Podcasts about Magnificent Seven

Buckle up for a takedown of the stolen 2020 election fraud machine on today's explosive Joe Oltmann Untamed! We kick off with the entire country buzzing about massive election irregularities, Venezuela's shadowy role, and the wave of impending indictments and arrests. President Trump just dropped a thunderous re-truth exposing the truth, while Emerald Robinson drops hints of secret indictments cooking behind the scenes. We revisit the damning video I recorded years ago with Mark Cook laying bare the Dominion vulnerabilities, and tie it all to the heroic fight for Tina Peters, the innocent patriot still rotting in prison despite Trump's bold pardon. This is the storm the deep state fears!We welcome third-generation Hollywood property master and armorer Donnie Bruno, fresh from blockbuster sets like American Sniper, John Wick, and The Magnificent Seven. Donnie pulls no punches on how Hollywood has morphed from storytelling into a blatant propaganda arm, shoving DEI, climate hysteria, and anti-patriot narratives down America's throat especially in action films that shape views on violence, military, and authority. From insider pressure on crews to overt ideological mandates from executives, he reveals how the industry weaponizes entertainment for social engineering, and why it's gotten far worse post-9/11 and during COVID. This is the red-pill drop on Tinseltown's war against real American values!We close with refreshing Joe Biden's own 2020 admission of the "largest voter fraud in history," David Clements' brutal takedown of Eric Coomer the radical Antifa-linked Dominion architect who bragged "Trump's not going to win, I made f***ing sure of it" and the Sequoia Voting Systems nexus. We break down Trump's order revoking Chris Krebs' security clearance, Wikileaks cables on Smartmatic, and my latest posts calling out the traitors attacking truth-tellers. The closer we get to the target, the harder they hit but justice is coming. Tune in now: The fraud empire is crumbling, Tina Peters must be freed, and the reckoning is here!

In this episode of The Leader's Notebook (Ep. 294) from our seven-part series, The Magnificent Seven, I examine the life, faith, and formation of Simon Peter—introduced in John 1 as a fisherman who meets Jesus and is immediately renamed, redefined, and relentlessly shaped by grace. Peter is bold, impulsive, strong, outspoken, and deeply human: quick to confess Jesus as the Christ, equally quick to resist the cross; first to step out of the boat, first to deny with a curse; yet also first to preach at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit transforms failure into authority. We trace Peter's journey from natural leadership to spiritual power, from Jewish boundaries to Gentile inclusion, and from rough-edged disciple to apostolic voice whose letters reveal profound theological depth. In the end, Peter himself tells us what mattered most—not miracles, not Pentecost, not even leadership—but seeing Christ in His glory, a vision that steadied his life and clarified his witness. – Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders Notebook(00:00:53) - Simon Peter(00:09:38) - Simon Peter(00:13:23) - Simon Peter(00:16:58) - Simon Peter Confirmed as the Messiah by Jesus(00:22:28) - Simon Peter at Pentecost(00:28:48) - Simon Peter the Disciples(00:35:43) - St. Paul the Gentile encounter(00:39:02) - 1 Peter and 2 Peter(00:40:22) - The Greatest Moment of Peter's Life(00:46:24) - Leader's Notebook

New year, new goals—but which financial resolutions actually reduce stress and build wealth? We break down practical investing and money habits that help you focus on what matters most, from setting a clear plan to staying disciplined in volatile markets. If you're ready to start the year with clarity and confidence—not noise—this episode is for you.There's a baby boom happening at Henssler—and it sparked an important conversation exploring how welcoming a child changes your financial life and the critical first steps every new parent should take. From putting the right legal protections in place and reviewing insurance coverage, to understanding new tax benefits and when it makes sense to start saving for college, this episode offers a clear financial starting point during one of life's biggest transitions.After the break, we tackle two timely listener questions that many investors are quietly asking. First, does it make sense to step away from work at 50 and use Substantially Equal Periodic Payments (SEPP) to access retirement funds early? Then, with the Magnificent Seven driving much of the market's recent gains, we discuss whether now may be the right time to take some profits and diversify into income-producing dividend ETFs. If you're weighing early retirement strategies or wondering how concentrated your portfolio has become, this segment offers practical perspective—and a few important cautions.Join hosts Nick Antonucci, CVA, CEPA, Director of Research, and Managing Associates K.C. Smith, CFP®, CEPA, and D.J. Barker, CWS®, and Kelly-Lynne Scalice, a seasoned communicator and host, on Henssler Money Talks as they explore key financial strategies to help investors navigate market uncertainty. Henssler Money Talks — January 3, 2026  |  Season 40, Episode 1Timestamps and Chapters8:26: Start the Year Right: Simple Steps for Financial Health20:03: Henssler Baby Boom: Planning for the Littlest Investors39:11: Hot Questions, Smart Answers Follow Henssler:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HensslerFinancial/ YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/HensslerFinancial LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/henssler-financial/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hensslerfinancial/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hensslerfinancial?lang=en X: https://www.x.com/hensslergroup “Henssler Money Talks” is brought to you by Henssler Financial. Sign up for the Money Talks Newsletter: https://www.henssler.com/newsletters/ 

Is your portfolio making a big bet on the Magnificent Seven? Mega-cap names like Nvidia, Alphabet, and Apple belong to the exclusive club that has largely driven US returns higher in recent years. Their success has led to market concentration. Portfolios tracking broad benchmarks have seen their diversification decrease and risk increase. How can you prepare your portfolio to absorb potential shocks? And where are the opportunities beyond the Mag Seven? Morningstar Holland's Chief European Market Strategist Michael Field is one of the researchers who investigated this.Beyond the Magnificent Seven: Unlocking Value in a Concentrated Stock MarketOn this episode:00:00:00 Welcome00:01:49 The Magnificent Seven's strong returns have benefited many investors. Why is their dominance a risk?00:02:07 Your team highlighted a noteworthy stat in the report. The top 10 US stocks make up about 35% of the overall market. That's almost double from a decade ago. What does that signal to you?00:02:39 Can you explain what the hidden cost of market concentration is?00:03:07 If the top stocks hold so much of the gains, where does that leave the rest of the market?00:03:41 Let's focus on key periods of market concentration. How does the current environment compare to the dot-com bubble?00:04:11 And what about now versus the global financial crisis?00:04:40 What if investors pulled back due to market concentration concerns in the last decade? Why would that have backfired?00:05:51 How can investors manage the risk of market concentration in their portfolios?00:05:50 Morningstar has identified investment opportunities for 2026. Why does the team favor US small caps over US large caps?00:06:59 Another opportunity is the healthcare sector. What companies do Morningstar analysts think could fend off the competition for 10 years or more?00:07:35 Morningstar encourages international diversification. Can you talk about the regions outside the US that look attractive for stock investors?00:08:03 What's the takeaway for diversifying beyond the Magnificent Seven in 2026?  Watch more from Morningstar:9 Top ETFs for Income Investors That Stood Out in 2025 LINKWhere to Invest in 2026 After This Year's Market Volatility LINKWhy Betting Against Nvidia in the AI Arms Race Could Be a Mistake Follow Morningstar on social:Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/X https://x.com/MorningstarIncInstagram https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/?hl=enLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/posts/?feedView=all Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bob Lang shares his market outlook for 2026, anticipating a year of volatility and increased liquidity, driven by potential Federal Reserve rate cuts and a new round of quantitative easing. He foresees a positive year for markets, with mid to high single-digit returns. While the traditional Magnificent Seven may not lead the charge, new technology leaders like Micron Technology (MU), CrowdStrike (CRWD), and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) are emerging.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Options involve risks and are not suitable for all investors. Before trading, read the Options Disclosure Document. http://bit.ly/2v9tH6DSubscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

In this first episode of 2026, we sit down for a deep dive into one of the hottest concerns coming from clients and listeners lately: Is the U.S. stock market dangerously concentrated—and are we in an AI bubble? Ben, Dan, and Ben unpack the data, the history, and the psychology behind today's valuations, drawing lessons from past episodes of market euphoria such as Nortel in Canada, the dot-com boom, and Japan's 1989 peak. They explain why high market valuations—not concentration—pose the bigger challenge, how bubbles historically fuel real economic innovation while hurting investors, and why diversification continues to offer the only reliable protection against unknowable futures. Along the way, they revisit examples of how value stocks, small-cap value, and global diversification have fared across different market regimes.   Key Points From This Episode: (0:00:40) What RR is about: evidence-based insights, synthesis episodes, expert interviews, and long-form inquiry — not debates. (0:04:20) Why listeners value RR: transparency, friendly inquiry, returning to topics over time, and the hosts' dynamic. (0:09:25) Rising concern: clients asking whether U.S. market concentration and an AI bubble mean it's time to exit stocks. (0:11:10) Advisors echo similar worries: U.S. politics, all-time highs, and emotional decision-making. (0:14:20) Today's data point: Top seven U.S. stocks = 36% of S&P 500; 32% of the total U.S. market — highest on record. (0:16:10) Why people fear concentration: a decline in the Magnificent Seven could meaningfully drag down the index. (0:17:30) Canada's cautionary tale: Nortel once hit 36% of the TSX — collapsed to zero — but the market recovered by 2005. (0:21:20) Bubbles through history: canals, railways, fiber optics, dot-coms — innovation funded by speculation. (0:25:30) Dot-com parallels: huge ideas, low cost of capital, lots of failures — but lasting infrastructure remained. (0:28:40) AI dominance: Since ChatGPT, AI-linked companies drove 75% of S&P returns, 80% of earnings growth, 90% of capex. (0:31:15) Reminder: No bubble calls — just context. High prices don't equal an inevitable crash. (0:33:10) Concentration vs. valuation: concentration shows weak links to future returns; valuations matter far more. (0:35:05) Market timing trap: U.S. valuations were high in 2021 — selling then would have been disastrous. (0:36:40) The U.S. lost decade: 2000–2010 returns were flat; in CAD, recovery didn't happen until 2013. (0:38:55) Value stocks held up: U.S. value and small-cap value delivered positive returns while broad indexes stagnated. (0:41:00) Recency bias reminder: Canadians once avoided U.S. stocks entirely after a decade of underperformance. (0:44:05) Japan 1989: World's largest market crashes — still not recovered in real terms 36 years later. (0:47:10) Global diversification wins: A 40% Japan-weighted global portfolio still performed fine thanks to U.S. growth. (0:49:00) Cross-country data: Many markets are far more concentrated than the U.S. — still delivered solid returns. (0:52:30) Valuation evidence: Higher CAPE = lower future returns — economically strong pattern across countries. (0:55:40) Core lesson: Diversification + discipline. You will always hold winners and losers — that's the point. (0:57:55) Practical ways to lower concentration risk: global equity funds, small caps, and Canada's 10% cap rule. (1:00:30) Why active managers don't help: only ~30–47% outperform depending on concentration trend. (1:03:25) Final takeaway: high valuations may imply lower returns, but prediction is impossible — stay diversified. (1:05:15) After-show review: Addressing a one-star critique ("Fartcoin Designer") with humour and community context. Links From Today's Episode: Meet with PWL Capital: https://calendly.com/d/3vm-t2j-h3p Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/ Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Benjamin Felix — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/ Benjamin on X — https://x.com/benjaminwfelix Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwfelix/ Cameron Passmore — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/ Cameron on X — https://x.com/CameronPassmore Cameron on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronpassmore/ Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

Stijn Schmitz welcomes Chris Vermeulen to the show. Chris Vermeulen is Founder & Chief Investment Officer, The Technical Traders. In this episode, Vermeulen provides an in-depth analysis of current market conditions, focusing primarily on precious metals, equities, and potential economic cycles. Chris suggests the precious metals market may be approaching a potential peak, characterized by high volatility and significant price fluctuations. He believes the market is currently experiencing its “last parabolic phase” and warns investors to be cautious. While acknowledging the excitement surrounding precious metals, he emphasizes the importance of having a strategic approach to manage potential risks. A key aspect of Vermeulen’s analysis is the relationship between stock market performance and precious metals. He observes that the stock market, particularly the Magnificent Seven tech stocks, has not yet experienced the significant pullback that typically precedes a precious metals rally. He anticipates that when the equity market begins to sell off, it could trigger a substantial correction in precious metals. Vermeulen recommends a strategy of following price action rather than getting caught up in market narratives. He suggests investors should be prepared to rotate between stocks, bonds, currencies, and cash positions. He is currently bullish on gold, equities, and potentially the US dollar index, while being bearish on oil and energy sectors. Looking ahead to 2026, Vermeulen predicts significant market volatility. He warns that the current low VIX (volatility) index suggests a lack of market fear, which could be a potential warning sign. His analysis indicates that the market might experience a relatively swift pullback, potentially lasting eight to twelve months, which could create opportunities for strategic investors to re-enter markets at more attractive valuations. Ultimately, Chris’s message is about maintaining flexibility, following technical indicators, and being prepared to adapt to changing market conditions. He emphasizes that successful investing is not about predicting exact market tops and bottoms, but about having a disciplined strategy to manage risk and capitalize on market movements. Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:01:00 – Precious Metals Volatility 00:03:34 – Parabolic Phase Thesis 00:07:56 – Timing Physical Positions 00:09:55 – Market Cycle Analysis 00:13:04 – Equities Rollover Indicators 00:16:12 – Current Investment Opportunities 00:20:54 – Oil Gas Outlook 00:28:22 – 2026 Volatility Expectations 00:30:42 – Technical Traders Service 00:32:08 – Concluding Thoughts Guest Links: Website: https://thetechnicaltraders.com/ X: https://x.com/TheTechTraders Chris Vermeulen is the Founder & Chief Investment Officer of The Technical Traders and the visionary mind behind Asset Revesting. In his book Asset Revesting – How to Exclusively Hold Assets Rising in Value, Profit During Bear Markets, and Continue Building Wealth in Retirement, he lays out this investment framework. Chris launched his financial career at 16, parlaying his knack for trading and risk management into funding his final year of college, where he earned a business diploma in operations management. By his twenties, he had achieved financial independence as a full-time entrepreneur and trader. After a setback—blowing up a trading account—Chris dedicated himself to treating trading as a business, completing the Trading Strategy Mastery and Trading Is Your Business courses. A technical analysis expert, he devises systematic methods to spot market opportunities and control portfolio risk, rejecting traditional buy-and-hold approaches that cling to depreciating assets. His efficient asset allocation models balance short- and long-term strategies to minimize drawdowns and consistently outperform benchmarks. Those seeking reliable capital preservation and growth turn to his proven techniques.

In this episode of Excess Returns, Jack Forehand and Matt Zeigler dig into forecast season by reviewing and synthesizing insights from 22 major Wall Street and institutional market outlooks. Rather than treating year-end forecasts as precise predictions, the conversation uses them as a framework for understanding consensus views, hidden assumptions, and where the real risks and surprises for 2026 may lie. The discussion spans macroeconomic conditions, AI-driven growth, earnings expectations, valuation risks, and the growing divergence beneath headline market performance, helping investors think more clearly about the range of outcomes ahead.Main topics covered• Why year-end market forecasts are still useful despite being consistently wrong on exact targets• What consensus forecasts reveal about expectations for economic growth in 2026• The role of artificial intelligence in driving earnings, productivity, and capital spending• Reacceleration versus late-cycle slowdown and how forecasters are split on the outlook• Inflation expectations, interest rates, and the likelihood of fewer Fed cuts than expected• Fiscal policy, deficits, and the growing role of government stimulus• Energy constraints, data centers, and the physical limits of the AI buildout• Profit margin expansion versus revenue growth and why this matters for valuations• S&P 500 price targets, earnings assumptions, and where optimism and caution diverge• The dominance of the Magnificent Seven and the debate over market and earnings broadening• Risks beneath the surface, including margin compression, valuation resets, and sector rotation• What investors can learn by comparing the most bullish and most bearish forecastsTimestamps00:00 Forecast season and why reading outlooks still matters03:00 Why precise market targets are misleading but informative05:30 Using consensus forecasts to identify risks and surprises08:30 AI, economic reacceleration, and productivity expectations13:00 Recession risks, stagflation fears, and late-cycle dynamics17:00 Inflation outlook and why it may reemerge later in the year22:00 Fed policy, rate cuts, and rising internal dissent26:00 Fiscal stimulus, deficits, and long-term consequences28:00 AI infrastructure, energy constraints, and data centers35:00 AI diffusion and real-world productivity gains39:00 S&P 500 targets, earnings growth, and valuation assumptions43:00 Profit margins, mean reversion, and long-term risks47:00 Magnificent Seven earnings versus the rest of the market52:00 Market broadening, international stocks, and diversification56:00 Key takeaways for investors heading into 2026

Wir werfen einen Blick auf die Performance unserer Depots und überprüfen die Predictions aus dem letzten Jahr. Welche Thesen sind eingetreten, welche lagen daneben und welche waren schlicht zu früh? Dabei geht es um OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft, Apple und die Magnificent Seven, um KI-Hype versus Realität und um die Frage, wo tatsächlich Wert entstanden ist. Außerdem sprechen wir über Metas Übernahme von Manus für rund 2 Milliarden, die Entwicklung von Agenten-Startups, das weitgehend ausgebliebene Agentic Web und warum Inferenz inzwischen mehr Ressourcen verbraucht als Training. Wir ordnen IPOs, Robotik-Fortschritte, Temu, Energie als Engpassfaktor für KI sowie Europas Rolle im Tech-Wettbewerb ein. Unterstütze unseren Podcast und entdecke die Angebote unserer Werbepartner auf ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠doppelgaenger.io/werbung⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Vielen Dank!  Philipp Glöckler und Philipp Klöckner sprechen heute über: (00:00:00) Intro & Jahresrückblick (00:02:20) Meta kauft Manus für 2 Mrd. (00:05:45) Predictions Review Start (00:08:06) Peak OpenAI falsch (00:10:07) WhatsApp vs OpenAI (00:12:27) Meta AI enttäuscht (00:13:52) Microsoft Performance (00:15:50) Office 365 Wachstum (00:17:23) KI-Realität tritt ein (00:19:41) Agentic Web Nullnummer (00:21:52) AI macht Internet kaputt (00:23:02) E-Ink Reader Vision (00:24:38) Tech Produkte 2025 (00:27:25) Acast vs Spotify (00:30:03) Podcast Performance (00:31:37) DOGE & US-Haushalt (00:33:35) PayPal-Mafia Aktien (00:35:36) KI-Chance für Europa (00:39:10) Arbeitslosenquote Deutschland (00:40:12) New Work Definition (00:41:23) LinkedIn Follower Wette (00:42:05) Trade Republic Kritik (00:44:07) Podcast Zahlen 2025 (00:47:28) Newsletter Performance (00:49:12) Robotik & Agenten (00:54:20) China Tech-Reise Idee (00:55:00) IPO Jahr Review (00:57:13) Shein & Temu (00:59:09) Kampf um Energie (01:00:19) Inferenz vs Training (01:04:20) Magnificent Seven Performance (01:08:36) Euro-Dollar Impact (01:11:20) Alphabet beste Aktie (01:13:44) DAX outperformt USA (01:16:07) Edelmetalle Boom (01:18:16) Bitcoin enttäuscht (01:20:41) Bitcoin Reserve Irrsinn (01:23:06) RAM beste Investment (01:25:07) Portfolio Performance (01:29:29) Private Markets Erfolg (01:31:08) Persönliche Depots (01:32:48) Schuldenbremse aufgeweicht (01:33:50) Somali-Fraud Debatte (01:42:17) Steuerhinterziehung vs Sozialbetrug (01:47:06) Focus Clickbait (01:49:30) NGO-Hetze Shownotes Meta übernimmt KI-Startup Manus und gewinnt Millionen zahlender Nutzer hinzu - wsj.com Nick Shirley auf X - x.com Kältebus- linkedin.com Elon Musk auf X: "Etwa 20% des Bundesbudgets sind Betrug. - x.com

In this episode of The Leader's Notebook (Ep. 293) from our seven-part series, The Magnificent Seven, I walk through the astonishing life and ministry of John the Baptist. He stands as the last Old Testament prophet and the first man to publicly identify Jesus as Messiah. His voice rises out of four centuries of prophetic silence, set against the political brutality of Rome and the corruption of Herod. John does not emerge as a stylist or strategist, but as a singular, God-anointed voice preparing the way. He calls a nation to repentance and redefines the Messianic mission as sacrificial redemption. Standing in the Jordan, he declares Jesus to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire. His courage, clarity, and refusal to measure success by comfort or applause confront our modern assumptions about leadership and faithfulness. John's life reminds us that true success is obedience to God's call, even when it costs everything, and that the highest aim of any leader is to see Jesus clearly and point others to Him. – Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders Notebook(00:00:26) - John the Baptist and the Taxation(00:01:26) - The Story of the Birth of Jesus(00:07:38) - The Life of Zechariah and the Angel Gabriel(00:15:17) - John 3: Behold the Lamb of God that taketh(00:15:56) - John the Baptist(00:20:25) - John the Baptist's Baptism(00:27:25) - Joel the prophet(00:35:21) - The Personal End of John the Baptist(00:41:06) - John Baptist: A Success or a Failure?

Welcome to the final full trading day of 2025! On this episode of the Hot Options Report, host Mark Longo breaks down a surprisingly active market for a holiday week. From massive dividend capture plays in the REIT sector to "hope springs eternal" bullish bets in the Magnificent Seven, we cover everything lighting up the tape as we head into the new year. In this episode, we analyze the top 10 most active names on the options tape, including: The Big Two: Tesla (TSLA) and Nvidia (NVDA) dominate the volume again. We look at the heavy paper in the NVDA 190 calls and why Tesla traders are sweating the $460 strike. Dividend Plays: Why did Agency Investment Corp (AGNC) and Annaly Capital Management (NLY) suddenly crash the top 10? We break down the ex-dividend activity driving massive volume in the Jan 10 and Jan 22 calls. The AI Ecosystem: Analyzing the "coin flip" sentiment in Palantir (PLTR) puts and the "opening paper" selling 40 calls in Intel (INTC). The "Monster" Moves: MicroStrategy (MSTR) continues its wild ride—is the $160 call a trap or a breakout play for the week? Big Tech Highlights: A look at the "Number of the Beast" close for Meta and the last-minute lottery tickets in Apple (AAPL) and Netflix (NFLX). Check the Data for Free:  TheHotOptionsReport.com.

In this episode of Excess Returns, we sit down with Paul Eitelman, Global Chief Investment Strategist at Russell Investments, to unpack their 2026 outlook and the idea of a “Great Inflection Point” for markets and the economy. Paul explains why the U.S. economy may be shifting from resilience to reacceleration, how artificial intelligence is moving from hype to measurable returns, and why market leadership could finally broaden beyond the Magnificent Seven. The conversation blends macroeconomic analysis, behavioral finance, and real-world portfolio implications, offering investors a framework for thinking about growth, risk, and diversification as we head into 2026.Main topics covered• The cycle, valuation, and sentiment framework and how it shapes investment decisions• Why economic growth may reaccelerate in 2026 after navigating policy headwinds• Accelerating AI adoption and what early signs of ROI mean for productivity and profits• The J-curve of new technologies and where AI may sit today• Capital spending, leverage, and profitability risks among hyperscalers and large tech firms• Energy demand, labor market impacts, and other societal risks tied to AI• Tariffs, immigration, and uncertainty as fading or manageable economic headwinds• Financial conditions, fiscal stimulus, and deregulation as emerging tailwinds• The gap between hard economic data and weak consumer sentiment• Why recession forecasts have been wrong and how to think about recession risk going forward• Inflation dynamics, the Federal Reserve's priorities, and the outlook for rates• The case for market broadening beyond the Magnificent Seven• Global diversification, small caps, international equities, and emerging markets• Behavioral finance, investor sentiment, and staying invested through volatility• Portfolio construction implications, including real assets and alternativesTimestamps00:00 Introduction and the Great Inflection Point outlook03:00 Cycle, valuation, and sentiment investing framework05:50 From economic resilience to potential reacceleration07:00 AI as a transformational technology and historical parallels09:20 Measuring returns on AI investment and productivity gains11:00 The AI J-curve and timing of benefits13:00 Capital intensity, leverage, and risks for big tech15:00 Energy demand, labor markets, and AI risks19:00 How Paul uses AI in his own research workflow20:30 The case for economic reacceleration into 202621:40 Tariffs and their real economic impact23:20 Immigration and labor supply effects24:10 Uncertainty, confidence, and business decision-making26:10 Financial conditions and household wealth28:00 Fiscal stimulus and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act29:20 Deregulation as a potential growth tailwind30:40 Hard data versus soft data in the economy34:10 Why recession forecasts failed37:10 Recession risk outlook for 202640:30 Inflation dynamics and the Fed's focus43:50 Broadening market leadership beyond the Magnificent Seven46:10 Investor sentiment, panic, and opportunity49:00 Translating macro views into portfolio strategy51:30 Real assets, alternatives, and diversification54:30 Investing lessons, compounding, and staying invested

In this episode of The Leader's Notebook (Ep.292) from our seven-part series, The Magnificent Seven, I walk through the life of King David not as a children's story hero, but as one of the most complex, gifted, and broken leaders Scripture ever presents, drawing from Psalms 22, 23, and 51 to show how a shepherd, poet, warrior, prophet, outlaw, king, and sinner could still be called a man after God's own heart. David's genius was not perfection but pursuit: an uncommon ability to flex with the seasons of life, to rebound from moral collapse and personal tragedy, and to refuse both despair and denial when confronted with his own sin. From prophetic insight that reached the cross of Christ, to public repentance that matched the depth of his failure, David teaches us that leadership is not validated by flawlessness but by repentance, resilience, and an unrelenting chase after the heart of God, even when life is marked by pain, conflict, and unfinished battles. – Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders Notebook(00:00:25) - Psalm 22, The Book of Psalms(00:02:19) - David the Extraordinary Man(00:07:31) - The Fall of David(00:09:09) - The Life of King David(00:13:23) - The Story of David and the Defeat of Goliath(00:21:41) - David the King of Israel(00:28:00) - David's Sin with Bathsheba(00:35:03) - David the Book of Life(00:39:38) - Was David a Man After God's Own Heart?

This week on Inside the Economy, we dive into stock performance and take a closer look under the hood at AI, inflation, wages, and the U.S. job market. The “Magnificent Seven” stocks of the S&P 500 have been primary drivers of the market over the past few years. Is the index beginning to broaden now? What has led to Google's success this year? We also examine long-term inflation, which has averaged around 3% in the U.S. How do inflation numbers in the 2020s compare to those of the 1970s and 1980s, and what insights can be drawn from 2025 inflation numbers? Meanwhile, disposable income and compensation growth have recently exceeded inflation by more than 2%, according to available data. Unemployment has ticked up to 4.6%, but when we zoom out historically, where are we and what cracks may be present? Tune in to learn more. Key Takeaways: • Crude Oil at $55.07 a barrel • Unemployment at 4.6% • California's share of U.S. GDP is 14.5%

2025 CPMHOF Lifetime Achievement Award Winner:Richard (Dick) E. Phelan was born and raised in the Allison Hill area of Harrisburg. Dick had an initial love of sports and music. He graduated from John Harris HS in 1963. While in high school, he began his music career with a group of other classmates forming “The Organization” (which included future founder of The Magnificent Men, Bob Angelucci).While on the road in 1964, he found a property on N Front St. in Harrisburg that was for lease and he had a vision that would soon become “The Barn.” He soon outgrew that location and decided to go big with the acquisition of a parcel of farm property in suburban Harrisburg, on which, he opened The Raven on Thanksgiving weekend in 1965. Opening night the house band was “The Magnificent Seven” (soon to become The Magnificent Men).By 1968, Dick was looking for bigger venues to promote his musical connections. He sold The Raven (it became The Rover) and embarked on a career of promotion national acts all over the east coast. He was a road manager and promoter for such acts as Grand Funk Railroad, Uriah Heep, an early version of Chicago, Aerosmith, Earth, Wind, & Fire, and more! He had the first US booking for a new British artist, Elton John. He also controlled a northeast corridor of minor league hockey rinks, which became perfect venues for concerts.Later in life, Dick's entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish a string of successful restaurants, numbering as many as 19. This included the famous Gingerbread Man franchise and another special music venue, Rod's Roadhouse.Enjoy!You can find out more about the CPMHOF @ https://cpmhof.com/Brought to you by Darker with Daniel @ Studio 3.http://darkerwithdaniel.com/All media requests: thecpmpodcast@gmail.comWant to be on an episode of the CPMP? For all considerations please fill out a form @ https://cpmhof.com/guest-considerationJoin us back here or on your favorite audio streaming platform every other week for more content.

This week on Inside the Economy, we dive into stock performance and take a closer look under the hood at AI, inflation, wages, and the U.S. job market. The “Magnificent Seven” stocks of the S&P 500 have been primary drivers of the market over the past few years. Is the index beginning to broaden now? What has led to Google's success this year? We also examine long-term inflation, which has averaged around 3% in the U.S. How do inflation numbers in the 2020s compare to those of the 1970s and 1980s, and what insights can be drawn from 2025 inflation numbers? Meanwhile, disposable income and compensation growth have recently exceeded inflation by more than 2%, according to available data. Unemployment has ticked up to 4.6%, but when we zoom out historically, where are we and what cracks may be present? Tune in to learn more.   Key Takeaways: Crude Oil at $55.07 a barrel Unemployment at 4.6% California's share of U.S. GDP is 14.5%

US equity markets booked a second consecutive session of solid gains on Friday (19 December) as the technology sector continued to regain its footing - Dow rose +183-points or +0.38% Nvidia Corp gained +3.93% to be the leading performer in the 30-stock index after Reuters, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that the Trump administration is reviewing the prospect of the company selling its advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump said that he will allow Nvidia to ship its H200 AI chips to “approved customers” in the country. Nvidia and Alphabet Inc are the only two members of the so-called ‘Magnificent Seven' cohort of large capitalisation technology stocks to be outperforming the S&P500 in 2025. Nike Inc dropped -10.54% after the sports giant released its second quarter result after the close of the previous session and reported weaker revenue in Greater China.

From festive traditions to financial realities, this episode covers a wide range of timely topics as the year comes to a close. We start with a lighter look at the season, unpacking some of this year's biggest holiday trends, starting with Elf on the Shelf's Marietta roots. Elf on the Shelf has grown from a simple idea into a global enterprise. Its deep connection to holiday tradition has helped create a sustainable, enduring business model year after year. Next we jump into the shopping trends from Labubu to Crumbl Cookies to luxury items. We consider what current consumer spending trends reveal about shoppers' confidence. We'll discuss what a K-shaped recovery tells us about consumer financial health and what it could mean for the economy heading into the new year.From there, we turn to the economy, diving into recently released data including November's employment growth and the current unemployment rate. Is the AI trend fully supporting our economy? In some ways yes, but we're also seeing the broader market catch up to the Magnificent Seven. Student loans are also back in the spotlight, with significant changes carrying major implications for millions of borrowers. We break down what's happening with income-driven repayment plans, including updates to IBR and the emerging Repayment Assistance Plan, and how these shifts may affect monthly payments and long-term forgiveness timelines. Our host KC was recently quoted in CNBC on these developments, and we'll explain what the legal and policy changes mean for your financial future.Finally, we look ahead to upcoming tax-law changes tied to higher education, including repayment plan phase-outs and expanded rules around federal education benefits—part of the broader One Big Beautiful Bill that could reshape student debt and college costs in the years ahead.Join hosts Nick Antonucci, CVA, CEPA, Director of Research, and Managing Associates K.C. Smith, CFP®, CEPA, and D.J. Barker, CWS®, and Kelly-Lynne Scalice, a seasoned communicator and host, on Henssler Money Talks as they explore key financial strategies to help investors navigate market uncertainty. Henssler Money Talks — December 20, 2025  |  Season 39, Episode 51Timestamps and Chapters6:01: Holiday Fads & Favorites 13:52: Holiday Spending Checkup27:49: Employment Data and Market Breadth37:31: The Student Loan Reset: New Rules, New Risks, New DecisionsFollow Henssler:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HensslerFinancial/ YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/HensslerFinancial LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/henssler-financial/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hensslerfinancial/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hensslerfinancial?lang=en X: https://www.x.com/hensslergroup “Henssler Money Talks” is brought to you by Henssler Financial. Sign up for the Money Talks Newsletter: https://www.henssler.com/newsletters/ 

A version of this essay has been published by rediff.com at https://www.rediff.com/news/column/is-india-standing-alone-in-2025/20251222.htm2025 has been a disastrous year for the US, surely in foreign affairs and economics. The trade war, far from strengthening the economy, has shown the limits of American power: the capitulation to Chinese supplier power on rare earths, and a strategic retreat in the face of Chinese buyer power on soybeans, for example.The dramatic rise of Chinese generativeAI, which will undercut US Big Tech, is another problem. The US cannot afford to be the globocop any more, and the new National Security Strategy seeks a US withdrawal into ‘Fortress America'. It may mark the end of the vaunted ‘American exceptionalism' as well as the ‘liberal rules-based international order'.In an earlier time, this would have led to the famous Thucydides Trap, but in effect the US has gone into an ‘anti-Thucydides Trap' because it unthinkingly paved the way for China's rise, seduced by the short-term benefit of low-cost Chinese goods while ignoring the long-term strategic disaster. In the 20th century, Britain collapsed suddenly, but it is merely a tiny island off Eurasia. I never expected continent-sized America to follow suit in the 21st century.Meanwhile, in a fine example of “manufacturing consent”, the discourse in the US is not focusing on the global problems facing the country, but on MAGA bullying of H1-B Indians and on the Epstein files, which, on the face of it, is a silly exercise in moralization. I believe it was Hermann Hesse who said something to the effect that Americans are not interested in morals, being content with moralization.But the entire kowtowing to China has serious implications for India. One of the pillars of Indian foreign policy for decades has been the idea that it is a strategic counterweight to China in the US's calculations. But if the US has really ceded Asia to China (I recall President Obama saying as long ago as 2009 that the US and China would “work together to promote peace, stability, and development in South Asia”) then the famous ‘pivot to Asia' is null and void.A couple of years ago, I wrote that the most obvious thing for the US's Deep State to do would be to form a G2 condominium with China, divide up the world amongst themselves, and set up respective spheres of influence. This was predicated on America's relative decline, and China's economic and military rise to be, for all intents and purposes, a peer. I thought this would take a decade or more, but, lo and behold, the US is caving in furiously to China right now.In addition, I wrote about the surprisingly large and malign influence exerted by Britain, whereby it plays a ‘master-blaster' role, leading the US by the nose, usually to America's detriment. Britain's ‘imperial fortress' Pakistan seems to be involved in every terror incident, yet President Trump's new-found camaraderie with them (“here, some more F-16 goodies for you”) is yet another indictment of their twisted priorities.And Britain seems to be “winning”, too: on the one hand, they have finally defeated Germany, which they couldn't do via two World Wars: the latter's economy, its electricity grid, and its vaunted mittelstand and its automobile industry are in shambles. On the other hand, Britain is the one major European power that has not been defeated by Russia, so they think they can, conversely, defeat them. France (Napoleon) and Germany (Hitler) learnt otherwise.The pointless Ukraine War is bankrupting Europe; I wrote about how this is hastening the end of the European century and how ‘Europe' is reverting to what it was through most of history: unimportant ‘Northwest Asia'. This could well also be Britain's revenge against Europe, which it exited in a huff via Brexit: British elites have looked down upon Europeans all along.I mention all these not to show that I was somehow prescient, but that things we have been observing for some time are coming to a head: the US National Security Strategy is the capstone of the New World Order. And it seems to codify these trends: hegemony to China with Asia as its sphere of influence, the abandonment of Europe to its own devices, a focus on the Americas in a new ‘Donroe Doctrine' (so to speak).In the background are continuing terror attacks such as the one in Sydney, murderous attacks on Alawites in Syria, the car bomb in Delhi, and the lynching and burning alive of a minority Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, in Bangladesh by a frenzied mob. The world is not a safe place.There was also a defining moment: the US seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker. Far from being a show of strength, this may well be an admission of weakness: Venezuela is no competitor, and this is like the US invasion of defenseless Panama some years ago. It is, however, a declaration that the Americas belong to the US sphere of influence (the ‘Donroe' Doctrine).Sadly, China may demur: it views the Americas are adjacent to them (just across the Pacific) and have made inroads into many countries, including Panama, and ironically are funding a proposed alternative to the Panama Canal through Nicaragua, as well as a major Brazil-Peru railroad project (all the better to ship in raw materials from both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and to ship out “rubber dogshit from HongKong” back to them). Their $3 billion Chancay deepwater port in Peru has already been inaugurated.China is now a $500 billion trading partner for South America, overtaking the US, yes, overtaking the US. To top it all, the ports on both sides of the Panama Canal, i.e Cristobal (Atlantic side) and Balboa (Pacific side) are run by Hong Kong companies, which of course means the CCP does. In fact, it is blocking US firm Blackrock's acquisition of these ports.China therefore has serious assets in the Americas, and large commercial interests. The US can pretend it is supreme in the Americas, but the reality may be a little different.Meanwhile, the US has more or less abandoned its Quad partners in Asia and acknowledged Chinese hegemony there: in other words, that half of the condominium is done. When the new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said something that was obvious and perfectly within her rights to worry about Japan's security, the Chinese came down on her like a ton of bricks, wolf-warrior style. The normally voluble Trump said nothing at all in support of Japan.Regarding India, there has been a persistent tilt towards Pakistan during and after Operation Sindoor; and the imposition of harsh tariffs. The increasingly volatile situation in Bangladesh which is the result of a likely US-backed ‘regime-change' operation is a significant security threat to India because of the collusion of jihadi, Pakistani and Chinese-proxy elements there and the very real concern about the cutoff of India's Northeast from the mainland, apart from the ongoing murders and ethnic cleansing of Hindus and Buddhists there.Now comes the New York Times, which I generally despise as a propaganda arm of the Deep State. But they show some self-awareness in their editorial “America cannot win alone”. No man is an island, as John Donne wrote some years ago. And America is not a singular colossus any more either, and it needs alliances. It hurts me (as an Americophile) how rapidly the US is declining in relative terms, and perhaps even absolute terms.The best indicator of this decline is in the crown jewels of the US: its technology sector. On the one hand, the entire US stock market has been propped up by the Magnificent Seven and the alleged promise of the generativeAI boom. On the other hand, China's patented “over-invest, scale up, get to be lowest-cost producer, drive competitors out of business” is repeating in industry after industry: the latest is automobiles, where the famous German marques are history.Trump's surrender on Nvidia's H200 chips is an indication that China is playing the trade-war game much better than the U.S. China has amassed a $1 trillion trade surplus in the first 11 months of 2025, an unprecedented feat that shows its trade power. Not only is this because of supply-chain dominance, but an analyst suggests it's also because China is now on the verge of delivering a knockout blow to US/Western tech.There are news reports that China has almost managed to replicate EUV (Extreme Ultra Violet) lithography from ASML, one of the key areas in chipmaking that was beyond China's reach. They used former ASML employees of Chinese descent, as well as less advanced technologies from ASML itself, Canon and Nikon.This is the context in which one has to critique Trump's 2025 US National Security Strategy. In summary, it shows a narrowing of America's expansive self-image, the beginnings of a ‘Fortress America' mindset and an ‘America First' doctrine. The ‘promotion of democracy' is downplayed (aka ‘regime change', as we have seen in Bangladesh. Thank goodness!) and fighting other people's wars (think Ukraine) has been de-emphasized.It fits in very well with the G2 condominium idea, as it focuses on national interests and explicitly rejects globalism, elevates economic matters while suggesting the use of military might as an element of dealmaking, and asks ‘allies' to shoulder more responsibility.Europe is downgraded, China is the prime focus with an emphasis on deterrence (e.g., Taiwan), supply-chain resilience and balanced trade, the Indo-Pacific gets short shrift, and the emphasis is on the Americas as, so to speak, the US's private playpen, harking back to the 19th century.India gets almost no attention: it is mentioned four times as compared to 21 times for China, with the tone shifting from ‘strategic partner' or ‘leading global power' to a more transactional expectation of burden-sharing and reciprocity. The Quad is downplayed too. India will need to maintain multi-alignment (e.g., with Russia via RELOS agreements), diversify dependencies, and accelerate self-reliance. India is on its own, as I said in “The Abhimanyu Syndrome”. At least twenty-five years of wooing the US has gone down the drain. Back to the drawing board.At the beginning of 2025, I must admit I was optimistic about Indo-US relations under Trump's presidency. I did not think the G2 condominium would arrive so soon, especially under Trump, or that the eclipse of the US would be so sudden and so dramatic. India had at least one bright spot in 2025: the rapidly-growing economy, despite US tariffs. I really can't see much that went well for the US. Truly an annus horribilis. In 1999, I wrote that that year was terrible for India, but 2025 may have been worse for the US, in my opinion.Malayalam podcast created by notebookLM.google.com:1800 words, 20 Dec 2025 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rajeevsrinivasan.substack.com/subscribe

This episode of Talking Real Money takes aim at the latest “easy money” illusion—house flipping—explaining why rising costs, higher interest rates, softer housing demand, and plain old competition have drained much of its appeal. Tom and Don connect flipping's decline to a familiar pattern of speculative behavior, much like day trading or past real estate manias, and reinforce why there are no reliable shortcuts to wealth. Listener calls drive a wide-ranging discussion on global diversification versus U.S.-only investing, the dangers of concentration risk in the S&P 500, how recency bias distorts performance comparisons, and why owning more markets matters more than making predictions. The episode wraps with practical retirement guidance for older investors, including simplifying portfolios with low-cost target-date funds, and closes with trademark humor and perspective. 0:05 Show open, intro banter, singing callbacks, and weekend rhythm 0:28 House flipping compared to day trading and FOMO investing 1:28 Why flipping activity is down sharply: costs, rates, and competition 3:41 The myth of “passive income” in real estate 4:50 Softer housing markets and demographic headwinds 6:02 No magic systems—long-term investing still wins 8:27 Lisa (Colorado): investing nonprofit funds at Vanguard 10:30 VOO vs VTI vs VT and the case for global diversification 12:29 Volatility, standard deviation, and diversification basics 14:44 Sharpe ratios, recency bias, and misleading performance metrics 16:54 Charles (Seattle): Boeing plans, VOO, and AVGE at Schwab 18:32 S&P 500 concentration risk and the “Magnificent Seven” 21:33 Jason (Sammamish): VTI vs VT debate and long-term market data 28:41 Debbie (Camano Island): portfolio risk concerns at age 73 31:20 Risk tolerance vs risk capacity in retirement 33:16 Vanguard target-date funds as a simple retirement solution 36:01 Lighter close with creative fundraising and holiday humor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this quick Geek Freaks Headlines segment, we break down why The Magnificent Seven is getting rebooted again, this time as an eight episode series led by Heroes creator Tim Kring. We cover the story's long reboot history (including its Seven Samurai roots), why the 2016 film reboot did not fully work, and the new twist that could actually give this version real teeth: a nonviolent Quaker town hiring seven mercenaries. We also touch on the June 2026 production start and why casting is going to be the make or break detail.00:00:00 The Magnificent Seven is getting rebooted again00:00:05 The Seven Samurai connection and why this story keeps coming back00:00:13 Tim Kring (Heroes) is writing and producing, plus thoughts on the 2016 reboot00:00:45 The Quaker town twist and the moral tension it sets up00:00:59 Production start (June 2026) and casting watchThis is an eight episode TV reboot with Tim Kring attached as writer and producer.The new angle is a Quaker community hiring violent mercenaries, which bakes moral conflict into the premise.The story has been retold many times, and this version needs strong characters to stand out.Casting is the big question, especially for a “seven distinct personalities” setup.Production is expected to start in June 2026.“The Magnificent Seven once again is getting another reboot.”“I love me some Heroes.”“The twist in this one is that it's going to be this Quaker town, and they're very much nonviolent.”If you enjoyed this breakdown, subscribe to Geek Freaks Headlines, leave a review, and share the episode using #GeekFreaksHeadlines. It helps more people find the show.GeekFreaksPodcast.com (our source for all news discussed during our podcast)Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcastThreads: https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcastTwitter: https://twitter.com/geekfreakspodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/geekfreakspodcast/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcastGot thoughts on what kind of cast this reboot needs, or which reboot actually nailed the vibe? Send your questions or topic suggestions to us on social, and we may feature them in a future episode.Geek Freaks Headlines, The Magnificent Seven, Tim Kring, Heroes, Western TV series, TV reboot news, Seven Samurai, entertainment news, streaming series, pop culture podcast Timestamps and TopicsKey TakeawaysMemorable QuotesCall to ActionLinks and ResourcesFollow UsListener QuestionsApple Podcast Tags

In this episode of The Leader's Notebook (Ep. 291) from our seven-part series, The Magnificent Seven, I take you into the long, demanding life of Moses—a man called by God and shaped by struggle. From a baby hidden in the reeds to an old prophet standing before Pharaoh, Moses learned that God forms leaders slowly and uses them despite their fears, failures, and reluctance. We walk through the burning bush, the wilderness years, and the heavy burden of leading a stubborn people, discovering that true leadership is meekness—great authority restrained by obedience to God. Moses' life points us again and again to the grace of God, a grace that still flows even when the servant falters, and ultimately to Christ, the greater Deliverer, who bears the curse and brings us into freedom. Moses reminds us that God does His greatest work through surrendered lives, and that faithfulness matters more than brilliance or strength.– Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders Notebook(00:00:25) - The Magnificent Seven(00:01:12) - Joseph the Desecrator(00:09:53) - Why Was Moses Named Moses?(00:13:37) - THE LIFE OF MOSES(00:21:46) - Meekness and God's Plan for Israel(00:27:28) - The healing power of the Cross(00:33:46) - Moses the Great

In this episode of the Money Matters Podcast, Wes Moss and Connor Miller offer an educational discussion on current financial market headlines, retirement planning considerations, and developments in artificial intelligence. • Review publicly reported details of Disney's collaboration with OpenAI and discuss how large media organizations are evaluating AI-enabled content tools. • Examine Time Magazine's recognition of the collective “Architects of AI” as 2025's Persons of the Year and what that designation reflects about technology's growing prominence. Then, reflect on past Time Person of the Year selections to provide cultural and economic context across different market eras. • Discuss widely cited data on the increase in millionaire 401(k) accounts and explain how market conditions and contribution patterns can sometimes influence account balances. • Summarize the Federal Reserve's recent monetary policy decision, often described as a “hawkish cut,” including how commentators interpret interest-rate signaling. • Compare the recent performance of the Magnificent Seven stocks with the broader S&P 500 to illustrate changes in market concentration over time. • Highlight market data showing broader participation in equity returns, with a greater share of S&P 500 companies posting positive performance. • Revisit common asset allocation discussions involving balanced portfolios, including equities and fixed income, in long-term planning contexts. • Explain how short-term and long-term interest rates can respond differently to policy changes and why those distinctions are often referenced in borrowing discussions. • Review current U.S. labor market indicators—such as jobless claims, labor force participation, and wage growth—based on widely followed economic releases. • Outline health insurance marketplace open-enrollment timelines and general considerations individuals often review when evaluating coverage options. • Discuss survey-based research identifying an association between having a written retirement plan and reported retirement satisfaction, without implying causation. • Consider how economists and analysts describe AI's potential role in productivity and economic growth, acknowledging uncertainty and variability. • Preview commonly discussed themes for 2026, including historical patterns around election cycles, market volatility, and consumer spending behavior. Listen and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast for ongoing discussions that help frame financial topics within a broader, long-term perspective.

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 Magnificent Seven er som navnet antyder storslåede - endnu. For mange frygter, at værdierne på de syv største IT-selskaber i USA er kunstigt pustet op. At en IT-boble er ved at være så stor, at den kan briste når som helst. Selskaber som OpenAI, Nvidia, Google og Meta har nemlig kastet sig ud i kapløb om kunstig intelligens, der er så kostbart, at det kan koste selv de største livet - endda på kort sigt. Hør Finans Global og bliv klogere på, hvorfor mange analytikere frygter verdens mest værdifulde selskaber kan være på vej ned i en dødsspiral, og hvad det vil betyde for økonomien og markederne, hvis sværvægterne bliver sendt til tælling Gæst: Thomas Høy, global korrespondent, Finans. Vært: Mads Ring. Foto: Dado Ruvic/Reuters/Illustration.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Dental Boardroom Podcast, host Wes Read, CPA and financial advisor at Practice CFO, is joined by Brandon Hobson and Paul for their quarterly deep dive into the stock market, global economy, and what dentists and practice owners should prepare for as 2026 approaches.The episode covers:The Federal Reserve's rate movements and expected leadership changeWhether the current AI wave is a bubble or a true productivity revolutionThe future relevance of the traditional 60/40 investment strategyHow economic shifts impact dentists' borrowing, practice finances, and patient spendingPractice CFO's investment outlook and positioning for 2026A must-listen for dental entrepreneurs and investors navigating today's unpredictable financial landscape.Key Topics & Takeaways1. Federal Reserve Update & Interest RatesCurrent Fed Funds Rate: 3.75%–4%, with another 0.25% cut expected soon.Kevin Hassett is the likely replacement for Jerome Powell in 2026 potentially a more politically influenced choice.Concerns about Fed independence rising due to political pressure.Rate cuts stimulate borrowing but risk inflation if overdone.Importance for dentists:Affects practice loans, buildouts, refinancing, and equipment financing.Impacts patient discretionary spending, especially in cosmetic dentistry.2. Stagflation Risk?Inflation appears stable around the mid-2% range.Unemployment creeping toward 4%.Risk emerges if inflation rises while unemployment increases = “stagflation.”Not yet alarming, but the rate of change is what matters.3. GDP & Economic StrengthU.S. GDP last reading (Q2): 3.8%, stronger than expected.Global GDP remains surprisingly strong despite trade tensions.Q3 & Q4 readings delayed due to government shutdown but expected to stay positive.4. AI: Bubble or Breakthrough?Big tech's AI infrastructure spend expected to hit $3 trillion by 2028.53% of investors believe we are in an AI bubble.OpenAI & NVIDIA valuations are 30–40× revenue, compared to Walmart at 1.3×.MIT study: 95% of companies currently see no ROI from AI.Major concerns:Revenue lag vs. massive AI investmentCircular funding structures (promising investments without cash to fulfill them)Big tech taking on debt to fund AI (Meta's off-balance-sheet financing)Parallel drawn to the dot-com era huge innovation + huge speculative hype.5. What About the Magnificent Seven?High valuations and interconnected dependence create contagion risk.NVIDIA's unusually high profit margins may attract new competition.Some tech (like Google, Meta) still offers strong fundamentals & cash flow.But investors should avoid blindly overweighting tech indexes.6. Is the Classic 60/40 Portfolio Back?After years of underperformance, value stocks and quality companies are regaining momentum.PracticeCFO's positioning:Lower tech exposure (15–18% vs. S&P 35–40%)Higher weight in value, quality, and cash-flow-focused companies20–40% international stocks for diversificationAI benefits will extend to all sectors consumer staples may monetize AI faster and cheaper than...

In this episode of The Leader's Notebook (Ep. 290) from our seven-part series, The Magnificent Seven, we explore the life and leadership of Joseph—the dreamer whose faith and character carried him through betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment to become the second most powerful man in Egypt. From the prophetic dreams God gave him as a youth to the fulfillment of those dreams decades later, Joseph's story illustrates how God orchestrates destiny through patience, integrity, and unwavering trust. I share practical insights on how to hold onto the dreams God places in your heart, how to persevere through setbacks, and how to recognize the divine timing in your life. Joseph's life teaches us that God's promises often arrive in ways we cannot yet comprehend, and that the power of a dream can transform both personal destiny and the course of nations.– Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders Notebook(00:00:36) - Joseph's Life in Dreams(00:09:12) - Joseph the Despot: My Story(00:16:37) - Joseph the Jewish People(00:20:06) - The Dream of Your Life(00:25:27) - The Story of Purple Mountain Majorem(00:28:34) - Dreams and the power of them(00:34:03) - Mark Rutland on His(00:38:20) - The Greatest Dream Encourager of All Time(00:44:55) - A Little Girl's Dream(00:50:28) - God has a Dream for Your Life

2025 was hella weird. The AI revolution is here whether we asked for it or not. This week, George K and George A reflect on the year and what it means for 2026.At AWS re:Invent, George A watched a machine create a custom fragrance and marketing campaign in real-time from a voice prompt. What does that portend for product prototyping, and scaled manufacturing?Could voice and natural language finally replacing typing as the primary interface? We're watching the biggest shift in human-computer interaction since the mouse.Worldwide AI adoption isn't hype anymore—it's happening and doing so unevenly. Some enterprises are getting serious and some are still noodling. The tools are maturing. The question shifted from "if" to "how do we do this responsibly."There are serious questions to answer. GPU lifecycles. The Magnificent Seven's circular financing models. The human cost of moving this fast. But that's the work—building technology that serves us instead of the other way around.The revolution came. Now comes the interesting part: what we actually build with it.2026 is going to be wild. We remain up to the challenge.Mentioned: Brookings Institution, “New data show no AI jobs apocalypse—for now” Discussed in further detail with Ethan Mollick on Your Undivided Attention Reid Hoffman's interview with Wispr Flow founder/CEO Tanay Kothari More on Coreweave's financing model at The Verge

On today's podcast:1) President Donald Trump raised potential antitrust concerns around Netflix Inc.’s planned $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., noting that the market share of the combined entity may pose problems.2) The Trump administration on Monday plans to unveil a long-awaited farm aid package, according to a White House official, offering $12 billion in assistance to a key base of support hit hard by low crop prices and the impact of the president’s tariff policies.3) Yardeni Research now recommends effectively going underweight the Magnificent Seven megacap technology stocks versus the rest of the S&P 500, expecting a shift in earnings growth ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck sits down with Jared Bernstein — veteran economic adviser to both the Obama and Clinton administrations — for a sweeping, candid breakdown of the American economy, why the data and national mood feel so misaligned, and how technological change is reshaping the labor market. Bernstein explains how the White House approached economic tradeoffs, from inflation and tariffs to the stubborn low-hire, low-fire job market. He and Chuck dig into the uncertainty surrounding AI-driven job displacement, why Americans are more skeptical of AI than peers abroad, and how policymakers failed to build guardrails around the harms of social media. Bernstein argues that a federal jobs guarantee would be far more effective than universal basic income, and that political candidates will increasingly need to get tough on tech as the power of the “Magnificent Seven” distorts markets and discourages regulation. The conversation then turns to the structural failures of America’s healthcare system — from inelastic demand to weak cost controls — and why “Medicare for more” could be a practical starting point for reform. Bernstein outlines the entrenched inefficiencies of employer-based coverage, the rise of contract work, and the political salience but poor targeting of policies like “no tax on tips.” He also discusses the missed opportunity to protect the expanded child tax credit, the flaws in Trump’s proposed baby bond program, and the broader need for progressive taxation rather than philanthropy by billionaires. Finally, Chuck and Jared confront the realities of the national debt in an era of higher interest rates, the feasibility of reviving a robust child tax credit, and whether new supports — like credits for childcare or elder care — could help families navigate an affordability crisis that shows no sign of easing. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: 00:00 Jared Bernstein joins the Chuck ToddCast 00:30 Jared worked for both the Obama & Clinton administrations 02:15 Drafting economic policy that has the most upside, least downside 03:15 The economic data doesn’t match the vibe of the country 04:15 The Biden WH talked past the electorate but didn’t lie about economy 05:45 Biden thought the job market was most important economic indicator 08:30 Inflation has been stubborn, how long did you assume we’d have it? 10:15 Tariffs have contributed to about half a point of inflation 11:00 Inflation during Covid was a combo of low supply & high demand 12:45 Should the fed be focusing on inflation or the jobs market? 14:30 AI isn’t causing mass layoffs yet, but it has frozen hiring 15:30 We’re stuck in a low hire, low fire jobs market 16:45 Technology displaces the most workers during economic downturns 18:45 How can we avoid job displacement destruction from AI? 20:15 Americans are far more negative on AI than other western nations 21:30 Politicians failed to create guardrails for the harms of social media 22:15 We don’t know the extent of how AI will displace jobs 23:15 Government should offer a federal jobs guarantee for AI displaced jobs 24:30 Universal basic income pales in comparison to a jobs guarantee 26:15 Getting tough on tech will be critical to successful political candidates 27:30 Tech companies threaten regulators with exiting the country 28:30 Breaking up tech’s power has appeal on both sides of the aisle 29:00 Market cap of the magnificent 7 is 22 trillion dollars 31:00 The S&P 500 minus the magnificent 7 is basically flat 32:45 Non-profit hospital systems make more money than for profit ones 33:30 Leaving healthcare to the free market doesn’t work well & is expensive 34:15 Healthcare isn’t shoppable and demand is inelastic 35:45 The only healthcare solution from congress is subsidizing insurance 36:30 The ACA did a lot to control healthcare spending, but not enough 37:15 We have very few cost controls in our healthcare system 38:00 “Medicare for more” would be a great place to start fixing the system 39:15 Competition in the health insurance market has been insufficient 41:00 Health insurers don’t want to compete with government, will fight hard 42:00 Medicare won’t be free but considerably cheaper than private market 42:45 Will a shorter work week be realized in the age of AI? 43:45 Social welfare is too often correlated to GDP 44:30 A shorter work week isn’t feasible during an affordability crisis 46:15 Employer based healthcare system is deeply rooted, but inefficient 47:30 Companies have pivoted to contract work to avoid paying benefits 48:30 The salience of the “No Tax On Tips” policy 50:45 No tax on tips is poorly targeted and inefficient, but will be hard to repeal 51:30 Biden should have “died on the hill” protecting the child tax credit 53:30 Trump’s baby bond program is poorly targeted & exacerbates inequality 55:30 Government shouldn’t rely on philanthropy by billionaires & tax progressively 57:15 Raising the corporate tax was always a nonstarter in administration meetings 58:15 We’re at a dangerously unsustainable level of national debt 59:15 Higher interest rates are making the debt much harder to sustain 1:00:00 A child tax credit is feasible, but needs a pay for 1:01:00 The childcare industry is very responsive to demand 1:01:45 Could we see a “home care” credit for both kids or seniorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck examines the sweeping global and domestic implications of Trump’s increasingly personal, transactional approach to foreign policy. He breaks down how the administration has abandoned the post–Cold War order, embraced nationalist movements, sidelined democracy promotion, and even signaled security guarantees in exchange for favors — all while crafting a national security strategy full of dangerous gaps and warmly received by the Kremlin. Chuck then turns to the explosive revelations around Trump’s pattern of selling pardons for loyalty, spotlighting the Henry Cuellar episode as a case study in this mob-style political culture. The conversation also touches on Marjorie Taylor Greene’s recent media tirades and her emerging position as a potential “true MAGA” contender in 2028, before wrapping with a look at the historically low approval of all four congressional leaders and why a dramatic leadership reshuffling by 2029 wouldn’t be surprising. Then, Chuck sits down with Jared Bernstein — veteran economic adviser to both the Obama and Clinton administrations — for a sweeping, candid breakdown of the American economy, why the data and national mood feel so misaligned, and how technological change is reshaping the labor market. Bernstein explains how the White House approached economic tradeoffs, from inflation and tariffs to the stubborn low-hire, low-fire job market. He and Chuck dig into the uncertainty surrounding AI-driven job displacement, why Americans are more skeptical of AI than peers abroad, and how policymakers failed to build guardrails around the harms of social media. Bernstein argues that a federal jobs guarantee would be far more effective than universal basic income, and that political candidates will increasingly need to get tough on tech as the power of the “Magnificent Seven” distorts markets and discourages regulation. The conversation then turns to the structural failures of America’s healthcare system — from inelastic demand to weak cost controls — and why “Medicare for more” could be a practical starting point for reform. Bernstein outlines the entrenched inefficiencies of employer-based coverage, the rise of contract work, and the political salience but poor targeting of policies like “no tax on tips.” He also discusses the missed opportunity to protect the expanded child tax credit, the flaws in Trump’s proposed baby bond program, and the broader need for progressive taxation rather than philanthropy by billionaires. Finally, Chuck and Jared confront the realities of the national debt in an era of higher interest rates, the feasibility of reviving a robust child tax credit, and whether new supports — like credits for childcare or elder care — could help families navigate an affordability crisis that shows no sign of easing. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the history of the United States relationship with China and the unintended consequences that came with it. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and recaps the college football playoff selection. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 05:00 Trump doesn’t want the U.S. to be the leader of the free world 06:15 Administration rejects post cold war world order 07:30 Foreign policy will be subjective based on Trump’s personal relationships 08:15 There is no more value judgement on who the US does business with 09:15 Administration is proving to be very anti-EU 10:00 Administration signals support for other nationalist movements 12:30 Trump has never believed U.S. should promote democracy 13:30 There are plenty of holes in the national security strategy 14:15 Qatari plane bribe led to NATO like security guarantee 15:30 American presidents should believe in democracy 16:45 Trump’s retreat from the world will create generational damage 17:45 The new security memo was loved by the Kremlin 18:30 Trump mad at Henry Cueller for not changing parties after pardon 19:15 Trump is clearly selling pardons in exchange for money or support 21:15 Trump’s primary complaint with Cueller was “lack of loyalty” 23:00 Trump seemingly thought pardon was in exchange for something 25:30 There should be far more outrage over the weekly sale of pardons 26:30 Marjorie Taylor-Greene blasts GOP lawmakers in 60 minutes interview 27:30 MTG believed the BS & is now finally realizing it’s BS 28:30 MTG could become the “true MAGA” candidate in 2028 29:00 All 4 congressional leaders are incredibly unpopular 30:30 Congressional GOP could use a leadership shakeup 31:15 Schumer & Jeffries are looking over their shoulders 33:15 It wouldn’t be surprising if all four leaders are gone by 2029 41:00 Jared Bernstein joins the Chuck ToddCast 41:30 Jared worked for both the Obama & Clinton administrations 43:15 Drafting economic policy that has the most upside, least downside 44:15 The economic data doesn’t match the vibe of the country 45:15 The Biden WH talked past the electorate but didn’t lie about economy 46:45 Biden thought the job market was most important economic indicator 49:30 Inflation has been stubborn, how long did you assume we’d have it? 51:15 Tariffs have contributed to about half a point of inflation 52:00 Inflation during Covid was a combo of low supply & high demand 53:45 Should the fed be focusing on inflation or the jobs market? 55:30 AI isn’t causing mass layoffs yet, but it has frozen hiring 56:30 We’re stuck in a low hire, low fire jobs market 57:45 Technology displaces the most workers during economic downturns 59:45 How can we avoid job displacement destruction from AI? 1:01:15 Americans are far more negative on AI than other western nations 1:02:30 Politicians failed to create guardrails for the harms of social media 1:03:15 We don’t know the extent of how AI will displace jobs 1:04:15 Government should offer a federal jobs guarantee for AI displaced jobs 1:05:30 Universal basic income pales in comparison to a jobs guarantee 1:07:15 Getting tough on tech will be critical to successful political candidates 1:08:30 Tech companies threaten regulators with exiting the country 1:09:30 Breaking up tech’s power has appeal on both sides of the aisle 1:10:00 Market cap of the magnificent 7 is 22 trillion dollars 1:12:00 The S&P 500 minus the magnificent 7 is basically flat 1:13:45 Non-profit hospital systems make more money than for profit ones 1:14:30 Leaving healthcare to the free market doesn’t work well & is expensive 1:15:15 Healthcare isn’t shoppable and demand is inelastic 1:16:45 The only healthcare solution from congress is subsidizing insurance 1:17:30 The ACA did a lot to control healthcare spending, but not enough 1:18:15 We have very few cost controls in our healthcare system 1:19:00 “Medicare for more” would be a great place to start fixing the system 1:20:15 Competition in the health insurance market has been insufficient 1:21:00 Health insurers don’t want to compete with government, will fight hard 1:22:00 Medicare won’t be free but considerably cheaper than private market 1:22:45 Will a shorter work week be realized in the age of AI? 1:23:45 Social welfare is too often correlated to GDP 1:24:30 A shorter work week isn’t feasible during an affordability crisis 1:26:15 Employer based healthcare system is deeply rooted, but inefficient 1:27:30 Companies have pivoted to contract work to avoid paying benefits 1:28:30 The salience of the “No Tax On Tips” policy 1:30:45 No tax on tips is poorly targeted and inefficient, but will be hard to repeal 1:31:30 Biden should have “died on the hill” protecting the child tax credit 1:33:30 Trump’s baby bond program is poorly targeted & exacerbates inequality 1:35:30 Government shouldn’t rely on philanthropy by billionaires & tax progressively 1:37:15 Raising the corporate tax was always a nonstarter in administration meetings 1:38:15 We’re at a dangerously unsustainable level of national debt 1:39:15 Higher interest rates are making the debt much harder to sustain 1:40:00 A child tax credit is feasible, but needs a pay for 1:41:00 The childcare industry is very responsive to demand 1:41:45 Could we see a “home care” credit for both kids or seniors 1:45:45 ToddCast Time Machine December 1978, 2001, 2025 1:46:30 Jimmy Carter announce normalization of relations with China 1:47:30 Kissinger praised bringing Beijing closer, Goldwater was furious 1:48:15 Business community was ecstatic 1:49:30 In 2001, China joins the WTO: hinge moment of globalization 1:50:30 Democrats & Republicans agreed on China in 2001 1:52:15 Consumers & business loved cheaper good from China 1:53:00 Bush & Gore both had the same view of China 1:53:45 Populists warned of job losses and economic pain 1:54:30 What if US had blocked China’s entry to the WTO? 1:56:15 China is now viewed as a permanent strategic rival 1:57:30 US made a bet they could promote reform in Beijing and failed 1:58:15 Bets on China reshaped the U.S. more than China 1:59:00 Ask Chuck 1:59:15 Why don’t national democrats want to be in Iowa? 2:02:15 How did Obama hurt the DNC beyond endorsing Hillary? 2:06:30 Which member of each branch would be better in another branch? 2:12:00 Could lack of a primary in 2024 lead to broader election reforms? 2:14:30 College football roundupSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CNBC and MSNBC commentator Ron Insana joins Michael to break down what's really driving the stock market — and why most investors aren't feeling the gains. From the soaring dominance of the “Magnificent Seven” tech giants to fears of an AI-fueled bubble, Insana explains the risks, the misconceptions, and how everyday Americans should think about investing in a highly concentrated market. They also tackle AI job displacement, universal basic income, Nvidia's explosive rise, and the surprising decline in what it means to be “wealthy” today. Original air date 4 December 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of The Leader's Notebook (Ep. 289), I open our new series, The Magnificent Seven, by turning our attention to Abraham—the first great patriarch and the man through whom God began the redemptive story that shapes all of Scripture. Abraham stands at the headwaters of biblical history, yet he emerges from a pagan culture with no prior record of faith, only a heart somehow attuned to the voice of God. That alone is a profound leadership lesson: God speaks to those who will listen. In this teaching, I explore Abraham's courageous obedience, his willingness to step into the unknown, and the leadership strength that caused entire households to follow him simply because he trusted the word of the Lord. At the same time, Abraham's failures—his impatience, his missteps, his attempts to force God's promise—offer sober warnings for every leader. His life reminds us that obedient faith, not human strategy, is the pathway to God's best. Join me as we learn from the strengths and shortcomings of this remarkable man and consider what real spiritual leadership requires in our own time.– Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders Notebook(00:00:25) - 7 characteristics of the 7 people in the Bible(00:08:38) - Abram's Obedient Faith(00:11:29) - Abram the Desecrator(00:14:19) - Abram the Jew and Lot(00:20:32) - The Sin of Sodom(00:27:52) - Abraham and the Jews(00:28:19) - God's Mercy for Abram and His People(00:36:56) - God's challenges in our life(00:39:11) - Abraham's Final Test of His Life

Over the last couple of years, massive AI investment has largely kept the stock market afloat. Case in point: the so-called Magnificent 7 – tech companies like NVIDIA, Meta, and Microsoft – now account for more than a third of the S&P 500's value. (Which means they likely represent a significant share of your investment portfolio or pension fund, too.)There's little doubt we're living through an AI economy. But many economists worry there may be trouble ahead. They see companies like OpenAI – valued at half a trillion dollars while losing billions every month – and fear the AI sector looks a lot like a bubble. Because right now, venture capitalists aren't investing in sound business plans. They're betting that one day, one of these companies will build artificial general intelligence.Gary Marcus is skeptical. He's a professor emeritus at NYU, a bestselling author, and the founder of two AI companies – one of which was acquired by Uber. For more than two decades, he's been arguing that large language models (LLMs) – the technology underpinning ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini – just aren't that good.Marcus believes that if we're going to build artificial general intelligence, we need to ditch LLMs and go back to the drawing board. (He thinks something called “neurosymbolic AI” could be the way forward.)But if Marcus is right – if AI is a bubble and it's about to pop – what happens to the economy then?Mentioned:The GenAI Divide: State of AI in Business 2025, by Project Nanda (MIT)MIT study finds AI can already replace 11.7% of U.S. workforce, by MacKenzie Sigalos (CNBC)The Algebraic Mind, by Gary MarcusWe found what you're asking ChatGPT about health. A doctor scored its answers, by Geoffrey A. Fowler (The Washington Post) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Markets feel noisy right now, and investors are asking sharper questions than usual. In this episode of Off The Wall, Nate W. Tonsager, CIPM® and David B. Armstrong, CFA open with the surge in tech valuations and the unusual weight a handful of companies now hold inside the S&P 500. We'll hear about what that concentration means for volatility, why some portfolios feel out of sync with the index, and how listeners can think about risk when the market feels lopsided. Next, they talk about the current labor environment, which is a mix of hiring freezes and productivity changes, and what those signals might suggest for the next stretch of the economic cycle. They reflect on the themes from Warren Buffett's final shareholder letter and the kind of mindset that helps people stay steady through big market swings. Please see important podcast disclosure information at https://monumentwealthmanagement.com/disclosures   Episode Timeline/Key Highlights: 0:00 - Welcome And AMA Setup 3:23 - Why Tech Valuations Drive Volatility 6:56 - Index Concentration And Investor Tradeoffs 13:30 - PE Ratios, Magnificent Seven, And Earnings Power 19:45 - Risk Management Over Chasing Returns 26:06 - Grading The Labor Market:  31:05 - Layoff Data, AI Productivity, And Hiring 34:00 - Fire Drills For Portfolio Risk   Connect with Monument Wealth Management:    Visit our website: https://monumentwealthmanagement.com/   Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monumentwealth/#   Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/monument-wealth-management/   Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MonumentWealthManagement   Connect on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MonumentWealth#Fit   Subscribe to our Private Wealth Newsletter: https://monumentwealthmanagement.com/subscribe/   About "Off the Wall":    OFF THE WALL is a podcast for business professionals and high-net-worth investors who want to build wealth with purpose. A little bit Wall Street, a little bit off-the-wall; it's your go-to for straightforward, unfiltered wealth advice on topics that founders, business owners, and executives care about.    Learn more about our host Dave Armstrong on our website at https://monumentwealthmanagement.com

(00:00) Intro (03:03) Come interpretare i conti e gli investimenti delle Magnificent Seven (33:52) Witkoff prova a svendere l'Ucraina, ma non riesce neanche in quello (50:41) L'Autorità della Privacy senza autorità e senza privacy Questo episodio è supportato da Edenred: le soluzioni welfare per la crescita delle aziende e il benessere dei dipendenti Firma la proposta di legge di iniziativa popolare per chiedere una legge sul voto fuorisede: ⁠⁠https://shor.by/zQ5D⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We will dig into the market's obsession with the “Magnificent Seven” tech giants, the hidden concentration risk in many portfolios, and how to rebalance without missing out on innovation.Today's Stocks & Topics: Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (AGM), Market Wrap, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (ODFL), “Magnificent Seven Overload: Is Your Portfolio Too Top-Heavy?”, iShares Top 20 U.S. Stocks ETF (TOPT), The Crypto Fall, Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (MPW), Micron Technology, Inc. (MU), Start Taking Equity, Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc (RYCEY), The Housing Market.Get an exclusive 5% discount on NordProtect plans. ➼ Go to: https://nordprotect.com/investalk and use the code investtalk at checkout.Take back your personal data with Incogni! Use code investtalk at the link below and get 60% off annual plans: https://incogni.com/investtalkOur Sponsors:* Check out Gusto: https://gusto.com/investtalk* Check out Invest529: https://www.invest529.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code INVEST for a great deal: https://www.trudiagnostic.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

CONTINUED ALSO NYC MAYORALTY Liz Peek Liz Peek discusses the "AI bubble," noting the Magnificent Seven stocks are priced to perfection amidst concerns that massive investments may not yield adequate returns, observes that although the market is "risk off"...

SHOW  11-18-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR 1894 "THE ANGEL OF THE REVOLUTION" THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT GAZA. FIRST HOUR 9-915 Liz Peek Liz Peek discusses the "AI bubble," noting the Magnificent Seven stocks are priced to perfection amidst concerns that massive investments may not yield adequate returns, observes that although the market is "risk off" the US economy seems "okay" according to data points, and expresses alarm about New York Mayor-Elect Mamdani, a socialist without management expertise who is surrounding himself with ideologues, including Hassan Sheheryar, his transition director, who is "clearly anti-Semitic" and anti-Israel, raising significant concerns for the city.E 915-930 CONTINUED 930-945 Judy Dempsey Judy Dempsey addresses the rising costs and future decline of the global cocoa crop, linking it to transcontinental climate change caused by Amazon deforestation, criticizes the EU and NATO for reacting too slowly and lacking strategic vision concerning the Ukraine war and defense, notes European military infrastructure is inadequate for rapid deployment forcing reliance on ships instead of trains, and observes that while the Russian threat is understood by most member states, political fumbling in Germany is allowing the anti-NATO, pro-Russia AfD party to gain significant ground. 945-1000 Gregory Copley Gregory Copley discusses the US military presence off Venezuela, noting President Trump seeks a negotiated outcome with Maduro to avoid long-term intervention, covers Mohammed bin Salman's influence in the Abraham Accords and the challenge posed by Turkey-backed Hamas, analyzes the symbolic rail sabotage in Poland questioning Russian involvement, and addresses the declining viability of NATO's Article 5 and the potential for King Charles III to intervene in UK political chaos. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 Charles Burton Charles Burton discusses his book, The Beaver and the Dragon, illustrating China's fundamental untrustworthiness and statistical manipulation, which has intensified under centralized leadership, noting Canada's past cooperation with China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) failed as officials often falsely reported data, and despite historical deception and security risks, there is a push in Canada to increase trade with China to offset trade issues with the United States, with Burton cautioning that trusting the Chinese Communist Party has always "gone badly wrong." 1015-1030 CONTINUED. 1030-1045 Jonathan Schanzer Jonathan Schanzer discusses Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), calling him a deeply flawed but essential leader driving Saudi modernization and normalization with Israel, with a "pathway to a Palestinian state" as the current diplomatic objective, emphasizing that resolving the Gaza situation and achieving broader peace hinges on eliminating Hamas, while the region faces long-term challenges from Iran and Turkey, the latter complicating Israel's security operations in chaotic Syria, with the UN endorsement of the Trump 20-point plan for Gaza reconstruction considered a landmark win. 1045-1100 CONTINUED CONTINUED KING CHARLES THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 Gregory Copley Gregory Copley discusses the US military presence off Venezuela, noting President Trump seeks a negotiated outcome with Maduro to avoid long-term intervention, covers Mohammed bin Salman's influence in the Abraham Accords and the challenge posed by Turkey-backed Hamas, analyzes the symbolic rail sabotage in Poland questioning Russian involvement, and addresses the declining viability of NATO's Article 5 and the potential for King Charles III to intervene in UK political chaos. 1115-1130 CONTINUED MBS 1130-1145 CONTINUED KING CHARLES 1145-1200 CONTINUED FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 Mary Kissel Mary Kissel addresses three foreign policy dilemmas: regarding Venezuela, the US military buildup is seen as leverage to force dialogue with Maduro following a successful playbook used against North Korea; in Europe, she notes a dichotomy between committed Eastern European states and "weaker lazier" Western powers regarding support for Ukraine; and the China dilemma involves whether to treat Beijing as a legitimate trading partner or an enemy narco-terrorist state responsible for exporting fentanyl precursors, with Kissel suggesting current US policy is confused and benefits the CCP. 1215-1230 1230-1245 oseph Sternberg Joseph Sternberg analyzes the BBC political bias scandal, which is significant because the BBC is "omnipresent" and arranges the "mental furniture for British society," noting the BBC, funded largely by a mandatory license fee, faced allegations ranging from deceptive editing of President Trump's remarks to the Arabic service pushing Hamas propaganda potentially fueling anti-Semitism, while domestically discussing the UK Labour Party's dilemma over controversial immigration policies to control illegal channel crossings, a crisis that has strengthened Nigel Farage's Reform party. 1245-100 AM

Liz Peek Liz Peek discusses the "AI bubble," noting the Magnificent Seven stocks are priced to perfection amidst concerns that massive investments may not yield adequate returns, observes that although the market is "risk off" the US economy seems "okay" according to data points, and expresses alarm about New York Mayor-Elect Mamdani, a socialist without management expertise who is surrounding himself with ideologues, including Hassan Sheheryar, his transition director, who is "clearly anti-Semitic" and anti-Israel, raising significant concerns for the city.E

Follow Us on Substack:https://excessreturnspod.substack.com/In this episode, we sit down with Rob Arnott for a wide-ranging discussion on bubbles, valuations, AI spending, market history, index construction, and long-term return expectations. Rob explains how to think about bubbles in real time, why today's market echoes the late 1990s, and what investors can practically do to improve future returns. He also digs into Research Affiliates' latest work on fundamental indexing, growth investing, and the opportunities in international and emerging markets.Topics covered:• How Rob defines a bubble and why narrative drives market pricing• Lessons from the dot-com era that apply to today's AI-driven market• Why disruptors eventually get disrupted• Practical portfolio steps for investors concerned about concentration• Why value stocks remain historically cheap• CapEx vs R and D and what history says about future returns• The role of AI spending and why many companies struggle to monetize it• How AI may reshape industries and who the real long-term winners could be• Index construction flaws and how RA's RAFI and RACWI approaches differ• A new way to build growth indexes using actual business growth• Why expensive companies with slow growth are the worst quadrant to own• Insights on emerging markets, international value, and forward return expectations• How Rob invests personally and what he sees as the best long-term opportunitiesTimestamps:00:00 Defining bubbles and why narrative matters02:00 Are we in a bubble today06:20 Lessons from the dot-com boom12:00 What investors can practically do now14:00 Value, RAFI, and rebalancing alpha17:00 AI CapEx and its historical parallels20:30 Who benefits most from AI23:00 Disruption, technology cycles, and productivity35:00 Reinventing index construction40:00 A new way to define and weight growth stocks43:30 The problem with expensive slow-growth companies46:00 Magnificent Seven through the growth lens52:00 Rob's outlook on emerging markets55:00 Why the US is priced for perfection57:00 Averaging out and trimming expensive winners58:00 New research and future product ideas from RA59:00 Rob's personal portfolio approach and long-short ideas01:00:20 Closing thoughts and outlook

Buck Klintworth, senior vice president and portfolio manager at Chase Investment Counsel, says the market isn't looking like it will make dramatic moves before the end of the year, but he does expect a "small correction." Because he believes that the underpinnings for the economy are solid and forces like the artificial intelligence boom are backstopping the market, he expects that correction to be a buying opportunity for investors. Tani Fukui, senior director for global economic and market strategy for MetLife Investment Management, says she expects the Federal Reserve to follow through with rate cuts — even as the market seemed to waver in its confidence in cuts on Thursday — and that the move and the coming rate-cut cycle will help the U.S. economy avoid a recession. Josh Duitz, global head of income for Aberdeen — manager of the Aberdeen Total Dynamic Dividend Fund — talks about where he is finding success in generating elevated income at a time when rate cuts are making it harder for investors to earn easy yields. Duitz discusses international investing and whether the rally overseas can continue in the face of reduced currency impacts, where high-flyers like the Magnificent Seven stocks fit in with his portfolio (or don't), and which sectors he is finding most attractive right now. Beth Pinsker, financial planning columnist at MarketWatch, discusses her recent piece on what the release of new tax brackets for 2026 means for investors who are considering Roth IRA conversions. Pinsker notes that the bracket changes will change the math, especially for people who were on the fence about whether a conversion could be worthwhile.

Should the S&P go higher? Today we discuss that and more in this wide-ranging episode. We talk the markets, and warn that investors often cling to bad positions instead of reassessing when wrong, noting that current valuations are stretched and the market appears overextended. There is rising corporate caution during earnings season, weak performance among consumer staples and cyclicals, and the growing dominance of the "Magnificent Seven" tech stocks in driving the S&P 500's gains. AI-related capital expenditures and record margin debt levels suggest heightened risk, so you should remain defensive and patient as market conditions soften despite entering a historically strong seasonal period. We discuss...  New York City's election of a socialist-leaning mayor and question how it might impact the city's historically capitalist foundation. Drawing a parallel to investing, we stress the need to reassess assumptions when investments go against you instead of clinging to them. The current market is overextended, with valuations significantly above historical trends and a concentration in a few large tech stocks. Consumer cyclicals and staples, normally defensive areas, have underperformed, suggesting caution for risk-averse investors. The "Magnificent Seven" tech stocks are disproportionately driving the S&P 500's performance, masking weakness in the broader market. AI-related capital expenditures are rising sharply, but returns on these investments remain minimal, highlighting potential overhype. Margin debt has reached record levels, indicating elevated risk if market sentiment shifts. Earnings season shows that even companies beating expectations may see stock declines, signaling that much of the positive news is already priced in. Weak market breadth—many stocks declining while a few outperform—indicates fragility and higher potential volatility. While a correction is possible, seasonal trends historically make late November through January a strong period for markets. Inflation is picking up modestly, while interest rates are being lowered, creating a complex environment for fixed-income investors. Private credit and real estate markets are showing early signs of stress, particularly as products are increasingly marketed to retail investors. Investors are advised to watch for opportunities in mispriced assets but remain cautious due to market overvaluation and potential downside risks. Overall, the discussion emphasizes patience, caution, and careful risk management amid uncertainty in politics, markets, and emerging technologies.   Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Douglas Heagren | Mergent College Advisors Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/should-the-sp-500-go-higher-763 

Get Our Free App with Dictionary & Journal iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aisling-dreams/id6753309760    Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dream_analysis.aisling_dreams  I'm focusing in a new direction because most people need it. Yeah, I said it. I'm trying to find out why intelligent people sign up with nefarious teachers. Sometimes, the teacher is not nefarious but the beings they work with are, so the result is the same.   In today's show, we unpack the dream warning symbols (misshapen celebs, cigarette/perfume smells, fake authority, walk-ins). Plus: Sandy and Jessica announce a new, practical course: Fundamentals of Divine Guardianship—to help you clear, protect, and stay sovereign.   Guardianship Course: https://www.dream-analysis.com/protection    Chapters 00:00 – Hook: why smart people get duped; new focus 00:01:10 – Joey's crash: paid protection → first infiltration 00:03:04 – What Michael saw: unplugged radar, blue minions; fix & re-unplug; solution 00:04:57 – Discernment: trust your guides; use your radar on real people 00:05:56 – The "Magnificent Seven" & new guardianship course (Nov 15) 00:07:49 – Dream #1: Weird Doctor Visit (misshapen celebs; cigarette smell; false authority) 00:11:26 – Dream #2: Fire (spooked feeling; man sleeping in the car/body) 00:13:18 – Dream #3: Group Activities (psychologists, books on infiltration; look-alikes) 00:16:06 – Why dreams always tell you first; how to read the pattern 00:17:00 – Dream #4: Hospital Perfume Calendar (gov-sanctioned perfume; walk-in pun; grogginess) 00:21:54 – Interview: Jessica on Fundamentals of Divine Guardianship 00:27:41 – Sovereignty: Transmute fear with education Talk to Sandy about our courses https://bookings.theaislingschool.com/sandy/got-questions Courses: https://www.dream-analysis.com/courses  Download Free dictionary: https://www.dream-analysis.com/  Submit your dream: https://www.dream-analysis.com/podcast  Show Archives: https://www.dream-analysis.com/podcasts/ 

On this week's Money Matters, Scott and Pat open the show with a look at the Magnificent Seven stocks. Is this tech dominance a warning sign or just the new market normal? They unpack what this concentration means for index investors and why historical perspective matters. Next, they take a call from a 56-year-old tech professional navigating a surprise layoff and considering early retirement. With over $2M in assets and plans to relocate, they walk through whether he can afford to stop working—or if some part-time income is essential. It's a timely breakdown of early retirement math, real estate moves, and RSU liquidation strategy. The episode wraps with two strong planning discussions: a state employee navigating Roth vs. traditional 401(k)/457 contributions, and a retiree using a "bucket strategy" who wants feedback on portfolio structure. Scott and Pat debate risk tolerance, rebalancing, and why flexibility is key in retirement income planning. If you're exploring early retirement, weighing Roth contributions, or fine-tuning your investment drawdown plan—this episode is packed with actionable insights. Join Money Matters:  Get your most pressing financial questions answered by Allworth's co-founders Scott Hanson and Pat McClain live on-air! Call 833-99-WORTH. Or ask a question by clicking here.  You can also be on the air by emailing Scott and Pat at questions@moneymatters.com. Download and rate our podcast here.

Magnificent Seven name Amazon rallying 4 percent after the company reached a 38 billion dollar deal with OpenAI for Nvidia chips, The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell bogged down by a decline in shares of UnitedHealth, More on the last EP Wealth Advisors and Rob Black Pints and Portfolios of the year on Dec 6th from 12pm to 2pm PST

How did Nvidia close out the week after becoming the first $5 trillion company? And how did increased AI spending affect the members of the Magnificent Seven that reported earnings this week? Plus, what's causing lower demand for fast-casual dining spots like Chipotle? Host Francesca Fontana discusses the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How did Nvidia close out the week after becoming the first $5 trillion company? And how did increased AI spending affect the members of the Magnificent Seven that reported earnings this week? Plus, what's causing lower demand for fast-casual dining spots like Chipotle? Host Francesca Fontana discusses the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The stock market is surging again, led by a handful of tech giants betting big on artificial intelligence. But is this genuine growth or déjà vu from the dot-com era? USA TODAY personal finance reporter Daniel de Visé joins host Dana Taylor to examine what's driving record highs on Wall Street, why the “Magnificent Seven” stocks wield so much influence, and what warning signs analysts are watching. From inflated valuations to money-market hedges, this episode unpacks whether AI optimism is fueling the next great bubble and how everyday investors can prepare.Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at podcasts@usatoday.com. Episode transcript available here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Scott Becker reviews the YTD performance of the Magnificent Seven stocks.