Money Life with Chuck Jaffe

Emily Roland, co-chief investment strategist, John Hancock Investment Management, says that the economic and corporate fundamental pictures are 'absolutely awesome' right now, but she notes that after parabolic returns off the bottom like we have seen in the last 12 months, the market tends to become more choppy, volatile and challenging. While she is bullish -- believing that new economic and market cycles are unfolding now -- she thinks the easy rebound returns have been made. Also on the show, Brian Dress, director of research at Left Brain Investment Research, discusses Energy Transfer as a 'bond-like equity' with a 7 percent yield and potential for growth, Matt Frankel of The Ascent talks about a study on what consumers most want from their credit cards, and author and civil rights attorney Jim Freeman discusses his new book, 'Rich Thanks to Racism: How the Ultra-Wealthy Profit from Racial Injustice.'

Ed Clissold, chief US strategist at Ned Davis Research, says that the stock market should remain strong while the economy gets back to full speed, but he notes that things could change quickly thereafter and says investors will want to get defensive. He does not expect a recession or significant bear market, but believes investors will want to play defe3nse and choose buying opportunities carefully. Also on the show, Chris Vermeulen, chief market strategist for The Technical Traders, says that the market's technicals are all green lights right now, but that the color is likely to change with a consolidation move -- not necessarily a bear market but months of sideways to gradual decline -- that could start late this month and last into the fall. Plus, Ismat Mangla of MagnifyMoney.com discusses study research showing how the timing of retirement can impact lifetime housing costs, and Jennifer Barrett, author of, 'Think Like a Breadwinner,' discusses her book.

Stan Haithcock -- better known as 'Stan the Annuity Man' -- joins Chuck to help savers and investors understand where annuities fit into an investment program at a time when many people are scared about how far the market could fall from record highs. haithcock -- who has been described as 'the walking middle finger of truth for the annuities industry' -- gives his fundamental lessons that allow consumers to decide if an annuity is a good and necessary savings tool for their individual situation. Also on the show, Ted Rossman discusses a Bankrate.com study on what event-goers are doing -- or not doing -- when it comes to concert, sports and other tickets as pandemic restrictions ease, Kyle Guske of New Constructs has another meme stock whose fans are ignoring fundamentals for the 'Danger Zone' and Stephen Dodson of the Bretton Fund talks value investing in the Market Call.

Joe Quinlan, head of CIO market strategy for Merrill Lynch and Bank of America Private Bank, says that the market is in a sweet spot right now -- neither too hot nor cold -- but when inflation heats up and Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell tells the market his thoughts, 'that's when things will get dicier.' Quinlan doesn't expect the market to hit a wall, but he expects a 'true testing period' and says investors should prepare for that by diversifying, rebalancing, and being ready to buy when any setback or downturn occurs. Also on the ninth-anniversary edition of Money Life, Tom Dinsmore of the 50-year-old Bancroft Capital Fund talks convertible securities, James Otteson discusses his new book, 'The Seven Deadly Economic Sins,' and Clark Kendall of Kendall Capital Management covers the Biden Administration's infrastructure plan and how investors should react and respond to it.

Mark Fleming, chief economist at First American Financial Corp,, says that the increase in home prices is being fueled by low interest rates -- which increases purchasing power -- a lack of supply of homes and a generational shift of young families striving to get a home, all fundamental reasons for higher prices without actually inflating a bubble. Fleming also discusses why rising delinquencies aren't about to create a foreclosure boom, and much more in the Big Interview. Also on the show, Tom Lydon of ETFTrends.com makes a commodity fund his ETF of the Week, Randy Frederick of the Schwab Center for Financial Research talks about a recent survey of traders and just how bullish shorter-term investors are, and Mike Liss of American Century Value fund discusses relative value investing in the Market Call.

Jack Brennan, former chairman and chief executive at The Vanguard Group, discusses his new book 'More Straight Talk on Investing: Lessons for a Lifetime' and talks about how the financial world has changed in the 17 years since the original 'Straight Talk on Investing' debuted, and how investors can best navigate what lies ahead. Also on the show, Janie Quek of Left Brain Investment Research covers Airbnb Inc. and why she believes it is poised for a big post-pandemic boost, with William Smead of the Smead Value Fund talking value investing and stocks in the Market Call.

Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer for the Independent Advisor Alliance, says that while the market is poised for continued growth -- especially as the economy reopens -- savvy investors may want to diversify further and tighten their asset allocations so that they are better positioned to survive trouble when it arrives. He notes that he prefers value to growth right now, and notes that while he likes emerging markets he believes there are better bargains to be had in Europe. Also on the show, technical analyst Matt Harris, sees few impediments to the market's long run-up, though he is particularly bullish on emerging markets right now, significantly more optimistic than Zaccarelli. Rebecca Heiss discusses her new book, 'Instinct: Rewire Your Brain with Science-Backed Solutions to Increase Productivity and Achieve Success,' and Chad Moutray, chief economist for the National Association of Manufacturers talks about the latest survey research from the National Association for Business Economics, which shows widespread optimism for record levels of GDP growth over the next six months.

Many experts have been on Money Life recently saying that the classic 60 percent stocks/40 percent bonds portfolio doesn't work; some have suggested changing the mix of holdings that make those percentages, others have recommended making stocks 70 or 80 percent of a standard portfolio. Today on Money Life, John Ruth, chief executive officer at Build Asset Management, suggests turning the entire equation upside down, making the bond portion the heavy part, and using options to help returns be more stable and predictable in all market conditions. Also on the show, Melanie Lieberman of ThePointsGuy.com discusses a survey showing that half of Americans not only plan to take a summer vacation but will spend big doing it, David Trainer of New Constructs puts Netflix -- which he calls 'the original meme stock' - back in the Danger Zone, and David Miller of the Catalyst Mutual Funds talks about insider buying/selling and its impact on stocks in the Market Call.

Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist for LPL Financial, and Buck Klintworth, portfolio manager at Chase Investment Counsel, say in successive interviews that they see the market as poised to take a breather, a correction, a downturn or whatever you want to call a small setback. Both of them, however, were clear that any setback now and through the summer is a clear buying opportunity, as they believe the market will quickly re-establish its long-term upward trend. Also on the show, Michael Spatacco of Bancroft Capital talks about how social or ESG investors are finally getting the chance to use closed-end funds, and Eric Schoenstein of Jensen Investment Management talks about 'quality investing' -- looking for companies with 'formidable competitive advantage profiles' in the Market Call.

Steven McClurg of Valkyrie Investments -- which has filed registration papers to create two different Bitcoin-related ETFs -- says that cryptocurrency shouldn't be seen as a replacement for gold and precious metals or as a store of value, but instead is growing into a way that transactions are being done around the world, and is starting to become something that corporations must invest in as part of their international trade. That maturation process, he says, will be helped along as regulators start to ease restrictions and allow more cryptocurrency funds into the market. Also on the show, Tom Lydon of ETFTrends.com makes a thematic dividend growth fund his ETF of the Week, Francesa Ortegren of Clever Real Estate discusses how Americans are struggling to make ends meet late in the pandemic, and Jonathan Smucker of Marietta Investment Partners talks top-down stock selection in the Market Call.