Our finances, portfolios and the markets are affected daily by the policies and politics coming out of Washington. In each episode of WashingtonWise, host Mike Townsend, Charles Schwab’s Vice President for Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, focuses a non-partisan eye on the stories that matter most to investors, and his guests offer actionable suggestions for what to do--and what not to do--with your portfolio.

Podcasts are for informational purposes only. This channel is not monitored by Charles Schwab. Please visit schwab.com/contactus for contact options.

&lt;p&gt;When President Biden announced his decision to drop his campaign for a second term, everything we thought we knew about the 2024 election was turned on its ear. The questions, the speculation, and the theories all began to swirl. In this episode of &lt;i&gt;WashingtonWise&lt;/i&gt;, host Mike Townsend clears up the rules surrounding a change of candidates, discusses what it means for the Democratic convention, and addresses how it impacts the ballots. He also answers investors&#039; questions about what the upheaval in the race means for congressional elections and for the markets.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mike also checks in on other news from Washington, including congressional hearings underway to identify the breakdown in security that allowed the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump and address ways to prevent any recurrence; a bi-partisan agreement to ban elected officials from trading stocks; and the long-delayed finalization of IRS rules pertaining to inherited IRAs.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;WashingtonWise &lt;/i&gt;is an original podcast for investors from &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.schwab.com&quot;&gt;Charles Schwab&lt;/a&gt;. For more on the series, visit &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.schwab.com/washingtonwise&quot;&gt;Schwab.com/WashingtonWise&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you enjoy the show, please leave a ★★★★★ rating or review on &lt;a href=&quot;http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1478013779&quot;&gt;Apple Podcasts&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Important Disclosures&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Investors should consider carefully information contained in the prospectus, or if available, the summary prospectus, including investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. You can request a prospectus by calling 800-435-4000. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The policy analysis provided by the Charles Schwab &amp; Co., Inc., does not constitute and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any political party.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market conditions. Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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, municipal securities including state specific municipal securities, small capitalization securities and commodities. Each individual investor should consider these risks carefully before investing in a particular security or strategy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Spotify and the Spotify logo are registered trademarks of Spotify AB.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(0724-FN7H)&lt;/p&gt;<br />


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