Thomas Garretson, CFA


Senior Portfolio Strategist
Fixed Income Strategies
Portfolio Advisory Group–U.S.

Thomas Garretson is a senior portfolio strategist, Fixed Income Strategies, Portfolio Advisory Group–U.S. He has more than 15 years of experience in the financial services industry and joined RBC Wealth Management in 2013.

Thomas currently chairs the firm’s U.S. Fixed Income Subcommittee and serves on the Global Portfolio Advisory Committee and the U.S. Investment Committee. He collaborates with other members in setting firm-wide asset allocation recommendations. In addition, he is frequently quoted in leading sources of business information, including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and Reuters.

He earned a Master of Business Administration in finance from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. Thomas also has a Bachelor of Science in finance from the University of Denver.

He obtained the Chartered Financial Analyst designation from the CFA Institute and has passed the FINRA General Securities Representative Series 7 and 24 exam.

Thomas' insights

Fed rate cuts for what?

Analysis

The Fed has cut policy rates by 75 basis points since September only to see longer-term Treasury yields and mortgage rates increase by the same degree. We take a closer look at this divergence and its implications.

6 minute read

The price of Fed rate cut success is steep, but not too steep

The Fed has finally aggressively lowered interest rates. While a steeper yield curve reflects the market’s optimism that rate cuts will shore up the economic outlook, further steepness could be a sign the Fed will cut rates deeply, likely due to a recession.

12 minute read

The Fed’s big bang rate cut

After biding its time, the Fed kicked off its monetary easing cycle with a strong start out of the rate cut gates. While investors may harbour concerns the Fed is getting ahead of itself, we highlight why we’re encouraged by the Fed’s proactive move.

6 minute read

The Fed waits, but is it too late?

As expected, the Fed held off on a rate cut this week. But as policymakers await more economic data before a likely September rate cut, the data may already be signaling the central bank is too late.

6 minute read

Interest rate mood swings

April brought the usual spring showers, but it also brought some adjusted central bank rate cut expectations. We examine the what and why of the revisions and explain how investors should proceed.

9 minute read

The Fed adjusts its focus, but the rate outlook remains blurry

The Fed keeps playing down upside risks to inflation, but did it just start playing up downside risks to labour markets? Ahead of key jobs data, how sensitive might the Fed be to any labour market weakness?

7 minute read

Central banks are off to the races

While the Fed’s meeting didn’t deliver much that was new, it at least eased concerns that rate cuts could be delayed. Other central banks grabbed the spotlight, with potentially significant ramifications.

7 minute read