How could rising interest rates affect your investments? Are AI stocks overvalued? And is your index fund exposing you to more risk than you realize?

In this episode of Front Row with Carnegie, Carnegie Investment Counsel's investment leadership team discusses the market trends shaping portfolios as we approach the end of 2026. From Federal Reserve policy and artificial intelligence to growing concentration in the S&P 500, our panel explores what investors should be paying attention to and why now is a good time to review your portfolio and financial plan.

Featured Discussion:

Federal Reserve & Interest Rates: How higher interest rates affect stock valuations, bond prices, and investment opportunities.

The Fed & Economic Uncertainty: What happens if the Federal Reserve gets it wrong, and why the economic impact of rate decisions can take time to become clear.

Artificial Intelligence & Stock Valuations: Are investors paying too much for AI's potential? What separates promising AI investments from speculation?

AI Regulation & Investment Risk: How regulatory concerns, competition, and rapidly evolving technology could affect the outlook for AI companies.

Index Funds & Hidden Concentration Risk: Why owning an S&P 500 index fund may not provide as much diversification as you think.

Portfolio Diversification & Retirement: How growing exposure to a handful of large technology companies could affect investors approaching or living in retirement.

Year-End Financial Planning: Important considerations for required minimum distributions (RMDs), qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), and annual gifting.

Tax-Loss Harvesting: How coordinating investment decisions with your broader financial plan may help improve long-term tax efficiency.

Featured Speakers

• Gary Wagner, President
• Benjamin Connard, CFA, Chief Investment Officer
• Greg Halter, CFA, Director of Research
• Michael Curry, CFP®, Vice President & Wealth Advisor

Looking for a 2026 stock market update or wondering how artificial intelligence, inflation, interest rates, and geopolitics could impact your investments? In this episode of Front Row with Carnegie, our investment leadership team breaks down the biggest market trends affecting investors today and shares how we're positioning portfolios for the months ahead.

Whether you're approaching retirement, already retired, or building long-term wealth, this discussion provides practical insights to help you look beyond the headlines and stay focused on what matters most.

Featured Discussion:

• Artificial Intelligence: Is AI a transformational investment opportunity or are expectations running too high?
  
• 2026 Stock Market Outlook: What's driving market performance after a volatile first half of the year?
  
• Federal Reserve & Interest Rates: What higher or lower rates could mean for stocks and bonds.
  
• Inflation & Tariffs: How economic policy is affecting businesses, consumers, and investors.
  
• Geopolitics: Why markets often recover faster than headlines suggest.
  
• Private Credit: The risks of illiquidity and why Carnegie favors transparency.
  
• Consumer Spending & Market Sentiment: Are consumers stronger than they appear?
  
• SpaceX and the IPO Market: What mega IPOs could mean for investors.
  
• Financial Planning Strategies: Practical planning considerations in today's market environment.
  

  Featured Speakers
  • Gary Wagner, President
  • Benjamin Connard, CFA, Chief Investment Officer
  • Greg Halter, CFA, Director of Research
  • Michael Curry, CFP®, Vice President & Wealth Advisor