Is the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Federal Reserve a cause for celebration or condemnation? Has the Fed, as Ben Bernanke said, “come full circle back to the original goal of preventing financial panics? Two financial historians, James Grant and Richard Sylla, debate the benefits and dangers of the Fed and explore its history with us.
Season 10
CORTAZZO & LEBENTHAL – MINIMIZING TAX PAIN
Nothing is certain but death and taxes and what is certain this year is that taxes have gone up. Increases in the social security tax rate, Federal laws such as the Affordable Care Act and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, and stock market gains mean many Americans are facing much higher tax bills. Financial advisors Alexandra Lebenthal and Mark Cortazzo will help us minimize the pain.
CATCHING LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE – AN INTERVIEW WITH WIN SMITH
Why does a book about the creation, rise and fall of Merrill Lynch matter today? Because the rise of the world’s once largest brokerage firm is emblematic of Wall Street’s great success and critical role in the growth and prosperity of this country and the firm’s failure, of the misguided priorities permeating Wall Street today.
MARK FREEMAN – FINDING INCOME WITHOUT TAKING UNDUE RISK
Where can you find income in a world with record low interest rates and paltry bond yields without taking on too much risk? This week’s guest, Mark Freeman, has a proven track record of doing so, which is why his Westwood Income Opportunity Fund is a Morningstar favorite.
BENZ & KINNEL: MUTUAL FUND SHAKEUPS!
The mutual fund industry is being buffeted by two enormous shifts: investors are deserting actively managed funds for passive ones and they are fleeing bond funds for other sources of income. What do these changes mean for investors? In their first joint television appearance, two Morningstar all-stars give us their perspective and advice.
BARBARA KRUMSIEK: CLEAN PROFITS
Socially Responsible Investing is no longer a niche strategy. It’s gone mainstream as more companies, investment firms and investors pay attention to environmental, social and governance issues. And the belief that this approach means lagging performance has been proven wrong. SRI funds are now competing head on with traditional money management. This week’s guest is Barbara Krumsiek, the CEO of Calvert Investments Inc., a leader in SRI mutual funds and a Financial Thought leader in her own right.
