Dear Jerome

In the first half, we look at the OBBBA, and what its passage may mean for investors, as well as for the government's balance sheet. Debt from baseline projection of 154% of GDP to upwards of 200% of GDP with the OBBBA. Deficits from around 6% of GDP to over 7% with the OBBBA. Despite the ballooning deficits and debt, markets are celebrating the prospect of fiscal stimulus, as well as favorable tax treatments on investment as well as other corporate goodies. In the second half, we discuss President Trump's penmanship as it relates to his letter to Chair Powell on interest rates and why the "hottest country in the world" should "LOWER THE RATE!!!" We also look at the risk associated with the loss of Fed independence due to either political pressure or a dual role for the Treasury Secretary. At some point, we finally get around to talking about the stock market, and note the historic rebound in equities in Q2, which was the largest in record by some measures. The biggest winners were growth stocks, which led value by a wider margin than during the tech bubble, and retail favorites, which are often highly speculative names; these soared over 60% in Q2. We also look at the expectations embedded in markets at this point in terms of earnings and multiples, and what effect passive investing is having on markets as over half of U.S. fund assets are now passively invested. Learn more about Formidable Asset Management, Will Brown, and Adam Eagleston by visiting www.formidableam.com.