Broadcast Retirement Community’s Jeffrey Snyder discusses the economic system and the market in 2026 with enterprise journalist, Jane King.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Community
This morning, managing your portfolio in 2026. Becoming a member of me now could be Jane King. She’s becoming a member of us from the New York Inventory Change.
Jane, Completely satisfied New 12 months. Nice to see you. Thanks for becoming a member of us this morning.
Jane King, Enterprise Journalist
Nice to be again with you, Jeffrey, and Completely satisfied New 12 months to you.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Community
And thanks a lot. And Jane, let’s simply begin off with, and I wish to, I do not wish to look again. I might wish to look ahead with you, and I am not asking you to make these predictions and seize your eight ball.
However let’s discuss 2026. First, let’s begin with the economic system. 4.3% development within the final GDP quantity, I believe it is all for Q3. What is the outlook seem like for the U.S. economic system in 26?
Jane King, Enterprise Journalist
Properly, a number of that’s going to rely on rates of interest and the Fed chair, which we should always know, you already know, fairly quickly who that is going to be. However President Trump has made it clear that he desires someone who’s going to aggressively lower rates of interest. And he believes that that is the important thing to actually spurring the economic system.
And if we are able to get these rates of interest down, you already know, I’ve performed a number of tales currently about how, you already know, debt is accumulating for folks due to these rates of interest. They can not get a deal with on bank cards and automobile loans. There’s like nearly 100 month automobile loans that exist now.
So if we are able to get these rates of interest down with out being too inflationary, the markets and the economic system ought to proceed to reply positively.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Community
Yeah. And, you already know, even with all these optimistic numbers, I imply, I believe job numbers have form of, you already know, I believe the unemployment quantity has ticked up and client confidence, which I consider is a lagging indicator. So it hasn’t caught up with among the newer financial numbers.
It is nonetheless not the place I believe everybody desires it to be.
Jane King, Enterprise Journalist
No, that is one of many lagging issues. Shopper confidence. I imply, these are the 2 issues, just like the debt and the buyer confidence.
They’re associated to one another. These are the issues the place we’re nonetheless not seeing on the markets. And there is simply there’s form of fascinating issues happening, too, like gold and silver are at file highs.
I imply, what is going on on there? Now, silver does play a task within the buildout of A.I. Silver’s utilized in a few of that development. So however what’s that telling us and who’s shopping for it?
And, you already know, there’s simply a number of cross currents which are occurring and the economic system after which in a few of these metals, I imply, metals have been hitting file highs. So, you already know, it is all very fascinating and can be continued to be, I am certain.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Community
Yeah. Let me ask you about some sectors since you talked about synthetic intelligence. You and I’ve spoken about that over the previous a number of years, how vital that’s for manufacturing right here domestically and in addition internationally.
Are there different sectors which may, quote unquote, do nicely in 2026? You realize, one other one can be protection spending. I do know we’re constructing a brand new class of Navy ships, maybe.
However are there sectors that you simply see probably actually bettering in 26?
Jane King, Enterprise Journalist
Properly, and in addition talking of protection, I imply, a few of these drone corporations and area associated corporations appear to be positioned very nicely for the place cash goes, curiosity goes. I’ll maintain it on these weight reduction medicine. We’re Novo Nordisk.
Their capsule, their each day weight problems capsule versus an injection was permitted by the FDA. Eli Lilly is predicted to get approval in a short time as nicely. And persons are very excited a couple of weight reduction capsule.
It is simpler to take. Somebody’s uninterested in the injections, however they wish to maintain the burden loss. They’ll go to the capsule.
So, you already know, these are areas I’ll be watching. I believe banks are going to be very fascinating as I do assume rates of interest are going to be, you already know, a subject of dialog, actually for the primary quarter. So banks may benefit from that.
Banks may additionally profit from the adoption of AI and in addition blockchain know-how and among the again workplace techniques and ledger, you already know, makes use of that. So there’s plenty of fascinating issues to maintain our eyes on. And naturally, Jeffrey, there’s at all times the surprising, like, I imply, who would have knew among the issues we have been going to be seeing this yr?
Caterpillar, finest performing inventory within the Dow, you already know, very fascinating. However it’s due to all the development of those AI information facilities, Caterpillar, you already know, has that earthmoving tools that they want. So, you already know, there’s at all times surprises.
So it makes it fascinating on a regular basis.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Community
Yeah. And people geopolitical tensions that you simply and I’ve talked about over time, they nonetheless the Ukraine, the Center East, and now Venezuela, Latin America appear to at all times creep up. Let’s shift gears.
I wish to ask you about cryptocurrency. Bitcoin had a pleasant run in 2025. They don’t seem to be the one cryptocurrency.
What about cryptocurrency adoption? Are we going to see kind of? It is form of receded up to now a number of months.
Jane King, Enterprise Journalist
Yeah. Properly, there was that vast drop that we noticed. I believe it was October tenth.
And cryptocurrency, the inventory market plummeted that day, too. Inventory markets come again. Cryptocurrency nonetheless form of caught round $87,000, $88,000 or so.
However I do assume particularly Ethereum, like I have been listening to extra discuss tokenization and tokenizing the inventory market. Actually, I believe, you already know, the Inventory Change and the Nasdaq have utilized for license to have the ability to tokenize shares. And that might all be based mostly on the Ethereum community.
You’ll be able to tokenize actual property. You’ll be able to tokenize artwork, positive wine, and you may tokenize the whole lot. The pinnacle of BlackRock, Larry Fink, wrote an article in The Economist in regards to the tokenization of the economic system.
So Ethereum will profit from that. So I am undoubtedly going to keep watch over that. And, you already know, among the just like the meme coin Solana additionally can be one that might profit from tokenization.
In order that might be a theme subsequent yr.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Community
Yeah. And I ponder if it will ever get to the broad based mostly adoption that I do know the cryptocurrency, I’ll name producers, need that extra mainstream. It looks as if it is perhaps caught just a little bit, however that know-how, that tokenization, as you stated, may actually carry a number of worth to a number of totally different industries, as you talked about, banks, and many others.
Jane King, Enterprise Journalist
Oh, completely. And it may democratize investing as nicely. So say you need just a little piece of a $3 million constructing, you do not have $3 million to purchase a constructing, however you should purchase a chunk of that constructing whether it is tokenized and take part within the worth enhance of that constructing.
And so it might be actually open up investing alternatives for a lot of extra folks.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Community
Yeah. Let’s discuss opening up. We have got a couple of minutes left, Jane.
I wish to take heed to your time as a result of you will have your individual experiences to do and also you’re being very gracious with us. Let’s discuss personal market investments. There’s been a discuss opening this up for extra retail.
So we’re speaking about hedge funds, personal credit score, personal fairness. How about that in 26? Am I going to have the ability to make investments and the place do you assume that is going to go?
Jane King, Enterprise Journalist
I believe so. I imply, there’s discuss 401k plans, with the ability to put some cash into personal. That is the place a number of the wealth is made.
It is a little more dangerous and it’s actually not as clear as public corporations. However when you’re younger and to have the ability to put a portion in an organization like OpenAI just a few years in the past or SpaceX just a few years in the past and take part in that non-public wealth development earlier than they go public and be capable of get shares at that time, I imply, that might be an actual recreation changer for folks’s retirement plans. So I do hope that occurs, notably for youthful People.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Community
Yeah. Let’s shift gears. I wish to ask you about taxes.
After which, you already know, after January, that is what lots of people take into consideration. April fifteenth, the one large stunning invoice was signed into regulation in 2025. There are some new tax reform adjustments which are occurring.
What is the influence there? What would be the influence on trade, on the personal sector, on authorities, et cetera?
Jane King, Enterprise Journalist
Yeah. Properly, you already know, one of many essential issues that I hear the president discuss and the treasury secretary is that this $2,000 form of tax rebate for folks. So that might be good.
Put some a reimbursement in folks’s pockets to pay down debt, you already know, referring to our earlier dialog or spend or, you already know, no matter they should. So that might, I imply, I believe, you already know, you and I’ve talked about this earlier than the place the federal government’s, you already know, too large and wasteful. And it would be good to have that cash return to People to have the ability to spend as they want.
So, yeah, I imply, I believe you are proper. I imply, January, that is after I begin serious about taxes. It is by no means enjoyable.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Community
No, it is not enjoyable. And I assume the query each American might be asking is, are you getting your cash’s price for the taxes you pay? That is most likely the important thing query.
Let’s speak in regards to the challenges for the U.S. client. Affordability was large in 2025. Gasoline costs have actually come down throughout the vacation season, however perhaps some groceries and another key staples nonetheless up in value.
You realize, I do not wish to put you on the spot, however do you assume that the affordability will come extra in line to what People predict in 26?
Jane King, Enterprise Journalist
Properly, I believe costs will come down simply because there appears to be this sort of crucial mass to make it so. Beef costs have been a problem. There’s been discuss exporting Mexican beef into the U.S. to attempt to get the meat costs down. They’re engaged on that scenario. However housing is, you already know, that was the sticky for the final two years. Housing costs month after month within the CPI wouldn’t go down.
We have seen them begin to go down now. And that is each hire. They name it shelter within the CPI.
So it is each hire, housing, you already know, shopping for a house. And if we are able to begin to get that down and there is a number of politicians which are actually engaged on eliminating a few of these burdensome laws, notably in blue states, that stops, you already know, constructing and issues like that, that each one ought to get the housing market again to be reasonably priced for first time homebuyers once more.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Community
And Jane, let’s not let’s simply wrap with well being care. That was a giant situation throughout the persevering with decision and funding the federal government. It seems like it’ll proceed to rear its head.
Well being care affordability. I do know I signed up for my ACA and my premiums went up like 250 bucks a month. That is some huge cash for me.
I am certain it is loads for different People as nicely.
Jane King, Enterprise Journalist
Completely. I’ve ACA as nicely. So yeah, I imply, that is one other a type of issues.
I believe all people in Washington is aware of that politically, that is simply horrible for them. And so they should do one thing about this. So, you already know, I, I hope they do.
Or else I believe that, you already know, lots of people are going to get voted out of workplace.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Community
Yeah, and rightfully so, in my view. Jane, at all times nice to see you. Thanks a lot for stopping by.
Get pleasure from 2026. And look, we sit up for having you again on this system anytime you need.
Jane King, Enterprise Journalist
Superior. Thanks a lot, Jeffery.
Jeffrey Snyder, Broadcast Retirement Community
And that wraps up this morning’s episode. However guess what? We’re backing in tomorrow for an additional nice program.
Till then, I am Jeff Snyder. Keep protected, carry on saving and do not forget, roll with the adjustments.
