NFCU's Frick: The Fed has less power to fix things than markets want to believe

Money Life with Chuck Jaffe

Robert Frick, corporate economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, says that the current issues keeping inflation high are about supply-side economics and are the kinds of problems that the Federal Reserve can't just fix by cutting interest rates. So while he sees the Fed as having pulled off the soft landing earlier this year, it can't "save us" this time, although he says the strong economy should ensure that the cycle should play out without a crash or catastrophe.

Ann Somers Hogg, director for health care research for the Clayton Christensen Institute, discusses her work showing that caregivers -- particularly working mothers -- are suffering through mental health issues impacted largely by society not understanding the issues they are facing. As a result, she notes that if health is wealth, working moms are living in extreme poverty.

Plus Bryce Doty, senior portfolio manager at Sit Investment Associates, says the uptick in inflation is not enough to overwhelm the yields investors are earning, noting that real returns may be better than ever. He says investors should enjoy collecting the high yields while interest rates remain high, but total returns should improve once cuts start. Doty is not expecting meaningful rate cuts this year -- he anticipates two reductions, one after the election -- but says that the long-term average gap between the Fed funds rate and inflation is well above its typical zero, so the central bank can cut rates and have a positive gap, meaning it can claim to be tough even as reductions start. Doty anticipates the important cuts -- the ones which narrow that gap back to near zero -- will occur in 2025.