Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti take a look at which parts of the economy are preventing the Fed from cutting rates. The rise in consumers' late debt payments is slowing down. the QR backlash has won. Restaurants are ditching them for good. You bought gold at costco. What are the taxes when you sell it. Paul LaMonica joins the show to chat about t…

Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti react to the Fed's preferred inflation measure coming in as expected. Matt Gagnon, CEO - Maine Policy Institute, joins the show to share his stance on the current state of the economy. A robust economy can't shield Biden from blame for higher prices. Commercial property meltdown clobbers pension funds.…

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong wonder if the current interest rates are too low to cool off the economy? McDonalds tries to set the record straight on $18 Big Macs. What are the new Roth IRA rules? Loneliness in retirement is rapidly on the rise. Why are orange juices prices through the roof? Walmart store managers are now making staggering salarie…

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss treasuries holding steady during the recent stock sell off. Are markets banking too much on AI assumptions? Why is home insurance barely counted in inflation data? Why did movie studios experience the worst Memorial Day Weekend since 1989? Salesforce shares weak outlook and shares plunge.…

This week on Ask Todd, Todd Lutsky shares his insight into state estate taxes and which states have death taxes, naming trusts as account owners, and how to know if your trust actually exists or not.Av The Financial Exchange Network

Chuck Zodda and Paul Lane take a look at how much American workers need to make to feel happy with their salary. Why are American workers so lonely? Elon Musk's xAI valued at $24B after latest fundraising. How did AI make Mark Zuckerberg popular in Silicon Valley again? Store brands are filing up more of your car. Starbucks customers and workers fu…

Chuck Zodda and Paul Lane wish the Fed will limit their speakers because they are causing more harm than good. Two major mergers are on the table in the energy sector. Why is the FTC focused on Tech over Energy? US lawmakers meet with new Taiwan President amid tensions with China. Blacklisted Chinese companies rebrand as American to dodge crackdown…

Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane take a look at why US consumer confidence rebounded in May after months of decline. Is the slowdown in EV sales just a bump in the road? Apple is starting to gain steam in China. How are people building streaming bundles to save money? What is driving the cost of home insurance?…

Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane discuss why Wall Street's favorite recession indicator slumping? What you need to know about Wall Street shortening the time for delivery of settlements. Why are bullish investors piling into stock and bond funds? Why many Americans don't feel on track for retirement. Are 7% mortgages killing the American dream? Why is …

Paul Lane and Marc Fandetti wonder why the majority of Americans wrongly believe we are in a recession? Why are Treasury Bills the best place to put your cash right now? Colleges will now be forced to pay their student athletes. Why do 1 in 4 Americans believe college is not worth going into dept for? Paul LaMonica joins the show to chat about Keur…

Paul Lane and Marc Fandetti look at why markets tanked on Thursday. What does Nvidia's stock split mean for the Dow? Where is the last $6B in CHIPS Act money going to? Scarlett Johansson vs OpenAI will have major ramifications. What happens to ticket prices if Live Nation loses in court? Why are Auto and Home insurance costs soaring?…

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss the Justice Department suing Live Nation and seeking a break up of ticketing giant. Prices at the pump are dropping just in time for summer travel season. Jamie Dimon says we can't rule out a hard landing. Why is Jamie Dimon always predicting doom? Boston's broken liquor license system is driving restaurants o…

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong dive into the economic data released today, US jobless claims post back-to-back drop, and S&P global manufacturing PMI surprises. Fed officials saw longer wait for rate cuts. Nvidia sales triple, but are there signs that a slowdown is coming? OpenAI and NewsCorp strike content deal valued at $250M. Home sales fall aga…

Chuck Zodda and Marc Fandetti analyze why so many economists got their recession predictions so very wrong. Omair Shariff, Founder - Inflation Insights, joins the show to discuss the current state of inflation. Why is gold so alluring to so many people right now? TV networks are throwing out the old playbook and embracing an 'age doesn't matter' ph…

On this week's edition of Ask Todd, Todd Lutsky explains why you should always create an estate plan even if you feel like you don't have enough money. Todd also details why plans need to expand with more extensive estates, step-up in basis in grand tour trusts, and how an estate is divided if a spouse dies before a divorce is finalized.…

Chuck Zodda and Marc Fandetti finds a major flaw in the recent Fed financial survey and the results that showed inflations ongoing burden on Americans. The Fed being uniform on interest rates brings high risk. Todd Lutsky stops by for his weekly segment, Ask Todd. Todd looks at how the size of your estate determines the complexity of your trust.…

Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti discuss how gas prices are impacting our view of the economy as a whole. The US seeks to join forces with Europe to combat excess Chinese goods. Dan Griggs, OceanFirst Bank Boston President, joins the show to share his view on how inflation expectations have shifted and how the economy is fairing here in New England…

Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti wonder how the Fed officials that are speaking this week will address future rate cuts. Goldman says equity investors are bracing for a return of volatility. The unlikely stocks that became a hot bet on AI. Sarah Foster, Bankrate.com, joins the show to share the results of a recent survey on financial success and wh…

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong explain why the 'godfather of AI' believes the adoption of AI will create a serious need for universal basic income. Social Security's 'biggest myth' leads people to claim early. Why that is a mistake. When to treat your 401(k) as a bank. And when to keep it locked up. Some consumers are punting big purchases like poo…

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss how soaring debt and deficits are causing many to worry about those threats to the economy and markets. The US finally has a strategy to compete with China. America's class of 2024 graduates into an uncertain job market. Trex is betting $450M on America's renovation boom. Massachusetts's new housing law aimed …

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong are surprised by how much the average American has in credit card debt. AlexGailey, Bankrate.com, joins the show to explain how millennials are shifting home buying trends. What will it take to get Gen Z to watch live sports? Is a taco a sandwich? An Indiana judge has finally given us the answer. Paul LaMonica, Barron…

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss why investors feel like they are striking gold all over again. The Dow hit 40,000. Does it matter? Fed officials suggest interest rates should stay higher for longer. BlackRock's Rieder says cut, not hike, would tame inflation. Is there anything to back up his claim? China is finally getting serious about a ho…

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss why many baby boomers are relishing the freedom that comes with being a renter. Florida and Texas show signs of home prices falling. What are the two factors that help determine who is being impacted by inflation the most? Microsoft asks hundreds of China-based AI staff to consider relocating amid US/China ten…

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss what has led markets to all-time highs this week. US jobless claims come back down after last week's 9-month high. Housing starts rebound in April but building permits extend slump. Chuck has a big problem with inflation optimists. Walmart posts sales growth, raises earnings outlook for the year. Venu Sports i…

Todd Lutsky shares his insight on some of the best practices and worst practices when developing a life estate. Todd also explains how to know your trust is actually being funded and what the impact is if it is not being funded.Av The Financial Exchange Network

Chuck Zodda and Marc Fandetti share a list of the best and worst price changes over the previous year. Is Jamie Dimon correct in urging the government to address the current deficit? Americans bills are mounting up and more people are missing their payments. Is Google making a major mistake with their new vision for their search engine?…

Chuck Zodda and Marc Fandetti discuss the April CPI report that showed inflation is easing but consumer spending drops. What is causing the rapid rise in car insurance rates? Todd Lutsky stops by to share some of the Do's and Dont's of life estate planning.Av The Financial Exchange Network

Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane discuss GameStop continuing to surge as the meme stock craze returns. Massachusetts takes Uber and Lyft to trial over status of gig workers. New Florida law roils its condo market three years after Surfside collapse. Sky-high housing costs propel construction of rental homes. What's on TV? For many Americans, it's now Y…

Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane react to the PPI data that come in hotter than expected. What forecasters say about interest rates and why they disagree. Home Depot misses on revenue, as high interest rates hurt sales. Biden levies sweeping tariffs on China, intensifying trade fight with Trump. Is it time to rethink the 4% retirement withdrawal rule? …

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss the suddenly worrying trend in falling birthrates across the globe. Global chips battle intensifies with $81B subsidy surge. Can your investment portfolio relfect your values? Judge blocks new US rule limiting credit card late fees. Gamestop soars 60% as 'Roaring Kitty', who drove mem craze, resurfaces. Planet…

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong preview the week in economic data and look at why investors are crowding into soft-landing trades. We've entered a world of zombie inflation. Wall Street is scared witless. Mansion taxes won't improve housing affordability according to many economists. He helped Trump remake global trade. His work isn't done.…

Chuck Zodda and Marc Fandetti discuss Biden's tariffs on EVs coming from China. Carmakers are back to betting on hybrids as EV sales stall. How to lend family money without wrecking your relationship. Why are new college grads going to have a difficult time landing their dream job even in a hot labor market? Paul LaMonica joins the show to chat abo…

Chuck Zodda and Marc Fandetti discuss the recent University of Michigan sentiment poll which showed a drop well below expectations. The S&P 500 is tracking back towards its all-time high. Why higher Fed rates are not totally off the table. Bumble predicts the future of online dating is AI. Why has oil been climbing over the past couple of days? Why…

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong explain why we actually need to build more luxury homes. Mike Simonsen joins the show to share how the housing market is shaping up around the country. The great wealth transfer has started, but millennials and Gen Z may not inherit as much as they anticipate. Tim Cook can't run Apple forever. Who's next? Disney, Hulu…

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss the weekly jobless claims that jumped to its highest level since last August. Corporate America is on a spending spree, buying back shares. Arm slides as tepid outlook fuels concerns over AI slowdown. Billions in chips grants are expected to fuel industry growth. Lenders are seeing a bottom for consumers.…

Chuck Zodda and Marc Fandetti disucss why Gen X is going to get screwed the most by the current mess that is Social Security. The US 30-year rate mortgage dropped for the first time since March. Uber drops on the market despite rising revenue. Will the alliance between Uber and Instacart be able to challenge Doordash? Corey Adams, Regional Manager …

Chuck Zodda and Marc Fandetti take a look at how booming corporate profits are shielding the economy. Walmart is the next test for traders worried about consumer spending. Wall Street can't track Americans 'phantom debt'. Pandemic-era winners have lost $1.5 trillion in market value. Mnuchin is changing his tune about the strength of the US dollar. …

Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti react to Disney's less than impressive earnings report that sent the stock tumbling. Apple unveils its latest edition of the iPad. Apple is developing AI chips for data centers in hopes of gaining an edge in the arms race. At $2M per minute, Treasuries mint cash like never before. There are signs that the US consume…

Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti discuss how the Fed is shifting expectations on interest rate cuts for the second half of the year. Social Security gets some good news as expectations are the administration has enough funds to cover till 2035. Massachusetts eyes a mansion tax to fund affordable housing. The Fed's reluctance to cut rates is making …

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong explain why weak currency and deflation are the rocket fuel behind China's shock 2.0. Reclassifying marijuana could unlock billions in tax savings for cannabis companies. Want to reduce the cost of housing? Build more of it. Capital-gains tax hits more home sellers. Consumers fed up with food costs are ditching big br…

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong react to Warren Buffett's comments about AI from the annual Berkshire Hathaway meeting. Are we finally experiencing the long awaited economic slowdown? Is the Fed right to bide its time on rate moves? Could the Fed do a better job explaining the moves they make? The 401(k) match change could have 'unintended consequen…

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss why Gen Z is frustrated and why they might actually have a point this time. The treasurys market is getting squeezed from all sides. Bill Gross says 'total return' strategy he pioneered is 'dead'. The new math of driving your car till the wheels fall off. Paul LaMonica joins the show to preview Berkshire Hatha…

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss April's jobs data that came in well below expectations and how the markets are responding to the data. Apple rallies most in 18 months on upbeat forecast and the announcement of the largest buyback in US history. Backdoor Roth IRAs are promising and perilous. Dave & Busters to allow betting on arcade games.…

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong discuss why Peloton went from being a pandemic darling to nearly irrelevent four years later. Why megacorporations shouldn't overestimate their monopoly power. Why your financial advisor may not be giving you the best advice on when to claim social security. Tesla is pulling back from EV charging, and people are freak…

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong react to the optimistic comments made by Jerome Powell about inflation and the future of interest rates. What does the Fed's moves mean for mortgages and credit cards? Labor market data says everything is great, for many looking for a job that isn't the case. Google's antitrust suit is set to conclude this week. Will …

Todd Lutsky shares some common mistakes when creating an estate plan. How often you should review your plan. Which accounts should be used for paying bills. Avoiding unnecessary taxes when inheriting a house. When to shift from revocable to irrevocable trusts.Av The Financial Exchange Network

Chuck Zodda and Paul Lane take a look at Amazon's earnings and find some surprising details. The guys wonder how big can Amazon get. Why China is worried about a potential second term for Trump. CVS's latest big miss comes from their bet on Medicare. Why is Starbucks losing ground? The latest trend in vacationing is not for everyone.…

Chuck Zodda and Paul Lane preview the upcoming Fed meeting and Jerome Powell's speech and wonder if the Fed is going to make a repeated mistake. Why are companies suddenly finding ways to cut debt? Todd Lutsky joins the show to discuss common mistakes people make when starting their estate planning process.…

Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane open the second hour of today's show diving into the latest data from the spring housing market in terms of the impact of mortgage rates. Are home price cuts on the way? Will inventory improve? Also, more new graduates are becoming victims of new job scams. Todd Lutsky of Cushing & Dolan checks in. And of course, stack …

Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane open the show to discuss what they anticipate from the Federal Reserve at the conclusion of their monthly meeting tomorrow afternoon. Will they cut rates at all this year? Is a rate hike possibly in the cards? Also, do only the final 10 minutes matter for markets? Mike and Paul address this, citing a recent Bloomberg ar…