There has been a flurry of geopolitical developments in recent weeks, from Congress passing a massive foreign aid bill to Cabinet members visiting China to India's elections. But the one that has grabbed the most attention―at least among your kids―is the potential banning of Chinese-owned TikTok. Jeff Kleintop, Schwab's chief global investment strategist, joins host Mike Townsend to discuss the implications of these developments for investors and to answer the question of whether TikTok really could be banned. Jeff also explores whether aid to Ukraine could change the course of its war with Russia, whether China's flooding of global markets with goods could impact U.S. inflation, and how shipping challenges are affecting the delivery of goods around the world. He weighs in on India's massive growth and shares his thoughts on how investors can take advantage of potential global opportunities.

In his Washington update, Mike discusses the politics around the foreign aid bill and why the congressional legislative agenda is looking thin in the months ahead. He also provides perspective on next year's looming battle over tax reform and shares news of a recent IRS decision that directly impacts anyone who has recently inherited an IRA.

WashingtonWise is an original podcast for investors from Charles Schwab. For more on the series, visit schwab.com/WashingtonWise.

If you enjoy the show, please leave a ★★★★★ rating or review on Apple Podcasts

Important Disclosures

The policy analysis provided by the Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., does not constitute and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any political party.

The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. All expressions of opinion are subject to changes without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic, and geopolitical conditions. Data herein is obtained from what are considered reliable sources; however, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

Examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results and the opinions presented cannot be viewed as an indicator of future performance.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

International investments involve additional risks, which include differences in financial accounting standards, currency fluctuations, geopolitical risk, foreign taxes and regulations, and the potential for illiquid markets. Investing in emerging markets may accentuate these risks.

Commodity-related products carry a high level of risk and are not suitable for all investors. Commodity-related products may be extremely volatile, may be illiquid, and can be significantly affected by underlying commodity prices, world events, import controls, worldwide competition, government regulations, and economic conditions.

Digital currencies [such as bitcoin] are highly volatile and not backed by any central bank or government. Digital currencies lack many of the regulations and consumer protections that legal-tender currencies and regulated securities have. Due to the high level of risk, investors should view digital currencies as a purely speculative instrument.

Small cap investments are subject to greater volatility than those in other asset categories.

Currency trading is speculative, volatile and not suitable for all investors.

Diversification and asset allocation strategies do not ensure a profit and do not protect against losses in declining markets.

Rebalancing does not protect against losses or guarantee that an investor’s goal will be met.

All names and market data shown above are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

​This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal, or investment planning advice. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, you should consult with a qualified tax advisor, CPA, Financial Planner, or Investment Manager.

Forecasts contained herein are for illustrative purposes only, may be based upon proprietary research and are developed through analysis of historical public data.

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Medicare is one of the toughest federal programs to navigate, a maze of confusing choices, odd deadlines, and potential penalties. Yet it's critically important for everyone, even if you're just starting out in your career, to understand it. On this episode, Susan Hirshman, director of wealth management at the Schwab Center for Financial Research and a Medicare expert, joins host Mike Townsend to help demystify Medicare for listeners. Noting that almost everyone pays into Medicare from their very first job, Hirshman discusses how Medicare needs to be part of your financial plan throughout your life—not just right before you turn 65. She shares insight on the key choices and deadlines in Medicare, how to determine which Medicare option is right for you, the importance of long-term care insurance and health savings accounts to supplement Medicare, and how to avoid common mistakes.

Mike also shares his latest updates from Washington, including the president's new budget proposal, the recent vote in the House of Representatives that could lead to banning the popular social media app TikTok, and the court battle that has put a temporary stop to the SEC's controversial new climate risk disclosure rule.

WashingtonWise is an original podcast for investors from Charles Schwab. For more on the series, visit Schwab.com/WashingtonWise.

If you enjoy the show, please leave a ★★★★★ rating or review on Apple Podcasts

Important Disclosures

The policy analysis provided by the Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., does not constitute and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any political party.

The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. All expressions of opinion are subject to changes without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic, and geopolitical conditions. Data herein is obtained from what are considered reliable sources; however, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

Examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

Interest income on individual municipal bonds may not be tax-exempt, depending on the bond issuer, the type of bond, or your state of residence. Interest income on bonds issued by U.S. states, cities, counties, their enterprises, and U.S territories is generally federal-tax-exempt, and state-tax-exempt for residents of the state in which the issuer resides. In addition, municipal bond interest for bonds issued in U.S. territories is generally state-tax-exempt in all 50 states. Consult your tax advisor regarding your personal situation.

All names and market data shown above are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

The information and content provided herein is general in nature and is for informational purposes only. It is not intended, and should not be construed, as a specific recommendation, individualized tax, legal, or investment advice. Tax laws are subject to change, either prospectively or retroactively. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, individuals should contact their own professional tax and investment advisors or other professionals (CPA, Financial Planner, Investment Manager) to help answer questions about specific situations or needs prior to taking any action based upon this information.

Forecasts contained herein are for illustrative purposes only, may be based upon proprietary research and are developed through analysis of historical public data.

Indexes are unmanaged, do not incur management fees, costs, and expenses and cannot be invested in directly. For more information on indexes, please seeSchwab.com/IndexDefinitions.

The Schwab Center for Financial Research is a division of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

Apple, the Apple logo, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Podcasts are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

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The presidential election and its impact on the markets loom large among investors' concerns. Mike Townsend tapped the resources of Schwab's Center for Financial Research to answer client questions, including the role of third-party candidates; what happens if either of the main candidates leaves the race; and how the markets, as well as individual sectors, typically perform in the run-up to the election and immediately afterward. Mike also looks at historical market correlations with election outcomes, explains why the Congressional elections may be more important to the markets than the presidential race, and offers key takeaways for how to keep emotions in check and approach this election season.

In other Washington updates, Mike discusses the possibility of a government shutdown as the federal budget remains unfunded more than five months after the start of this fiscal year. He also looks at two bills that seem to be on hold, the $95 billion foreign aid bill and the tax bill that would expand the Child Tax Credit and extend some business tax breaks. And he offers an update on two rules approved by the SEC, one requiring public companies to offer more information to investors about risks they could encounter from climate change and another that brings more transparency to the equities-trading process.

WashingtonWise is an original podcast for investors from Charles Schwab. For more on the series, visit Schwab.com/WashingtonWise.

If you enjoy the show, please leave a ★★★★★ rating or review on Apple Podcasts

Important Disclosures

The policy analysis provided by the Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., does not constitute and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any political party.

The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice.

All expressions of opinion are subject to changes without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic, and geopolitical conditions. Data herein is obtained from what are considered reliable sources; however, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

Examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results and the opinions presented cannot be viewed as an indicator of future performance.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

Diversification and asset allocation strategies do not ensure a profit and do not protect against losses in declining markets.

All names and market data shown above are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

​This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal, or investment planning advice. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, you should consult with a qualified tax advisor, CPA, Financial Planner, or Investment Manager.

Forecasts contained herein are for illustrative purposes only, may be based upon proprietary research and are developed through analysis of historical public data.

Performance may be affected by risks associated with non-diversification, including investments in specific countries or sectors. Additional risks may also include, but are not limited to, investments in foreign securities, especially emerging markets, real estate investment trusts (REITs), fixed income, small capitalization securities and commodities. Each individual investor should consider these risks carefully before investing in a particular security or strategy.

Indexes are unmanaged, do not incur management fees, costs, and expenses and cannot be invested in directly. For more information on indexes, please see Schwab.com/IndexDefinitions.

The Schwab Center for Financial Research is a division of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

Apple, the Apple logo, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Podcasts are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

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From China's economic woes and tensions with Taiwan, to escalating fighting in the Middle East and the disruption of shipping routes, to central banks keeping interest rates high, there is no shortage of anxiety about geopolitical risks. On today's episode, host Mike Townsend is joined by Jeffrey Kleintop, Schwab's chief global investment strategist, to look beyond the worrisome headlines to see how economies around the globe are doing and what's driving their markets. Jeff shares his perspectives on China's slowdown, the implications of Taiwan's recent election on U.S.-China relations, and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, including how attacks on container ships in the Red Sea are impacting the global supply chain.

He also discusses the messages being sent by central banks around the world, why Japan may offer investors an alternative to areas of geopolitical risks, and why investors need to keep an eye on international opportunities despite the headlines.

Mike also looks at a rare bipartisan tax bill that has cleared the House, the politics surrounding the Senate's border security package, and the Federal Reserve's hints about when it may pivot to cutting interest rates.

WashingtonWise is an original podcast for investors from Charles Schwab. For more on the series, visit Schwab.com/WashingtonWise.

If you enjoy the show, please leave a ★★★★★ rating or review on Apple Podcasts

Important Disclosures

The policy analysis provided by the Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., does not constitute and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any political party.

The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. All expressions of opinion are subject to changes without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic, and geopolitical conditions. Data herein is obtained from what are considered reliable sources; however, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

Examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results and the opinions presented cannot be viewed as an indicator of future performance.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

International investments involve additional risks, which include differences in financial accounting standards, currency fluctuations, geopolitical risk, foreign taxes and regulations, and the potential for illiquid markets. Investing in emerging markets may accentuate these risks.

​Commodity-related products carry a high level of risk and are not suitable for all investors. Commodity-related products may be extremely volatile, may be illiquid, and can be significantly affected by underlying commodity prices, world events, import controls, worldwide competition, government regulations, and economic conditions.

Diversification strategies do not ensure a profit and do not protect against losses in declining markets.

All names and market data shown above are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

​This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal, or investment planning advice. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, you should consult with a qualified tax advisor, CPA, Financial Planner, or Investment Manager.

Forecasts contained herein are for illustrative purposes only, may be based upon proprietary research and are developed through analysis of historical public data.

Performance may be affected by risks associated with non-diversification, including investments in specific countries or sectors. Additional risks may also include, but are not limited to, investments in foreign securities, especially emerging markets, real estate investment trusts (REITs), fixed income, small capitalization securities and commodities. Each individual investor should consider these risks carefully before investing in a particular security or strategy.

Indexes are unmanaged, do not incur management fees, costs, and expenses and cannot be invested in directly. For more information on indexes, please seeSchwab.com/IndexDefinitions.

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