Lopez • Marotz • Wright • Durham • Madden

07/13/2026

Is US Democracy At Risk?
Brian Wesbury
Chief Economist, First Trust Portfolios

As we move toward the mid-term elections, many are making the argument that “democracy is at risk.” We get politicians making this argument, but when supposedly sober political and economic analysts start to make it, we do get worried.

For example, the Chief Economics Commentator of the Wall Street Journal...

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https://www.ftportfolios.com/Commentary/EconomicResearch/2026/7/13/is-us-democracy-at-risk

07/06/2026

America's 3.5-second Miracle
Brian Wesbury, Chief Economist
First Trust Portfolios

In 1852, Karl Marx said "Men make their own history,
but they do not make it as they please; they do not make it
under circumstances chosen by themselves, but under
circumstances directly encountered and transmitted from the
past."
He obviously......read more
https://www.ftportfolios.com/Commentary/EconomicResearch/2026/7/6/americas-3.5-second-miracle

06/29/2026

Alan Greenspan, RIP

Brian Wesbury, Chief Economist
First Trust Portfolios

Alan Greenspan passed away last week at the ripe old age of 100. Other than presidents, few Americans have wielded as much power in the arena of economic policy as Greenspan did during his roughly eighteen years and five months at the helm of the Federal Reserve.

Read more.... https://www.ftportfolios.com/retail/blogs/Economics/index.aspx

06/22/2026

New Leadership, New Direction
Brain Wesbury, Chief Economist, First Trust Portfolios

The results of Kevin Warsh’s first official set of meetings on monetary policy as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve were like a breath of fresh air.

It wasn’t so much what he said, as what the Fed did not say, in particular in the official...read more below......

https://www.ftportfolios.com/retail/blogs/Economics/index.aspx

06/08/2026

The job market was surprisingly strong in May with non-farm payrolls growing 172,000, beating even the strongest forecasts for the month. As a result, the futures market is now pricing in a quarter-point rate hike later this year and more likely than not another quarter point rate hike sometime in 2027...

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06/05/2026

Join the FSDA Elder Fraud Committee on June 12th at 11:00 AM for Breaking the Scam Cycle: Institutional Defense and Personal Protection in the Digital Age, an educational webinar in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Moderated by Matthew Strope (Robinhood), the panel features Carlos Barrientos (Invex), Bill Herrmann (AARP), Lia Skelton (Raymond James), and Elizabeth Yoka (FINRA) discussing financial fraud trends, scam prevention, investor protection, and strategies for safeguarding vulnerable adults in today’s digital environment.

Click HERE to register today: https://www.floridasecurities.com/event-6596869

06/03/2026

More Slow Home Price Growth Ahead
Brian Wesbury, Chief Economist, First Trust

A little more than six months ago there were narratives circulating that national housing prices were in an even bigger bubble than the one twenty years ago and headed for an “inevitable” collapse. Given that national home prices dropped about 27% from peak to bottom in the last housing bust, that would be something to worry about...

read more: https://www.ftportfolios.com/Commentary/EconomicResearch/2026/6/1/more-slow-home-price-growth-ahead

05/29/2026

We are excited to welcome our summer interns to the team!

Please join us in welcoming **MacKenzie Marotz**, a student at Charleston Southern University and 2025 Lakeland Christian School graduate. She is studying Financial Management at CSU and is on the Dean's List. MacKenzie is also a goalkeeper for their Division I soccer team, demonstrating dedication, discipline, and a strong work ethic both on and off the field.

We’re also pleased to welcome **Benjamin Parker**, a University of Florida finance student and 2024 graduate of Bartow International Baccalaureate. In addition to his rigorous academic schedule, he also played football and lacrosse. He is a die-hard Gator fan, loves a good concert, and is a proud member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He looks forward to developing skills and building relationships that will strengthen his future both at school and as an intern.

We look forward to having both MacKenzie and Benjamin with us this summer and are excited to support them as they continue building their futures in financial services.

05/27/2026

Not So Bad
Brian Wesbury, Chief Economist, First Trust Portfolios

You don’t have to go very far to find lots of negative commentary in the popular press about the current state of the US economy. High gas prices (due to a “war of choice”) are squeezing consumers’ budgets, and so the economy is headed for a ditch. Many economists look back at history and blame lots of recessions on oil prices alone...

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05/18/2026

Making the Fed Great Again

Brian Wesbury
Chief Economist, First Trust

To say the least, since its inception in 1913, the Federal Reserve has had its ups and downs. One thing most people don’t know is that prior to the invention of the Fed, other than during wars, there was almost no inflation. Various sources including the Federal Reserve regional banks show the purchasing power of $1 in 1900 was the...

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