AI, Interest Rates & Investing | Front Row with Carnegie – Q3 2026

How could rising interest rates affect your investments? Are AI stocks overvalued? And is your index fund exposing you to more risk than you realize? In this episode of Front Row with Carnegie, Carnegie Investment Counsel's investment leadership team discusses the market trends shaping portfolios as we approach the end of 2026. From Federal Reserve policy and artificial intelligence to growing concentration in the S&P 500, our panel explores what investors should be paying attention to and why now is a good time to review your portfolio and financial plan. Whether you're approaching retirement, already retired, or investing for the long term, this discussion offers perspective on today's investment risks and opportunities, along with practical financial planning strategies to consider before year-end. Featured Discussion: Federal Reserve & Interest Rates: How higher interest rates affect stock valuations, bond prices, and investment opportunities. The Fed & Economic Uncertainty: What happens if the Federal Reserve gets it wrong, and why the economic impact of rate decisions can take time to become clear. Artificial Intelligence & Stock Valuations: Are investors paying too much for AI's potential? What separates promising AI investments from speculation? AI Regulation & Investment Risk: How regulatory concerns, competition, and rapidly evolving technology could affect the outlook for AI companies. Index Funds & Hidden Concentration Risk: Why owning an S&P 500 index fund may not provide as much diversification as you think. Portfolio Diversification & Retirement: How growing exposure to a handful of large technology companies could affect investors approaching or living in retirement. Year-End Financial Planning: Important considerations for required minimum distributions (RMDs), qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), and annual gifting. Tax-Loss Harvesting: How coordinating investment decisions with your broader financial plan may help improve long-term tax efficiency. Featured Speakers • Gary Wagner, President • Benjamin Connard, CFA, Chief Investment Officer • Greg Halter, CFA, Director of Research • Michael Curry, CFP®, Vice President & Wealth Advisor At Carnegie Investment Counsel, we believe successful investing requires more than following market headlines. It means understanding the risks within your portfolio, identifying opportunities, and making investment decisions that support your long-term financial goals. If you find this discussion helpful, please Like, Subscribe, and turn on notifications for future market updates and financial planning insights. Learn more about Carnegie Investment Counsel and our investment management and wealth planning services: https://www.carnegieinvest.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction & Market Topics 00:27 How Interest Rates Affect Stocks and Bonds 02:53 What Happens if the Fed Gets It Wrong? 04:50 Positioning Portfolios in a Higher-Rate Environment 05:48 Artificial Intelligence & Investment Valuations 08:07 AI Regulation, Competition & Investment Risks 10:05 What Carnegie Looks for in AI Investments 11:05 Index Funds & Hidden Concentration Risk 13:25 How Index Fund Concentration Affects Retirement Portfolios 15:57 S&P 500 Concentration: How Much Has Changed? 17:13 Year-End Financial Planning Considerations 17:47 RMDs, Charitable Giving & Tax Planning 19:41 Tax-Loss Harvesting & Portfolio Management 20:54 What to Discuss With Your Financial Advisor 22:02 Closing Thoughts #StockMarket #MarketOutlook #Investing #ArtificialIntelligence #AIInvesting #IndexFunds #SP500 #PortfolioDiversification #FinancialPlanning #WealthManagement #InterestRates #RetirementPlanning #TaxPlanning #InvestmentStrategy #CarnegieInvestmentCounsel