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WashingtonWise

Charles Schwab
Federal Reserve
Inflation
Tariffs
S&P 500
Bond Market
Government Shutdown
U.S. Economy
Financial Fraud
Congress
Artificial Intelligence
Cryptocurrency
Donald Trump
Investment Strategy
Interest Rates
Labor Market
Market Volatility
Social Security
Unemployment Rate
Medicare
Charles Schwab

Our finances, portfolios and the markets are affected daily by the policies and politics coming out of Washington. In each episode of WashingtonWise, host Mike Townsend, Charles Schwab’s Vice President for Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, focuses a non-partisan eye on the stories that matter most to investors, and his guests offer actionable suggestions for what to do--and what not to do--with ... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes38Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
InvestingBusinessGovernment

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Artwork for WashingtonWise

Latest Episodes

In this episode, host Michael Townsend and his guest, Kasey McCurdy, chief portfolio strategist for Schwab Wealth Advisory™, bring a portfolio-first lens to the political headlines around the midterms. They discuss what investors should watch if one ... more

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In this election preview episode of WashingtonWise, host Mike Townsend offers his guide to the 2026 midterms, including the latest outlook for control of the House and Senate, the key races that could determine the balance of power, and why divided g... more

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With the Federal Reserve hiking its baseline interest rate for the first time in more than three years and bond yields rising to levels not seen in two decades, the bond market has been top-of-mind for investors lately. On this episode of WashingtonW... more

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History tells us that markets are usually flat in the run-up to midterm elections. Can strong earnings continue to power the market through the election and beyond? On this episode, host Mike Townsend is joined by Joe Mazzola, Schwab's head trading a... more

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Recent Guests

Kasey McCurdy
Chief portfolio strategist for Schwab Wealth Advisory
Schwab Wealth Advisory
Episode: Skip the Midterm Noise—Think Like the Markets
Collin Martin
Head of Fixed Income Research and Strategy, Schwab Center for Financial Research
Schwab
Episode: Bond Market Has a Message: Is Anyone Listening?
Joe Mazzola
Head Trading and Derivative Strategist
Charles Schwab
Episode: Competing Signals: Markets Ahead of the Midterms
Daniel Stein
Branch Manager, two Virginia Schwab branches
Charles Schwab
Episode: Too Much of a Good Thing in Your Portfolio?
Jim Ferraioli
Director of Digital Currencies Research and Strategy at the Schwab Center for Financial Research
Schwab
Episode: Ready or Not, the Digital Stock Market Is Coming
Liz Ann Sonders
Chief Investment Strategist at Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab
Episode: Headlines Take a Backseat to Fundamentals in Rally
Kevin Gordon
Head of Macro Research and Strategy at the Schwab Center for Financial Research
Schwab Center for Financial Research
Episode: War Headlines Whipsaw Markets & Portfolios
Nathan Peterson
Director of Derivatives Research and Strategy
Schwab Center for Financial Research
Episode: AI: Fear of Missing Out or Just Fear?
Stephanie Shadel
Senior Wealth Advisor at Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab
Episode: Shake Off Emotions and Control Your Portfolio

Host

Mike Townsend
Host of Washington Wise

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 546 ratings
  • Wish there were more

    Great combination summary of news, politics and their effect on finance. Perfect length

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HDA2929
    United States3 months ago
  • Wisdom, well appreciated

    I get so much out of this podcast that I can’t wait for the next episode to drop and I often wish that it was more frequent. As a self-directed investor, I find it very helpful in keeping things in perspective. Keep up the good work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ear4g00dmusik
    United States4 months ago
  • The unnatural reading tone continues

    Please make Daniel Stein not to read from his script during the podcast next time he comes to the show. If he knows his stuff, just be natural. Speak like a human being.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    AmiFidel
    United States9 months ago
  • Top Notch Nonpartisan Insights on the Links Between Politics and Investing

    The show’s host Mike Townsend does a superb job explaining the relationships between the current investment world and political world. The nonpartisan focus is solely on the where the two intersect. Mike provides insightful reasoning on the implications of policies, past and pending. The insights provided can really inform investment strategy, tilts, or specific potential trades. The show is an optimal length considering the content, an idea often missed by soon abandoned investment podcasts. Ov... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SunLakeMoon
    United States9 months ago
  • Awesome

    Podcast Addict
    5
    cougar
    a year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Nonpartisan discussions that connect policy to markets.
Clear, concise, and practical investment insights.
Some guests are criticized for a robotic delivery, but content is valued.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#79
United States/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#60
Poland/Business
Apple Podcasts
#113
Poland/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#121
Chile/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#139
Indonesia/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#140
South Korea/Business/Investing

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Skip the Midterm Noise—Think Like the Markets
Q: What should investors review in their portfolios as they look toward 2027?
McCurdy recommends matching the portfolio to spending, retirement timing, and family needs; checking for unintended risks such as stock concentration and bond duration; and making deliberate, well-explained changes rather than reacting to headlines.
Skip the Midterm Noise—Think Like the Markets
Q: So taking a broader portfolio view, how are you thinking about the risks as the debt and deficit continue to climb? How do you distinguish those longer-term concerns from the near-term uncertainty around a looming debt ceiling battle?
McCurdy says investors should focus on interest costs, deficits, and the relationship between borrowing and economic growth, rather than a single debt threshold. For portfolios, he recommends diversification and considering below-benchmark bond duration while recognizing that debt-related risks play out over the long term.
Bond Market Has a Message: Is Anyone Listening?
Q: What does that tell us about the Fed's decision and the unanimity around the rate hike?
The unanimous vote is explained as reflecting that inflation remained sticky, the labor market was resilient, and the risks to inflation staying elevated were high, which collectively justified a modest, broadly supported move. The discussion also notes that some members preferred patience, but the data ultimately supported action.
Bond Market Has a Message: Is Anyone Listening?
Q: And is the bond market sending a message?
Collin argues that the market is signaling a repricing of future rate paths rather than a crisis, with short-term rate expectations shifting and longer-term yields adjusting as the Fed's path becomes clearer. He emphasizes that inflation, policy expectations, and financial conditions are the key drivers rather than a single factor.
Bond Market Has a Message: Is Anyone Listening?
Q: So will you please kick things off by giving us a bit of a level set? From your perspective, what's going on in the bond market right now that has triggered all these headlines?
Collin explains that the headlines about turmoil may be misleading; yields have risen due to repricing of the monetary policy path and expectations of future rate increases, not necessarily because markets are in distress. Multiple factors—inflation remaining above target, a resilient economy, and global yield movements—are weighing on long-term rates, while the overall backdrop remains firm.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Which podcasts are similar to WashingtonWise?

These podcasts share a similar audience with WashingtonWise:

1. On Investing
2. Financial Decoder
3. Schwab Market Update Audio
4. Investing Insights
5. Barron's Streetwise

How many episodes of WashingtonWise are there?

WashingtonWise launched 7 years ago and published 38 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on WashingtonWise?

Recent guests on WashingtonWise include:

1. Kasey McCurdy
2. Collin Martin
3. Joe Mazzola
4. Daniel Stein
5. Jim Ferraioli
6. Liz Ann Sonders
7. Kevin Gordon
8. Nathan Peterson

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