Facts vs Feelings with Ryan Detrick & Sonu Varghese

In the latest episode of Facts vs Feelings, Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist, and Sonu Varghese, VP, Global Macro Strategist, welcome back legendary investor Cliff Asness, Co-Founding Partner, Managing Principal, and Chief Investment Officer of AQR Capital Management. From market bubbles and speculative manias to AI-driven strategies and even Superman movies, this milestone 150th episode blends sharp market insight with candid (and fun) conversation.Key Takeaways:Bubble Talk: Cliff explains why today’s markets are expensive but stop short of a true “bubble.”Black Swan Events: Why extreme market shocks happen far more often than statistics suggest.Rise of Grift: Social media and meme coins are fueling grift-like behavior in markets.AQR Evolution: How AQR has shifted toward data-driven models and capital efficiency.Portable Alpha: Insights on stacking returns and improving diversification.Buffer Products: Why complex downside-protection ETFs may just be expensive ways of holding cash and equities.Personal Stories: Cliff shares Marvel fan moments, career “what-ifs,” and parenting wisdom. Connect with Ryan:• LinkedIn: Ryan Detrick• X: @ryandetrickConnect with Sonu:• LinkedIn: Sonu Varghese• X: @sonusvargheseConnect with Cliff:• LinkedIn: Cliff Asness• X: @CliffordAsness Questions about the show? We’d love to hear from you! factsvsfeelings@carsongroup.com#FactsVsFeelings #CliffAsness #AQR #MarketBubbles #InvestingInsights #PortableAlpha #BlackSwan #FinancePodcast #RyanDetrick #SonuVarghese

The hosts dive into a playful analysis of pop culture, specifically how a new Taylor Swift album influences the economy. They explore the complexities of inflation trends, from cooling payrolls to rising dining costs, underscoring that the market isn't as shaky as it seems. They discuss the impending rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and scrutinize consumer demand in bustling cities. The conversation highlights resilient corporate earnings and the intricate dynamics at play in today’s economic landscape.

In the latest episode of Facts vs Feelings, Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist, and Sonu Varghese, VP, Global Macro Strategist, sit down with veteran market technician JC Parets, founder of TrendLabs, for a fast-moving discussion on technical analysis, market sentiment, gold, global equities, crypto, and the discipline of changing your mind when the charts say so. Packed with insights, laughs, and a few baseball stories, this episode cuts through the noise and focuses on what really matters for investors right now.Key TakeawaysFlows over fundamentals — Why positioning matters more than headlines.Global bull market — Confirmation from Europe, Asia, and Latin AmericaGold breakout — Record highs in every major currencyCrypto rotation — Ethereum strength vs. Bitcoin and growing institutional accessU.S. dollar — Rejection at key levels and implications for risk assetsRisk management mindset — Moving quickly when trades don’t workBusiness lessons — Building teams, staying liquid, and taking it one day at a timeConnect with Ryan:• LinkedIn: Ryan Detrick• X: @ryandetrickConnect with Sonu:• LinkedIn: Sonu Varghese• X: @sonusvargheseConnect with J.C.:• Website: All Star Charts • LinkedIn: J.C. Parets• X: @JC_ParetsX Questions about the show? We’d love to hear from you! factsvsfeelings@carsongroup.comJ.C. Parets is not affiliated with CWM, LLC. Statements and opinions made by our guests are for general information only and may not be a reflection of CWM, LLC. #FactsVsFeelings #StockMarket #TechnicalAnalysis #Gold #Crypto #MarketSentiment #GlobalMarkets #InvestingPodcast #TrendFollowing #FinancialAdvisors

In the latest episode of Facts vs Feelings, Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist, and Sonu Varghese, VP, Global Macro Strategist, discuss the latest surprising jobs data, significant payroll revisions, and President Trump's controversial firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erica Groshen. Ryan and Sonu also provide insights into the Fed’s next moves, inflation challenges, and the unexpected factors influencing recent labor market trends.Key Takeaways:Surprising Jobs Report: July's payroll came in at 73,000—lower than expected—with massive downward revisions for previous months.Payroll Data Accuracy: These significant revisions to recent month’s data are due to survey response rates, seasonal adjustments, and methodology nuances.Immigration and Labor: A drop in immigration has impacted the labor supply, with fewer jobs now needed monthly to match population growth.Federal Reserve Outlook: Mixed economic signals have complicated rate cut decisions, leaving Fed Chair Jerome Powell cautious and focused on inflation risks.AI Spending Surge: AI-related investment has significantly boosted GDP growth, offsetting weaker consumer spending.Connect with Ryan:• LinkedIn: Ryan Detrick• X: @ryandetrickConnect with Sonu:• LinkedIn: Sonu Varghese• X: @sonusvargheseQuestions about the show? We’d love to hear from you! factsvsfeelings@carsongroup.com#FactsVsFeelings #JobsReport #FederalReserve #Inflation #JeromePowell #LaborMarket #PayrollRevisions #AIInvestment #EconomicTrends #FinancePodcast #CarsonGroup

Recent global trade tensions are easing, boosting market optimism. The hosts debunk common market myths, revealing that the rally is broad-based despite concerns about market breadth. They emphasize strong corporate earnings, with companies weathering tariff impacts. The discussion also highlights the significant influx of foreign investment and the adjustments within the economic landscape, shedding light on how pop culture affects finance. Plus, a humorous nod to the dynamics between the president and the Federal Reserve keeps the conversation engaging.

In Episode 145 of Facts vs Feelings, hosts Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist, and Sonu Varghese, VP, Global Macro Strategist unpack recent market reactions, Trump's potential impact on Jerome Powell's Fed tenure, and new inflation data that surprised most economists. Key TakeawaysEvent Study on Powell's Potential Firing: Markets briefly reacted negatively to rumors of Jerome Powell’s firing, showcasing investor sensitivities.Surprising Inflation Data: Recent Producer Price Index (PPI) came in below all 50 Bloomberg economist forecasts.Debate Over Tariff Inflation: Discussion on whether tariffs represent one-time pricing adjustments or ongoing inflationary pressures.Connect with Ryan:• LinkedIn: Ryan Detrick• X: @ryandetrickConnect with Sonu:• LinkedIn: Sonu Varghese• X: @sonusvargheseQuestions about the show? We’d love to hear from you! factsvsfeelings@carsongroup.com#FactsVsFeelings #JeromePowell #FederalReserve #InflationData #InterestRates #MarketReactions #EconomicInsights #RyanDetrick #SonuVarghese

In the latest episode of Facts vs Feelings, hosts Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist, and Sonu Varghese, VP, Global Macro Strategist dive into the recent controversy surrounding Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, exploring potential political pressures, the Fed's massive headquarters renovation project, and the broader implications for monetary policy and the economy if there were to be a change in Fed leadership.Key TakeawaysJerome Powell Under Pressure: Discussion about the Trump administration’s criticism of the Fed Chair.Fed HQ Controversy: Debate around whether the Fed’s $2.5 billion headquarters renovation represents fiscal irresponsibility or necessary infrastructure investment.Political Tensions: Examination of how ongoing criticisms may impact Powell’s role and future Fed independence.Market Implications: Insight into how potential Fed leadership changes or political tensions could influence market behavior and economic policy.Connect with Ryan:• LinkedIn: Ryan Detrick• X: @ryandetrickConnect with Sonu:• LinkedIn: Sonu Varghese• X: @sonusvargheseQuestions about the show? We’d love to hear from you! factsvsfeelings@carsongroup.com#FactsVsFeelings #JeromePowell #FederalReserve #FedControversy #EconomicPolicy #TrumpAdministration #InterestRates #MarketInsights #FinancialPodcast #EconomicOutlook #MonetaryPolicy #RyanDetrick #SonuVarghese

In the latest episode of Facts vs Feelings, hosts Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist, and Sonu Varghese, VP, Global Macro Strategist, provide a midyear market review and outlook for 2025. Reflecting on major surprises in the first half of the year, including unexpected tariff announcements and subsequent reversals, they analyze market performance in the first half of the year against historical trends. The discussion highlights market resilience, key economic indicators, historical market trends, and strategic insights into navigating the second half of 2025 effectively.Key TakeawaysUnexpected Tariff Volatility The Liberation Day announcement by President Trump of extremely high tariffs surprised markets significantly. Equally surprising was how rapidly these tariffs were paused, causing abrupt swings in market sentiment.Investor Sentiment Shifts Many investors who were initially bearish following the tariff announcements underestimated the market's capacity to rebound strongly, emphasizing the importance of managing emotional biases and market timing.Market Resilience and Momentum Despite early setbacks, the markets showed resilience, demonstrating strong recovery patterns consistent with historical trends.Bull Still Charging The average bull market lasts about five years, but the current one we’re in hasn’t lasted even three yet—something to keep in mind next time the market experiences a setback.Fed Stays on Pause Market volatility kept the Fed on the sidelines in the first half of 2025, but we may see rate cuts by the fall if the markets stay on track.A Big Beautiful Boost Though the recently passed Big Beautiful Bill will likely add to the deficit in the coming years, it could also provide a boon to the markets in the back half of the year.Strategic Insights for Second Half 2025 Historical market trends indicate a potentially strong performance for the latter half of 2025. Investors are advised to focus on long-term strategies and diversification, and remain cautious of headline-driven market reactions.Want access to Carson Investment Research Team’s full Midyear Market Outlook? Head to https://www.carsongroup.com/market-outlook to download the full report. Connect with Ryan:• LinkedIn: Ryan Detrick• X: @ryandetrickConnect with Sonu:• LinkedIn: Sonu Varghese• X: @sonusvargheseQuestions about the show? We’d love to hear from you! factsvsfeelings@carsongroup.com#FactsVsFeelings #MidyearOutlook2025 #MarketVolatility #Tariffs #InvestorSentiment #EconomicTrends #MarketForecast #HistoricalPatterns #InvestmentStrategy #StockMarketInsights #RyanDetrick #SonuVarghese #CarsonGroup #MarketRecovery

In this week’s episode of the Facts Vs Feelings podcast, hosts Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist, and Sonu Varghese, VP, Global Macro Strategist, sit down with Barry Gilbert, VP Asset Allocation Strategist at Carson Group, for an insightful conversation on effective portfolio management strategies. Barry shares valuable perspectives on the importance of teamwork, constructive debate, and making decisive investment decisions based on clear, actionable insights. Ryan and Sonu also discuss the historical strength of the July market, providing investors with context and strategic guidance for navigating the second half of the year.Key TakeawaysJuly Stock Market Trends and Analysis July has historically been strong, with the S&P 500 rising 10 consecutive years in that month, and it’s notably the strongest month during post-election years.Impact of Positive May and June Performance Historically, positive returns in both May and June forecast strong market performance for the rest of the year—typically gaining around 9-10% in the final six months.Effective Portfolio Management Insights Barry Gilbert stresses the importance of constructive debate, critical thinking, and conviction-driven investment decisions in successful asset allocation strategies.Carson Group’s Investment Philosophy Barry highlights Carson’s culture of managing real money through rigorous debate and collaborative decision-making.Investor Guidance and Market Volatility Ryan and Sonu emphasize the importance of maintaining a long-term investment perspective and managing emotional reactions during short-term market fluctuations.Connect with Barry:• LinkedIn: Barry Gilbert• X: @gilbert3142Connect with Ryan:• LinkedIn: Ryan Detrick• X: @ryandetrickConnect with Sonu:• LinkedIn: Sonu Varghese• X: @sonusvarghese Questions about the show? We’d love to hear from you! factsvsfeelings@carsongroup.com#FactsVsFeelings #PortfolioManagement #InvestmentStrategies #JulyMarketRally #StockMarketTrends #CarsonGroup #FinancialPodcast #MarketVolatility #RyanDetrick #SonuVarghese

In the latest Facts vs Feelings, Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist, and Sonu Varghese, VP, Global Macro Strategist, discuss recent Middle East tensions involving the U.S. and Iran, the surprisingly minimal market reaction despite high geopolitical stakes, and insights into historical parallels and fiscal spending impacts on stock markets. They also cover recent criticisms of Fed Chair Jerome Powell by President Trump and debate the Fed's current policy paralysis amid uncertainty about inflation, unemployment, and economic growth. Key Takeaways Middle East Tensions and Market Response:The U.S. recently attacked suspected nuclear sites in Iran, and despite immediate fears, the S&P 500 rallied over 1%, and oil prices sharply reversed after an initial spike—down nearly 14% in one day, one of the largest reversals in history.Geopolitical Patterns and Historical Context:The hosts point out historical examples, such as World War I and the Iraq War, where war-driven fiscal spending and deficit growth actually boosted stock markets significantly. Economic and Fiscal Implications of Conflict:Wars often lead to increased defense and deficit spending, which, despite negative human impacts, can boost corporate profits and stock markets, as seen historically (e.g., Iraq War 2003).President Trump's Criticism of Jerome Powell and Fed Policy:President Trump publicly criticized Fed Chair Jerome Powell for not cutting interest rates, calling Powell a "numbskull" and suggesting lower rates would save trillions for the U.S.Fed's Policy Paralysis Amid Uncertainty:The Fed faces conflicting economic signals: higher projected inflation (due partly to tariffs), rising unemployment, and slowing growth, resulting in policy paralysis. Sonu criticized Powell’s comments claiming labor market strength, pointing to rising unemployment claims and slowing payrolls as clear signs of labor market weakness.Odds of Fed Rate Cuts Increasing:Market-implied probabilities show a significant rise in expectations for a rate cut by September 2025, largely driven by recent sharp declines in oil prices.Connect with Ryan:• LinkedIn: Ryan Detrick• X: @ryandetrickConnect with Sonu:• LinkedIn: Sonu Varghese• X: @sonusvarghese Questions about the show? We’d love to hear from you! factsvsfeelings@carsongroup.com #FactsVsFeelings #MiddleEastTensions #StockMarketReaction #IranConflict #FiscalSpending #JeromePowell #FedPolicy #TrumpVsPowell #InterestRates #EconomicUncertainty #RyanDetrick #SonuVarghese