In this episode of the Dental Boardroom Podcast, host Wes Read, CPA and financial advisor at Practice CFO, is joined by Brandon Hobson and Paul for their quarterly deep dive into the stock market, global economy, and what dentists and practice owners should prepare for as 2026 approaches.The episode covers:The Federal Reserve’s rate movements and expected leadership changeWhether the current AI wave is a bubble or a true productivity revolutionThe future relevance of the traditional 60/40 investment strategyHow economic shifts impact dentists’ borrowing, practice finances, and patient spendingPractice CFO’s investment outlook and positioning for 2026A must-listen for dental entrepreneurs and investors navigating today’s unpredictable financial landscape.Key Topics & Takeaways1. Federal Reserve Update & Interest RatesCurrent Fed Funds Rate: 3.75%–4%, with another 0.25% cut expected soon.Kevin Hassett is the likely replacement for Jerome Powell in 2026   potentially a more politically influenced choice.Concerns about Fed independence rising due to political pressure.Rate cuts stimulate borrowing but risk inflation if overdone.Importance for dentists:Affects practice loans, buildouts, refinancing, and equipment financing.Impacts patient discretionary spending, especially in cosmetic dentistry.2. Stagflation Risk?Inflation appears stable around the mid-2% range.Unemployment creeping toward 4%.Risk emerges if inflation rises while unemployment increases = “stagflation.”Not yet alarming, but the rate of change is what matters.3. GDP & Economic StrengthU.S. GDP last reading (Q2): 3.8%, stronger than expected.Global GDP remains surprisingly strong despite trade tensions.Q3 & Q4 readings delayed due to government shutdown but expected to stay positive.4. AI: Bubble or Breakthrough?Big tech’s AI infrastructure spend expected to hit $3 trillion by 2028.53% of investors believe we are in an AI bubble.OpenAI & NVIDIA valuations are 30–40× revenue, compared to Walmart at 1.3×.MIT study: 95% of companies currently see no ROI from AI.Major concerns:Revenue lag vs. massive AI investmentCircular funding structures (promising investments without cash to fulfill them)Big tech taking on debt to fund AI (Meta’s off-balance-sheet financing)Parallel drawn to the dot-com era   huge innovation + huge speculative hype.5. What About the Magnificent Seven?High valuations and interconnected dependence create contagion risk.NVIDIA’s unusually high profit margins may attract new competition.Some tech (like Google, Meta) still offers strong fundamentals & cash flow.But investors should avoid blindly overweighting tech indexes.6. Is the Classic 60/40 Portfolio Back?After years of underperformance, value stocks and quality companies are regaining momentum.PracticeCFO’s positioning:Lower tech exposure (15–18% vs. S&P 35–40%)Higher weight in value, quality, and cash-flow-focused companies20–40% international stocks for diversificationAI benefits will extend to all sectors   consumer staples may monetize AI faster and cheaper than mega-tech.7. Guidance for Dentists & Practice OwnersElective dentistry depends on consumer discretionary income   market downturns may reduce patient demand for cosmetics.Rising long-term rates affect:Practice purchasesBuildoutsNew location expansionDentists should:Lock in favorable financing when possibleWatch overhead and maintain cash reservesAvoid emotional investment decisionsReassess risk tolerance if nearing retirement