Podcast appearances and mentions of Greg Powell

Corporate Earnings and a Broadening Market One of the most compelling themes as we transition from 2025 into 2026 is the continued strength of corporate earnings. Estimated 12-month S&P 500 operating margins have climbed to historically impressive levels, reinforcing the idea that Corporate America remains on solid financial footing. As has been noted, a recession accompanied by positive earnings growth would be unprecedented, and that matters. Strong earnings not only support near-term market stability but also create a longer runway for continued performance. Beyond earnings strength alone, another encouraging development is the broadening of market participation. Over the last several years, market returns have been dominated by a small group of large-cap technology stocks. That concentration has been a frequent concern for investors. Encouragingly, earnings growth among the remaining 493 companies in the S&P 500 is now expected to converge with that of the so-called “Magnificent Seven.” This shift suggests that market leadership may become more balanced in 2026. If that trend continues, it could represent one of the most important investment narratives of the coming year and a meaningful opportunity as portfolios are positioned for the future. The Federal Reserve and the Flow-Through to the Economy While earnings and market breadth tell one part of the story, monetary policy remains a critical variable. The Federal Reserve recently concluded its final meeting of the year with a 25-basis-point rate cut, placing the federal funds rate in a range of 3.5% to 3.75%. More significant than the cut itself was the language used by the Fed, signaling that rates are now within a plausible estimate of neutral. In practical terms, this suggests a likely pause in rate cuts in the near term. From our perspective, that pause is a positive development. It allows time for previously implemented cuts to work their way through the economy. Short-term rates affect savers, but long-term rates, where businesses and individuals borrow, are what truly drive economic activity. One area we are watching particularly closely is the spread between the 10-year Treasury and the 30-year mortgage rate. While the U.S. government may borrow near 4%, many individuals are still borrowing at rates above 6%, creating a wider-than-average spread. Historically, that spread averages closer to 1.77%. Even without dramatic declines in Treasury yields, a return to historical norms could significantly lower mortgage rates and materially improve affordability for borrowers. A stable Fed, combined with time for rate cuts to flow through to long-term borrowing costs, could provide meaningful relief to households and businesses alike. Importantly, if the economy remains strong, with healthy earnings and resilient markets, the Fed does not need to act aggressively. In that context, a pause becomes a signal of confidence rather than concern. Greg Powell, CIMA® President and CEO Wealth Consultant Email Greg Powell here Bobby Norman, CFP®, AIF®, CEPA® Managing Director Wealth Consultant Email Bobby Norman here Trey Booth, CFA®, AIF® Chief Investment Officer Wealth Consultant Email Trey Booth here Ty Miller, AIF® Vice President Wealth Consultant Email Ty Miller here Fi Plan Partners is an independent investment firm in Birmingham, AL, with a team of professionals serving clients across the nation through financial planning, wealth management and business consulting. The team at Fi Plan Partners creates strategies in the best interest of their clients using fee based investing. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Economic forecasts set forth in this presentation may not develop as predicted. No strategy can ensure success or protect against a loss. Stock investing involves risk including potential loss of principal. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC and a registered investment advisor.The post We've Never Seen… first appeared on Fi Plan Partners.

The Fed's Crucial Role and What Comes Next The Federal Reserve continues to dominate market conversations, and for good reason. Each decision the Fed makes, particularly regarding interest rates, carries direct implications for markets, borrowing, saving, and overall economic momentum. This week's meeting is no exception. The Fed is widely expected to cut interest rates by another 25 basis points, but the real story lies beyond the short-term benchmark rate. While the Fed controls the front end of the yield curve, long-term rates move largely on market forces. That distinction matters: savers benefit from high short-term yields, but it's borrowers who depend on lower long-term rates. Recently, even as the Fed has cut rates, long-term yields have plateaued or drifted higher, reducing the intended impact of monetary easing. Whether long-term rates follow this next cut will be a critical signal for what comes next. This meeting also arrives at a transitional moment. It is likely the final meeting before a new Federal Reserve Chair is announced, with expectations centered around Kevin Hassett, though, as always, presidential decisions remain unpredictable. By the next meeting in late January, Chair Powell will be operating as a lame-duck leader, with his successor already named. Additionally, the Fed has recently halted its balance-sheet reduction, introducing more uncertainty into how they approach liquidity and money supply management going forward. With so many moving parts, rate cuts, balance sheet policy, and leadership changes, this week's meeting is likely to spark notable market reaction. Global Equity Trends Strengthen the Outlook Alongside improving U.S. economic fundamentals, such as strong corporate earnings, moderating rates, and steady consumer resilience, global equity markets have been quietly building positive momentum. Nearly every major global index has shifted into a positive trend, a significant development after years of mixed or uneven global performance. Most global markets made this turn in 2025, signaling that equity strength is no longer isolated to the U.S. but is broadening worldwide. This synchronized uptrend is a constructive sign for investors and supports a healthier market environment heading into 2026. With global momentum now aligning with domestic fundamentals, the market backdrop continues to strengthen on multiple fronts. The Truth Behind Today's AI Bubble Fears Concerns about a potential AI-driven market bubble have become increasingly common, both in financial news and in client conversations. However, current data suggests the sector's growth is not speculative in the way many fear. Technology stocks have indeed rallied, but importantly, their valuations have not expanded beyond what earnings justify. Year-to-date, there has been no multiple expansion in the technology sector, meaning prices have risen because profits have risen, not because investors are blindly paying more for the same fundamentals. A comparison of current valuations to those seen during the dot-com bubble further underscores the difference. In March 2000, many companies traded at 100–150 times forward earnings. Today, nearly all major technology companies remain under 50 times earnings. While not “cheap,” these valuations are grounded in real profitability and genuine business strength. The landscape is nowhere near the speculative extremes of 2000. In short, while AI is a powerful long-term theme, the data does not support the idea that markets have entered an AI bubble, at least not yet. Greg Powell, CIMA® President and CEO Wealth Consultant Email Greg Powell here Bobby Norman, CFP®, AIF®, CEPA® Managing Director Wealth Consultant Email Bobby Norman here Trey Booth, CFA®, AIF® Chief Investment Officer Wealth Consultant Email Trey Booth here Ty Miller, AIF® Vice President Wealth Consultant Email Ty Miller here Fi Plan Partners is an independent investment firm in Birmingham, AL, with a team of professionals serving clients across the nation through financial planning, wealth management and business consulting. The team at Fi Plan Partners creates strategies in the best interest of their clients using fee based investing. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Economic forecasts set forth in this presentation may not develop as predicted. No strategy can ensure success or protect against a loss. Stock investing involves risk including potential loss of principal. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC and a registered investment advisor.The post Fed Up with the Fed and AI first appeared on Fi Plan Partners.

AI is changing the game, and this week on Innovation Mavericks, Greg Powell sits down with Magna5's Justin Cameron, Jacob Bever, and Jeff Jablonski to explore how businesses are turning AI into real-world results. From driving team adoption to keeping the conversation moving in a rapidly evolving landscape, their insights are not to be missed. […] The post How Smart Businesses are Using AI to Level Up: Insights with Magna5 first appeared on Fi Plan Partners.

In our newest episode of Innovation Mavericks, Greg Powell sits down with Pam Smith, owner of Classic Travel by Pam, recently named Hoover's Best Travel Agency and Best Travel Agent 2025. Pam shares how she turns travel planning into an art form, taking the stress out of every trip while delivering unforgettable, perfectly tailored experiences […] The post The Art of Effortless Travel: Insights from Classic Travel by Pam first appeared on Fi Plan Partners.

In this week's episode of Innovation Mavericks, Greg Powell sits down with John Bentley, founder of Power 2 Transform, to explore how true leadership begins with self-leadership. After 21 years in the Air Force and a powerful personal journey of renewal, John shares how discipline, accountability, and emotional awareness can unlock both personal and organizational […] The post Discovering How to Lead Yourself in Order to Lead Others: Insights with John Bentley first appeared on Fi Plan Partners.

We are thrilled to welcome Lexie Watts to the Fi Plan Partners team as our new Marketing Manager. In this episode of Team Strategies, she sits down with our President and CEO, Greg Powell, and our COO, Felicia Ludlum, to discuss her passion for using marketing to elevate the client experience and her vision amplifying […] The post Introducing our New Marketing Manager first appeared on Fi Plan Partners.