Investment commentary – Vanguard

Investor News

Rank #1: When do Roth conversions make sense?.
In this 14-minute podcast, Vanguard Wealth Planning Specialist Boris Wong discusses when Roth conversions make sense from a tax perspective.

Rank #2: The cost of not being fully diversified.
In this 10-minute podcast, Vanguard Investment Analyst Jonathan Kahler discusses what you should think about before taking on concentrated equity positions in your clients’ portfolios.

Investing Insights (Video)

Get stock, fund, and ETF picks, plus personal finance advice, investing tips, and exclusive fund manager interviews. -- Chicago-based Morningstar, Inc. is a world-leading provider of independent investment research.

Rank #1: Investing Insights: Bold Bond Picks, Top Cannabis Stocks, and Tips for Gig Workers.
In this week’s podcast, our analysts share three of their favorite bold bond funds, special guest Tim Steffen from Baird provides financial tips for gig economy workers, Brett Horn on what M&A means for payment processors, Christine Benz and Brian Moriarty discusses whether floating-rate funds are a fit for your portfolio, Ben Johnson on the pitfalls of market-cap weighted indexing, and Kris Inton with Morningstar’s outlook on cannabis stocks.

Rank #2: Investing Insights: Michael Kitces, REITs, Value ETFs, and More.
On this week's podcast, special guest Michael Kitces on sequence of return risk, a good world-allocation fund, and new retirement legislation.

Zacks Market Edge

Podcast by Zacks Investment Research

Rank #1: How to Invest in Blockchain and the Cryptocurrencies.
Blockchain and cryptocurrencies are the next big “thing” but how can you play it through stocks to cash in on the growth?(0:25) - Blockchain Tech & Cryptocurrency: How To Invest(3:00) - What Is a Blockchain and How Can It Be Applied?(9:30) - What Impact Will Banks Have On Cryptocurrency Moving Forward? (13:45) - Visa Approves Monaco Cryptocurrency Card(22:00) - What Happens When You Can Short Bitcoin?(24:45) - Episode Roundup: Podcast@Zacks.com

Rank #2: 5 Value Stocks That Are Breaking Out.
It’s not just growth stocks that are hitting new highs as the stock markets soar higher. Please pick a time stamped topic below: (0:20) - Stocks At All Time Highs: Where Is The Value? (2:10) - Style Score Stock Screener (4:15) - Tracey's Top Stock Picks (9:45) - Recognize Real Value: Why Are The Earnings Growing? (12:15) - Episode Roundup: Podcast@Zacks.com

Rule Breaker Investing

David Gardner, co-founder of The Motley Fool, is among the most respected and trusted sources on investing. As a best-selling author, hugely successful stock picker, and financial authority, David has led The Motley Fool’s growth into a worldwide investment and financial advisory services company.Each week David shares his insights into today's most innovative and disruptive publicly traded companies -- and how to profit from them by following his signature “Rule Breaker Investing” principles.

Rank #1: 5 Stocks I Own That You Should Too.
We’re back to the stock-picking well in our ongoing “5 Stocks…” series. Today David dips not only into the Supernova Universe for inspiration, but into his own personal portfolio. Plus, do you remember April the Giraffe? Neither did we. But we do have a review of the 5 Stocks David picked last "APRIL" and there is something uncannily giraffish about their performance! Thanks to Blooom for supporting Motley Fool Answers. Get a month free with blooom401k.com/fool and code fool.

Rank #2: December Mailbag: Investing for Others.
As always, we wrap up the year with words of wisdom from you, our listeners. We also take a moment to consider why we invest, and find that often it is not for ourselves, but for those about whom we care the most.

The Long View

Expand your investing horizons and look to the long term. Join hosts Christine Benz and Jeff Ptak as they talk to influential leaders in investing, advice, and personal finance about a wide-range of topics, such as asset allocation and balancing risk and return.

Rank #1: Charles de Vaulx: Why Value Investing Has Slumped but Will Rebound.
Our guest on the podcast this week is Charles de Vaulx. De Vaulx is chief investment officer and portfolio manager at International Value Advisers, where he is also a partner. With his colleague Chuck de Lardemelle, de Vaulx manages the IVA International and IVA Worldwide strategies. Before joining IVA in 2008, de Vaulx had been the portfolio manager of First Eagle Global, First Eagle Overseas, First Eagle U.S. Value, and First Eagle Variable. For his accomplishments, Morningstar has recognized de Vaulx several times in the past, awarding him and his comanager our International-Stock Manager of the Year Award in 2001 and nominating them for the same award in 2006. De Vaulx began his career at Societe Generale Bank as a credit analyst in 1985. He graduated from the Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Rouen and holds the French equivalent of a master's degree in finance. BackgroundCharles de Vaulx bio Charles de Lardemelle bio IVA Worldwide IVWIX IVA International IVIOX ReferencesModern monetary theory (MMT) definition Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) definition Creative destruction definition A History of Interest Rates, by Sidney Homer and Richard Sylla; 2007 "The Irresistible Charm of the Family Factor," by Credit Suisse, Sept. 27, 2017 Jean-Marie Eveillard bio "The Superinvestors of Graham-and -Doddsville," by Warren Buffett, Columbia Business School, May 17, 1984 Berkshire Hathaway 2013 shareholder letter, Page 20 Edward O. Thorp bio Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction, by Philip E. Tetlock and Dan Gardner, 2016

Rank #2: Jeffrey Brown: Saving for Retirement 'Only Half the Puzzle'.
Our guest on the podcast today is Dr. Jeffrey Brown, the Josef and Margot Lakonishok Professor and the Dean of the University of Illinois Gies College of Business. A key focus of Dean Brown's research is how to create sustainable retirement income, including the role of annuities, Social Security, 401(k)s, pensions and long-term care planning. He's a research affiliate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, a faculty affiliate of the Institute on Government and Policy Affairs, and a fellow at the TIAA Institute. He also serves as a trustee for TIAA. In addition, he served on the Social Security Advisory Board under President George W. Bush and was also a senior economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers. He has published extensively on the topic of retirement security and public and private insurance markets, and he has received numerous awards for his research as well. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from MIT, and a master's in public policy from Harvard.BackgroundJeffrey Brown bioJeffrey Brown C.V. Jeffrey Brown publications and working papers Defined Contribution (DC) PlansDefined contribution plan definition Defined benefit plan definition “A Brief History of the 401(k), Which Changed How Americans Retire,” by Kathleen Elkins, CNBC.com, Jan. 4, 2017.“The Disappearing Defined Benefit Pension and Its Potential Impact on the Retirement Incomes of Baby Boomers,” by Barbara A. Butrica, Howard M. Iams, Karen E. Smith, and Eric J. Toder, Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 69, No. 3, 2009.“What Killed Pensions,” by Mary Beth Franklin, Kiplinger, Oct. 6, 2011.“Public Pensions Are Still Marching to Their Death,” by Jeffrey Dorfman, Forbes.com, Sept. 11, 2014.“House Passes SECURE Act to Ease 401(k) Compliance, Promote Savings,” by Stephen Miller, SHRM.org, May 23, 2019.“How the SECURE Act Would Impact Your 401(k),” by Simon Moore, Forbes.com, June 25, 2019.“Annuities in 401(k)s Won’t Solve the Retirement Crisis. Here’s Why,” by Mary Romano, Barron’s, June 28, 2019.“What Does It Mean to Annuitize?” by Justin Pritchard, Thebalance.com, Jan. 21, 2019.“Crash Course Needed: Four Out of Five Americans Fail When Quizzed on How to Make Their Nest Eggs Last,” by The American College for Financial Planning, Dec. 3, 2014.“401(k) Nudges and Course Corrections,” by Kimberly Blanton, Squared Away blog, Oct. 24, 2017.“Thank Richard Thaler for Your Retirement Savings,” by Ben Steverman, Bloomberg, Oct. 10, 2017.“Plan Quality Varies Significantly by Industry,” by John Manganaro, PlanAdviser, March 20, 2017.“Corporate Profits and 401(k) Plan Performance Go Hand in Hand: T. Rowe Price,” by Michael S. Fischer, ThinkAdvisor, Sept. 17, 2018.“The Conundrum of State-Run Retirement Plans,” by Terry Dunne, InvestmentNews, May 8, 2017.“Reasons to Be Wary of State-Run Retirement Plans,” by Jeffrey Brown, Forbes.com, Feb. 10, 2014.Multiple Employer Plan (MEP) definition“How Hard Should We Push the Poor to Save for Retirement?” by Andrew G. Biggs, The Journal of Retirement, Spring 2019.Thrift Savings Plan Annuities“Use Annuities to Protect Yourself from Yourself,” by Jeffrey Brown, Forbes.com, May 22, 2014.“Income Annuities Provide Retirees Longevity Protection,” by Wade Pfau, Investment News, Sept. 28, 2019.“Why Don’t People Insure Late-Life Consumption? A Framing Explanation of the Under-Annuitization Puzzle,” by Jeffrey R. Brown, Jeffrey R. Kling, Sendhil Mullainathan, and Marian V. Wrobel, National Bureau of Economic Research, January 2008.Variable annuity definitionEquity-indexed annuity definitionDeferred payment annuity definition“The Main Types of Annuities Made Easy,” by Clair Boyte-White, Investopedia, July 27, 2019.“Annuities and Inflation Risk,” by Robert Bloink and William H. Byrnes, ThinkAdvisor, Sept. 3, 2011.“Lifetime Income for Women: A Financial Economist’s Perspective,” by David F. Babbel, Wharton Financial Institutions Center Policy Brief, Aug. 12, 2008.“Jeff Brown Tackles Tough Annuity Questions,” by Michael Finke, ThinkAdvisor, Sept. 29, 2014.“Annuities and Individual Welfare,” by Thomas Davidoff, Jeffrey Brown, and Peter Diamond, The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, May 2003.“Behavioral Impediments to Valuing Annuities: Complexity and Choice Bracketing,” by Jeffrey R. Brown, Arie Kapteyn, Erzo F.P. Luttmer, Olivia S. Mitchell, and Anya Samek. National Bureau of Economic Research, Oct. 11, 2019.Intertemporal choice definition Long-Term Care“Does Medicare Cover Long-Term Care?” Medicare.com"Insuring Long-Term Care in the U.S.," by Jeffrey Brown and Amy Finkelstein, National Bureau of Economic Research, September 2011.“The Interaction of Public and Private Insurance: Medicaid and the Long-Term Care Insurance Market,” by Jeffrey R. Brown and Amy Finkelstein, National Bureau of Economic Research, October 2004.“Can Increasing The Long-Term Care Insurance Elimination Period Make Coverage Appealing Again?” by Michael Kitces, Nerd’s Eye View, Jan. 7, 2015.Long-Term Care Financing Project“Hybrid Long-Term Care Policies,” by Wade Pfau, Forbes.com, Jan. 21, 2016.“Is the LTC Cost Guarantee of Today's Hybrid Life/LTC or Annuity/LTC Insurance Policies Just a Mirage?” by Michael Kitces, Nerd’s Eye View, Oct. 16, 2013.“Life-LTC Hybrid Sales Level Off: LIMRA,” by Allison Bell, ThinkAdvisor, July 22, 2019.  Social SecuritySocial Security Trustees’ Summary Report, 2019.“How Would You Fix Social Security?” The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.“How the Latest Report on Social Security’s Solvency Changes Your Retirement Plan,” by Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, May 24, 2019.

Industry Focus

Healthcare, technology, energy, consumer goods, and more. Every day, Motley Fool analysts break down a specific industry and the stocks making headlines. Questions? Comments? Email us at IndustryFocus@fool.com.

Rank #1: CG: These Companies Are Proof Positive That There’s More to Retail Than Just Amazon.
Latin American ecommerce leader Mercadolibre continues to prosper and its burgeoning payments business offers investors another way to invest in the global payments space. Meanwhile the long-term tailwinds in home improvement are growing stronger and Home Depot and Lowe’s are poised for success. Host Jason Moser and Fool.com contributor Asit Sharma dive deeper into these topics and also answer a listener email all on this week’s _Industry Focus: Consumer Goods_ show. Stocks: MELI, HD, LOW, AMZN Check out more of our content here: TMF's podcast portal YouTube Twitter Join Our Motley Fool Podcast Facebook Group LinkedIn Or, reach us by email @ IndustryFocus@fool.com

Rank #2: CG: Going LOCO with Under Armour and Starbucks.
Earnings season is here, and we’re digging into three reports from the past week. First, we look at the bullish market response to results from Under Armour and Starbucks as their businesses pick up momentum heading into the holiday season. Then, we turn our attention to El Pollo Loco, the California-based fast casual restaurant chain, and its own recovery effort. Thanks to Molekule for supporting the show. Get $75 off your first order at http://www.molekule.com code “fool”.

The Disciplined Investor

Investment Disciplines and Timely Advice.

Rank #1: TDI Podcast: A High Tide Lifts All Ships (#634).
Remembering some of the lessons from savvy traders and what not to fight as markets move toward all-time highs. Taking a look at the convergence of influences that are impacting stocks and what to make of these. Plus – reading into the latest earnings season and the Fed’s upcoming meeting. Link to watch Andrew on […]

Rank #2: TDI Podcast: Check Yourself Before You… (#635).
The Fed cuts rates again and manufacturing slumps deeper into contraction – BUT the employment report soothes recession fears. New highs for markets, although not all stocks are participating. Taking a close look at fundamental and technical readings as compared to historical levels. Link to watch Andrew on – Investor Business Daily’s Podcast Follow @andrewhorowitz […]

InvestTalk - Investment in Stock Market, Financial Planning, Retirement Planning, Money Management Podcast

In today's ever changing global economy, understanding investment options can be a daunting, time-consuming task. With all the opinions and hearsay that can bombard investors, education is a key component to success. That's why more and more savvy investors are tuning into InvestTalk.InvestTalk is a weekday program that looks at new and relevant investment topics each weekday, and answers questions about financial and retirement planning, money management as well as general concerns about the stock market with financial adviser, Steve Peasley. http://blog.investtalk.com

Rank #1: 12-25-18: How HSAs (Health Savings Accounts) Offer A Triple Tax Benefit .
An HSA might make sense for you--especially if you are a high-income earner. Today's Stocks & Topics: Bonds, Goldman Sacks, Credit Card Debt, Yield Curve, Regulation Fees, HSAs, Undateable, 401K and Mortgage, Personal Finance, 529 Plan, Stock Evaluation, Pullback, Short Ratio, Mortgage, 401k.

Rank #2: 02-12-20: Federal Reserve: Household Debt Jumps The Most In 12 Years.
According to the Federal Reserve, total household debt balances increased by $601 billion last year surpassing $14 trillion for the first time. Today's Stocks & Topics: Is The Market Tired, Big Tech Companies, Warren Buffet, IP - International Paper Co., SSTI - ShotSpotter Inc., SRE - Sempra Energy, Traditional I-R-As, VZ - Verizon Communications Inc., PACW - PacWest Bancorp, TSLA - Tesla Inc. TRIVIA QUESTION: "Over the past 30 years, HOW MUCH of an increase has there been in the average cost to attend a PUBLIC, four-year, institution--- AND... By the end of 2019, in dollars, WHAT was the total outstanding student loan debt?"

Wall Street Unplugged - Your Best Source for Finance, Investing & Economics

Listen to renowned small cap stock analyst Frank Curzio talk with leading economists and respected investment professionals. Frank also breaks down the news of the week so all listeners can make money in these markets!

Rank #1: Ep. 521: Take Your Profits on This Tech Darling.
Welcome back to another episode of Wall Street Unplugged.   This week I’m again joined by the one and only market veteran – Richard Suttmeier.   Rich has been analyzing stocks for over 40 years, is a weekly contributor for Forbes and TheStreet.com, and is the founder and CEO of Global Market Consultants.   As my frequent listeners know, Rich is probably the biggest permabear I invite on the show.   Our opinions almost always contradict...   Yet for this reason, he is an asset for all my investment theses… Why?   Rich has a knack for uncovering data no else seems to mention. He calls it "the balance sheet of the U.S. economy," otherwise known as the FDIC Banking Profile.   And although he uses this overlooked data to contest nearly everything I put on the table...  It always helps to hear the otherside.   If you own a stock, or a have any interest in a certain sector... you don't want to talk to the hundreds of people that love it. Instead, you want to hear from that one guy who hates it.   And Rich is that guy.   On today's show he brings the heat - focusing on the downside risks of oil, semiconductors, utilities, housing markets, and his favorite, the financial industry.   If you have bets on any of these sectors, let Rich challenge your perspective. It won't hurt.   Then, for today's Educational Segment [43:13], I’m breaking down a stock that the whole world’s in love with right now.   It’s a global tech “darling” and is part of a select group of stocks that essentially drives the entire market, also known as FANG.   But trading at 23 times earnings, after coming off four straight quarters of positive earnings estimates, I make the case for why it’s time to cash in… and take profits any off the table. Recent momentum has carried on just too far.   Good Investing,   Frank Curzio

Rank #2: Ep. 524: Frankly Speaking: Industry on Fire - Video Games.
Welcome back to another episode of Frankly Speaking. If you’re interested in buying some video game stocks but don’t understand the differences between the U.S-based big three; Activision Blizzard (ATVI), Electronic Arts (EA), and Take-Two Interactive (TTWO)... Today’s show is right up your alley. In comparison to movies, TV studios, and other corners of the entertainment industry, no other sector has seen this much success in recent quarters. In fact, video game stocks have been in an all-out frenzy...  Revenues are growing… share prices are reaching new all-time highs almost every week… and the combined market-cap of these companies now reach over $80 billion. Over the last two years alone, shares of Take-Two have nearly tripled, Activision has more than doubled, and EA is up over 80%.  Unlike, let’s say, just five years ago… Video game companies no longer have to wait till Christmas time to make their profits. Those days are over. Today, digital revenues now come from an array of sources like in-game advertising, downloadable map-packs, full-game downloads, subscriptions… along with the consumer's ability to purchase virtual cars, clothes, and guns with real dollars - pushing company valuations even higher. Let’s not forget to mention their impact on the world of mobile gaming... Now although I wouldn’t be going all-in at these levels, on today’s show, I jump into the nitty-gritty. And give away my favorite bet out of the three. Switching gears, I turn my focus to a sector that is showing no signs of slowing down. It’s sort of like the video game industry with only more potential. Like four times the potential.  I’m calling out what some investors in this sector are failing to do: Looking at the bottom-line numbers and fundamentals… NOT only the stock price. (Yes, some are expensive) Investing in future growth catalysts… NOT only in momentum (cough, cough, Nvidia). The truth is, there are still several companies out there climbing at only 15x forward earnings… in a sector that’s still very much in its infancy. Special thanks to George, Sheryl, and Jerry for all the questions. Keep them coming at Frank@CurzioResearch.com Good Investing, Frank Curzio

Motley Fool Answers

Saving, spending, planning — you've got money questions and we've got answers. Every week host Alison Southwick and personal finance expert Robert Brokamp challenge the conventional wisdom on life's biggest financial issues to reveal what you really need to know to make smart money moves. Send your questions to answers@fool.com.

Rank #1: Mailbag Episode Decades in the Making.
It’s a big investing-a-palooza as we finish the year with a mailbag of your STOCKS!-focused questions with help from The Motley Fool’s Chief Investment Officer, Andy Cross. Sponsor link: Thanks Health IQ. See if you qualify for lower rates! healthiq.com/fool

Rank #2: Five Years of Answers: The Highs, Lows, and Everything In-Between.
It's our 5th Anniversary Episode! We're joined by former Answerer and now personal finance expert at HerMoney, Dayana Yochim, to talk about the money trends that defined the last five years. Sponsor Link: GETQUIP.COM/fool to save on gift sets and to get your first refill FREE with a refill plan.

MarketFoolery

The Motley Fool's daily look at stocks in the news, the top business/investing stories, and occasional tangents.

Rank #1: Investing in Buyouts.
Restaurant Brands International’s latest quarter was highlighted by Popeye’s same-store sales growing 38%. (Yes, really.) Jason Moser analyzes the results, as well as Markel’s latest quarter.  Plus, we dip into the Fool Mailbag to explore investing in buyout opportunities.  Get the first $50 off your first job post at www.LinkedIn.com/Fool. Terms and conditions apply.

Rank #2: “The hype cycle is REAL.”.
E-commerce giant Alibaba posted strong 4th-quarter results. So why isn’t the stock moving? Emily Flippen analyzes the report and shares why she thinks Alibaba has a lot of runway ahead of it.  We discuss the latest quarterly reports from Tilray and Aurora Cannabis, and Emily warns investors to look beyond pure-play marijuana producers. Plus, with Tim Horton’s adding Beyond Meat options to its menu we debate the future of the meat-substitute industry.

CNBC's "Fast Money"

Hosted by Melissa Lee and a roundtable of top traders, “Fast Money” breaks through the noise of the day, to deliver the actionable news that matters most to investors. Fast Money airs weeknights at 5p ET on CNBC. Visit http://fastmoney.cnbc.com for additional information

Rank #1: Fast Money 02/11/20.
Listen To Our Traders Take You Behind the Money...How To Play the Volatility...Pops and Drops: The Movers You Missed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rank #2: Fast Money 09/04/19.
Listen To Our Traders Take You Behind the Money...How To Play the Volatility...Pops and Drops: The Movers You Missed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Merriman

Sound Investing for Every Stage of Life

Rank #1: What you probably don’t know about Paul Merriman.
In this interview with financial advisor Joshua J. Sheats, of Radical Personal Finance, Paul speaks of his early ventures on Wall Street and in manufacturing, what it was like to build an advisory firm in the 1980s, his life’s challenges, and the goals, affirmations and philosophies that continue to motivate his work with the financial education foundation he started upon retirement in 2012.

Rank #2: 10 Q&A for investors trying to do the right thing.
From first-time investors to those on the verge of retiring with millions of dollars in savings, Paul's answers to questions from our listeners and readers contain something of interest for every investor. 1.  How different is the new secret strategy from what you are recommending now? 2.  Why would anyone want to take the risk of investing in the market at these levels? 3.  Do you have specific fund recommendations for your World Wide Equity Portfolio? 4.  What are the most important variables that help you select the best in each equity category? 5.  Where can I get a combination of high quality tax advice along with investment advice? 6.  Why don’t you offer portfolios using the Vanguard Admiral Funds? 7.  Why do you have a tax-managed fund inside of a tax-deferred portfolio? 8.  Where can I find out about all the tax implications of mutual funds? 9.  Do you have a podcast that covers the video, “Small Cap Investing: What could go wrong?” (The answer is Yes! Click here). 10. Some of your return numbers don’t add up.  Can you explain why one return is 50% less than another for exactly the same investment?

Wall Street Breakfast

Seeking Alpha's Wall Street Breakfast brings you all the news you need to know for your market day. Released by 800am ET each morning, it is a quick listen that you can put on as you get ready to start your working day. We also publish a weekend Stocks to Watch podcast to prepare you for the week ahead.

Rank #1: Wall Street Breakfast December 11: Week of Brexit Fireworks Continues.
Our top stories today: The screws tighten on Brexit manuevering, Emmanuel Macron addresses the Gilet Jaune demonstrations, and a Canadian court considers whether Huawei’s CFO can post bail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rank #2: Wall Street Breakfast November 29: Oil Slides Below $50.
Crude oil prices drop below $50 a barrel for the first time since October 2017; U.S. stock index futures are pulling back after a stellar session on Wednesday, and after a decade at the helm of Unilever, CEO Paul Polman has announced his retirement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Market Wrap with Moe

Market Wrap with Moe Ansari is a daily program featuring a detailed analysis of the days news from Wall Street and around the world. You can count on each program to have detailed technical and fundamental analysis as well as forecasts for the future. You can learn more about Marketwrap and Moe Ansari on the web at www.MarketWrapWithMoe.com

Rank #1: Timeless Investment Lessons and Principles.
- John Wasik, Personal Finance Columnist for Reuters - Please call 1-800-388-9700 for a free review of your financial portfolio

Rank #2: Why Self-Storage REIT's Are Hot Right Now.
- Brad Thomas, Editor of Forbes "Real Estate Investor" - Please call 1-800-388-9700 for a free review of your financial portfolio