Grant’s colleague Sean Barter joins the show this week to discuss the markets. They flip a coin to argue for & against whether the Mag 7 stocks finish higher or lower on the year, whether mortgage rates are going up or down, whether you should hold gold in your portfolio, and whether we’re entering a stock picker’s market. We also cover the month in the markets and an article from Morningstar about high yield debt.

 

 

Show Notes

[01:58] Market Update – Market overview of the first month of 2026.

[04:25] Article of the Week – Morningstar’s article on the high-yield bond market.

[10:31] The Magnificent Seven – Grant and Sean argue whether the magnificent seven will finish the year higher or lower.

[18:37] Market Contagion – Sean explains how a market contagion will affect the other corporations more than the magnificent seven.

[23:10] Mortgage Rates – Grant and Sean argue whether mortgage rates will be higher or lower at the end of the year.

[31:27] The Next Fed Chief – Sean explains why a steeper yield curve isn’t a warning but a reward for long-term capital and economic resilience.

[33:50] Gold the Crisis Asset – Sean explains why gold isn’t an investment but an insurance against the things markets and governments can’t control.

[37:50] Volatility – Grant explains how Gold has always been a safety net, not a wealth builder.

[44:50] Active Management vs. Indexing – Grant explains why indexing is for steady times and how active management shines when volatility, policy, and global shifts create opportunity.

[53:32] Passive Investing – Grant and Sean share their thoughts on the potential impact of passive investing on market efficiency and price discovery.

[59:42] Deciding – Grant and Sean discuss the importance of getting the basics right before trying to get extra returns.

Resources

Why There Is a Lot Less Junk In the High-Yield Bond Market

morningstar.com/bonds/why-there-is-lot-less-junk-high-yield-bond-market