As much as we caution investors against making knee-jerk reactions to the news, your investments and your long-term planning don't exist in a vacuum either. That's why when I attend conferences like the Barron's Top Independent Advisors Summit or the Schwab Impact Conference, I like to come back with a report that I think will be beneficial to my clients and listeners. It's just another way that we at Keen Wealth try to give the folks we work with a comprehensive financial-planning experience.

Matt Wilson and I recently travelled to Washington, D.C. for a series of briefings organized by my friends at CEO Coaching International. And yes, on the one hand, it seems like the tumult in Washington and the coming midterm elections could have serious implications for things like tax planning, estate planning, and even health care. But I also came away from these discussions feeling a bit more hopeful about our country's politics than I have in quite some time, and I remain bullish on our economic outlook for the rest of the year.

On today's show, I invited CEO Coaching International's Chris Larkins to give his own perspective on what we learned in D.C. In addition to being a successful entrepreneur and CEO coach, Chris has a comprehensive political background. His expertise helps us cut through the noise that's been clogging our TVs and social media streams and delivers solid, practical insights on the state of our politics and economy.