Facilitated: Dr. Ed Seifried
Dr. Ed will discuss just what 2026 is likely to look like for the U.S. economy—cutting through the noise to focus on what really matters for decision-makers. The discussion will cover the outlook for economic growth, inflation, and the labor market, with a practical, plain-English assessment of where GDP is headed and why. He will highlight the key risks that could push the economy off course, and identify the economic indicators bankers should be watching most closely as the cycle evolves.
Dr. Ed will also spend time demystifying Federal Reserve policy and FOMC decision-making in 2026—explaining not just what the Fed says, but how it actually behaves. The interest-rate outlook across the yield curve will be discussed in terms of real-world implications for margins, funding, and balance-sheet strategy. The session will wrap up with a clear update on where Trump-era tariffs stand today, what could change going forward, and why trade policy remains an important wildcard for inflation and growth.