Portfolio Intelligence Podcast

Markets started the year on a slightly uneven footing as issues such as stock-price valuation, tariffs, and U.S. interest rates weighed on sentiment. While our Co-Chief Investment Strategists Emily R. Roland, CIMA, and Matthew D. Miskin, CFA, think compelling investing opportunities can still be found, they feel that it may be time for investors to adjust their expectations.

A new year typically ushers in new hopes. Where Wall Street’s concerned, 2025 may well ring in new highs. Emory W. (Sandy) Sanders, Jr., CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager at Manulife Investment Management shares his investment approach with podcast host, John P. Bryson, and explains why he’s feeling sanguine about the coming year.

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.