Franklin Templeton

A rising number of U.S. taxpayers are subject to an investment income surtax, introduced a decade ago in federal legislation. Here are some strategies that may help mitigate the impact of the tax.

For married couples, it is important to understand the rules for claiming Social Security survivor benefits in order to plan ahead. Our Bill Cass discusses the details.

The needs of retirement plan sponsors and savers are changing, and advisors may want to consider a value proposition for the “next normal” in the shifting retirement landscape, according to Mike Dullaghan, Retirement Strategist at Franklin Templeton.

Here are some financial planning considerations and steps newlyweds may want to take after the wedding. Our Bill Cass highlights some of the key areas.

Personalized messaging has a powerful impact. Our Kevin Murphy believes it is time for the financial services industry to deliver personalized solutions and advice.

Our recent 529 Month webinar focused on how 529 plans are used, the impact on federal financial aid, and expanded uses. Here are some of the leading topics discussed.

Franklin Templeton Fixed Income CIO Sonal Desai discusses why rising investment and persistently loose US fiscal policy are simultaneously pushing in the direction of higher long-term real interest rates.

Several factors account for the apparent disconnect between headline US economic data and what polls suggest many Americans feel. Find out more from Franklin Templeton Institute’s Stephen Dover.

A grandparent may choose to fund a 529 plan for a grandchild’s education. Our Bill Cass discusses key tax and estate planning considerations as well as the impact on student financial aid.

Despite the US Federal Reserve’s cautious stance on interest rates and the shifting dynamics of the equity and fixed income markets, Franklin Income Investors CIO Ed Perks believes conditions are favorable for investing in these asset classes.

Will the good times continue for the UK equity market in light of an upcoming election? Marcus Weyerer opines.

For families saving for college, 529 plans remain popular. Our Bill Cass shares some key facts about 529 plans.

Franklin Templeton Institute’s Tony Davidow discusses democratization of alternative investments and the lessons learned from institutions that have historically used alternatives with Matt Brown, Founder and CEO of CAIS.

Although there were no huge surprises coming out of the recent Fed meeting, it may have provided hints on what the FOMC is thinking about future monetary policy changes. Franklin Templeton Institute analyzes the Fed’s statement and press conference.

With continued economic growth and elevated inflation levels, the Fed keeps delaying interest-rate cuts. The Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions team provides a historical analysis to make sense of the Fed rate cycle and what it implies for multi-asset investors.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

March U.S. 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.

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.

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.

The upcoming US presidential elections transcend mere political rivalry. Stephen Dover, Head of Franklin Institute, examines the policy differences between the major parties and their potential implications on capital markets in the years to come. He also discusses whether elections and their outcomes have significantly affected equity markets or if other factors made more of an impact.

Franklin Templeton Fixed Income CIO Sonal Desai believes that the Fed's March policy meeting was not as dovish as some commentators and market participants have claimed, and that the Fed is still pragmatic and cautious about inflation and rate cuts.

Thoughts on the US monetary policy path ahead from Franklin Templeton Institute’s Stephen Dover and Rick Polsinello.

In recent years, private equity fundraising surged, yet exits slowed drastically in 2022, prompting institutional investors to rebalance portfolios through increased secondaries activity. Franklin Templeton Institute’s Senior Strategist Tony Davidow explains.

With a laser focus on the future, David Mann, our Head of Global Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) Product and Capital Markets, shares his 2024 outlook for the ETF industry and the key trends he sees taking shape.

While interest rates were left unchanged at the January Fed meeting as expected, there were some interesting hints about future monetary policy. Stephen Dover, Head of Franklin Templeton Institute, opines.

Political risk is global in 2024: Franklin Templeton Institute’s Kim Catechis highlights key elections to watch across the world in the coming year.

US gross domestic product surprised to the upside in the fourth quarter of 2023, primarily led by US consumers and the government. Franklin Fixed Income Economist Nikhil Mohan sees the growth mix remaining largely the same in 2024.

A year of significant monetary policy tightening is coming to a close, making Franklin Templeton Fixed Income optimistic about muni bonds in the year ahead. Get the team’s 2024 muni-bond outlook.

If 2023 was the year of the “Magnificent Seven,” 2024 may be a year where small-, mid- and large-cap companies will take the spotlight, according to Franklin Equity Group.

What were the big ETF trends of 2023? David Mann, Global Head of ETF Product & Capital Markets, reviews some of his predictions for this year—and how they panned out.

Declining commercial real estate valuations will not likely lead to a wave of defaults among muni issuers, according to Franklin Templeton Fixed Income’s municipal bond team.

Although once considered a niche strategy, secondaries have matured and now represent a vital cog in the private equity ecosystem, according to Franklin Templeton Institute’s Tony Davidow.

Given the challenges presented by today's market environment, private credit can be a valuable and versatile tool in sourcing incremental growth and income, dampening portfolio volatility, and hedging the corrosive impact of inflation. Read this paper for an in-depth look at the types of private credit, potential benefits and how to access them.

Thoughts on the current US debt challenge and the long-term implications for markets and the economy from Stephen Dover, Head of Franklin Templeton Institute.

Markets want to believe policy interest rates will soon fall—but inflation and growth data tell a very different story, argues Franklin Templeton Fixed Income CIO Sonal Desai.

Japan’s business and government leaders have undertaken efforts to revitalize the country’s economy. Dina Ting, Franklin Templeton ETFs’ Head of Global Index Portfolio Management, discusses some of these positive developments.

It is not yet clear when or if we’ll have a recession in 2023— but it has certainly been a challenging market environment, and with dislocation comes opportunity.

There's a potential illiquidity premium - the excess return received for tying up capital for an extended period of time - for allocating capital to private equity, private credit and private real estate markets that have historically delivered a substantial illiquidity premium relative to their public market equivalents.

Learn how you can help clients determine the appropriate percentage to allocate to private markets by developing an "illiquidity bucket" that can also help instill a long-term disciplined approach to investing.

Beyond the near-term turmoil, there may need to be a re-evaluation of the regional banking model in the United States, according to a recent panel hosted by Stephen Dover, Head of Franklin Templeton Institute.

Banking turmoil continues to rattle the global markets and investor confidence.

Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions explores the shared macro concerns that set the stage for the recent banking crisis, its ripple effects on the broader economy and implications for multi-asset investing.

Implications of SVB and Credit Suisse on the European banking sector—check out highlights from our recent panel discussion with Kim Catechis, Investment Strategist with the Franklin Templeton Institute.

Financial market volatility has followed the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. Stephen Dover, Head of Franklin Templeton Institute, shares his thoughts on possible implications outside the United States.

Why did Silicon Valley Bank fail?

Here’s an update on the latest news involving Silicon Valley Bank and the implications for the Fed and markets, from Stephen Dover, Head of Franklin Templeton Institute.

Making the case for international value investing—thoughts from Templeton Global Equity Group on why now’s the time to consider expanding one’s investment horizons.

US market structure was back in the news recently with several stocks experiencing irregular price movements on the morning of January 24.

A slowdown in US economic activity this year is likely to impact most states, which could face budget deficits, according to Jennifer Johnston, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income’s Director of Municipal Bonds.

Dina Ting, our Head of Global Index Portfolio Management, offers her perspective on the allure of multifactor US mid-capitalization strategies for 2023.

We believe it is important to keep you informed on the latest proposals and regulations impacting the retirement industry, as well as implications to your business.

Public and private real estate investments present a compelling opportunity in the current environment of high inflation and rising interest rates, according to Daniel Scher and Blair Schmicker from Franklin Equity Group.

Templeton Global Equity Group weighs in on inflation’s emergence in Japan, recent monetary policy shifts, and the implications for investors.

Stephen Dover, Head of Franklin Templeton Institute, shares his scorecard on some market prognostications for 2022, and what his team is watching in 2023—from blockchain to balanced portfolios.

Yield is set to be a more important component of total return for investors during the next few years as the “Fed Put” exerts less influence on markets.

“Web1” represents static websites, and “Web2” represents the shift in the delivery of the internet to user-centric, dynamic web offerings and platforms.

Franklin Mutual Series believes dividend payers can give value investors better total returns over the longer term.

Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), climate and multi-asset implications—Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions examines the IRA from an investment lens.

While a divided US government may look appealing, there are long-term risks amid resulting gridlock, according to Head of Franklin Templeton Institute Stephen Dover.

What are the implications of strategic asset allocation, the dynamics of public and private credit, tech-driven megatrends, and more?

Markets hoped for a dovish Federal Reserve “pivot,” but got a hawkish surprise instead.

It is unlikely that US corporate defined benefit (DB) pensions will have to face liquidity issues like those UK DB pensions recently witnessed, primarily because of their different approach to valuing liabilities, varying use of derivatives/leverage, and therefore a different investment style of liability-driven investing (LDI), according to Franklin Templeton Fixed Income’s Tom Meyers.

Franklin Mutual Series believes that fewer value investors in the market today may mean better opportunities for those who remain.

On August 16th, President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, ending months of uncertainty over whether congressional Democrats would ever reach agreement on a compromise budget reconciliation bill.

In the midst of back-to-school season, David Mann opines on the real-life applications of mysterious middle-school math and exchange-traded funds.

The municipal bond market has not been immune to bouts of volatility hitting the markets this year, but there are still pockets of opportunity, according to Franklin Templeton Fixed Income’s Director of Municipal Bonds, Ben Barber.

Federal Reserve Chairman Powell delivered another forceful message to markets that an early pivot back to rate cuts will not happen until inflation is under control.

Despite widespread use in institutional portfolios, alternative investments are not typically found in US defined contribution plans.

Franklin Mutual Series’ Investment Strategist Katrina Dudley believes that higher inflation in Europe stemming from rising energy prices, as well as lower relative interest rates, may keep the euro under pressure.

Franklin Mutual Series explains how global investing may provide a path to better returns.

Fed Chairman Powell delivered a forceful and unequivocal message today at Jackson Hole, pushing back against market expectations of an early pivot back to rate cuts.

David Mann, Head of Global Exchange Traded Funds Capital Markets, takes this quiet end-of-summer opportunity to pre-empt any of the typical ETF investor concerns that can pop up during busier times.

Equity markets have clearly taken notice of rising inflation—and not in a good way.

Mutual Series’ Oliver Wong believes high-quality microcaps house hidden benefits, despite the extreme market declines seen in the first half of the year.

Franklin Equity Group Portfolio Manager Grant Bowers shares his outlook on inflation and recessionary risks and where he’s finding opportunities in US equities amid recent market volatility.

What do sports cards have in common with exchange-traded funds?

Infrastructure has recently seen increased attention as broad equities have been weaker in 2022 due to inflation, rising interest rates, global supply chain disruptions from COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. 

Templeton Global Equity Group explores the legacy of Abenomics, the emergence of inflation in Japan, and finding value opportunities there.

With National 529 Day last month and graduation season underway, the cost of education is at the top of many people’s minds.

Thoughts on recent market volatility and implications for investors from Head of Franklin Templeton Institute, Stephen Dover.

With economies scrambling for alternatives to Russian fossil fuels, Dina Ting, our Head of Global Index Portfolio Management, offers perspective on single-country portfolio exposure to other world oil producers.

Credit market volatility this year has been extreme.

Wylie Tollette, Head of Client Investment Solutions with Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions, joins the head of the Franklin Templeton Institute, Stephen Dover, for a conversation on the recent equity market selloff.

Selling an exchange-traded fund (ETF) should be just as easy as buying one, irrespective of the fund’s size or volume.

Coming out of the depths of the pandemic, US equity and fixed income markets are facing new challenges this year amid a rising interest rate environment and deceleration in growth.

The US Treasury yield curve momentarily inverted.

Franklin Mutual Series’ Katrina Dudley sees President Emmanuel Macron’s re-election as a positive for the French economy and regional equity markets over the longer term.

For US states, spring marks budget season, a time to check the ledger board and allocate funds to entities and projects within the state—or cut back where needed.

Head of the Franklin Templeton Investment Institute, Stephen Dover, recently hosted a sustainable investing roundtable.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has ramifications for global inflation and growth, according to Franklin Templeton Fixed Income.

We recently hosted a special edition of our “What Our Managers Think” panel discussion to address the current situation in Ukraine.

Kim Catechis, Investment Strategist for the Franklin Templeton Investment Institute, recently shared his thoughts around the situation in Ukraine and the implications for the global economy and capital markets.

Russia has invaded Ukraine.

With many mutual funds converting into exchange-traded funds (ETFs), the combination of ETF trading and net asset value is garnering more attention.

Stephen Dover shares insights on investing in fixed income in a rising-rate environment with Walter Kilcullen, Head of US High Yield for Western Asset Management, and Reema Agarwal, Head of Floating Rate Debt for Franklin Templeton Fixed Income.

With inflation running at multi-decade highs, major central banks get ready to tighten monetary policy.

Franklin Templeton’s second edition of our “Voice of the American Worker” survey revealed that US workers are re-evaluating how they think about their jobs and what they expect from employers.

When considering portfolio allocation, it’s important to keep in mind the wide dispersion of returns among economies.

Stephen Dover, Head of the Franklin Templeton Investment Institute, recently sat down with colleagues Scott Glasser, Chief Investment Officer of ClearBridge Investments, and Mark Lindbloom, Portfolio Manager for Western Asset, to discuss recent US market volatility.

The intricacies and knock-on effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the semiconductor and automotive industries continue to present interesting dynamics for investors to navigate.

The US Federal Reserve is walking a tightrope—if it acts too quickly it risks hampering growth and market volatility, but if it acts too slowly it risks spiraling price increases.

Disagreements about the outlook for inflation in the new year and beyond continue.

With January being a month for prognostications, David Mann, our Head of Global Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) Capital Markets, shares his annual outlook for the ETF industry and key trends he sees taking shape in 2022.

With both the pandemic and inflation proving longer lasting than many had anticipated, what does that mean for central bank policy in the months ahead?

Tracy Chen, Portfolio Manager with Brandywine Global, and Tim Wang, Head of Investment Research for Clarion Partners, join Head of the Franklin Templeton Investment Institute, Stephen Dover, to take a closer look at how the pandemic has impacted real estate markets in the United States and China.

While the new US infrastructure investment bill didn’t have any initiatives directly targeting the municipal bond market, there are still implications for munis in the longer term, according to our Municipal Bond Director of Research Jennifer Johnston. She explains the ramifications for investors in the space.

The global pandemic has further highlighted the importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in investing. With the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference coming up in November, it is an opportune time to focus on ESG—particularly the “E”—and the roles of policymakers, asset managers and end investors.

Is inflation truly transitory? Will central banks start to tighten the policy reins? Will earnings continue to boost equity valuations? Heading into year end, the K2 Advisors team ponders these and other questions in its fourth quarter (Q4) hedge-fund strategy outlook.

The next decade will see an urgent and widespread boom in investments in innovation across all economic sectors, according to Stephen Dover and Kim Catechis of the Franklin Templeton Investment Institute. They say this technology wave will be experienced in both private and public sectors, and in every facet of investment portfolios for years to come.

Robust engagement with company management can be key in sparking catalysts that unlock shareholder value and potentially lead to better returns over the longer term, according to Franklin Mutual Series Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Ambassador Tim Rankin.

When it comes to questions about inflation, growth, and the impacts of vaccination rates on global economies, many of us are asking: what’s next? Our Head of the Franklin Templeton Investment Institute, Stephen Dover, and five economists from Franklin Templeton’s specialist investment teams discuss the current environment and how it shapes their views on the path forward.

“Deep Water Waves” represent the powerful long-term forces that face investors, fundamentally altering the economic, political, and public policy foundations for asset prices.

While it’s tempting to focus on passing market storms, Franklin Templeton Investment Institute explores these forces that look to shape the future of our world—and the investment landscape.

Franklin Templeton’s 2021 US Retirement Income Strategies and Expectations survey revealed financial-related concerns across generations of Americans including health care, inadequate savings, and debt management—and the need for a personalized approach to retirement planning.

This year’s annual economic policy symposium in Jackson Hole opens the six months that will likely define the legacy of the Powell Fed’s first term.

Ed Perks, CIO of Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions, outlines what factors should likely support economic growth, how he views inflation, why US equities remain attractive, and where income-seeking investors should look for potential opportunities.

Mutual Series Portfolio Managers Katrina Dudley and Mandana Hormozi discuss why Europe deserves renewed attention.

China is in the midst of a tightening regulatory cycle which has led to some investor uncertainty and heightened market volatility.

The unpredictable nature of politics and government action within individual countries can make a case for disaggregating international exposure, according to our Dina Ting.

Our Chief Market Strategist, Stephen Dover, believes that water risk is global now—devastating floods, unseasonal hurricanes, droughts, megafires, and more demonstrate this.

Our Chief Market Strategist Stephen Dover explores blockchain and digital assets through an equity-investor lens with Anthony Hardy and Christophe Vande Walle.

The Fed now acknowledges inflation risks are to the upside.

As Europe’s economy continues to recover from COVID-19, it appears the central bank will remain accommodative, but for how long?

Emerging market (EM) economies are not what they used to be.

Commodities prices have been moving higher this spring amid rising demand and rising inflation expectations globally as economies emerge from the pandemic.

Rising housing prices often reflect a country’s economic growth and health.

As more people are getting vaccinated and economic conditions return to normal, Franklin Equity Group’s Jonathan Curtis says the digital transformation themes that accelerated during the COVID-19 crisis are still just getting started.

Franklin Mutual Series’ Director of Research Grace Hoefig sits down with us to explain how value investing involves more than just computing ratios, and why the answer to the age-old question “growth or value” should be “yes.”

As the US recovery gains momentum, Franklin Equity Group’s Grant Bowers explains why pent-up consumer demand should present a fertile environment for stocks and highlights some opportunities he sees in the US equity market.

Our Chief Market Strategist Stephen Dover speaks with portfolio managers Matt Moberg from Franklin Equity Group and Aram Green from ClearBridge Investments on how they factor inflation and valuations into stock-picking decisions.

Our recent investing in innovation roundtable confirmed that investing in innovation requires intuitive and fundamental knowledge.

US President Joe Biden recently announced an ambitious new $2 trillion infrastructure plan, which touches many areas of the US economy. Jennifer Johnston, director of research, Franklin Templeton Municipal Bonds, outlines some highlights of this sweeping legislation, and how it could impact the muni market.

US President Joe Biden recently announced an ambitious new $2 trillion infrastructure plan, which touches many areas of the US economy.

Blockchain has the potential to launch a new global digital renaissance, transforming financial services, supply chains, healthcare, backend offices, and more. Our Chief Market Strategist Stephen Dover outlines how we continue to evaluate its risks and opportunities as active investors.

From digital factories to plant-based clothing, climate change investing is much more than just investing in renewable energy, according to the Templeton Global Equity Group.

While gold is valued for a variety of reasons, the uncertainty and economic fallout tied to the COVID-19 pandemic saw investment drive the price of the yellow metal to record highs in 2020.

Investors choose particular exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for many reasons, but volume and liquidity are often important considerations.

While a global recovery has now become the base case for financial markets, differences between countries and regions on the path toward normalcy are significant and seem set to widen.

The first quarter of 2021 was challenging for investors in biotechnology, but Franklin Equity Group Portfolio Managers Evan McCulloch, Wendy Lam and Akiva Felt believe the second half of the year will likely bring welcome tailwinds for the industry.

Another round of stimulus totaling $1.9 trillion is making its way through the US economy, with hopes it will trigger a sharp rebound from the ravages of COVID-19.

The American Jobs Plan is not only the biggest traditional infrastructure proposal in over 50 years, but if approved, it will also fund significant investments in human and environmental infrastructure.

With global equities trading near record highs, many investors are questioning the potential for continued gains going forward.

With a broad-based economic reopening coming closer into focus, investors are planning for the next stage in the cycle.

Is it time to give newer or smaller exchange-traded funds (ETFs) a look?

The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating for individuals and economies around the world.

Entrepreneurial women’s lack of access to venture capital (VC) is one of the oldest stories in the world. How do we change herstory and empower women entrepreneurs and founders?

The case for disaggregating international exposure by allocating to single countries remains strong, according to Dina Ting, Head of Global Index Portfolio Management, Franklin Templeton Exchange-Traded Funds.

COVID-19 caused ripple effects throughout many industries and sectors, including automobiles.

There is significant variation in how countries have handled the pandemic, managed fiscal and monetary policy, and supported their economies, according to Templeton Global Macro.

The United Kingdom and European Union finally put Brexit to bed, striking a deal in the final days of 2020. While the deal may not be perfect for either side, David Zahn, our Head of European Fixed Income, says the markets welcomed the removal of uncertainty.

Ongoing uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic has strengthened headwinds to global growth, says Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions CIO Ed Perks. In his 2021 investment outlook, he says nimble and diversified positioning is key to effective investment strategies.

Our Head of Equities, Stephen Dover, shares his 2021 equity outlook. He sees opportunity amid upheaval.

The US elections have implications for emerging markets in the area of global trade relations in particular, but for investors, it’s important to look at countries and companies individually within the asset class, according to Portfolio Manager Andrew Ness. He joins our Head of Equities Stephen Dover to discuss how emerging markets are navigating today’s challenges—including the COVID-19 pandemic—and note they are home to some of the most innovative and resilient companies in the world.

Emerging markets have had different approaches to coping with COVID-19 and are at different stages of recovery. Our emerging markets equity team examines trends, news and data shaping emerging markets in the third quarter, and shares its latest outlook.

The pace of innovation is accelerating. See why Matt Moberg, PM of Franklin DynaTech Fund, thinks the fourth industrial revolution is just beginning.

The coronavirus pandemic is hurting Brazilian banks in the near term, but is the outlook entirely grim? Franklin Templeton Emerging Markets Equity’s Gustavo Stenzel explains why certain banks could emerge from the outbreak stronger relative to a new pack of financial technology competitors.v

Given fears of a COVID-19 resurgence and US election uncertainties looming, many investors are wondering what comes next for policymakers in terms of supporting the economy. Our Fixed Income CIO Sonal Desai weighs in on the possibility of negative US interest rates or other measures.

Dr. Michael Hasenstab and team examine the economic implications of the global pandemic, then look ahead to reopened economies and a post-virus world.

The coronavirus has dealt a severe and unexpected shock to people - and markets - worldwide. Our senior investment leaders examine where we go from here, outlining how they see a recovery taking shape once the crisis passes.