Why the Fed Acts: Funding Market Stress History

Send us a text

0-21:30: PSKY / WBD Deal breakdown
21:30-51:08 The Fed Breakdown
51:08-56:27: Donor Approved Funds for Charity

In this episode, Kristen and Jen continue to unpack Warner Brothers Discover bidding war from what the media is constantly getting wrong including missing the non apples to apples bids from PSKY and NFLX as well as why Paramount’s bid looks nothign like traditional M&A and is basically a straight-up leveraged buyout. They also break down the question everyone’s up in arms about: who is in control when this deal goes through.

Then Jen shifts gears into the Fed…and why the headlines are missing what actually matters. Yes, there was a 25bp rate cut — but the bigger story is the Fed’s new plan to support funding markets through reserve management purchases (RMPs) and short-dated Treasury buying. Jen translates the Fed’s most painfully dry policy language into plain English, explains what “ample reserves” really means, and walks through why the Fed is stepping in now — with historical parallels to 2019’s repo market stress and the post-2008 era of balance-sheet whiplash. The takeaway: this isn’t a red-alert crisis moment, but it is a meaningful shift in liquidity support… and it sets up some very interesting asymmetry heading into 2026.

Finally, they end with a practical PSA that could save high earners real money: a tax change coming in 2026 (and why there’s urgency before year-end) makes donor-advised funds newly relevant if you give to charity consistently. They explain how “bunching” donations can potentially maximize deductibility — and how donating appreciated stock can help you avoid capital gains taxes while still supporting the causes you care about. Not tax advice (seriously: ask your CPA), but if you’re philanthropic and market-savvy, this is one of those “tiny line in a bill, huge impact” moments you don’t want to miss.

Want to get an intense education in the world of corporate finance typically reserved for investment bankers and private equity professionals? Learn more about our 25 hour self paced course here! https://thewallstreetskinny.com/investment-banking-private-equity-fundamentals/#investment-banking

Learn more about 9fin HERE

Shop our Self Paced Courses:

Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HERE
Fixed Income Sales & Trading HERE

Wealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE.