Money Life with Chuck Jaffe

Brian Nick, chief investment strategist at Nuveen, says investors are facing modest earnings and economic growth need to make their expectations for 2022 modest as well; he notes that despite the bad start to the year on the market, he expects things to get better from here and for the market to finish the year in positive territory, just with gains that reflect that moderate outlook instead of mirroring the big results of 2021. Also on the show, Rob Shaker, of Shaker Financial, says that the market's January swoon -- which widened the discounts on closed-end funds -- took investors to the point in the discount cycle where the bargains are biggest and it's time to buy, and Matt King, president of King Wealth Advisors, talks about mixing value and momentum factors to find the right mutual funds and ETFs to buy now.

James Hickey, managing director of alternative strategies at Spearhead Capital, discusses investment opportunities to boost yields outside of traditional stocks and bonds, and discusses how important those choices are now in light of higher inflation that he says is permanent and that has him highly negative on traditional fixed-income investments for the foreseeable future. Also on the show, Tom Lydon, chief executive officer at ETFTrends.com, makes a fund that donates all management fees to a charity his pick as 'ETF of the Week,' and in the Market Call, Brian Frank of the Frank Value Fund talks absolute value investing and how the markets recent troubles have presented him with the chance to get fully invested again and at reasonable prices.

David Jilek, chief investment strategist at Gateway Investment Advisers says that the market of late has been a battle between 'The Buy-the-Dip Crowd' and 'The Run for the Hills Brigade,' and while he makes a case for each argument, he says investors may want to position themselves between those two factions, succeeding more by staying in the middle than by picking sides. In today's Left Brain Thinking segment, Freddy Garcia of Left Brain Wealth Management takes on the classic '4 percent rule' for amassing sufficient retirement savings, noting that today's rising inflation and slowing growth conditions may require asset-allocation changes to reach targets. In the Book Interview, author Rupert Russell discusses his new book 'Price Wars: How the Commodities Markets Made Our Chaotic World,' and how commodities and supply-chain issues have the power to topple governments, and James Abate of the Centre Funds talks stocks and staying focused on the long term in the Market Call.

Toni Turner, president of TrendStar Group, says that while she expects the market's bullish case to win out over the longer term, right now the tape is showing a fight between bulls and bears over issues like higher inflation and interest rates, creating what she called a 'tradeable low,' which is a buying opportunity where purchases are backed up by protective stops to limit downside risk in case the market 'gets cranky again.' In the Book Interview, Spencer Jakab of the Wal Street Journal discusses 'The Revolution That Wasn't: GameStop, Reddit, and the Fleecing of Small Investors,' which is out today, and in the Market Call, veteran financial talk show host Moe Ansari of Compak Asset Management is talking stocks based on his take that mixes technicals with fundamentals.

Sheraz Mian, director of research at Zacks Investment Research, says that while the Federal Reserve may have stopped using the word 'transitory' to describe inflation, it's still the right word for most issues currently facing the market, noting that once current headline-driving situations like the supply-chain crisis and labor shortages and inflation can be sorted out, the earnings picture and growth outlook remains strong. He expects the market to struggle for another quarter or more, but to look much better in the second half of the year. David Trainer of New Constructs revisits five successful Danger Zone picks from 2021 -- UBER, AFRM, RIVN, DASH and WRBY -- that he thinks are falling knives, still dangerous despite being down more than 40 percent from their peaks, and nit he Market Call, Michael Robinson, chief technology strategist for Money Map Press, notes that there aren't many great charts to be looking at right now, and he discusses how he is picking and choosing through the increasing volatility and other changing conditions.

Markus Schomer, chief economist at PineBridge Investments, says that the big economic headlines and numbers are creating a whipsaw of reactions, which he expects to be reflected ni a 'yo-yo market -- up-and-down, up-and-down, up-and-down' for much of the year. Schomer notes that the economic cycles of nations and regions are not in sync right now, contributing to the back-and-forth. Dncan Farley, manager of the BlueBay Destra International Event-Driven Credit Fund, says those same economic events are creating opportunities for him to find good companies with bad balance sheets or caught in sticky situations, a strategy that can generate above-market returns in time. Also on the show, Ed Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA, talks technicals and trading in this volatile market, and Jeff Lipton, head of municipal research and strategy for Oppenheimer and Co., talks about how bonds in general -- and munis in particular -- are likely to fare as rates start to rise, tax-law proposals hit Congress and more.

Elliott Gue, editor at the Energy & Income Advisor, says that the slowdown in energy exploration and development since 2014 -- that was accelerated by the economic shutdown around coronavirus in 2020 -- has created a supply squeeze that will generate 'a prolonged up-cycle in oil prices and natural gas prices' over the next few years. He's in talking stocks in the Market Call, but this show also includes Tom Lydon of ETFTrends.com making a senior-loan fund his ETF of the Week, Ted Rossman of CreditCards.com discussing the site's survey on financial infidelity and the effect secret-keeping can have in personal relationships, and portfolio manager Conor Muldoon of Causeway Capital covering the market and the troubles he sees ahead for the markets, but also the prospects for success in value investing.

Matt Peron, director of research at Janus Henderson Investors, says that the market cycle still has room to run, but that the rally is undergoing a reset as it awaits more clarity from the Federal Reserve. As a result, he suggests that investors be patient and wait out the current declines rather than buying into them, noting that the market faces a series of "speed bumps" over the first half of the year before domestic and international markets will resume their climb higher. Also on the show, James Burton of Personal Capital discusses the firm's 2022 Wealth & Wellness Index, Chuck answers a question on the math behind deciding when to take Social Security benefits, and David Brady of Brady Investment Counsel talks growth stocks in the Market Call.

Rob Arnott, founder and chairman of the board at Research Affiliates, discusses how markets move based on narratives that are always changing, and says that investors worried about today's headlines should be asking themselves if the problems will still be big concerns in a few years. He suggests that would calm investors -- and have them looking for opportunities -- about coronavirus, global supply-chain issues and inflation, but would leave them with some real concerns about government debt and more. Also on the show, Kristin Myers, editor-in-chief of The Balance, discusses first-date costs, customs and expectations ahead of Valentine's Day, and Chuck discusses Monday's wild market ride and how investors can take their fingers off the panic button and keep their concerns in perspective.

Wayne Wicker, chief investment officer at MissionSquare Retirement, says that there is still a lot of economic strength in the United States, which when coupled with a long-term outlook suggests that the stock market can overcome current concerns and a bumpy ride to deliver good returns to patient investors. Also on the show, Lester Jones discusses the latest outlook survey out today from the National Association for Business Economics, David trainer of New Constructs talks about three of the biggest winners -- meaning their stocks were losers -- that he put into the Danger Zone last year and why they are likely to be as bad or worse again this year, and Ken Laudan of the Buffalo Large Cap Growth talks in the Market Call about finding and investing in 'innovative, high-quality, durable large-cap growth companies.'

Whitney Tilson, founder/chief executive officer at Empire Financial Research, says that while the Nasdaq entered correction territory on Thursday and the market has had some bumps and bruises along the way, the long-running bull market is still in place and looks like it is "in the seventh inning." Amid a wide-ranging market conversation, Tilson also discusses short-selling, cryptocurrency investing, Tesla, meme stocks and how his views have -- and haven't -- changed over time. Also on the show, David Giroux of T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation is back, following up on Thursday's market discussion by talking about his recent book, "Capital Allocation," and describing how the focus on the way companies use their money should shape investment decisions; and Connie Luecke, manager of the DNP Select Income Fund, discusses infrastructure investing and how it is poised to push through current conditions regardless of whether key legislation gets approved in Washington.

David Giroux, manager of the T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation fund -- which has one of the best track records in the fund world under his long stewardship -- is 'highly confident' that inflation is headed back to more normalized levels, something in the 2 to 2.5 percent range, but as the market works that out, he is not expecting any major downturn, noting that he is still able to buy relative values with the potential to generate reasonable returns regardless of what the market does next. Also on the show, Tom Lydon of ETFTrends.com makes a fund that buys midstream pipeline plays his ETF of the Week, Taelor Candiloro of Clever Real Estate discusses the site's research on retirement savings -- which showed that about two thirds of Americans have either nothing saved for retirement or have less than 40 percent of the amount experts suggest they should have -- and Bill Staton of Novare Capital Management talks dividend-paying stocks in the Market Call.

Dec Mullarkey, head of investment strategy at SLC Investments, says that despite the anxiety produced by inflation being an economic wildcard, he expects the market to produce 'a decent year,' with returns of 8 to 10 percent on equities despite significant volatility along the way. Also on the show, Brian Dress, director of research at Left Brain Investment Research, says that the current market rotation has him looking at energy and production companies and pipeline stocks as places with potential for a pickup in growth even as the economy is slowing; financial adviser Dan Cunningham of One Day in July discusses the impact inflation and interest rates are having on long-term savers, and Chuck answers a listener's question on moving averages.

Mary Ellen Stanek, president of the Baird Funds, says that investors will benefit from higher yields and get past many of the temporary concerns hitting fixed-income markets once the current rate-adjustment period is concluded, so she suggested buckling up for the ride, increasing portfolio quality, dialing down risk and maintaining liquidity in order to act on the better opportunities that lie ahead. Also on the show, author Evan Hughes discusses his new book, 'The Hard Sell: Crime and Punishment at an Opiod Startup,' Ted Rossman of Bankrate.com talks about what consumers really want from their credit cards, and Chuck answers a listener's question about the best process for paying off credit-card debts.

Jeffrey Hirsch, editor of the Stock trader's Almanac, says that history has shown that markets struggle in mid-term election years, particularly when the president is a first-term Democrat, and that coupled with rising inflation and interest rates, it should make for a market that struggles this year to achieve modest single-digit gains. Lawrence McMillan, president of McMillan Analysis says that the next move of the Standard and Poor's 500 -- whether it tops 4,800 or declines below 4,500 -- will go a long way to determine what the market is capable of this year; Mark Fleming, chief economist at First American Financial Corp. talks about the wild conditions of the housing market, but dispels much of the concern that rising mortgage rates will change them dramatically, and Alex Condrell of Cliffwater discusses how investments in middle-market corporate credit should overcome current conditions to generate something close to historic return levels of 9 percent.

Axel Merk, founder and president at Merk Investments and the Merk Funds, says he is currently underweight equities because of concerns of everything that could go wrong in the short run. He's watching interest rates, inflation, the pandemic, international and domestic politics and more and while he says long-term investors can rideo ut these concerns, anyone who needs to access their money in the next two years should be concerned. Also on the show, Tom Lydon of ETFTrends.com makes a fund putting a different twist on a 'Dogs of the Dow' strategy his 'ETF of the Week,' Kate Hao, chief executive at Happy Mango discusses the fallout from Bank of America's announcement that it will join other large institutions in eliminating overdraft fees and the impact these changes will have on banking and, more broadly, society, and Chuck discusses how to deal with the five economic and financial conditions that have been mentioned the most by experts giving their outlooks for 2022.

Crit Thomas, global market strategist, Touchstone Investments says that the 'tsunami of liquidity' that was pushed into the economy throughout the pandemic is going to recede in 2022 , and the effects of money being pulled from the economy by the Federal Reserve and the government is enough to make him 'risk neutral' at least until factors like the pandemic, interest rates and inflation play out and reduce uncertainty. Also on the show, Ed Carson, news editor at Investor's Business Daily, discusses the paper's latest Economic Optimism Index, in which it's hard to find any actual good feelings as consumers are scared by inflation and market volatility. Also, Chuck discusses surprising research showing that companies could provide pensions -- and deliver better results -- than by using 401(k) and other popular plans, and the Weird Financial News includes a story on 91,500 oily pennies and the investment value of Legos.

Wall Street veteran Bob Doll, chief investment officer at Crossmark Global Investments, has long made annual forecasts for the key financial elements of the year ahead. But coming off the global pandemic and the way it skewed economic numbers, Doll's crystal ball was murkier a year ago, and it was reflected in him hitting on fewer of his predictions. We review what happened with him, and then turn our attention to the coming 12 months, which Doll says are still hard to forecast because of the unpredictability of current trends. That said, those trending uncertainties will make for a tougher year, one in which investors are likely to find that diversification pays off more than in the recent past. Also on the show, Chuck answers a listener's question about a popular fund, ARK Innovation, that has been struggling for the last year.

Lindsey Bell, chief markets and money strategist at Ally Invest, says that the market is capable of generating double-digit returns for the third consecutive year despite concerns about inflation, rising interest rates and more. Bell says that what is likely to determine the market's ability to actually deliver is the actions of the Federal Reserve, which may not comfort listeners after hearing today's Book Interview, in which author Christopher Leonard, discusses his new book, 'The Lords of Easy Money: How the Federal Reserve Broke the American Economy.' Also on the show, more market talk featuring Louis Ricci, head trader at Emles Advisors, and David Trainer of New Constructs puts Tesla and Box -- two picks that didn't go his way in 2021 -- back into the Danger Zone noting that the companies' ability to put off trouble doesn't mean avoiding it forever.

Tom McClellan, editor of the The McClellan Market Report, says that it's time for investors to 'change out of your tennis shoes and put on your track shoes' to deal with a market that is going to chop sideways this year, and turn 'horrible' next year. McClellan has told his subscribers to be out of the market now, as he expects a downturn over the first few months of 2022. The NAVigator segment features Robert Grunewald, chief executive officer at Flat Rock Global discussing how the interval-fund structure provides stability in a potentially volatile asset class like 'middle-market credits,' allowing investors to trade off some liquidity in pursuit of higher fixed-income returns. Also on the show, Chuck answers audience questions about saving versus paying down debt, and about the value of a found collection of old coins, and Helaine Olen of the Washington Post talks about the continued blurring of the lines between journalism and 'sponsored content,' and how hard it is to distinguish between the two at Fox Business and elsewhere.

Marty Bergin, president, Dunn Capital Management says that the absolute return on bonds is going to be negative during the coming inflationary environment, which will be scary for retirees who will lose purchasing power as they struggle with generating any real returns from fixed income. Bergin discusses inflation in terms of 'price discovery' -- the situation being caused currently by supply chain issues -- but also as a 'monetary phenomenon' resulting from the actions of central bankers, and notes that the latter is the bigger problem for consumers and investors. Tom Lydon of ETFTrends.com is also talking inflation today, picking a unique fund that hedges interest rate volatility and inflation as his ETF of the Week. Plus, Jacob Passy of MarketWatch discusses Robinhood's recently announced efforts to educate novice investors and Chuck answers a question about Worthy bonds -- something he owns himself -- and inflation-protected securities.

Noland Langford, chief executive officer at Left Brain Investment Research, says that changing economic conditions are forcing investors to re-evaluate growth, putting heightened focus on issues with longer-term growth, and backing away from some of the momentum-driven winners from 2021. Also on the show, Chuck talks about a uniquely different alternative investment -- comic books -- for the first time in Money Life history, visiting with Andrew Davis, The Comic Book Investor; Mark Hamrick of Bankrate.com discusses research on how long people hang onto their checking accounts and how much they are paying -- and perhaps overpaying -- to keep those accounts, and we revisit a recent interview with Darrell Cronk, chief investment officer at Wells Fargo Wealth and Investment Management.

Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at BankRate.com, says consumers need to start game-planning for a higher interest-rate environment now because the few increases that are expected for this year are just a start in what he expects to be a multi-year rate-hike cycle. He gives his outlook on everything from mortgage rates to auto loans, and how consumers should be considering what to do and when in each case. Then, Christine Benz, director of personal finance and retirement planning for Morningstar, discusses her financial to-do list for 2022 as well as whether certain financial chores like closely tracking spending actually are worth the effort, after which economist Laurence Kotlikoff returns to the show to discuss his new book, 'Money Magic: An Economist's Secrets to More Money, Less Risk and a Better Life.'

Ken Berman, chief investment strategist at Gorilla Trades says that the Standard & Poor's 500 will 'easily hit 5,000 this year,' with the Dow Jones Industrial Average comfortably crossing 40,000, but while he expects those modest gains on the indexes, he says it will be a year when stock-picking is at a premium because so few issues are trading at highs. Berman expects the market to reach those records soon, but worries that they won't hold it, noting that two-thirds of available stocks are trading below their 50-day moving average, which suggests that there is at least heightened volatility ahead. Also on the show, Chuck discusses the savings that resulted from his personal policy of not spending anything under a 10-dollar bill and how much that can add up to if you find similar ways to save over time, Matt Schulz of LendingTree discusses how much money consumers enter the new year owing as a result of holiday spending sprees, and Guy Davis, portfolio manager of The Genuine Investors ETF, discusses during the Market Call the 'genuine investments" he's looking at now.

Tom Lydon, chief executive officer at ETFTrends.com, says that the year ahead will be more challenging for fixed-income investors who have been saddled with low yields for years but who at least could count on safety from their long-term bond holdings. With the outlook for the economy changing and with inflation hitting hard right now and lingering longer than most expected through the recovery from the pandemic, Lydon made the iShares TIPS Bond fund his 'ETF of the Week,' noting that inflation-protected securities are more attractive now than they have been in years and should ease some of the yield and volatility concerns investors will face in 2022. Also on the show, John Cole Scott, chief investment officer at Closed-End Fund Advisors and the executive chairman of the Active Investment Company Alliance, returns to forecast the year ahead in closed-end fund investing, including some funds he says are well-positioned and constructed for 2022. And Chuck had promised that his final interview of the year would be with his friend Michael Falk, and so we rebroadcast his final chat with Michael as a touching reminder that days are long but years are short, challenging us all to make the most of our time.

Jonathan Lansner, columnist at the Orange County Register, says that many of today's common economic tropes -- covering themes like inflation, the global supply-chain crisis, interest rates and more -- are defying logic, and he brings his logic to the show to help reframe the discussions and douse the flames of rhetoric. Another one of Chuck's journalist friends -- Rob Weisman of the Boston Globe -- also joins him on the show today, discussing the intersection of Baby Boomers, COVID and the greatest transfer of wealth in history, and Chuck dives into the dead pool and discusses the lasting memories of some mutual funds and ETFs that did not live to see 2022 (and deserved their fate).

Market technician Jeffrey Bierman, founder of TheQuantGuy.com, sees the stock market as being vulnerable to a big step back mid-way through the first quarter of 2022, noting that the market will be in a happy place and comfort zone as long as the Standard and Poor's 500 stays above 4,275; if the market falls below that level, Bierman says the pain could get close to 20 percent before things bottom out. Also on the show, Joseph Biondo of Biondo Investment Advisors gives a more optimistic -- but still cautious -- take on the market for next year, Joe Saul-Sehy of the Stacking Benjamins podcast discusses his new book, "Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management," and Chuck takes another question from the audience about how to know you are financially set and how to invest when you get there.

Jamie Hopkins, managing partner for wealth solutions at Carson Group, says that investors who focus mostly on what to buy or own in an investment portfolio are asking the wrong question, because they need to be focused on where they are and where they want to go. Hopkins says it is particularly important to focus inward as we enter 2022 because the year is likely to feature more volatility and less profit potential than 2021 has. Also on the show, Greg McBride of Bankrate.com discusses the site's latest personal financial outlook survey and how savers and investors are setting expectations for the year ahead, Barry Martin of the Shelton Equity Income Fund discusses dividend investing and covered-call strategies, and Chuck answers some audience questions about retirement savings.

John Cole Scott of Closed-End Fund Advisors and the Active Investment Company Alliance discusses the high number of closed-end funds that are currently trading at premiums, and the rebound that has represented in performance over 2021, as he reviews the year in closed-end fund investing. Also on the show, Tom Lydon of ETFTrends.com selects a fund meant to hedge against interest-rate risk his ETF of the Week, Meredith Stoddard of Fidelity Investments discusses the firm's annual survey of New Year's resolutions, how people feel about their prospects for 2022 and how effective personal pledges turn out to be, and Tony Tursich, co-manager of the new Calamos Global Sustainable Equities fund talks about ESG investing and how adopting sustainable strategies can power companies to prolonged, above-average gains.

Kristina Hooper, chief global market strategist for Invesco, says that the market is likely to take a pause to get past the Omicron surge in the Covid-19 pandemic, but that after the market adjusts to the latest wave and handles changes in interest-rate policies from the Federal Reserve, stocks will rebound and continue moving forward in 2022. Brian Dress of Left Brain Investment Research discusses how he's changing portfolios in response to a growth outlook that has been affected by rising inflation and slowing economic conditions, pushing as a result past the technology stocks and toward financials, health-care and energy companies. And in the Market Call, Eric Shoenstein of Jensen Investment Management talks about investing in quality names for anything and everything the market can dish out.

Mark Newton, global head of technical strategy for Fundstrat Global Advisors, says he expects the market to sell off by about 20 percent from March through July of next year, before rallying back to finish flat or up slightly in 2022. Newton says that the tech sector's strength is what is largely staving off a down year, but it won't make the ride particularly smooth, as he is expecting heightened volatility. Also on the show, Chuck talks about setting goals -- and how New Year's target setting for 2022 should be more short-term focused than it has been over the last few years -- and we revisit a recent chat with Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab & Co..

Darrell Cronk, chief investment officer for Wells Fargo Wealth and Investment Management, says that investors are wondering whether to add risk exposure to portfolios or remove it given a range of worrisome trends like inflation, interest rates, unemployment and much more, yet he expects the economy and stock market to do better than most observers are forecasting for 2022, because the economy is humming along at a pace that should stave off the concerns for a while longer. Also on teh show, Ted Rossman of CreditCards.com talks about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's new probe into buy-now/pay-later financing, Bob Powell of Retirement Daily discusses proposed changes to Roth IRA rules and how some of them might make investors want to do conversions before the year ends, and David Trainer of New Constructs opens the cup on Chobani -- the yogurt maker with the upcoming IPO -- and says he thinks the deal has already soured.

Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab & Co., says that strong market performance in 2020 and '21 has masked downturns in most sectors and industries, meaning that there isn't so much pressure for upward trends to reverse in the year ahead. While she does see more volatility and changing leadership -- creating a good time for investors to rebalance portfolios -- she thinks that there remains room for market growth ahead. Also on the show, Nathan Briggs of Ropes and Gray discusses the new trend of 'follow-on offerings' for closed-end funds and how these capital-raising efforts have a mostly positive impact for shareholders, and Laura Adams talks about a survey from Finder.com showing that Americans are wasting billions of dollars on unwanted holiday gifts and what the recipients actually do with the less-than-ideal presents they get.

Two different market observers -- Patrick O'Hare, chief market analyst at Briefing.cmo and Andy Kapyrin, co-chief investment officer at RegentAtlantic -- say that while the Federal Reserve telegraphed its strategy for tapering bond purchases and raising interest rates, how it follows through will determine just how volatile and troublesome the stock market will be in 2022. Both say they expect more volatility and lower returns, but they note that if the Fed must get more aggressive with rate increases and other strategies, it could change the outlook for earnings growth, which would mute the market's ability to keep moving. Also on the show, Tom Lydon of ETFTrends.com picks an esoteric new fund from a hot fund company as his 'ETF of the Week,' and Dean Brauer of GoHenry.com -- a site dedicated to making children financially capable -- discusses the money lessons that can be distributed along with the gifts this holiday season.

Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers, says investors should expect market conditions to be more uncomfortable next year than they have been in 2021, calling for a return to volatility that will include air pockets that can drop the market suddenly, and for more than a few days. That said, Sosnick does not expect the current news cycle from the Federal Reserve to dramatically change the market for the remainder of this year. Also on the show, Ted Rossman from Bankrate.com discusses a survey showing the perils of lending money to friends and family, Chuck takes an audience member's portfolio question, and Stephen McKee of the No-Load Fund Mutual Fund Selections & Timing newsletter talks funds and ETFs in the Market Call.

Jason Browne of Alexis Investment Partners talks in the Market Call about the importance of changing asset allocations to overcome the low-yield environment, and maintaining the delicate balance between wanting to own funds that are the best in their category against the danger of moving in and out of funds too rapidly, Jill Gonzalez of WalletHub.com discusses the site's recent survey showing that consumers don't fully understand how deferred-interest programs work -- leading them to fall into classic financial traps -- and Vivian Tsai of the College Savings Foundation talks about how easy it has become for people to give a gift of college savings. Plus, we revisit a recent chat about the markets with Jack Ablin from Cresset Capital Management.

Rodney Brooks, personal finance columnist at U.S. News and World Report -- author of "Fixing the Racial Wealth Gap" -- says that for all of the causes behind racial and ethnic wealth divides in America, the biggest, best solution is not government programs but basic financial education, literacy combined with opportunities so that, in time, minorities will not hold a nickel's worth of generational wealth compared to every dollar held by white people. Also on the show, Charles Rotblut, editor of AAII Journal, discusses the current rise in neutral sentiment among investors, David Trainer of New Constructs offers up a holiday gift -- an attractive stock instead of the usual troublesome ones -- in The Danger Zone, and Ben Johnson, director of global ETF research at Morningstar, talks exchange-traded funds in the Market Call.

Doug Ramsey, chief investment officer at The Leuthold Group, says that stock market valuations are at levels last seen at the peak of the Internet bubble, but that the number of stocks trading at highs is broader than it was back then. With that in mind, he expects a "return towards sobriety' for the market ahead, with high-priced growth and technology stocks likely to get market down significantly in 2022, while financials, energy and traditional value stocks have much better prospects ahead. Also on the show, Zach Jonson of Stack Financial Management talks about the high-risk environment that he sees based on key technical indicators, Harin DeSilva of 361 Capital discusses the changing volatility picture and how it should make investors think about getting defensive, and potentially balancing their long positions with short ones, and fund attorney Thomas DeCapo of Skadden Arps covers the changing backdrop for activism in closed-end funds in The NAVigator.

Alan McKnight, chief investment officer at Regions Asset Management, says that with cash generating nothing, bond yields being paltry and interest rates and inflation on the rise, "it's not an easy market for allocators." McKnight says that his response for about the last six months -- despite heightened volatility and prospects for slower growth -- has been to overweight equities, tilted heavily towards domestic stocks, though he also sees developed international looking like more of an opportunity than emerging markets moving forward. Also on the show, Tom Lydon makes a top-rated municipal-bond fund his ETF of the Week pick, and, in the Market Call, Brent Wilsey of Wilsey Asset Management explains why he'd sell Apple shares -- despite liking the company and its products -- and the importance of properly valuing the businesses you are buying.

Neil Hennessy, president of Hennessy Advisors and the Hennessy Funds, says that despite legitimate worries over inflation, interest rates, the continuing pandemic and more, the economic underpinnings and stock market fundamentals are so strong that he believes the current rally has legs that will last well into 2022. He does expect pullbacks and corrections ahead, "but it's not going to be the end of the bull market." Also on the show, Freddy Garcia, of Left Brain Wealth Management discusses year-end moves investors should be evaluating before the timing gets tight, Matt Zajechowski or Northstar Inbound talks about a survey done for HomeAdvisor.com looking at the surprising amount that homebuyers spend correcting "mistakes" made by their home's prior owner, and Chuck talks about stocks for the Christmas stockings this year, and which companies might be appropriate gifts for the young-uns in your life.

John Waggoner, financial editor at AARP.org, says that the return of volatility has investors on the edge, expecting a downturn that feels overdue, but he notes that economic conditions and the market are strong enough that people should just calm down, look at diversifying and keep on plowing ahead. Waggoner also gives his take on crypto investing, emerging markets and much more in a wide-ranging Big Interview. Also on the show, Yelena Shulyatyeva, senior U.S. economist at Bloomberg Economics discusses the National Association for Business Economics December outlook survey, which forecasts full-employment for the country by the end of 2022, though the status is not likely to be achieved by conventional methods; in the Market Call, Jerry Parker of Chesapeake Capital -- one of the original Turtle Traders -- talks about riding trends and which stocks he likes in current market conditions.

Alan Gayle, president of Via Nova Investment Management, says that the economy has such rock-solid fundamentals that periods of volatility and downturn remain opportunitie4s to jump in and expand your investment positions. That could change if the latest Covid variant takes off, if the Federal Reserve 'panics and raises interest rates' too soon or too far and more, but until or unless that happens, Gayle notes that he doesn't know anyone forecasting a recession next year, meaning 'the ground for further gains remains fertile.' Also on the show, David Trainer of New Constructs puts United Airlines in 'The Danger Zone' for overstating its earnings, author Harry Margolis discusses 'The Baby Boomers Guide to Trusts,' and we revisit a recent chat about the market with Ed Clissold, chief US strategist for Ned Davis Research.

John Kosar, chief market strategist at Asbury Research, says investors who have been conditioned to buy every stock market decline may want to be patient with current volatility, because the market hasn't busted through support levels. He worries that investors could sell now, only to have support hold up so that investors actually are getting out at the bottom 'and two weeks later they'll be pulling their hair out.' Kosar says the current decline should not be sold until the market moves dives a bit further. Also on the show, Parth Doshi, vice president of closed-end funds at Nuveen, discusses why investors might want to use new interval funds -- rather than traditional closed-end funds -- for their municipal bond holdings, Mark Hamrick of BankRate.com talks about the jobless claims numbers and what the report is signalling for the economy ahead, and James Abate of Centre Asset Management talks stocks in the Market Call.

Bill Stone, chief investment officer at Glenview Trust, says that investors' only real chance to outrun inflation in these markets is with risk assets like stocks, though he says that investors are going to want to tilt to companies with pricing power to withstand inflation. Stone says that investors will still want to keep an allocation to bonds as a safe haven to help them through short-term volatility, but he says investors needing income must be aware of interest-rate and inflation risks even in looking for parking places for cash. Also on the show, Tom Lydon of ETFTrends.com makes one of the hottest funds in 2021 -- a niche fund trading in carbon emissions futures -- his 'ETF of the Week,' and author Casey Michel discusses his new book, 'American Kleptocracy: How the U.S. Created the World's Greatest Money Laundering Scheme in History.'

Rob Sharps, president and chief investment officer at T. Rowe Price, says that the stock market has mostly taken in stride and priced in the Federal Reserve reducing its bond purchases and raising interest rates sooner than had previously been expected, and that it can weather the inflation/rate-hike storm without a major bear market. Sharps worries that the economy will have to stand more on its own -- with the end of Covid stimulus packages -- to keep things moving, so he does expect some slowing, but he sees opportunities in small- and mid-cap stocks as the recovery slows its roll. Also on the show, Jeff Auxier, manager of the Auxier Focus Fund, talks about finding long-term buy-and-hold businesses at reasonable prices in the Market Call, and Ken Tumin, founder at DepositAccounts.com, discusses the banking fee structures that have been changed -- for better or worse -- as a result of the pandemic.

Joe Keefe, president of Impax Asset Management and the Pax World Funds, says that investors should be focused on good news about the economy, balancing out concerns with inflation and interest rates to come away expecting a pretty good year in 2022. Keefe doesn't expect the market to see the kind of high returns it has delivered this year, but he says the economy still has a lot of potential to grow to make the new year better than many expect. Among those not seeing great things ahead is Scott Crowe, chief investment officer at CenterSquare Investment Management, who says that Covid concerns, high inflation, the expectation of rising interest rates and more factors to lead to a 'mid-cycle slowdown.' Crowe also says of real estate markets that 'Office is the new retail,' meaning that demographic and other changes impacting the commercial real estate market are likely to be every bit as impactful on office space as the evolution of the Internet and at-home shopping has been on retail properties. Also on the show, Chuck answers more audience questions about U.S. savings Bonds, and expresses his appreciation for Sam Stewart, founder of the Wasatch Funds and former Money Life guest, who died last week.

Arnim Holzer, global macro strategist at Easterly EAB Risk Solutions, says that he is concerned that investors don't understand just how badly their portfolios will perform in 2022 when interest rates start to rise. The way tech stocks and high-momentum sectors of the market are already reacting, Holzer said, should make investors cautious and have them looking at financial stocks and insurance companies, plus utilities, going forward. Also on the show, Ted Rossman talks about the latest Bankrate.com survey covering the shopping issues that more than three-quarters of Americans were facing before the holiday season got into full swing, David Trainer of New Constructs put AMC Entertainment -- one of the original meme stocks -- back into the Danger Zone, questioning whether there is any real value to the company's stock at all, and Robin Wigglesworth, columnist for the Financial Times, discusses his new book on the creation and evolution of the index fund and how it went from being ridiculed and scorned to being the cornerstone of trillions of dollars in investment portfolios in just a few decades.

Abhay Deshpande, founder and chief executive officer at Centerstone Investors, says that tech and growth-oriented investors could see some trouble ahead, as growth rates slow from Covid-era comparisons, leading to a potentially significant correction next spring. Value investors -- and Deshpande is one -- should see their methods continue to pay off because they don't rely on continuing multiple expansion to drive their profits. Also on the show, Gaal Surugeon, portfolio manager at Brookfield Asset Management's Public Securities Group, discusses real assets and their potential with the passage of the new infrastructure bill, Tom Lydon of ETFTrends.com makes a brand-new ESG fund his ETF of the Week, and author Maura Thomas offers tips for improving the organization and eliminating the clutter of your email inbox.

Two portfolio managers provide a lot of reason for investor optimism in today's show, with Larry Cordisco of Osterweis Capital Management discussing 'pockets of opportunity' in the market, highlighted by quality names that have actually been lagging behind the market as it has returned to record-high levels. Cordisco sees opportunities in dividend-paying stocks, which is particularly important for investors looking for income. Meanwhile, Jack Janasiewicz of Natixis Investment Managers says that strong corporate earnings and consumer spending should be able to overcome inflation concerns to limit the market's potential for a downturn, turning any downturn into a buying opportunity for long-term investors. Also on the show, Noland Langford of Left Brain Investment Research revisits Nvidia and Bath and Body Works to see if they can continue their fast-growth trajectory after positive third-quarter earnings reports, and Chuck answers an audience-member's question about U.S. Savings Bonds.

David Wright, lead portfolio manager at Sierra Investment Management, says that the market is currently so overvalued that it has a lot more downside room to run than upside. While Wright remains fully invested right now -- and isn't calling for a major reversal in the immediate future -- he cautioned that investors should be looking to protect gains from heightened market volatility ahead by using stop-loss orders on their biggest and most risky positions. Also on the show, Leo Leydon of Financial Focus Advisory Services says that he thinks the market is due for a technical pullback -- possibly before the holidays -- before it can go off on another run, while Greg McBridge of Bankrate.com discusses the site's recent survey showing that a majority of American workers feel like they are behind when it comes to retirement savings. In the Market Call, Mark Lehmann, chief executive officer at JMP Securities talks about fast-growth companies in the technology, health care, real estate and financial-services sectors.