In this episode, Will and Adam examine former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich’s comments comparing today to the Gilded Age. We acknowledge there are several similarities, including increasing wealth disparity, the emergence of disruptive technology, and widespread commingling of government with business. We specifically discuss the recent discussion around the government taking stake in public companies, which, though has a precedent, was used in the past during times of financial crisis, i.e., to keep automakers afloat during the financial crisis.

We discuss the (until just recently) ebullient vibes in the stock market, and why some of the forefront of the AI revolution are starting to sound a little more cautious about what AI can deliver in the near-term. However, that has not stopped investors from returning to familiar favorites from the 2021 run-up, with this rally’s best performers including:

• Non-profitable tech
• Most shorted stocks
• Meme stocks

With Fed chair Powell on tap for Jackson Hole, we look at the recent Fed minutes, which indicating a focus more on inflation than jobs, and why that could change if job revisions continue to be revised lower. However, with the inflation effect of tariffs expected to shift from businesses to consumers soon, will the Fed have the flexibility to cut rates as much as investors currently believe? With both anecdotes and hard data indicating a struggling consumer, the Fed is in a tough spot and under continuing political pressure.

We conclude with why it is important to remain systematic and focused on long-term investing success and resist the temptation of the continued gamification of stock trading, with platforms like Robin Hood now exploring the addition of traditional sports wagering alongside retail investment accounts.

Learn more about Formidable Asset Management, Will Brown, and Adam Eagleston by visiting www.formidableam.com.