Beyond Bulls & Bears

Consider a reset of college savings with a 529 plan
Education

Consider a reset of college savings with a 529 plan

Understanding the broader tax benefits, 529 plans may be a more tax-efficient way to save for college than custodial accounts. Our Wealth Planning Director Bill Cass highlights several reasons to consider this strategy.

Alternative Allocations: Due diligence meetings
Alternatives

Alternative Allocations: Due diligence meetings

How and why more advisors are tapping into alternatives—Tony Davidow, Senior Alternatives Investment Strategist at Franklin Templeton Institute, shares insights from a recent gathering.

Meet the Manager: Joanne Driscoll
Perspectives

Meet the Manager: Joanne Driscoll

Morningstar has named Joanne Driscoll, Head of Short Term Liquid Markets for Franklin Templeton Fixed Income, one of its top female fund managers of 2024. Joanne recently joined Franklin Templeton following the company’s merger with Putnam Investments. Get to know more about Joanne in this Q&A.

Getting personal: Mind the benefits gap
Education

Getting personal: Mind the benefits gap

Educating workers about workplace benefits is vital to employee retention, according to findings from Franklin Templeton’s 2024 “Voice of the American Workplace” survey. Our Jacque Reardon shares findings from the survey related to what employees want—and how employers can meet these needs to benefit both parties.

Quick Thoughts: Checking the CIO pulse
Perspectives

Quick Thoughts: Checking the CIO pulse

So far this year, the US equity market has shown remarkable resilience and US inflation has remained sticky. Against this backdrop, a recent survey of our chief investment officers offers analyses and perspectives on key areas, such as Federal Reserve rate cut expectations, geopolitical risks, uncertain corporate earnings and opportunities in different asset classes.

A story about the drongo, the meerkat and debt markets
Alternatives

A story about the drongo, the meerkat and debt markets

A look at private credit, and why increased activity in the broadly syndicated loans space is not necessarily a bad thing for direct lending, and vice versa, from Benefit Street Partners Managing Director Anant Kumar.

PODCAST Anatomy of a Recession Update: What’s different about this cycle?
Alternatives

PODCAST Anatomy of a Recession Update: What’s different about this cycle?

Jeff Schulze, Head of Economic and Market Strategy at ClearBridge Investments, joins us to discuss the updated ClearBridge Recession Risk Dashboard, which has seen some progress underneath the surface despite not having any indicator changes. And, he shares his views on US equities and the impact of the Magnificent Seven.

Flash Insights: March inflation—Yet another reason to delay easing
Fixed Income

Flash Insights: March inflation—Yet another reason to delay easing

March US consumer prices rose faster than expected. The reacceleration in supercore inflation suggests the strong inflation readings at the start of the year may not have been mere blips. Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Economist Nikhil Mohan expects the Federal Reserve will likely begin rate cuts in September, but inflation trends may affect the timing of the cuts.

Springtime for Japanese stocks
Equity

Springtime for Japanese stocks

The Japanese economy and stock market are turning a corner after decades of disappointment. Mutual Series believes finding the companies that are truly embracing reform could prove crucial in uncovering and unlocking tremendous value over the next few years.

Alternative Allocations: Evaluating alternatives
Alternatives

Alternative Allocations: Evaluating alternatives

In the latest edition of “Alternative Allocations,” Patrick McGowan of Sanctuary Wealth Management joins Franklin Templeton’s Tony Davidow to discuss advisor adoption, structural tradeoffs, due diligence and the increasing demand for alternatives.

Japan ends its negative interest-rate policy
Equity

Japan ends its negative interest-rate policy

After many years of low and negative interest rates, the Bank of Japan has changed course, creating opportunities for Japanese investors and implications for global markets. Templeton Global Investments outlines the positives and the risks.