CFA Society Chicago
CFA Society Chicago
CFA Society Chicago is proud to present a podcast where Society Members will be hosting discussions on a range of topics related to the investment industry. Hear from leading industry experts on a variety of investment topics including equity and fixed income analysis, portfolio allocation, ESG investing, venture capital and private equity, and much more. Tune in to hear Society Members pick the brains of leading industry professionals at www.cfasocietychicago.org.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 11, 2025 • 59min
Macro Matters - post FOMC show - last one for 2025!
Tony Zhang, Blaine Reed and Rich Excell get together again to discuss the market reaction to the latest FOMC rate cut. What is the FOMC saying about 2026? What are the various markets thinking? How are Blaine, Tony and Rich trying to navigate the markets? Have a listen to find out
Nov 17, 2025 • 44min
Macro Matters - AI, job losses, rate cuts & affordability
Tony Zhang, Blaine Reed and Rich Excell are back to discuss the macro that matters for the markets. The latest narratives driving markets are the usual - AI and rates - and the new - job losses and affordability. Can Fed rate cuts help job losses from AI? Have a listen to find out
Nov 3, 2025 • 45min
Macro Matters - is the equity market too pessimistic?
Tony Zhang, Blaine Reed and Rich Excell are back again. What are they talking about? AI Is there anything else to talk about? Seriously though. What about yield curves and credit spreads and Fed policy and US/China trade talks and earnings analysis and seasonal stock patterns? Yep, covered that too. For a recap of the last 2 weeks and what to look for going forward, have a listen. Remember to like/share/subscribe
Oct 23, 2025 • 47min
Macro Matters - Oct 22: growth, earnings, oil and inflation
Blaine Reed, Tony Zhang and Rich Excell are back to cover all of the topics in the market: Are all assets now convinced that growth is falling? Markets are convinced inflation is gone, but is it? What are we seeing in earnings? Do any stories matter outside of AI? Have a listen to find out
Oct 6, 2025 • 52min
Macro Matters - October 3, 2025 - is it that easy?
Tony, Zhang, Blaine Reed and Rich Excell are back to discuss the latest on the job market, rate cuts, financial conditions and the Dollar. Is now the time to look to Asian markets given the catalysts? Does the Tricolor and First Brands news suggest cracks in the credit markets? Have a listen to find out
Aug 29, 2025 • 36min
Macro Matters - it's going to happen, so what?
The Fed is going to cut rates in September. Some think they shouldn't (Rich Excell and Blaine Reed) and some think they should (Tony Zhang). Whether they should or shouldn't, it will happen, so what will be the response by the markets? What moves are we already seeing? Have a listen to find out
Aug 15, 2025 • 48min
Macro Matters - the Fed is going to cut, but should it?
Tony Zhang PhD, CFA, Blaine Reed CFA, AFM and Rich Excell CFA, CMT are back talking about the latest macro that is moving the markets. CPI, PPI, inflation expectations, AI, productivity, overcapacity and Jackson Hole are just a few of the topics covered. Please like/share/subscribe as it helps us a lot to get the word out
Jul 31, 2025 • 39min
Macro Matters - post FOMC, pre NFP
Blaine Reed, Tony Zhang and Rich Excell get together to discuss what the FOMC did and should do. The FOMC has a dual mandate of price stability and full employment. Do measures of either suggest the Fed should cut? What does argue for the Fed to cut, housing? But the Fed controls short and not long term rates? Lots covered, lots to discuss
Jul 14, 2025 • 47min
Macro Matters - is there any inflation and what will the Fed do about it?
It is July 14 and this is CPI and PPI week. What will we hear on the inflation front? More importantly, what could tariffs and the One Big Beautiful Bill mean for inflation. Finally, what is the Fed to do with all of this information. Tony Zhang, Blaine Reed and Rich Excell are back to discuss these topics and more!
Jun 20, 2025 • 56min
Macro Matters - rate cuts & Treasury demand
Its mid-June so it is all about the FOMC. However, there are a lot of cross-currents out there from a fiscal and regulatory standpoint that may have differing effects on Treasury demand. What are we to do? Hard to say because even the FOMC doesn't know what to do! Have a listen and let us know what you think
