Money Life with Chuck Jaffe

Kyle Guske, investment analyst at New Constructs, puts Transamerica Capital Growth Fund into the 'Danger Zone,' noting that the fund is buying the most high-risk, dangerous securities in its asset category. The Transamerica fund has been near the top of the charts in four of the last seven calendar years, but it also has been near the very bottom in the other three of those years; Guske said the holdings in the fund are part of the symptoms that lead to the feast-or-famine performance. Also on the show, Matt Schulz of CompareCards.com talks about Valentine's Day spending habits, Nick DiUlio of InsuranceQuotes.com discusses couples' saving money on insurance, David Stein discusses 'Money for the Rest of Us' and Chuck answers a listener question about the ways he is keeping the change this year.

Stephen Yacktman, chief investment officer at the Yacktman Funds, says in the Market Call that while the value investment style has lagged growth in recent years, that does not mean investors haven't been able to generate reasonable relative returns that live up to appropriate expectations. He did note that managers may have to look further afield to find some of those bargains and values, and noted that he is looking abroad more now as pricing abroad is more likely to meet his criteria given that domestic markets are at all-time highs. Also on the show, John Yesford of High Income Opportunities talks return of capital in The NAVigator, author Randy Charles Epping discusses 'The New World Economy,' and Kevin Davey of KJ Trading Systems gives his technical take on the market.

In the face of coronavirus, the election cycle and other volatility-generating events, Tom Lydon of ETFtrends.com made a hedge-like defensive 'anti-market' fund his pick for 'ETF of the Week.' Also on the show, author Richard Davies discusses 'Extreme Economies,' John Boroff of Fidelity talks about retirement preparedness, and Scott Klimo of Saturna Capital covers stocks in the Market Call.

Jimmy Hausberg, managing partner at The Hausberg Group in Beverly Hills, Calif., said during Collective Wisdom from HighTower Advisors that headlines like the coronavirus outbreak or even news of the presidential cycle shouldn't be ignored, but he noted that investors should use those events as a chance to review their portfolio rather than trying to capture short-term profits in ways that can derail long-term strategy. Also on the show, Carl Kaufman of the Osterweis Strategic Income Fund gives his outlook on global central banks and interest rates, Geoffrey Brown of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors discusses the state of financial planning, and Mike Larson of Weiss Ratings discusses his 'safe money' approach to stocks in the Market Call.

Technical analyst Michael Sincere explains that the coronavirus crisis may not be a market event, but it has unleashed danger signs and triggered a weakening of the stock market that could put an end to the long-running bull market. He was clear to avoid calling for a bear market, but he said he expects a significant increase in volatility and sideways market action which will make for a 'difficult market to navigate for most people.' Also on the show, Anastasia Nesvetailova, co-author of 'Sabotage: The Hidden Nature of Finance' talks about the underlying instability of global markets, Ted Rossman discusses the recent Bankrate.com study showing that many consumers aren't getting nearly as much cash back on cash-back cards as they could, and Janet Brown of No-Load FundX talks mutual funds in the Market Call.

Veteran money manager Sam Stewart, partner at Seven Canyons Advisors, said that while the market is at record highs, valuations are bifurcated to where the popular names like the FANG stocks and many technology names are too expensive, but that other names have become attractive because they are growing at a time when the economy is slowing. Also on the show, John Kiernan of WalletHub.com talks about how many consumers fear maxing out credit cards, David Trainer of New Constructs pus another pre-IPO stock in the 'Danger Zone,' and Mike Bailey, director of research at FBB Capital Partners, does some pairs trading in the Market Call.

On a day with two Big Interview segments with top-flight market strategists, listeners may get a sense that the stock market has gotten ahead of itself with a strong January and that the rest of the year is likely to be more frustrating, volatile and sideways. But Reed Murphy of Calamos Wealth Management suggests that investors who want to get more from the market will want to step up their international investments, while Jack Ablin of Cresset Capital Management is much less optimistic about the potential of foreign investments to deliver superior returns. Also on the show, Nicholas Shaxon discusses his book on how global finance is making us all poorer, and Christian Munafo of SP Investment Management discusses one of the market's most unusual and different closed-end funds.

Giorgio Caputo, senior portfolio manager at J.O. Hambro, coins the term 'Woo Flu Wobble' to discuss this week's heightened volatility spurred by news about coronavirus. He expects the news to pass without damaging market prospects, but he notes that markets will remain volatile through the end of the year and cautions that 'This isn't your grandparents' volatility.' Also on the show, Tom Lydon of ETFTrends.com makes a hot fund that is part technology, part-commodity his 'ETF of the Week,' Jeff Gurian of Gametime discusses the high, unyielding and slightly surprising trends in Super Bowl ticket prices, and C.T. Fitzpatrick of Vulcan Value Partners talks value investing in the Market Call.

Victoria Fernandez, chief market strategist at Crossmark Global Investments, says that investors were looking for reasons for the market to retreat, and found it this week in coronavirus, but could find it further in missed earnings or other headlines. Those perceived dangers may slow the market's uptrend, but they won't make market conditions move from benign to dangerous on the long term. Also on the show, Jake Falcon of HighTower Advisors warns of the dangers of being sucked into news-driven stocks, like those that could profit from coronavirus or fromrecent tensions in the Middle East, Matt Schulz of CompareCards.com talks about how many consumers ignored warnings and took out high-rate retail-store credit cards during the holiday season, and Ben Cook of Hennessy BP Energy and Hennessy BP Midstream talks energy stocks in the Market Call.

D.R. Barton Jr. of StraightUpProfits.com says that the market is likely to over-react this week to news about the corona virus and corporate earnings -- with nearly half of the Dow industrial stocks reporting earnings -- and he notes that the frothy should create a buying opportunity for investors, although they should be patient to let the downturn play out before buying in fully. That sentiment was seconded by J.J. Kinahan of T.D. Ameritrade, who notes in the Big Interview that most experts are expecting single-digit gains for the stock market in 2020, and that he mostly agrees with those expectations, except that the market's strong January means that the second half of the year is likely to be choppy, volatile and mostly sideways. Also on the show, Greg McBride of BankRate.com talks about Americans' emergency savings, and then Tom Plumb of the Plumb Funds covers growth stocks in the Market Call.

Kevin Mahn of Hennion and Walsh said everything is in place for the stock market to have a good year in 2020, but that what looks good will feel very different than the 30+ percent gain of a year ago. Mahn said he expects the market to gain roughly 9 percent ni the first half of the year, before flattening out and offering volatility with little direction through the election and into 2021. Also on the show, Leonard Wright discusses the AICPA Personal Financial Satisfaction Index and how much happier investors are now than they were a decade ago, Kyle Guske of New Constructs puts an overblown stock into the Danger Zone, and Matt King of King Wealth Advisors talks funds and ETFs in the Market Call.

Steve Rick, chief economist at CUNA Mutual Group and an economics professor at the University of Wisconsin, talks about the current economy in glowing terms and says he sees strength continuing without interruption or a recession for the foreseeable future, noting that even as economic growth slows, he can see a strong rebound on the horizon for 2023. Thus, while there are potential storm clouds, he doesn't see them lasting for long if they hit home at all. Also on the show, Mitch Reiner of Capital Investment Advisors talks about income investing in The NAVigator, Tom Lydon makes a brand new specialty fund his ETF of the Week, Mark Hamrick of Bankrate.com talks about who is affected by bank fees and how much they're paying, and Zach Johnson of Stack Financial Management covers the market's technical outlook.

Marc Lichtenfeld, chief income strategist at The Oxford Club, says that investors searching for yield need to be careful about not chasing payouts into bad stocks and tough securities, and yet notes that tactical investors can find some values with reasonable payouts for the long term. Also on the show, Chuck answers an audience question about portfolio construction, Ted Rossman of CreditCards.com talks about what people are using their credit cards to buy, and Michael Ball of Weatherstone Capital Management talks tactical ETF investing in the Market Call.

Behavioral finance expert Meir Statman, a professor at Santa Clara University, said that investors have become smarter about investing -- and have settled for capturing market returns rather than trying to beat the market -- and that staying smart requires shrugging off whatever the market dishes up and letting 'doing nothing' be a solid strategy for not being poor and hopefully for reaching a goal of being rich. Also on the show, Morgen Henderson of Choice Mutual discusses how finances are affecting people's final-resting choices, we revisit a recent discussion about risk with Adam Thurgood of HighTower Advisors, and Yuri Lobynstev of Cindicator Capital talks stocks, earnings and trading in the Market Call.

John Thompson, chief investment officer at Vilas Capital Management, said in the Market Call that he is expecting a huge reversion to the mean coming for value stocks, which is a big change because value 'has lagged the market almost every year since 2005.' Thompson said investors who have been patient with value stocks as they have lagged are likely to get paid off for their patience in the year ahead. Also on the show, Joe Keefe, head of the Pax World Funds talks about social investing in current markets, David Trainer of New Constructs reviews his best 'Danger Zone' selections from 2019, and Amanda Dixon from BankRate.com discusses her site's latest survey.

Long-time Wall Street observer Marc Chaikin of Chaikin Analytics says the stock market is entering what he calls 'blue-sky territory,' a point near the end of a bull market with no signs of recession on the horizon and no resistance to stop a run and make investors unhappy. While it won't last forever, Chaikin says investors can profit by shifting away from defensive stocks, noting that technology, health care and financials are the places to be this year. Also on the show, Jim Welsh of Smart Portfolios says the market's technicals mostly continue to support the ongoing uptrend, John Cole Scott of Closed-End Fund Advisors answers audience questions in The NAVigator, and Thomas Kirchner of the Camelot Event-Driven Fund talks about companies going through mergers in the Market Call.

Abhay Deshpande, chief investment officer at Centerstone Investors, says that the market and economy are set up for Europe to provide better returns than America, but he notes that the conditions for a major decline in the U.S. don't exist. Moreover, economic advancements make it less likely that investors will see a shocking, massive downturn in the future. Also on the show, Tom Lydon of ETFTrends.com makes a unique energy fund his 'ETF of the Week,' Chris Gatz of CreditWise talks about the decade resolutions consumers made at the end of 2019, and Chuck discusses the resolution of his recent complaint with Firestone Auto Centers and its financing arm.

Scott Colyer of Advisors Asset Management says that he would continue to avoid fighting with the Fed -- and with foreign central bankers -- which means he believes there will be plenty of opportunities for staying invested and growing a portfolio in 2020, although investors will want to take advantages of sector rotation that will see improved returns from value stocks, a bounce-back among energy companies and a 'generational opportunity' in commodities. Also on the show, Cory Bittner from HighTower Advisors talks about forecasts and how they impact advisory relationships, Terry Jones discusses the latest Investor's Business Daily poll on investor confidence levels, and Jane Edmonson of EQM Indexes discusses brand-name investments in the Market Call.

The best-selling personal-finance author of all time, Robert Kiyosaki of 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' fame, visits Money Life to discuss his new book out today, 'Who Stole My Pension.' Kiyosaki discusses why he wouldn't invest in stocks, mutual funds or ETFs right now, though he never discloses what he would buy other than 'private investments.' Also on the show, two chats about technical analysis, first with Avi Gilburt of Elliott Wave Trader, who notes that the market is getting into a 'topping region' where he expects a modest pullback. If the market can hold at support levels, he sees green lights for at least half a year, noting he'd be articularly bullish on small-cap stocks. Meanwhile, Dan Zanger of ChartPattern.com is also bullish and says he expects to ride the current trends for at least the first half of the new year. Finally, Ted Rossman of CreditCards,cmo discusses the results of his site's most recent consumer poll.

Barry Ritholtz, chairman of Ritholtz Wealth Management and author of The Big Picture blog makes his first visit to Money Life and talks about the things he likes and dislikes the most about personal finance and investing today, discusses the evolution of index funds and how that invites improper use of them, and his outlook on forecasting and which predictions are worth listening to. Also on the show, David Trainer of New Constructs revisits his Danger Zone picks frmo 2019 and talks about three that didn't work out so well, and Stephen McKee of the No-Load Mutual Fund Selections and Timing newsletter talks momentum-driven mutual fund investing in the Market Cal

It's a day of looking at expectations and then deconstructing them as Chuck chats with Deb Clarke, global head of investment research at Mercer, about the firm's 2020 outlook -- which includes slower growth globally, better opportunities worldwide than in America and more -- and discusses technical analysis with Martin Pring of Pring Research who sees signs suggesting that any troubles ahead in the near term will be buying and trading opportunities because real market troubles appear unlikely in the year ahead. Christian Pittard of Aberdeen Asset Management talks about changes in structure and more that are helping make the closed-end fund market more attractive, before Seth Masters -- best known for a correct market forecast he made with Bernstein Private Wealth Management in 2012 -- looks at the factors and thinking that renders most forecasts weak and meaningless.

Alan Levenson, chief U.S. economist at T. Rowe Price, says that headline events like the impeachment and the conflict in Iran are not going to have much economic impact, but he noted that slowing growth, tighter employment conditions and more will contribute to slower growth during the first half of the year and that they ultimately will lead to a shallow recession down the line, somewhere after 2020. Also on the show, Tom Lydon of ETFTrends.com discusses investing in China amid the current trade concerns, Jill Gonzalez of WalletHub talks about how many Americans overspent their budgets during the holiday season, and Chuck answers a question from an audience member.

Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RCM, notes that tensions in the Middle East and how they affect the oil industry and the economy are worth watching, but says that the economy is different from the oil tensions of the 1970s, and is better prepared to deal with the turmoil than in the past. He expects moderate economic growth in 2020, although he notes that Boeing is the most important manufacturing company to the economy and that its recent problems will shave significant growth off the economy in the short term. Also on the show, Russel Kinnel of Morningstar discusses the latest 'Mind the Gap' study showing that investors are doing better relative to the performance of their funds than in the past, Howard Silverblatt discusses dividend results for the Standard and Poor's 500 in 2019, and we revisit a recent chat with David Bahnsen of HighTower Advisors on the intersection of politics and personal finance.

Bob Doll, chief equity strategist at Nuveen, releases his annual list of 10 forecasts for the coming year, noting that he expects economic growth to continue but that it won't be enough to keep stocks humming along. He expects domestic markets to struggle to reach single-digit gains, he prefers the outlook for international stocks, and he believes President Trump will win re-election among his expectations for 2020. Also on the show, two other interviews about expectations, with David Goodsell of Natixis Investment Managers discussing his firm's recent survey of institutional investors about their outlook for the year ahead, plus Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com gives his forecast for rate levels in the coming year. All that, plus Patrick Healey of Caliber Financial Partners talking stocks in the Market Call.

Bob Doll chief equity strategist at Nuveen will release his 10 forecasts for the New Year on Tuesday, but first he stops by Money Life to talk with Chuck about his calls from last year and how they turned out in 2019. Meanwhile, Paul Golden of the National Endowment for Financial Education discusses the New Year's resolutions that investors made fort 2020, and Chuck answers an audience question, kind of, in telling us precisely why he won't make a definitive forecast for the stock market in the year ahead. Plus, we revisit a recent conversation with Jim O'Shaughnessy of O'Shaughnessy Asset Management.

Will in Philadelphia writes Chuck asking for help setting real, meaningful retirement-savings targets as he tries to make sure his New Year's goals and resolutions will make real progress toward a secure future, and Chuck describes four ways to measure retirement preparedness. Also on the show, John Cole Scott of Closed-End Fund Advisors discusses three decades of research on the industry and what it tells him to expect for the future, and we revisit a recent, extended chat with Rob Arnott of Research Affiliates.

Scott Wren, senior global market strategist at the Wells Fargo Investment Institute, said that the Standard and Poor's 500 closed 2019 so strongly that it nearly eclipsed his firm's forecast for where it would be in 2020, squarely in the middle of the 3,200 to 3,300 forecast range. Wren warned that the investment consensus is more optimistic than he and Wells Fargo are, but is expectation is for a relatively flat year with some heightened volatility as the market sorts out pressures from interest rates, politics and more. Also ont he show, Tom Lydon of ETFTrends.com makes a big, classic index fund his 'ETF of the Week," Chuck throws dirt on some funds that died in 2019, and we revisit a recent chat with David Kotok of Cumberland Advisors.

Brad Lamensdorf, editor of the Lamensdorf Market Timing Report and manager of the Ranger Equity Bear ETF, said that market sentiment is completely reversed from a year ago and has risen to dangerous levels where investors are likely to be disappointed in the new year. He expects at least 'extreme volatility' for 2020, likely paired with a 'cleansing pullback' that he said was necessary before the market could move up from its current record levels. Also on the show, Brian Graff of the American Retirement Association discusses the SECURE ACT that goes into law on New Year's Day, the gang from HighTower Advisors revisits questions to ask planners and counselors at the start of the year, and Chuck talks about goal setting for the new year and the next decade.

Chuck -- who spent more than a decade as a guest commentator on Nightly Business Report -- talks about the longest-running business television show, which ran for the final time last Friday, and also finally reveals just what happened when he took his car in for repairs -- and subsequently tried to pay for those repairs and more on the retailer's credit card -- that has had him upset for weeks. We also revisit a recent chat with Sam Stovall, chief market strategist for CFRA Research.

Ed Clissold, chief U.S. strategist for Ned Davis Research, says that the economic, earnings, Federal Reserve and presidential cycles will be the driving and determining forces to the kind of year 2020 can be and on what happens post-election. For now, those cycles continue to favor growth, but Clissold warns of changes that could be ahead down the line. Also on the show, John Cole Scott of Closed-End Fund Advisors and the Active Investment Company Alliance talks about how closed-end funds went from scaring investors a year ago to posting one of their best years in history and discloses what he sees coming in the year ahead, Ande Frazier of myWorth talks about setting new-decade resolutions makes sense this year, and we revisit a recent chat with Mary Ellen Stanek, president of the Baird Funds.

Andrew Slimmon, senior portfolio manager at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, says that while he is optimistic for the new year, he is worried about how much the economy may accelerate, noting that if it picks up speed in the second half of 2020 it will create stress come 2021. It's an environment that he says is good for politics -- which is why he's worried about it during a presidential election year -- but not great for long-term investors who will feel the aftermath. Also on the show, David Kotok of Cumberland Advisors says investors should expect single-digit returns in 2020 with performance charts that don't look anything like what they have seen in 2019. Danielle Shay of SimplerTrading covers the market's technical side between those two Big Interviews and we revisit a recent ETF of the Week chat with Tom Lydon of ETFTrends.com.

Legendary bond fund manager Dan Fuss of Loomis Sayles Bond Fund turns his attention to the year ahead in the second part of his chat with Chuck Jaffe, and he believes the fixed-income market will be benign in 2020, not quite as buoyant as the current year, and he talks about how the Federal Reserve's changing policies about how they disclose information has made the bond market significantly more stable. Also on the show, Matt Harris of HighTower Wealth Management talks technical analysis and how he sees the market showing signs that growth is coming in the new year, Sarah Asebedo of Texas Tech University chats about her research showing that personality traits affect retirement spending, and Eric Marshall of the Hodges Funds covers stocks in the Market Call.

Dan Fuss, legendary long-time manager of the Loomis Sayles Bond Fund, joins Chuck for the first of a two-day Big Interview that starts by looking at what happened to make the bond market remarkably strong during 2019 in the face of rate uncertainty and much more. Also on the show, David Trainer of New Constructs puts two stocks into the Danger Zone, Chuck answers a question about year-end portfolio moves and David Miller of the Catalyst Mutual Funds discusses insider buying and selling as a worthwhile buy-sell signal for stocks in the Market Call.

Crit Thomas, global market strategist at Touchstone Investments, says that while returns may slow down from the high and unexpected levels achieved in 2019, he expects the domestic stock market to have another positive run in the New Year, even if it is muted by recent standards. Thomas said investors need to be picky and selective in investing in developed Europe and emerging markets, where some great bargains could be hidden among bigger trends that have the potential to drag down the markets as a whole. Also on the show, Jeff Lipton of Oppenheimer and Co. talks the municipal-bond market and its spectacular results in 2019, Russell Robinson of Capital Institutional Services talks about trading illiquid and lesser-known closed-end funds and how the market remains stable and solvent, and Leo Leydon of Financial Focyus Advisory Services gives his technical outlook for 2020, and it's a good one.

Mark Fleming, chief economist at First American Corp., says that the fact that interest rates are likely stuck at current low levels is likely to reduce any impetus for homeowners to consider moving, which will slow down the economy, even with housing affordability at historically low levels despite an inventory shortage created in part by established homeowners opting to stay put. Also on the show, Tom Lydon of ETFTrends.com makes a retailing fund his 'ETF of the Week,' Ted Rossman of CreditCards.com discusses holiday tipping practices, and Chris Retzler, portfolio manager of the red-hot Needham Small Cap Growth Fund -- currently up more than 50 percent this year -- discusses his portfolio and the broader market in the Market Call.

Wayne Wicker, chief investment officer for VantagePoint Investment Advisors, says that despite the headline risks and concerns, he believes the stock market is poised to deliver another double-digit gain in the new year, noting that the economic underpinnings are solid and momentum remains strong. Also on the show, Nick DiUlio of insuranceQuotes.com discusses holiday hazards from porch pirates to winter driving, we revisit a chat with Steve Tresnan and Jeremiah Reithmiller of HighTower Advisors discussing how fixed income can properly hedge stocks these days, and Matt Hanna of Summit Global Investments talks low-volatility investing in the Market Call.

Rob Arnott, founding chairman at Research Affiliates, says in a wide-ranging interview that value investing not only isn't dead, but he notes that value stocks currently trade at one-eighth the price of growth stocks, the second-lowest level ever and a strong indicator that bargain stocks are due for a resurgence if investors can remain patient with them. O'Shaughnessy -- the author of 'What Works on Wall Street' and the head of O'Shaughnessy Asset Management -- talks about factor investing, and how investors can set limits on their portfolios without letting emotions ruin their portfolios and returns. Also on the show, Matt Schulz of CompareCards.com discusses the surprisingly large percentage of Americans who cried over their finances and money in 2019.

Doug Ramsey, chief investment officer at The Leuthold Group, discusses current market valuation risks and how his firm is responding to the market's mixed signals, including the inverted yield curve signal the market flashed months ago, increases in volatility and uncertainty and more. He also discusses research based on fishing charts and solar-lunar calendars showing that investors do better -- and should trade more -- at times with a full moon. Also on the show, John Boroff of Fidelity Investments discusses the firm's annual study on New Year's resolutions, Chuck answers an audience question about portfolio rebalancing, and David Trainer puts an equity fund with a history of topping the performance charts every few years into the Danger Zone.

Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research, expects the market to stay strong in 2020 noting that be believes politicians can go beyond settling the trade dispute with China to give stocks a boost. Stovall says he would not be surprised to see tax cut measures -- proposed if not enacted -- that get investors excited that the bull market can keep running into 2021 or 2022. Also on the show, Buck Klintworth of Chase Investment Counsel talks optimistically about the market's technicals, Jeremy Goff of Tortoise Advisors discusses interval funds and the benefits of using them as opposed to traditional closed-end fund investments, and Stephen Dodson of the Bretton Fund talks value investing in the Market Call.

Charles Rotblut, editor of AAII Journal, says that the biggest winners for the next decade on the Standard and Poor's 500 Index may not even be big enough to be on the banchmark now. In a recent study of the last decade, Rotblut found that the big winners were not necessarily the names anyone might have expected to be big gainers 10 years ago. Also on the show, Tom Lydon of ETFTrends.com makes a biotech and pharmaceutical fund his ETF of the Week, Alia Dudum of Lending Club talks about how many people engage in 'YOLO spending' because 'you only live once' but wind up paying off those purchases for years. Also, we rebroadcast a recent chat with Alan Gayle of Via Nova Investment Management.

Mary Ellen Stanek of Baird Funds notes that in the 11th year of an economic expansion, investors should be cautious, but she says the excesses that typically come late in an economic cycle are not there, so investors should keep their seatbelts on, should make sure they are being paid to take on risk and are otherwise moving forward cautiously into 2020 and beyond. Also on the show, Chuck chats with David Molnar from HighTower San Diego about how investors should properly evaluate an adviser's performance, discusses the ways in which President Trump's tweets have been moving the market with Francesca Ortegren of Clever Real Estate, and we revisit a recent Market Call chat with Charlie Bobrinskoy of Ariel Investments.

Brian Nick, chief investment officer at Nuveen, says that the stock market enters the next decade with high valuations and other conditions that do not seup up well for great investment returns, and he warns investors that they may need to move away from the tradition 60-40 stocks-to-bonds allocation in favor of something that carries more alternatives in order to continue to deliver anything close to recent results. But Nick's cautious notes are a contrast to comments from Gene Peroni of Peroni Portfolio Advisors, a renowned technical analyst who said there are "no telltale signs of a serious market top" currently on the horizon, and who suggested that dips will remain buying opportunities for the foreseeable future. Also on the show, Lior Rachmany of Dumbo Moving and Storage discusses the financial benefits of moving during the winter, and Odysseas Papadimitrou of WalletHub chats about deferred interest on retail cards and how he believes the practice should be outlawed.

Michael Dowdall, investment strategist for BMO Global Asset Management, says the trade war between the United Stateas and China will be the over-arching headline for the foreseeable future, and while he expects minor deals to be announced he believes a full resolution of tensions will be elusive in 2020. Despite that, he believes the American consumer will continue to drive the market higher, and that the U.S. economy will continue to lead the world, though he expects a bounce-back from a number of countries that mostly suffered through 2019. Also on the show, Catherine Collinson of the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies discusses women and their retirement preparedness, Davd Trainer talks about technology companies and puts a troubled tech stock in the Danger Zone, and Chuck discusses how being a bit of a humbug for the holidays and talking moderation with family memebrs could be a true gift of the season.

Michael Mullaney, director of global markets research at Boston Partners says that while there are some warning signs clearly visible -- and wildcards like trade wars and Brexit that could cause further deterioration -- investors should stay fully invested for as long as the economy continues showing growth and companies keep on reporting profits. He suggests that investors side with stocks that have 'high-quality characteristics' as a way to hedge against a weakening market. Also on the show, John Kosar of Asbury Research gave a technical outlook that wasn't nearly as positive, noting that the market is overextended and that if the major indexes break through support levels, investors might want to take better control of their risks. Axel Merk of the Merk Funds and the ASA Gold and Precious Metals closed-end fund discusses the difference for investors between using traditional funds and the closed-end structure for exposure to precious metals, and George Young of the Villere Funds talks stocks in the Market Call.

Tom Lydon, editor at ETFTrends.com, made the PIMCO Low Duration Active ETF -- ticker symbol LDUR -- his 'ETF of the Week,' noting that the low-duration exchange-traded fund not only mitigates risk but can increase returns from money-market funds by as much as one full point, a significant difference in a time when money mostly parked on the sidelines isn't delivering much return. Also on the show, Jason Reposa of MyBankTracker.com talks about the financial mistakes savers and investors admit to making around the holidays, Rob Lutts of Cabot Wealth Management talks stocks in the Market Call, and we revisit a recent interview with Frank Holmes of US Global Investors.

Erik Weisman, chief economist and portfolio manager at MFS Investments, says that while the market and economy are giving off generally positive signs of strength, the numbers this time may be hiding some issues that could shorten the current business cycle and dampen returns. Also on the show, Washington Post columnist Allan Sloan talks about the one tax move he thinks anyone in their 70s should do to minimize what they owe Uncle Sam, Adam Thurgood of HighTower Advisors discusses how to match risk tolerance and today's positive investment sentiment with the market's realities for the future, and Ted Rossman of Bankrate.com talks about his site's latest survey of how consumers misbehave with credit cards.

Jason Thomas, chief economist at AssetMark, said that investors are too concerned with current events and the upcoming election when they should be focus instead on the earnings power of big companies, which he said will continue to drive the market for the foreseeable future. Thomas said that while investors have reasons for their personal concerns around news, they should tune out the noise to focus on the strong earnings picture. Similarly, two very different technical analysts -- Adam Grimes of Talon Advisors and Lawrence McMillan of McMillan Analysis -- came to similar conclusions, namely that the market could be headed for a technical blow-out but both suggested that the warning signs are still hard to see and said they would wait until they see a downturn as imminent before changing their investment strategy to something more defensive. Finally, Chuck Carlson of Horizon Investment Services and the DRIP Investor talked stocks in the Market Call.

Today's show covers a lot of ground, from Matt Zajechowski of Digital Third Coast talking about a survey on package thefts and giving out tips for foiling box bandits this holiday season, to Ben Hunt of EpsilonTheory.com talking about his big concerns for the markets that have been mostly overlooked by observers and experts, on to international value investing in the Market Call with guest David Marcus from the Evermore Global Value Fund talking about how the market's run to record highs hasn't curtailed his supply of companies that have been bloodied and bruised by business and that look like solid discount plays to him as a result of their troubles.

Chuck celebrates Black Friday with tips on the best and worst card deals and items to shop for from Jill Gonzalez of WalletHub.com, and talk about how to avoid the worst retail store credit card offers. There's also The NAVigator, where Jerry Raio of Arbor Lane Advisors gives his take on 2019 IPOs and the outlook for 2020, and the ETF of the Week from Tom Lydon of ETFTrends.com. Also on the show, Charles Biderman of Trim Tabs Investment Management discusses the market and his expectations for how long the current rally can last.

Jim Sarni, managing principal at Payden and Rygel, says that 2020 looks to be a year of heightened volatility, centered around market flashpoints like tariff and trade wars, interest-rate concerns, the Presidential election and more, but he notes that the environment will be one where cooler heads prevail. He urges investors to stay calm, to look for investments in quality companies with dividend-oriented stocks the focus for equities and shorter-duration high-grade bonds the focus in fixed income. Also on the show, Jimmy Hausberg of HighTower Advisors discusses the lessons investors should remember from the market meltdown that started right after Thanksgiving a year ago, Dr. Steve Giannoutsos talks about the value of do-it-yourself braces and teeth aligners, and Adrian Garcia of Bankrate.com discusses holiday pressure to overspend.