Portfolio Intelligence Podcast

After an initial burst of euphoria following the election, investors appear to have adopted a more cautious mood as they assess how the incoming administration might shape financial markets. Our Co-Chief Investment Strategists Emily R. Roland, CIMA, and Matthew D. Miskin, CFA, share their views.

Danielle K. Roberts, co-founding partner of the insurance agency Boomer Benefits, joins podcast host John P. Bryson to discuss what today’s retirees and near-retirees need to know about Medicare and how to factor healthcare costs into their overall financial plans and decision-making. Danielle, author of the book 10 Costly Medicare Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make, outlines the different parts of Medicare coverage and explores key considerations in choosing between Medicare Advantage and Medigap coverage. She also offers advice to help investment professionals assist clients who are trying to adapt to recent and pending changes to the federal program.

It wasn’t that long ago when private credit, as an asset class, was all but available to everyday investors. But that’s changing, thanks to growing retail interest in alternative assets. What should investors know about private credit before making room for the asset class in their portfolio? Podcast host John P. Bryson speaks with Alex C. Catterick, global head of alternative investment solutions at Manulife Investment Management.

Judging by market reaction, the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision to lower rates at its recent meeting appears to have assuaged concerns about a pending recession. Podcast host John P. Bryson caught up with our Co-Chief Investment Strategists Emily R. Roland, CIMA, and Matthew D. Miskin, CFA, and asked them if the rate cut had influenced their view of the markets.

Financial literacy is especially important for college students, given the costs of taking on excessive student debt or selecting a school or major that isn’t a good match. With a background in college admissions, recruitment, and finance, the University of Alaska’s Lael Oldmixon shares insight on navigating today’s costly higher education environment as she explores student loans, 529 savings accounts, and balancing academics with a job. Lael, the executive director of the Education Trust of Alaska, also discusses considerations in choosing the right college, making the most of aid and scholarships, and selecting the right type of student loan, if one is necessary. Among the pieces of advice she shares with podcast host John Bryson: If one is available, choose a subsidized loan over an unsubsidized one and try to avoid using a credit card to cover college costs.

In a year where investor focus was squarely trained on mega-cap technology stocks, small caps finally found their moment in the second week of July. Was it just a momentary break from normal service, or is it a signal of a broader stock rotation to come? Matthew D. Miskin, CFA, our Co-Chief Investment Strategist, shares his views.

The continuing sense of euphoria surrounding the technology sector may suggest that growth stocks are the place to be. But at what point does valuation become a stumbling block for investors? Our Co-Chief Investment Strategists Emily R. Roland, CIMA, and Matthew D. Miskin, CFA, share their views.

Dusting off the stock-rotation playbook in the past few months turned out to be a good decision for some investors, but will it continue to be relevant going forward? Our Co-Chief Investment Strategists Emily R. Roland, CIMA, and Matthew D. Miskin, CFA, take stock of recent market developments and explain why, amid the uncertainty, it may not be a good idea to sell in May and go away.

How do you make your college application and essay stand now that AI can influence how application materials are generated and screened? Hear from Nancy Steenson, a college admissions coach, as she joins the podcast and host John Bryson to offer tips for students and parents as they navigate today’s college admissions environment. Nancy explores how admissions officers are factoring in standardized test scores, grades, essays, extracurricular activities, and interviews differently than they had been just a few years ago. She also explains how admissions officers at the most selective schools may assess application materials differently than their peers at less selective colleges. Among the pieces of advice that she shares: standardized test scores still matter; grade-point average standards can vary widely from high school to high school; and don’t get fooled into thinking grammar is just as important as personal voice in an essay.

An initial round of interest-rate cuts no longer appears to be imminent, given recently uneven inflation data and robust jobs growth that have prompted the U.S. Federal Reserve to put a dovish policy shift on hold. What does this delayed timeline mean for equities and fixed income heading into earnings season? Emily R. Roland, CIMA, and Matthew D. Miskin, CFA, co-chief investment strategists at John Hancock Investment Management, join the podcast and host John Bryson to discuss the need for a patient approach to investing and a focus on fundamentals, given a recent market rally that’s pushed equity valuations higher. Emily and Matt explore monetary policy, the outlook for stocks and bonds, and pockets of opportunity that they’re seeing in mid-cap equities and industrial stocks tied to economic growth in Midwestern states. With an election coming up in November, the strategists also discuss the importance of keeping politics out of portfolios.