CFA Society Chicago

The market is back to its AI focus with the Iran War still in the background, particularly since commodities prices are impacting data.  Tony Zhang and Rich Excell are back to talk about possibly the most important thing - the Trump & Xi meeting this week  - as it will impact everything - AI, Iran and lots more.     The macro ALWAYS matters, so listen in to see what people are talking about

It is FOMC Day! It's AI data center earnings day! It's oil ovre $100 day! It's something for everyone day Rich Excell and Tony Zhang are back to try and decode what we are seeing in the markets. Are you an AI optimist or pessimist? Do you care about oil supply or demand? These are the questions you should be asking

Tony Zhang PhD, CFA and RIch Excell CFA, CMT are back for another episode. We ask the rhetorical question "is the market macro?' We know you know the answer and are frustrated by it.  However, the 'macro' might be driving the rally even more than the sell-off. This macro has little to do with the Iran War!   Have a listen to find out

Tony Zhang PhD, CFA and Rich Excell CFA, CMT discuss what may be the most macro of markets since we started Macro Matters. It may seem obvious, but right now, the Iran War is all that matters. What are the scenarios investors should worry about? What are the key indicators to watch to know which scenario may be playing out?  Have a listen to find out

Tony Zhang and Rich Excell are back with another episode of Macro Matters The market has presumably moved on from its AI concerns and is now focused on another big problem all together - the conflict in the Middle East. Oil prices have moved about $100. What are the impacts? What are investors doing? Tune in to find out

Tony Zhang, Blaine Reed and Rich Excell are back and the topic is negativity. There is so much negative sentiment in the markets right now. What is driving it? Is it based on reality or is this a buying opportunity? 

Tony Zhang, Blaine Reed and Rich Excell are back to talk about what is happening in the markets. It has been all about AI for the last 2 years. However, don't look now but the US is lagging Europe by 13.5% over the last 12 months and by 19% vs. emerging markets over the same time.  Anyone notice energy besting technology by 20% this year? Is the AI trade over? Is the market doomed?

Tony Zhang, Blaine Reed and Rich Excell are back with the first episode of 2026. At least nothing has been going on so far this year!  The teams talks about 'Sell America', tech stocks, term premia and capital flows. A lot to cover in a short time This podcast is worth 0.75 PL (continuing education) credits. For those that listened and want their credit for this episode, or others, reach out to [email protected]  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  

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

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!

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

CFA Society Chicago member Dan Grana, CFA speaks with Greg Brown, the Van and Kay Weatherspoon Distinguished Professor of Finance at UNC Kenan-Flagler. They discuss the latest academic research in private asset performance, including results and applicability to practitioners in these asset classes.

Tony Zhang PhD, CFA, Blaine Reed CFA, AFM and Rich Excell CFA, CMT are back talking markets after a bit of a break. Do Blaine and Rich think global investors are sick of the US? With 10 year yield at 4.5%, will it hit 4.2% or 4.8% first?  What will the Fed do given the data we have seen?  Have a listen to find out

With Europe on Easter Monday holiday, and many in the US starting their Spring Break this week, the markets are starting on a weak, but quiet note. Rich Excell CFA is joined again by Tony Zhang CFA and Blaine Reed CFA for a discussion of tariffs, inflation expectations, credit market liquidity and dislocations in FX. We covered the gamut, so you don't have to. Have a listen!

Rich Excell CFA, CMT is joined by the CEO of the CFA Society Chicago Chris Vincent CFA to recap the 2025 Investment Themese series that just completed. Chris then tells us what to expect in the upcoming CFA Institute Live event from May 4-7 in Chicago

Any volatility in the market these days?   We couldn't have gone through investment themes for 2025 without discussing volatility and the options markets   Very lucky to have Zed Francis CIO of Convexitas join our host Rich Excell, CFA on this last installment of the CFA Society Chicago Investment Exchange Forum - Investment Themes for 2025 series

In this episode, hosts Tony Zhang and Rich Excell are joined by fellow CFA Society Chicago member Blaine Reed to discuss the market reaction to the tariff news and how investors should try to think through the scenarios going forward

We continue to explore the themes that are driving markets in 2025. The impact of changing policies in the US and elsewhere is clearly causing investors to reconsider how they will forecast the economy and markets going forward. We are lucky to be joined by Brian Wesbury of First Trust, consistently one of the top forecasters on Wall Street, to discuss the important issues facing investors today

If anything has characterized 2025 it has been the influence of geopolitics on the markets. In this episode, Rich Excell, CFA, CMT is joined by Reva Goujon, a geopolitical strategist and the Director of Corporate Advisory at Rhodium Group. Reva has two decades of experience working with C-suites and government agencies on how to deconstruct risks, assess future scenarios, and make informed decisions.

In the CFASC Investment Exchange Forum podcast, we continue on with our unpacking of the investment themes for 2025. This week, we speak with Dave Sekera, the US market Strategist for Morningstar Research Services. Dave and Rich start with a discussion of economic and interest rate forecasts and lead into what impact these views have on the different sectors, styles and factors in the US equity market. 

Continuing on our with our 2025 investment themes, Rich Excell CFA, CMT digs into the fixed income market with two excellent guests: Elizabeth Henderson, CFA the Head of Fixed Income for AAM and Anthony Woodside, CFA, FRM, the Head of Investment Strategy & Head of Multisector Fixed Income at LGIM America

But we do cover a range of other interesting topics! Tony Zhang, PhD and CFA joins me to discuss falling US Treasury yields, money rotating overseas (particularly China and Europe), money rotating within the US market, the overvalued Dollar and crypto. We will get to NVDA next time!

The first of a multiple part series, we are exploring the investment themes of 2025. With so much concern on inflation, we thought the best place to start is in commodities. We were lucky to be joined by Bloomberg Intelligence Commodity Strategist Mike McGlone, a fellow CFA charterholder and friend of the program. We covered the gamut from soybeans to Solana, gold to gas. 

Tony Zhang PhD, CFA and Rich Excell CFA, CMT are back for the first Macro Matters of 2025.  The story of the early part of the year is 10 year Treasury yields but that means we are talking yield curves, FOMC expectations, large cap vs. small cap and growth vs. value. We even got into the $7 trillion of Treasury issuance and Chinese 10 year yields at all-time lows!  A  full episode because we haven't spoken in a while.  Enjoy!

Rich Excell, CFA, CMT is joined by Institutional Investor's #1 Strategist Michael Kantrowitz, CFA from Piper Sandler to discuss the US equity market backdrop. What does the factor performance of the market tell us? Are expensive valuations a problem? What about tight credit spreads? Can small caps finally outperform?  All of this and more

Rich Excell CFA, CMT is joined by Barry Knapp, Managing Partner of Ironsides Macro to discuss what is being priced into the bond market and the stock market, where they agree and where the discuss agree. Barry covered TGA, RRP, Active Treasury Issuance, Negative Swaps Spreads, Inverted Yield Curves and QT. Most importantly, he made all of those terms understandable for those that don't follow the inner-workings of the bond market as closely as he does. 

Tony Zhang Phd, CFA and Rich Excell CFA, CMT get together to recap the events of the week. We hardly discussed the CFASC Annual Dinner because there was so much else going on!

Fred Goodwin aka Mr. Risk, a senior macro strategist at State Street, is a guest of Rich Excell CFA, CMT.  They have a wide-ranging discussion from leptokurtotic distributions to Chinese stimulus policy to the Rule of 100. When it is all said and done, does it all come down to TINA (There Is No Alternative) again?  Have a listen to find out

Tony Zhang PhD, CFA and Rich Excell CFA, CMT are back to discuss a range of issues.  Is China stimulus enough? Will it lead to China finally outperforming the US?  What about the US? How is the housing market doing? What does this mean for the US economy? Have a listen to find out

Maybe you noticed, or maybe you didn't, but a month ago, the PJM auction results were announced and the cost for energy capacity in the largest region in the US saw prices up 800% yay!  This was enough of a shock that we reached out to the Electirc Power Supply Association (EPSA) to ask them to explain what is going on. Rich Excell CFA, CMT was joined by Todd Snitchler, the President and CEO of EPSA, to walk us through the supply and demand dynamics in the energy market now

Tony Zhang PhD, CFA and Rich Excell CFA, CMT go live right after the FOMC news comes out to discuss what the Fed might be seeing, the reaction we are seeing in markets and what we might expect going forward

Tony Zhang PhD, CFA and Rich Excell CFA, CMT are back to discuss the data-filled week post Labor Day and what this might mean for markets going forward. What should we expect? How will the market react? What do investors need to focus on? Have a listen to find out

Tony Zhang PhD, CFA is back with Rich Excell CFA, CMT to recap the crazy August we have seen in the markets. What are the important takeaways? Are we all clear? What should investors think about going forward?

Rich Excell CFA, CMT is joined by renowned economic Lyric Hughes Hale of EconVue who is an expert on Asia economies and geopolitics. Lyric last joined Rich to talk about China after the last National Party Congress. Now she is on to discuss the seminal elections in India, what we need to know as investors, and what we might expect from the politicians.    Lyric mentions an article written by her team. This is a link to that article: https://plus.econvue.com/p/indias-dynamic-growth-story

It's been a few week since Tony Zhang PhD, CFA and Rich Excell CFA, CMT have sat down to discuss the markets. Since then, we have not only seen some historic events in politics but we have moved into the middle of an important earnings season, where the bar is very high. Throw in weakening economic data, and it is tough for investors to navigate. Don't worry - we've got you covered. 

Rich Excell CFA, CMT is joined by Lotta Moberg PhD, CFA, a partner at ViviFi Ventures and Paul Chesek, the Chief Growth Officer at GreenCheck to discuss the recent trends in cannabis & how the rescheduling of cannabis may change the landscape for investors going forward. 

Tony Zhang PhD, CFA joins Rich Excell CFA, CMT to discuss the recent events in the market. Last week was a major week for news, for the Fed and for markets. What does the team think of what happened?

Tony Zhang Phd, CFA joins Rich Excell CFA, CMT for another episode of Macro Matters. In this episode they cover the abundant liquidity in the market, leading to rising investor sentiment that can be seen from crypto to tech stocks. With NVDA earnings this week, what will that mean for markets? Is it time for the emerging markets to catch up?

Tony Zhang PhD, CFA joins Rich Excell CFA, CMT to cover the latest macro that matters for the markets. It is still all about the Fed & inflation for the financial markets. What has changed in the last two weeks? Have a listen to find out

Tony Zhang PhD, CFA joins Rich Excell CFA, CMT to discuss the latest events in the market. We are in earnings season, a time when investors should be focused on the micro issues, the idiosyncratic news. Why is everyone focusing on the macro all of a sudden? Join Tony and Rich to find out why this macro matters

March marked the 25th anniversary for the QQQ ETF, one of the granddaddies of them all. This ETF set the table for thousands more to follow. In this episode, Rich Excell CFA, CMT speaks with Paul Schroeder CMT, the QQQ Equity Product Strategist at Invesco, to talk about the history of QQQ, how the ETF landscape has evolved, and what it might look like going forward

Tony Zhang PhD, CFA and Rich Excell CFA, CMT are together for another episode of Macro Matters. In this episode before the March FOMC meeting, Tony and Rich discuss the recent moves in commodities, what this means for inflation, how the bond market is reacting to this news on inflation, what we can expect from the FOMC, and finally, how assets are moving around the world based on this information. They cover a ton of ground ahead of important catalysts for the market

In this episode, Rich Excell CFA, CMT sits down with Louay Mikdashi, the Head of Multi-sector Private Credit at Neuberger Berman. They discuss the pros & cons of the private credit market and explore the findings in Louay's recent paper "Private Credit is gaining steam – where do we go from here?"