After a down first quarter of 2026, stocks rebounded sharply in the second quarter, with major indexes seeing double-digit gains. Now the market environment is both surprisingly strong and deeply unsettled. On this episode of WashingtonWise, Daniel Stein, manager of two Charles Schwab branches in Virginia, joins host Mike Townsend to discuss the importance of understanding what is in your portfolio and how the balance may have shifted due to multiple factors, including a market run-up that likely resulted in overconcentration of mega-cap stocks, the enthusiasm over artificial intelligence and high-profile IPOs, and changing index rules. Dan offers practical guidance on reassessing risk tolerance and bringing your portfolio back into balance with your long-term plan in order to reduce anxiety and stay focused through market volatility.
Mike also covers the latest from Washington, including a key Supreme Court decision for Fed independence, the surprising way a bipartisan housing bill became law, and the launch of Trump Accounts for children.
WashingtonWise is an original podcast for investors from Charles Schwab. For more on the series, visit schwab.com/WashingtonWise.
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Cryptocurrency-related products carry a substantial level of risk and are not suitable for all investors. Investments in cryptocurrencies are relatively new, highly speculative, and may be subject to extreme price volatility, illiquidity, and increased risk of loss, including your entire investment in the fund. Spot markets on which cryptocurrencies trade are relatively new and largely unregulated, and therefore, may be more exposed to fraud and security breaches than established, regulated exchanges for other financial assets or instruments. Some cryptocurrency-related products use futures contracts to attempt to duplicate the performance of an investment in cryptocurrency, whic…
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