have time to make some important moves to save some money when filing next April. A few things worth considering are your required minimum distributions, charitable contributions, and any retirement contributions still to make. A little planning in the next week or two can literally pay-off for you when it comes to this years taxes. Disruptive Forces While impeachment may not be a market-disrupting event there are still individual companies that are disrupting or being disrupted in this era of business. Investors may do well to keep a keen eye on any of their individual holdings to ascertain which side of that coin the companies they're invested in happen to lay. Take for instance FedEx and Amazon. With Amazon moving away from utilizing FedEx for its shipping needs the global shipping giant's stock price has struggled.

In this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel review some of the recent headlines as well as what investors might need to consider into the end of the year. Impeachment The markets yawned at Nancy Pelosi's news conference announcing articles of impeachment. Quint and Daniel discuss how most of the impeachment news now has become political posturing more than it is market moving. Most investors have an idea of how the events should transpire from here and unless there are any surprises the market may just ignore developments from here. China Trade Investors are forced to continue wrestling with President Trump's opaque remarks surrounding his intentions and desires for a trade deal in the near future. After recent comments from the President that a deal might not need to be completed until after 2020 elections markets through a temper tantrum in response to the lack of clarity. End of Year Planning News aside, there are still things investors can do to make the most of 2019 before the year concludes. Quint and Daniel discuss a few of these items that investors might want to consider before the calendar turns.

As we roll into Thanksgiving Quint sits with Refuge Medical Clinic's executive director Rachel Smith to discuss the organization, their mission, their success and their needs going forward. This in-depth review of a local non-profit celebrating their 10th year and servicing over 5,000 individuals is a great break from the political and economic back and forth.   You may learn more about the Refuge Clinic at their website: www.RefugeClinic.org   Enjoy!

In this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss some of the headlines circling as the S&P 500 continues its march higher. Repo Intervention The Federal Reserve continues to prop up the repurchase agreement market ("repo" for short) after rates suddenly spiked higher last month in this rarely discussed corner of the market. The Fed has committed to smoothing some of the volatility in this area of the market to keep overnight lending orderly and reduce the chances off any fallout that lack of liquidity there may provide.  Trade & Hong Kong Any developing news on the trade war between the US and China seems to be far overshadowed lately by the tensions ongoing between Hong Kong protestors and authorities. As the tensions in Hong Kong continue to escalate many investors are keeping a watchful eye on what this could mean for China's need to use its military in an attempt to end the protests. If this happens, many will be left to wonder about the future autonomy of Hong Kong overall.  Small Caps Lag During the recent market moves, small-cap stocks have lagged their larger stock counterparts. In fact, while the S&P 500, NASDAQ, and Dow Jones have throttled higher, the Russell 2000 small-cap index is noticeably still well under its 2018 high. Quint and Daniel review a few of the reasons these indices have taken different paths of the past few months and what that could mean to investors going forward. 

In this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss some ways to think about planning ahead in your financial life. Headlines Hitting the headlines this week is news that China and the US intend to begin rolling back some tariffs as they find some neutral ground in the trade war. However, at this point, the market doesn't seem to be paying attention to these updated trade war headlines. In fact, it may just be that the market overall is becoming deaf to the trade war static until something more tangible comes to pass. Preparing for the Inevitable It's been said that nothing in life is certain other than death and taxes. While you are hopefully planning for your taxes annually it seems that death is quite a taboo topic for many. However, whether it is the death of a partner, their incapacitation, or just a change in life circumstances, it's important to plan ahead for what you'll do if something happens to the financial "CFO" in your relationship. Quint and Daniel discuss what they consider and what families might think about to prepare for the inevitable in this area. Low-Cost Investing Costs for investors are dropping rapidly and yet Quint and Daniel still often see people who are paying more than they should while rarely realizing it. For this reason, they discuss how to review your investment management fees while also considering the tax ramifications of fund investing some investors tend to overlook.  Rebalancing If you are planning your finances for the end of the year it may be time to think about rebalancing. What's your strategy? What are the triggers? What type of tolerance bands are you using? Whether you do it yourself or rely on an advisor, these are some of the questions you should be asking to ensure you are keeping your actual risk inline with your intended risk.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss some financial moves to consider as the clock winds down on 2019. Headlines Before getting into the meat and potatoes, Quint and Daniel review the latest headlines in the trade war with China. Then, they question whether the new developments even matter any more? Headlines that might have moved the market in the past now barely cause the market to blink as traders settle into headlines exhaustion over the back-and-forth trade war stories. End of Year Planning One of the most critical pieces of your end of the year task list is ensuring you've updated your financial plan, assuming you have one. Quint breaks down the importance of a financial plan for investors to use as a roadmap as well as what you might be missing out if you have yet to do one. Tax Moves for 2019 If you want to save money on your taxes for 2019 the time is starting to run out. Quint and Daniel discuss two important strategies investors might utilize to save a few extra dollars. First, consider tax-loss harvesting if you happen to have investments that are trading under your purchase price. These can work to reduce your tax burden or allow you to trim some profitable positions with little tax impact. Second, consider using qualified charitable distributions for your RMD to reap some potentially significant tax benefits if you are already charitably minded anyhow.  

In this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel review what's going on with the trade wars which have slipped out of recent headlines. Quiet Headlines While the headlines have been somewhat quiet this week that doesn't mean there is nothing going on in the market. We've seen earnings from some big bellwether which investors will use to assess the fallout from the recent trade wars and any potential economic slowdown. In The Trenches Quint and Daniel talk to Quint Pottinger of Affinity Farms to discuss how the trade war, as well as China's purchase of agricultural goods, is playing out in the trenches. You might be surprised to hear that the headlines are not all smoke and mirrors as farmers are actually seeing increased prices with China returning to US markets for products. Earnings In Focus Quint discusses three key companies that he's watching here for an indication of the health of the economy going forward. Unlike the popular FAANG stocks which encompass a technology-heavy lean these three stocks represent areas of the market that may give helpful clues about the broader economy overall.

This week Quint takes a break from economics and finance to sit down with entrepreneur and small business owner Trainer Joe. With a background in collegiate sports, Joe Olliges was always interested in helping folks to achieve their fitness goals. It wasn't until he took the leap of faith to create his unique brand Trainer Joe that he began to turn his passion into a business. You won't want to miss this in-depth look into the business of fitness and weight loss. 

In this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss the different ways investors should think about and view risk in their financial plan. Headlines This week's headline focus is back to China and trade. News broke during the week that China might be willing to make a deal, sort of. The problem with this news is that it's quite ambiguous. The market, however, didn't care and chose to rally on the potential for tensions to ease. Tolerance is Key Your risk tolerance is an important aspect of your financial plan. Your level of tolerance is dictated by what your portfolio can stand while still achieving the financial goals you set out. Temperament is Important Too Looking at your risk tolerance alone is dangerous though as it's also important to understand your temperament for risk. It's this metric that is better known as your "sleeping comfort" or what level of volatility you can handle and still sleep well at night. After all, it doesn't matter if your portfolio can handle the ups and downs in the market if your stomach cannot!!

As the stock market begins to show some subtle signs of weakness in the short-term, Quint and Daniel discuss what matters here and what news they're looking at to assess where things go from here. Liquidity Event? The tightening in overnight lending from a couple of weeks ago has continued to persist. It seems that a rare "glitch" in the system has shifted to an ongoing trend. Quint and Daniel discuss what they're watching in this often-overlooked market to be on alert for something that might evolve into something more serious.  The Race to $0 Commissions Over the past week, online brokers have all acquiesced to the pressure from low-cost (or $0 cost) startups and subsequently all lower their commissions to $0. Schwab made the first move and was quickly followed by TD Ameritrade and E*Trade. While this means that customers and clients of these firms will benefit on the commission front, it does pose the question of where these companies will attempt to make up this lost revenue.  Hunting for Value? Quint and Daniel discuss the difference between value hunting and bottom fishing. With segments and sectors of the market at or near highs, there is a strong desire by some to find something that is a "value." However, while this can be a valid investment strategy it can also come back to bite and investors who haven't done their homework. 

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel review the Federal Reserve's recent rate cut, drama in overnight lending markets, and the firm's recent equity position rebalancing. Headlines The FOMC met this week and, as expected, lowered interest rates by 0.25%. The market's reaction was fairly muted as this move was pretty well baked in to both equity and bond prices. Further, Fed Chair Powell didn't do anything in the Fed's post-decision press conference to shake investors confidence for the future. Overnight lending, however, is in the spotlight this week as the cost to borrow cash in the "repo market" spiked multiple times throughout the week. This particular market is critical for the healthy functioning banking system to move liquidity where it is needed. While the developments here are noteworthy and somewhat concerning, they don't necessarily indicate a definite disaster on the horizon and, therefore, the market has hardly reacted so far. Art of Rebalancing With major US stock indices essentially at highs, Quint reviews Joule Financial's decision to rebalance its equity positions in an effort to take profits on what has been doing well and allocate some funds to areas that may have become underweight. 

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss eight steps you can take in the months ahead to increase your odds of financial success as the year closes out. Headlines Hong Kong headlines have quieted down and Trump tweets arrows at the Fed this week. However, the market hasn't been stumbled by much as far as news goes this week. In fact, the market spent most of the week marching back towards highs like it was drawn by a siren's song. 8 Steps to Success Now Rebalance Review bond bunds Tax manage your sells Send your RMD to charity Establish a SEP IRA, or another tax-saving account Pay off your bad debt, then all debt Check your diversification Know your "Required Rate of Return"

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel explore the moves higher this week across a variety of markets. Stocks, bonds, and gold, nearly every asset had its time in the spotlight this week. Good News Much of the week's moves were based on investors interpreting the headlines as good news. Focus turned from the recent protests in Hong Kong to the good economic indications come from data in the US, employment reports were decent, and the Fed is still indicating a move to a more accommodative policy at its September meeting. Combine these headlines with the US and China looking towards their next trade talks in October and investors found little to be negative about this week. Watch Your Bond Funds While many assets are up recently, it's important to remember what that means. Investors would do well to keep in mind that bond prices and bond yields move inversely of one another. This means that with yields near historic lows, investors are seeing the value of their bond funds near all-time highs. While "set it and forget it" is a method employed by some, those that keep a vigilant eye on their portfolios may consider how much farther bond funds can rally if rates are already under 2% across the board. Understand Your Plan Your required rate of return is an important thing to know. This is the return you need to achieve to meet your goals. However, it's also important to know how that rate works into your plan. If you're looking in the rearview mirror here you've benefited from multiple assets classes rallying over recent years. Now may be the time to discuss with your advisor what a pullback in some of these assets may do to your expected rate of return compared to your required rate of return. Unless you are confident that all these assets can continue marching higher indefinitely it's worth considering how the future may look different from the past and incorporating that into your plan.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel review what's been a quiet week in the market so far and dive into the much-hyped yield curve action. Bulls Return US stocks stabilized over the week after the previous weeks volatile sell-offs. Much of this calmer action seems to be attributed to the fact that economic data keeps coming in rather positive while headlines around the trade war escalation also seem to have slowed, for now. FOMC Minutes During the recording of this week's show, the FOMC meeting minutes from the most recent rate cut were released, which proved to be a non-event. While the Fed reiterated its stance that the recent rate cut may not be part of a new trend, markets seemed to find hope that the board overall was mixed on how deeply to cut rates this go around. How Rates Work While the Federal Reserve is heavily influencing liquidity and short-term rates in this environment, it's really the ten-year rates that people are focusing on. In fact, the 10-year yield was the catalyst for the most recent inversion on the yield curve. Quint examines what this means for investors and what the Fed can really control here versus what the market is in the driver's seat on. What To Do Here For investors, it all comes down to controlling what you can. This means having a financial plan, knowing your rate of return, and living within responsible spending habits to achieve your plan. Quint and Daniel wrap things up this week by examing the small things investors can do that will be important building blocks for their long-term financial success.

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss the recent yield curve inversion and what that means to the market.  Inverted What?!? The headlines and watercooler talk this week is all about the recent inverted yield curve across the 2-year and 10-year Treasuries.  However, all the fantastic headlines tend to leave out why this matters to investors and what it really means. Quint and Daniel spend some time explaining the yield curve and why there is so much focus on inversion here.  Main Street Interest Rates It's all fine and good to know what's going on in Treasury yields but how is this trickling down into real-life economics of consumers who are affected by interest rates daily. What might be surprising to some is the vast divergence in the effect of the recent Treasury rate retreat on actual consumer rates. While mortgages are down some, many other rates have held steady or even rose! Recession on the Horizon? So if the yield curve is a recession indicator, does that mean we're on a direct road to this adverse economic event? Quint reviews what else is going on in the economy here to question whether we really need to be concerned at this point. Your Required Rate of Return, It's the Foundation! The one thing that is certain is markets will move both up and down. Sometimes they'll move calmly and other times more violently. Through these ups and downs, it's critical for investors to know precisely what they need from the market to achieve their goals. Understanding their required rate of return gives investors a metric by which to judge whether volatility is having a real-world impact on their current goals or is simply static to ignore. 

On this week's episode of Tape Talk, Quint and Daniel discuss the recent volatility across markets and what that means for investors. Trade War While stocks moved on the Federal Reserve's implication that the recent rate cut was not the start of a new trend, the move was propelled much further by matters worsening on the trade war front. After the Trump Administration broadcasted additional tariffs set to take effect, China released news of decreased purchases of United States agriculture products. 7.0, A Key Level Over the weekend, the Chinese Yuan broke the all-important 7.0000 psychological level which indicated the country was allowing their currency to devalue versus the US-dollar. This move effectively shifted the trade war from a matter of goods and services to a currency scuffle which US markets, with their volatile trading on Monday, indicated would be a fearsome escalation. Required Return While seeing your investing and retirement accounts gyrate with the forces of the market is never palatable, it does help to understand how the moves affect your investing goals. By understanding your required rate of return you might be able to sleep easier at night by knowing if recent volatility is something to be concerned about or just already factored into your plan.