Lopez • Marotz • Wright • Durham • Madden

10/19/2026

Friedman Vs. Woodford
Brian Wesbury, Chief Economist, First Trust Portfolios

Milton Freidman taught us all about monetary policy…but for some reason academics and the Federal Reserve have decided to ignore him.

There appear to be two reasons for this. First, he was a “classical liberal.” What today we would call a conservative. He believed in small government and freedom. Clearly...read more:

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10/13/2026

We Need an Independent Fed
Brian Wesbury, Chief Economist, First Trust Portfolios

Sound and stable money promotes long-term economic growth. And “independent” central banks are more likely to deliver it. For most of the 1800s, the US was on the gold standard, which meant policy was insulated from political interference. But once the Federal Reserve was created in 1913, it became susceptible to political pressures. Read more here:

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10/08/2026

Fred’s Garage Is Back: Some Things Are Worth the Wait

Fred’s Garage is back! After a little time away—and a few different cars along the way—Fred returns to the garage with an update on life, the growing Allen & Company team, and the Porsche that finally feels like the right fit. He also shares a lesson that applies well beyond the garage: worthwhile goals often take time, patience and a willingness to wait.

Fred’s Garage is back! After a little time away—and a few different cars along the way—Fred returns to the garage with an update on life, the growing

10/08/2026

Rate Hike Likely Deferred To December
By Brian Wesbury, Chief Economist, First Trust Portfolios

Only one month ago the big story about the US economy was how strong it was. The August jobs report, which arrived in early September, showed that payrolls were up 162,000 for the month. Meanwhile, at one point the Atlanta Fed’s “GDP Now” model was estimating real GDP would grow more than 5% at an annual rate in the third...

09/28/2026

National Debt A Growing Threat
Brian Wesbury, Chief Economist, First Trust Portfolios

There is more than one reason the 10-year Treasury yield is 5.23% today. Most importantly, the Fed has stopped anchoring
interest rates at artificially low levels. Fear of inflation is likely another. However, both of those are related to the massive government debt the US has created.

Read more....

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09/25/2026

09/22/2026

Want Fed Independence? Cut Government
By Brian Wesbury, Chief Economist
First Trust Portfolios

It wasn’t that long ago that Kevin Warsh’s leading critics were saying his biggest problem was that he wasn’t “independent” from President Trump, that if Trump told him to “jump” he’d ask “how high?” Or, in this particular situation, “how low should interest rates go?”....... READ MORE:

09/15/2026

Rate Hike Likely, But Unusual
Brian Wesbury
Chief Economist, First Trust Portfolios

A rate hike on Wednesday is now very likely but would also be unusual, and perhaps dangerous, at least as far as the past generation of monetary policy goes.

Why likely? Because the US has experienced both above-consensus job...read more

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09/11/2026

The Millennial Message 2.0
Danielle Durham Chan-Pong, CFP

Financial Goals: Your Fourth-Quarter Game Plan for 2026

While many students and teachers returned to school or college earlier this month, it got me thinking about how this time of year can feel like a new year for many of us who are well beyond our school days. As we enter the last quarter of the year, it can be a great time for you to check in on your goals from the beginning of the year, financial or otherwise!
READ MORE...... https://alleninvestments.com/millennialmessage2/financial-goals-your-fourth-quarter-game-plan-for-2026/

09/09/2026

Strong Jobs Report Raise Odds of Rate Hike
Brian S. Wesbury – Chief Economist, First Trust

Before Friday’s jobs report, it was roughly a toss-up in the financial markets whether the Fed would raise rates at the next meeting in mid-September. Now, the odds favor a rate hike and it’s not hard to see why.

Nonfarm payrolls rose 162,000 in August...

READ MORE:
https://www.ftportfolios.com/Commentary/EconomicResearch/2026/9/8/strong-jobs-report-raise-odds-of-rate-hike