The FarrCast : Wealth Strategies

Latest Episodes:

Pleas, Convictions, and new Market Highs! Aug 21, 2018

Show notes

The FarrCast is back! People are coming back from vacation, and juries are returning with verdicts. Michael welcomes back the great Kenny Polcari to sort out what it means for the markets. Kenny says, in the short term, political noise might create volatility, but in the long-term does not price stocks. September is usually a rough month for equities, but Kenny thinks the markets hold up. UNLESS -- something comes out of left field. Dan Mahaffee joins from the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, and explains what the news from the Manafort trial and Cohen plea agreement impacts the "blue wave." The Trump Administration keeps stomping on its own good news, and it means we are likely moving to divided government after the midterms. To start the new season, Michael welcomes one of the smartest market strategists in the business today, Mona Mahajan from Allianz Global. The year began with tax reform and the synchronized global growth story -- as the global story has fallen off, the US economy has remained robust. It's late in the cycle, yes there will be volatility, yes there will be rotation, but there could be value as well.

Republicans Hate Us... Democrats Hate Us... We Must Be Doing Something Right! Jul 24, 2018

Show notes

Jim Iuorio joins us from the floor of the Chicago Exchange to talk earnings and blue skies ahead. Dan Mahaffee discusses Iran, Russia and more tax cuts. It's hot in D.C. and it's hot on The FarrCast! Please Listen!

I'm Getting T-Shirts Made Jul 17, 2018

Show notes

It's a slow, languid summer week. The President met a few world leaders and held a press conference that got a little coverage, but there wasn't much . . . Oh who are we kidding? There is enough material for four shows this week. We've got Jim Iuorio from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange kicking us off with a look at the markets. There was moderately positive economic news on consumer spending and moderately dovish comments from Fed Chair Powell, and the markets reacted to that news and ignored the noise from Brussels, London, & Helsinki. Dan Mahaffee joins in to talk about political risk. Michael welcomes former Asst Secy of the Treasury Tony Fratto. Michael opens the mics and Dan, Jim, and Tony take on the big economic picture. Is corporate debt a problem? Where is the next leg up in growth? What are the bonds telling us about the future? And if there is a blue wave in November, what does that mean for the markets? We even have a bonus segment to wrap it all up, and take a look at what next week will bring. It's a special FarrCast for a special week, and we've got the smartest guys in the room to dissect it all.

You Can Lose a Finger Jul 11, 2018

Show notes

Tariffs blows have been traded and DOOM is upon us. Well, maybe not -- the markets are adapting to the President's totally unprecedented style. Jim Iuorio joins us from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and tells why the sky isn't falling. Tom Heath and Jim talk about oil -- as a massive producer the US benefits from high oil, but hurts the consumer. Where is the sweet spot? Next up is regular Dan Mahaffee -- a Supreme Court nominee has been nominated. Mahaffee says that the Kavanaugh pick is likely to be the biggest lasting legacy of the Trump administration. How does it change what goes in the court? Markets don't like blowups at summits, and Mahaffee previews the NATO summit, and Trump's meeting with Putin. Our special guest Tom Heath from the Washington Post brings it all home for us. Tom's common sense and direct questions helps put everything in context. Right now the economy is chugging along. How does the big picture effect everyone's little picture? Download and listen today!

My Mom Would Be Really Excited Jul 03, 2018

Show notes

It's the holiday week edition of FarrCast! Kenny Polcari calls in from the floor of the NYSE and tells us how the markets are distorted by the low volumes on the holiday. Tariffs are to take effect on Friday -- Kenny tells us what to look for depending on how the news breaks, and what the tone is. It's a new quarter, and we look to other side of the tariff news: have we seen a peak in investor sentiment? Dan Mahaffee is Michael's guest for the second segment, and he gives us a preview of the fight for the Supreme Court, and how that may effect the midterms. Mitch McConnell refused a Senate vote for a year on the Merrick Garland nomination. Will there be blowback from the Democrats in the Senate? Can it be done before the election? Returning to join us as our special guest on the third segment is Andy Keiser, foreign policy expert. It's less than a month since the Singapore summit between the President and Kim Jong-Un. The heat has come off the rhetoric, but has anything really changed? Andy tells us we are just on the first steps of the marathon and Secretary Pompeo has a lot of work to do. There are plenty of other hotspots investors need to watch, and Andy helps us frame the world.

Freshman says the House will shift in November Jun 25, 2018

Show notes

It's another great FarrCast! The markets dive -- should Fred & Ethel be worried about their retirement accounts? All of the experts agree. The Dow dropped under it's 200 day moving average. Jim Iuorio says, "that means almost nothing to me." Iuorio says the bull market isn't over, but there are things out there that worry him. The Fed still has a tightrope act in the raising rate environment. Dan Mahaffee is with us again to explain the inexplicable -- the dysfunction of DC. This President negotiates in public, and it's something completely different than what we've seen before. It's chaotic -- but there is immense flexibility when orthodoxies are discarded. Michael welcomes as his special guest tonight, John Freshman, the insider's insider, and an expert on all things Washington. With 30 years of experience in the halls of Washington, John puts all of the movements of the markets and in DC in the context of the coming elections. Will we see divided government in the next Congress? Does it even matter? Download and listen today!

From Bombast to Photo Ops - Jaw Jaw is better than War War Jun 19, 2018

Show notes

Michael opens the show as he always does by checking in with Kenny Polcari to talk about the volatile day on Wall Street and the surprising news about GE. Next, Dan Mahafee from CSPC calls in to discuss the aftermath of the Singapore Summit, and the growing tension between the US and China over the trade war. And Michael wraps up by chatting with Mark Olson from Treliant Risk Advisors about the latest news from the Fed and whether the standard of living in the US will rise or decline in the coming years.

A Special Place in Hell (And Kenny Gets Bleeped) Jun 13, 2018

Show notes

The market was a big dud -- on the N. Korea news, and Kenny explains why the markets don't react too much to geo-political shifts. But later this week, the Fed, the ECB, and the BoJ all have announcements -- and markets move on monetary shifts. Kenny and Michael explain what the markets are looking for. Dan Mahaffee is the resident genius at FarrCast from the Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress. And boy do we have a President and Congress to be studied. Dan doesn't makes sense of it all -- but he makes as much sense can be made. Trump makes nice with Kim Jong-Un, and throws bombs at the allies in the G7. And yet, amidst the nonsense, there are results. Tom Heath joins from The Washington Post to put it all together for us, and Michael & Tom sort through the noise. The markets are drifting up, and the economy is doing well. Things are good -- have a plan and take the long view. Michael & Tom talk about the longest view, and how to plan to distribute the estate and "having the hard discussion." Communicate more, not less. Listen in, have a laugh, and maybe a learn a little too! It's the FarrCast!

He Was Just Trying to Get Concert Tickets Jun 05, 2018

Show notes

Jim Iuorio joins Michael to talk markets -- he's bullish, but he's not euphoric. He tells us why he's optimistic -- and he shares what worries him as well. It's been an interesting week in DC, and Dan Mahaffee tells us what is historically unprecedented, and what is just posturing. Orthodoxy is being challenged and much of it happens beneath the headlines. Mueller and Korea are in the headlines though -- and Dan gives what to look for next. For the third segment, Michael dives in to some of the numbers with Robert Schwartzberg, one of the smartest market researchers around. Robert sees risks out there, but opportunities abound.

Things Went a Little Pear Shaped May 29, 2018

Show notes

Welcome to the FarrCast! It has been a big start to the week, and Kenny Polcari joins Michael to talk about the 400 point drop on the Dow and the strong rally in bonds. Is there anything to worry about? Or is this just more of the volatility that Kenny and Michael have been warning about since December (before the volatility began.) Spygate and the deep state and name calling over North Korea -- and then it suddenly goes quiet. Dan Mahaffee parses what is going on in DC this week. Amidst all of the noise, there is important signal that will impact the economy moving forward. Lester Munson joins Michael to help us sort out the international situation, and there is a lot to sort -- Spain and Italy both facing new elections, the N. Korea summit might be back on, and ongoing developments in Iran and China. The headlines are changing fast, and Lester helps keep our eyes on the long term trends. It's the FarrCast! Listen now so you can have a better idea of what might happen next.