Category: Finance

Analysis

MiB: Bob Michele, CIO and Head of Global Fixed Income, Currency & Commodities, J.P. Morgan Asset Management

Market Expert Oct 18, 2026

This week, I speak with Bob Michele, Chief Investment Officer and Head of Global Fixed Income, Currency, and Commodities at J.P.Morgan Asset Management. He started at Bankers Trust after studying classics and natural sciences at Penn, then worked at Brown Brothers Harriman, First Boston, BlackRock and Schroders in London before joining JPMorgan in… Read More The post MiB: Bob Michele, CIO and Head of Global Fixed Income, Currency & Commodities, J.P. Morgan Asset Management appeared first on The Big Picture.

Analysis

Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (October 17–18)

Market Expert Oct 18, 2026

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" – this week’s edition kicks off with the news that a survey by Vanguard of investors on its platform found that many of those who have engaged with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for money management or planning actually value their (human) advisor more because ofRead More... The post Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (October 17–18) first appeared on Kitces.com.

Analysis

Top? Beware Your Confirmation Bias

Market Expert Oct 17, 2026

“Are we in the 6th, 8th, or 9th inning? I don’t know, but I suspect the beginning of this bull is further away than the end.” –Me, 5 days ago I always hate the after-the-fact explanations of why the market is doing anything on any given day — but it’s hard… Read More The post Top? Beware Your Confirmation Bias appeared first on The Big Picture.

Analysis

No, Rising Bond Yields Did Not Trigger the GFC

Market Expert Oct 16, 2026

The first few times I saw mention of the GFC being caused by rising bond yields, I let it go. I assumed it was hyperbole or an inartfully phrased line. But this week, I read the following sentence: “That, after all, is what happened when the 10-year crashed through 5% to trigger the… Read More The post No, Rising Bond Yields Did Not Trigger the GFC appeared first on The Big Picture.

Analysis

When Keeping Your Options Open Is Riskier Than Making A Commitment: Kitces & Carl 201

Market Expert Oct 16, 2026

One can argue that financial planning is, at its core, about navigating different choices and trade-offs. Some decisions can have outsized practical, financial, and emotional impacts, such as when to retire, quit a job, or start a business. Succeeding and failing will each bring high consequences, and many people opt to "keep their options open"…Read More... The post When Keeping Your Options Open Is Riskier Than Making A Commitment: Kitces & Carl 201 first appeared on Kitces.com.

Analysis

At The Money: Is Technology Price Gouging Consumers?

Market Expert Oct 15, 2026

At The Money: Is Technology Price Gouging Consumers? (October 14, 2026) Lots of forces are driving prices higher. But what about Artificial Intelligence, Algos, Surveillance Capitalism, and other technologies we all use every day? Might they be sending prices higher? Full transcript below. ~~~ About this week’s guest: Lindsay Owens is CEO of… Read More The post At The Money: Is Technology Price Gouging Consumers? appeared first on The Big Picture.

Analysis

New Treasury Regulations Introduce (Mandatory) Auto-Enrollment And Individual Stocks To Sec. 530A Trump Accounts

Market Expert Oct 15, 2026

Sec. 530A accounts a.k.a. Trump Accounts (TAs), the 'starter' retirement accounts for children under 18 that were created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), have been available to open and fund since July 4, 2026. And during that time, they've gained modest traction: according to Treasury Department estimates, around 7–8 million children haveRead More... The post New Treasury Regulations Introduce (Mandatory) Auto-Enrollment And Individual Stocks To Sec. 530A Trump Accounts first appeared on Kitces.com. Click the icon below to listen.

Analysis

Transcript: Maria Vassalou, Head of the Pictet Research Institute

Market Expert Oct 14, 2026

The transcript from this week’s MiB, Maria Vassalou, Head of the Pictet Research Institute, is below. You can stream and download our full conversation, including any podcast extras, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube (video), YouTube (audio), and Bloomberg. All of our earlier podcasts on your favorite pod hosts can be found here.… Read More The post Transcript: Maria Vassalou, Head of the Pictet Research Institute appeared first on The Big Picture.

Analysis

5 Steps to Take Right Now

Market Expert Oct 13, 2026

I have no idea when the bull market that began in March 2013 will end. Market volatility is rising; gains are narrowing; bonds are selling off; domestic politics are bad, and geopolitics are worse. Secular bull runs typically last 10 to 20 years; 1982 to 2000 was the prior major bull run. But… Read More The post 5 Steps to Take Right Now appeared first on The Big Picture.

Analysis

What Information Prospects Actually Seek When Choosing An Advisor

Market Expert Oct 13, 2026

A crucial part of marketing is, put simply, doing more of what works and less of what doesn't work. But how can advisors know what is effective? Many advisors look to their prospect calls for the answers: who shows up, and what do they ask about? This is a helpful starting point, but it mayRead More... The post What Information Prospects Actually Seek When Choosing An Advisor first appeared on Kitces.com.

Analysis

Outsourcing And Managing Client Headcount To Stay Lean As A Two-Founder, $150M Firm: #FASuccess Ep 511 With Ashlee deSteiger

Market Expert Oct 13, 2026

Welcome everyone! Welcome to the 511th episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast! My guest on today's podcast is Ashlee deSteiger. Ashlee is the co-owner of Gunder Wealth Management, an RIA based in Birmingham, Michigan, that oversees approximately $150 million in assets under management for 100 client households. What's unique about Ashlee, though, is howRead More... The post Outsourcing And Managing Client Headcount To Stay Lean As A Two-Founder, $150M Firm: #FASuccess Ep 511 With Ashlee deSteiger first appeared on Kitces.com.

Analysis

MiB: Maria Vassalou, Head of the Pictet Research Institute

Market Expert Oct 11, 2026

This week, I speak with Maria Vassalou, Head of the Pictet Research Institute. The European-based firm manages over a trillion dollars in institutional assets. We discuss her research into global markets and how they balance geopolitical risk. We also discuss China’s growth as a technological innovator, and the risks to US debt. A… Read More The post MiB: Maria Vassalou, Head of the Pictet Research Institute appeared first on The Big Picture.

Analysis

Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (October 10–11)

Market Expert Oct 10, 2026

Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" – this week's edition kicks off with the news that Fidelity is planning to raise its minimum asset threshold for RIAs on its platform to $100 million, with affected firms having until June 30, 2027 to reach this minimum or start the process of findingRead More... The post Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (October 10–11) first appeared on Kitces.com.

Analysis

7 Charts For Client Conversations In Q4 2026: Interest Rates, The Fed, AI, And More

Market Expert Oct 9, 2026

The third quarter of 2026 saw a historic climb in interest rates, a new Federal Reserve rate hike cycle, and oil prices surging back above $100 a barrel. Given this combination of developments, many investors might have assumed that equity markets would struggle heading into year-end. Yet the S&P 500 notched its 27th record highRead More... The post 7 Charts For Client Conversations In Q4 2026: Interest Rates, The Fed, AI, And More first appeared on Kitces.com. Click the icon below to listen.

Analysis

At The Money: What the Best CEOs Do

Market Expert Oct 8, 2026

At The Money: Nitin Nohria on What CEOs Actually Do (October 7, 2026) Full transcript below. ~~~ About this week’s guest: Nitin Nohria is former Dean of the Harvard Business School, where he is still a professor. He is the author of The CEO: The Role, the Reality, the Responsibility For more… Read More The post At The Money: What the Best CEOs Do appeared first on The Big Picture.

Analysis

What Is Driving Rates Higher and Bonds Lower?

Market Expert Oct 7, 2026

The biggest question confronting investors today isn’t about AI, market concentration, or technology. Instead, it’s about the bond market. Like nearly everything in investing, it’s rarely about any one thing; instead, a mix of factors drives interest rates. Some matter more than others, but together, they can create a perfect storm of elements… Read More The post What Is Driving Rates Higher and Bonds Lower? appeared first on The Big Picture.

Analysis

Creating Effective Discovery Meetings To Convert 100% Of (High-Value) Prospects Into Clients: #FASuccess Ep 510 With Michael Yoder

Market Expert Oct 7, 2026

Welcome everyone! Welcome to the 510th episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast! My guest on today's podcast is Michael Yoder. Michael is the founder of Yoder Wealth Management, an RIA based in Walnut Creek, California, that oversees approximately $400 million in assets under management for 64 client households. What's unique about Michael, though, isRead More... The post Creating Effective Discovery Meetings To Convert 100% Of (High-Value) Prospects Into Clients: #FASuccess Ep 510 With Michael Yoder first appeared on Kitces.com.

Analysis

7 Charts For Client Conversations In Q3 2026: Interest Rates, The Fed, AI, And More

Market Expert Oct 7, 2026

The third quarter of 2026 has seen a historic climb in interest rates, a new Federal Reserve rate hike cycle, and oil prices surging back above $100 a barrel. Given this combination of developments, many investors might have assumed that equity markets would struggle heading into year-end. Yet the S&P 500 notched its 27th recordRead More... The post 7 Charts For Client Conversations In Q3 2026: Interest Rates, The Fed, AI, And More first appeared on Kitces.com.