Expectations for 2026: Fed, Monetary Policy, Economy (Federated Hermes)

In this episode, Craig Jeffery speaks with Debbie Cunningham and John Mosko of Federated Hermes about expectations for 2026. They cover interest rate policy, Fed leadership changes, inflation pressure, and investment strategy. How should treasury teams respond to a slow-growth environment and policy uncertainty? Listen in for insight.   Views are those of Federated Securities Corp. as of December 11th, 2025, and are subject to change based on market conditions and other factors. These views should not be construed as a recommendation for any specific security or sector. Due to various risks and uncertainties, actual events, results or actual performance may differ materially from that reflected or contemplated in any forward-looking statements. Nothing contained herein may be relied upon as a guarantee, or a representation as to the future. Although the information provided in this podcast has been obtained from sources which Federated Hermes believes to be reliable, it does not guarantee accuracy of such information and such information may be incomplete or condensed. Federated Hermes is not affiliated with Strategic Treasurer. You could lose money by investing in a money market fund. Although some money market funds seek to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, they cannot guarantee they will do so. An investment in money market funds is not a bank account and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Bond prices are sensitive to changes in interest rates and a rise in interest rates can cause a decline in their prices. Duration is a measure of a security's price sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Securities with longer durations are more sensitive to changes in interest rates than securities of shorter durations. Federated Securities Corp. is Distributor of the Federated Hermes funds. Separately Managed Accounts are available through Federated Investment Counseling.

In this episode, Craig Jeffery explores how behavioral finance applies to treasury. He unpacks key biases like overconfidence, anchoring, and loss aversion and how these influence forecasting, investing, and risk management. How can treasurers spot biases and build better frameworks for decision making? Tune in to find out.

In this episode, Craig Jeffery discusses the GENIUS Act and its impact on treasury, from payment stablecoins and tokenized assets to what treasurers should expect from banks and tech providers. Backed by recent survey results, this episode breaks down the framework, adoption trends, and what to watch as digital asset regulation takes hold in 2026 and beyond. Register for the upcoming webinar on the GENIUS Act and flash survey results here.  

Craig Jeffery talks with Paul McMeekin of Bottomline about the latest Treasury Fraud & Controls Survey findings and what they reveal about today's threat landscape. From AI-generated fraud and deepfakes to payment rail changes and rising losses among small businesses, this episode covers practical defenses for a fast-evolving fraud environment. Access the 2025 Treasury Fraud & Controls Survey and learn more at bottomline.com.

The cost of fraud for banks and credit unions continues to rise, with every $1 lost resulting in nearly $6 in total costs once compliance, operations, and customer trust are factored in. In this interview, Jeff Scott with Q2 will explore how banks can address this growing challenge by shifting from fragmented, reactive defenses to a proactive "Fraud Intelligence" approach. He will discuss how data-driven insights, automation, and integration can reduce inefficiencies, cut the true cost of fraud, and strengthen both protection and customer experience.

In this episode, Craig Jeffery talks with John Mosko and Sue Hill of Federated Hermes about Jerome Powell's final months as Fed Chair and what a leadership change could mean for markets, rates, and policy transparency. They cover potential successors, economic risks, and how treasury teams can prepare for evolving FOMC dynamics and potential impacts in 2026. Views are those of Federated Securities Corp. as of November 7th, 2025, and are subject to change based on market conditions and other factors. These views should not be construed as a recommendation for any specific security or sector. Due to various risks and uncertainties, actual events, results or actual performance may differ materially from that reflected or contemplated in any forward-looking statements. Nothing contained herein may be relied upon as a guarantee, or a representation as to the future. Although the information provided in this podcast has been obtained from sources which Federated Hermes believes to be reliable, it does not guarantee accuracy of such information and such information may be incomplete or condensed. Federated Hermes is not affiliated with Strategic Treasurer.  

In this episode, Craig Jeffery talks with Sue Caras of Bank of America about how treasury teams can lead with clarity in the face of uncertainty. From liquidity and forecasting to automation and payments, they discuss practical ways to strengthen control and build agility. How can treasurers focus on what they can control and prepare for what they can't? Tune in to find out.  

This episode dives into the challenges of managing foreign exchange and interest rate risk and how AI can help. Paul Galloway outlines key market drivers, hedging strategies, and the growing role of predictive analytics, generative AI, and agentic tools in risk monitoring, automation, and decision support. Learn how treasury teams can use AI to stay ahead.

In this episode, Craig Jeffery talks with Lisa Christie and Tom Gregory of TD Bank about why fraud prevention still hinges on mastering the basics. They explore escalating threats, the power of alerts, the principle of least privilege, and how education is key to staying ahead.

Traditional AR and AP finance is no longer enough. With evolving disclosure requirements, tariff pressures, and increasing supplier expectations, treasurers must deliver liquidity and visibility with fewer resources while managing heavier supplier demands. In this episode, Sean VanGundy and Jeremy Reedus join Craig Jeffery from Strategic Treasurer and Michel Abranches from Monkey Tech (Money is Key) to explore how working capital 2.0 helps treasurers move beyond one-size-fits-all programs. They discuss how hybrid approaches, such as auction-based supplier financing for lower rates alongside automated dynamic discounting, can optimize AR and AP, strengthen supplier adoption, and deliver measurable EBITDA impact. The conversation also highlights how real-time visibility gives treasurers a true decision cockpit and how removing the lift of supplier onboarding and support enables higher participation and improved governance. https://www.monkeytech.com/