Press "Enter" to skip to content

Tag: bonds

Economic Cycle Still Has Room to Run, Even With Tariffs (Szn 7, Epsd 5)Podcast episode cover art featuring guest Scott Colbert

Economic Cycle Still Has Room to Run, Even With Tariffs (Szn 7, Epsd 5)

Published March 11, 2025

With Scott Colbert, Commerce Trust

Scott Colbert, chief economist at Commerce Trust in St. Louis, rejoins the podcast to discuss why the economy can continue to expand even with the onset of Trump tariffs.

This podcast episode was recorded on March 6, 2025 and was made available to premium subscribers exclusively the same day it was recorded. Information on premium membership is avaliable here.

Content Highlights

  • The “Trump tariff barrage” will lead to slower growth, lower economic activity, and higher inflation — in the short term (1:51);
  • Over the medium term however, tariffs should not trigger a recession, nor will they have a lasting impact on prices aka inflation (6:24);
  • Labor markets: Immigration has ground to a halt, but people are aging out of the workforce. Government layoffs notwithstanding, that should result in a wash (10:23);
  • Ultimately the economic cycle is half way through its growth stage, which should run for another four years. However this won’t be great for growth stocks like the ‘magnificent 7’… (15:14);
  • Fixed income is suddenly an attractive asset class and international stocks have tailwinds as well… (18:03);
  • The Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow tracker is suddenly predicting a negative print for first-quarter GDP. There are logical reasons for this (24:23).

More on the Guest

Leave a Comment

The Looming Iceberg Ahead of the US Economy (Szn 7, Epsd 1)

Published January 28, 2025

Les Rubin, Main Street Economics

Les Rubin of Main Street Economics joins the podcast to discuss his chief concern facing not just markets and economies, but the world at large: US sovereign debt.

This podcast episode was recorded on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 and released to premium subscribers the same day. Information on premium subscriptions, including the vast benefits, are available on our Substack.

Content Highlights

  • The US economy is headed to ‘serious problems’ and the guest’s mission is to educate people to the gravity of the situation (1:47);
  • Debt and fiscal deficits are nothing for the US. But its debt/GDP ratios is reaching a breaking point (2:57);
  • How soon might the breaking point arrive? (5:30);
  • Is there anything from the new Trump administration that might turn the tide? Elon Musk’s DOGE program has promise… (11:02);
  • What about tariffs? (16:22);
  • Background on the guest (20:36);
  • The need for more education: not just financial literacy, but economics (23:55).

More Information on the Guest

Leave a Comment
Opportunities in Closed-End Municipal Bond Funds (Szn 6, Epsd 21)Podcast episode cover art featuring Jonathan Browne, RiverNorth Capital

Opportunities in Closed-End Municipal Bond Funds (Szn 6, Epsd 21)

Published November 21, 2024

With Jonathan Browne, RiverNorth Capital

Jonathan Browne, portfolio manager at RiverNorth Capital, joins the podcast to discuss investment opportunities in municipal bonds, specifically through the closed-end fund structure.

Content Highlights

  • Quick primer on closed-end funds and their difference with mutual funds and ETFs (1:18);
  • Municipal bonds and what to look for there (16:01);
  • What kind of yield can investors expect from this asset class? (23:31);
  • Background on the guest (26:50);
  • Rising interest rates and inflation are certainly a risk for muni bonds, but the risk/reward is set up constructively… (30:59);
  • Muni closed-end funds: a contrarian pick (37:28).

For more on the guest, visit the website RiverNorth.com

Leave a Comment