Debbie Carlson
Verified
As seen in:
CNN,
CNN Underscored,
Forbes,
MSN,
MSN Money Canada,
MSN UK,
Yahoo Entertainment,
Business Insider,
HuffPost,
The Guardian
and
Word wrangler: Commodities, ESG, retirement + more for @marketwatch @barronsonline + others. Curiosity gets the best of me. Find me @DebbieCarlson on Blue Sky
Articles by Debbie Carlson
Trump Media & Technology Group
The idea for Trump Media came from two former contestants on Donald Trump's reality TV series The Apprentice. © Rafael Henrique/stock.adobe.com Share price: $8.91 (mkt close, Oct. 02, 2026) Annual revenue: $4.52 mil. Earnings per share (prev. year): $-4.9 Industry: Financial Services Trump Media & Technology Group is an American media and technology company best known for operating Truth Social, the social media platform founded by President Donald Trump.
AI Debt Issuance Taking Up More Room in Bond Indexes
Bonds sold to finance corporate capital spending on artificial intelligence by technology companies are flooding the bond markets, and the impact is starting to show up in corporate bond indexes. Prior to the AI buildout, the five biggest companies behind the boom—Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft and Oracle—issued minimal amounts of debt, with research from Vanguard showing they combined to issue roughly $35 billion in debt annually between 2020 and 2024.
The Outsiders: Why So Many Financial Planners Are in Their Second Careers
Concerned about an AI bubble? Sign up for The Daily Upside for smart and actionable market news, built for investors. Emily Bandoni was teaching the Pythagorean theorem to a sophomore math class when a student asked her how the geometric principle would ever apply to real life. "I remember not having an answer," she said.
How AI Debt Issuance Is Reshaping the Corporate Bond Market
The artificial intelligence and data center buildout boom is one of the most important drivers of the U.S. economy in 2026. It is also essential for investors. Technology companies’ massive debt issuance to fuel the boom has had a sharp, swift impact on corporate credit markets. According to Vanguard research, from 2020 through 2024, the five biggest technology companies behind the boom—Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft and Oracle—together issued roughly $35 billion per year in debt.
US wheat farmers navigate uncertainty amid drought and geopolitical chaos
; ; ; ; Continue reading More for You
US wheat farmers navigate uncertainty amid drought and geopolitical chaos
Wheat prices are at their highest level in three years, which means farmer Merrill Nielsen should be getting more for his crops out of his 2,500-acre (1,010-hectare) Kansas farm. Yet even as future prices for bread-type wheat are up 39%, Nielsen is unsure whether increased prices will raise his bottom line. The price of diesel fuel, which he needs to run his tractor, has hit record highs.
US wheat farmers navigate uncertainty amid drought and geopolitical chaos
Wheat prices are at their highest level in three years, which means farmer Merrill Nielsen should be getting more for his crops out of his 2,500-acre (1,010-hectare) Kansas farm. Yet even as future prices for bread-type wheat are up 39%, Nielsen is unsure whether increased prices will raise his bottom line. The price of diesel fuel, which he needs to run his tractor, has hit record highs.
A used EV is the way to get those luxury wheels
Chris Blaydon was used-car shopping for his teenage daughter this summer. Then he and his wife discovered lightly used, higher-end electric vehicles were selling for nearly half of their original sticker price. “When we started to realize that some of those deals exist out there and how much car we could get, it shifted from ‘Let's get something for our daughter' to ‘Let's get something for us,'” he says.
How Investors Approach the Utilities Sector in the Age of AI
Public utility stocks were long viewed as a defensive asset, if not a bit boring, as supply and demand were relatively matched. No longer. The growth of artificial intelligence and increased electrical demand on regulated utilities has upended that equation. Real estate firm JLL estimates nearly 100 gigawatts of new data centers will be added in the next four years, at 14% compounded annual growth through 2030.
Family Offices Face a Turning Point
Two significant changes are on the horizon for first-generation family offices: The predicted Great Wealth Transfer to Gen X and Millennials from Baby Boomers will happen just as family office founders are beginning to make succession plans. Cerulli Associates estimates nearly $124 trillion in assets are set to change hands through 2048, and according to the Bank of America Family Office Study, one-third of family offices are expected to transfer control to the next generation within five years.
Family Offices Face a Turning Point
Two significant changes are on the horizon for first-generation family offices: The predicted Great Wealth Transfer to Gen X and Millennials from Baby Boomers will happen just as family office founders are beginning to make succession plans. Cerulli Associates estimates nearly $124 trillion in assets are set to change hands through 2048, and according to the Bank of America Family Office Study, one-third of family offices are expected to transfer control to the next generation within five years.
Eye-popping returns are drawing investors back to ESG
; ; ; ; Continue reading More for You ; ; ; ; Continue reading More for You
These ESG funds are seeing inflows—and delivering eye-popping returns
There's nothing like eye-popping returns to lure investors back into so-called ESG funds. U.S. environmental, social, and governance funds saw inflows in the second quarter for the first time in more than three years, with electricity infrastructure and renewable energy themes behind much of the new cash. It's too soon to call the net inflows into ESG funds, at just $3 billion, a turnaround—yet it was their first positive quarter since the beginning of 2022, according to data from Morningstar.
US airfares expected to stay high even if Iran ceasefire drops oil prices, experts say
Even if a lasting ceasefire between the US and Iran lowers oil prices , travelers hoping to snag cheaper airfare should buckle their seatbelts and expect continued turbulence US domestic airfares are 26.5% higher than a year ago, according to June's consumer price index data, and analysts say prices globally are up 25-30% compared with 2025. Strong demand for travel and reduced global oil refining capacity caused jet fuel prices to spike during the early weeks of the Iranian war.
REIT Bargains Still Exist If You Know Where to Look
Concerned about an AI bubble? Sign up for The Daily Upside for smart and actionable market news, built for investors. Every big real estate boom leaves a few good neighborhoods behind. Housing prices are high, and real estate investment trusts focused on data centers have been all the rage, but if financial advisors think all REITs have lofty valuations, they're missing opportunities to find some bargains and diversify their portfolios.
Landing high yields and tax benefits in an overlooked corner of income
Looking for yield but wary of private credit's illiquidity and lack of transparency ? Some investors are turning to preferred-stock funds, which offer better relative yield in an otherwise tight fixed-income market. Preferreds, often viewed as a hybrid between stocks and bonds, are popular with investors who want stable income and a slightly higher yield than that offered by traditional investment-grade corporate bonds.
Are You Playing Catch-Up On Your 401(k)? Read This Now
Are You Playing Catch-Up On Your 401(k)? Read This Now
Want Top Dollar for Your RIA? Buyers Are Looking for More Than Assets
Concerned about an AI bubble? Sign up for The Daily Upside for smart and actionable market news, built for investors. It turns out that succession planning doesn't benefit only clients and employees. It's good for valuations, too. Financial advisory mergers and acquisitions reached a torrid pace in 2025, with top registered investment advisory firms fetching record valuations.
Fidelity Contrafund’s Danoff: Opportunity Is Everywhere
In 2012, when Will Danoff went to visit Warren Buffett in Omaha, he asked the Oracle of Omaha for advice. Buffett told him: “I have one good idea every two years maybe. If you have a good idea, bet big.” Taking big positions in key stocks and being a patient investor helped Danoff rack up one of the most impressive performances for an active equity manager in recent history.
There’s more to infrastructure investing than data centers. 11 ways to diversify.
; ; ; ; Continue reading More for You
How Should Institutional Investors Approach 2026 H2—Active or Passive?
Market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty have renewed discussions about investing decisions and how institutional allocators should incorporate active or passive strategies. Research shows that passive strategies often beat active strategies, notably in U.S. large-cap equity markets, because of their high transparency and efficiency. In the decade through 2025, only 10% of active managers beat their passive indexes, .
How Should Institutional Investors Approach H2 2026—Active or Passive?
Market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty have renewed discussions about investing decisions and how institutional allocators should incorporate active or passive strategies. Research shows that passive strategies often beat active strategies, notably in U.S. large-cap equity markets, because of their high transparency and efficiency. In the decade through 2025, only 10% of active managers beat their passive indexes, .
Even if the Iran war ended today, US fuel prices aren’t likely to normalize this year
A sign displays the prices of unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel at a Chevron gas station in San Francisco, California, US, on 13 May 2026.Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images · Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images Sorry, US drivers, but don’t expect pump prices to return to prewar levels any time soon, even if the US and Iran agree to a lasting peace deal tomorrow.
Even if the Iran war ended today, US fuel prices aren’t likely to normalize this year
Sorry, US drivers, but don’t expect pump prices to return to prewar levels any time soon, even if the US and Iran agree to a lasting peace deal tomorrow. As the war with Iran enters its third month, drivers have become infuriated by rising gas prices – and inflation – and Donald Trump is facing a historic backlash in the polls. The president promised recently that relief will be swift once the war ends.
Age in place or downsize? Consider these five factors.
Downsizing to a smaller home used to be automatic for retirees to save money and live in a desirable location. In an age of soaring real estate prices and high mortgage rates, many retirees may come out ahead by staying in place. Others can still profit from moving. This article gives you five factors to consider before you make that difficult choice. Moving is both an emotional and financial decision, and more so in retirement because it comes at a life stage of change.
‘The worst time for wheat’: US farmers face losses to extreme heat and drought
Wheat is normally very resilient, but extreme conditions in the Great Plains have harmed this year’s crop. Photograph: Arin Yoon/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Photograph: Arin Yoon/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Merrill Nielsen’s wheat crop looked healthy after he planted it in the fall on his 2,500-acre farm in north-central Kansas, about 50 miles west of Salina, the plants benefiting from higher-than-normal November rainfall.
7 ETFs to play a healthcare rebound
; ; ; ; Continue reading More for You
Healthcare is due for a rebound. These ETFs are a good way to buy in.
Debbie Carlson Healthcare is underperforming the broader market early in the second quarter, following late 2025's short-lived pop. But some strategists see the sector as a bargain , with subsectors such as pharmaceuticals and biotechnology particularly attractive. At a time when the broader market is expensive and subject to headline risk, healthcare offers buyers a high-quality defensive option, one that could regain interest from investors seeking to reduce geopolitical risk.
Not All Total Bond Market ETFs Are the Same. Here’s What to Know.
Not understanding the difference between similarly named funds can be costly Kiersten Essenpreis for WSJ Total bond market ETFs are designed to give investors access to a swath of the bond market in a single holding. But while they have similar names, they aren’t created equal—and the differences could undermine your investment rationale or saddle your portfolio with greater risk than you want.
Want Income, Diversification and an Inflation Fix? Some Advisors Are Turning to Real Assets
Real love, I’m searching for a real love… Interest in real assets is rising, whether investors are concerned about inflation or see it as a way to diversify away from heavily concentrated stock indexes. Advisors often favor real assets because they’re physical, tangible investments that hold value, like real estate, commodities or infrastructure. While providing diversification and guarding against inflation, they can also earn income.
Your stock portfolio has too much tech. Consider these 12 ETFs.
Debbie Carlson Financial pros have long urged investors to hold diversified portfolios—and the risk posed by stock indexes' persistently heavy tech stock concentration has amplified those calls. Some investors are finally taking the hint. The S&P 500 index ended the volatile first quarter down 4.7%.
Upgrade to unlock to Pro Perks
I’d really love to hear from those with experience, what worked for you early on, what you wish you had done differently, and what helped you build momentum in the beginning. Your insights could make a big difference for someone just getting started.
What to know about including annuities in your 401(k)
Debbie Carlson While 401(k) plans are good at helping people save money for retirement, they don't help people spend it. Enter annuities. These insurance products are starting to show up in workplace retirement plans, pitched as a way to turn a career's worth of savings into reliable retirement income. But so far interest has been low, according to a 2024 survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, and not all retirement experts think these products are worthwhile.
‘It’s not sustainable’: US farmers reeling as Iran war pushes fertilizer costs up
Benchmark New Orleans nitrogen prices were at $350 a short ton in late December, and in late February, just before the conflict, had risen to $470, Yearsley says. As of 10 March, nitrogen prices were trading about $600, he says. Fertilizer prices have been elevated since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war, and nitrogen values were already rising in late 2025, but prices have nearly doubled since the shipping channel closed.
This small-cap value fund is crushing its peers. What it's buying now.
Debbie Carlson Investors have plenty to be worried about lately: escalating Middle East conflicts, inflation, and a weakening job market, not to mention that U.S. stock markets are still concentrated and expensive. Bill and Will Nasgovitz , father and son co-managers of the $955 million Heartland Value fund, a small-cap value fund, acknowledge there's plenty of fear—but also opportunities.
This Small-Cap Value Fund Is Crushing Its Peers. What It’s Buying Now.
This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.
Why Advisors Are Doubling Down on Munis, High-Quality Bonds Right Now
Concerned about an AI bubble? Sign up for The Daily Upside for smart and actionable market news, built for investors. It’s evident from the market jitters since the start of war with Iran that there’s no real incentive to reach for yield right now in fixed income.
These Seniors Find College Cheer by Living Close to Campus
Thousands of Americans retire every day, hanging it up to enjoy leisure, travel, and maybe some volunteering. Many are surprised to find themselves back at work: In a recent six-month period, 7% of retirees resumed working, according to an AARP survey. In some cases they need the money. In others their old company gives them a generous deal to consult on a project. And sometimes they just find retirement boring.
Forget the Golf Course. Retirees Are Moving Back to College Campuses.
Don Licocci, 83, a new resident at Clark Lindsey, holds his dog, Penny. (Photograph by Lucy Hewett) Retirement Feature There are now around 85 retirement homes in the U.S. with varying ties to universities. Some residents take college classes.
White House worries as gas prices jump amid ongoing US-Israel war on Iran
Across the US, the average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline has jumped nearly 27 cents in a week, to $3.25, and American consumers are bracing for higher prices at the gas pump as the US-Israel conflict with Iran threatens to disrupt the global oil supply. That fear has entered the White House too, where Donald Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles, is reportedly hunting for ideas to lower gasoline prices and officials are getting “screamed at” to bring good news, according to Politico.
How much do you know about minimizing taxes on your investments? Try our quiz
Debbie Carlson The steady payouts generated by bonds, certificates of deposit, dividend stocks and other income-generating assets and holdings come with a variety of tax implications for investors. Some get treated as ordinary income, while others are taxed at the capital-gains rate, among myriad other issues when it comes to paying the tax bill on your investments.
Your trust is out of date. How to fix it.
Debbie Carlson If you are planning on spring cleaning soon, put trust reviews on your to-do list. With generous federal estate-tax exemptions made permanent in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year, trusts that were created years ago to shield wealth from onerous federal estate taxes may be obsolete. Under the new tax policy individuals can exempt $15 million in assets from federal estate taxes, $30 million for couples, and those amounts will adjust for inflation annually.
Obsolete Trusts Are Costly and Restrictive. How to Bring Yours Up to Date.
Your Trust Is Out of Date. How to Fix It.
Barron’s Best Fund Families of 2025 Original
The top fund families of 2025 had exquisite timing—and managers with strong stomachs. How they navigated a tumultuous year. Last year gave savvy fund managers an ideal chance to prove their worth.
How Much Do You Know About Precious Metals? Take Our Quiz and Find Out
Kiersten Essenpreis for WSJ Precious metals have captivated people for centuries and continue to play a role in the modern world—as portfolio diversification, as a hedge against inflation, as a haven during tumultuous times and for industrial uses. Precious metals can be volatile, but after a record run-up over the past year, investor interest is high. There are collectible coins and bars for those interested in tangible ownership.
How Much Do You Know About Precious Metals? Take Our Quiz and Find Out
How Much Do You Know About Precious Metals? Take Our Quiz and Find Out
Social Security Administration
The Social Security Administration is the federal agency that administers Social Security programs, manages records, and determines eligibility. © SAUL LOEB—AFP/Getty Images The Social Security Administration is the federal agency that administers Social Security programs in the United States. Although many Americans associate Social Security with retirement benefits, the agency's role goes far beyond sending monthly payments to beneficiaries.
Metals Went from Record Highs to a Historic Selloff. What’s Next for Silver, Platinum, Palladium?
For better or for worse, everyone’s talking about silver. Believe it or not, the precious metal was the best-performing asset class last year, before face-planting at the start of 2026. After a record-breaking rally that took the price of silver over $100 an ounce for the first time in history, it has plunged by roughly a third over the past week and a half. Gold has led the upside for the past four years, but last year silver, platinum and palladium took off and outpaced the yellow metal.
This winning fund pro likes J&J, Lowes, and utility stocks
Rare is the active equity manager who can beat the S&P 500 index. Even rarer is one who has done it consistently over many years.Meet Susan Bao, manager of the $3.6 billion JPMorgan US Large Cap Core Plus fund (ticker: JLCAX), which has outperformed the S&P 500 over a three-, five-, and 10-year period.
This Winning Fund Pro Likes J&J, Lowe’s, and Utility Stocks
Rare is the active equity manager who can beat the S&P 500 index . Even rarer is one who has done it consistently over many years.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with Debbie
Contact Debbie, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack