The Bond Pivot: Jim Bianco on Why it’s Time to Start Buying Bonds

Jim Bianco, President and Macro Strategist at Bianco Research, sits down with Wilf for an in-depth look at global bond markets, central bank policy, and what it means for equities and your portfolio construction.  After maintaining a bearish stance on bonds since 2020, Bianco reveals why he has finally stepped back from that call and now sees value in the bond market. With US yields crossing 5% and global rates surging, Bianco explains why bonds are offering fair value for the first time in years, and why strong nominal GDP growth justifies higher rates as opposed to sending warning signs.  Despite that major pivot, Jim explains why he prefers long-term TIPS over nominal Treasuries to hedge ongoing inflation risks, and explores the risks to his call that come from surging bond yields in Europe and Japan, which could mean there is more downside to come. Wilf and Jim discuss the evolving nature of the Federal Reserve under Kevin Warsh including why the unanimous 12–0 September vote to hike rates makes it HARDER for the Fed to re-establish their credibility in the short term, with risks of higher yields as a result through the rest of 2026, and enormous competing pressures on the Fed around their next two meetings, which sit either side of the mid-term elections. They also discuss why rising yields haven’t derailed stocks more; why he thinks Scott Bessent has been forced to make outlandish claims like “I am the house”; why the scale of the US debt problem is overstated; why he is constructive gold, but disappointed by its recent performance; why he loves crypto long term and thinks the failure of the Clarity Act is in fact a good thing. Finally Jim outlines why a 60/40 portfolio is still sensible long term, but not for the reasons you might think, and why the key question for the next stock market crash is not the level prices fall to, but the time they remain there – “a bear market is time, not price.” Follow Wilfred Frost on X: @WilfredFrost Follow Jim Bianco on X: @biancoresearch   0:00 Intro 2:45 Bonds fair value 5:01 Why rates have surged 8:50 Fed still not credible 15:48 Warsh Fed unpacked 23:00 Bessent’s interventions  27:27 Risk of higher yields 29:40 Risk from foreign yields 32:24 High rates for stocks  36:37 Rise of retail traders 40:45 Debt problem overstated  44:40 Gold - constructive but disappointed 45:44 Bull on crypto 50:33 60/40 - still works but for new reasons 53:01 Start to BUY bonds 54:51 Bear Mkt is Time Not Price   Recorded 1st October 2026 Watch the full episode on The Master Investor Podcast YouTube channel   And follow @WilfredFrost on X and Linked In   Sponsored by BNY Investments, Interactive Brokers - ibkr.com/masterinvestor, The World Gold Council and London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG).    The Master Investor Podcast is produced by Paradine Productions, Master Investor Ltd in association with Bird Lime Media.   This podcast is for information purposes only. It does not constitute an invitation or inducement to engage in any investment activity. It is not a financial promotion as defined under section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA). The views expressed by the presenter of this podcast are those of the presenter and are provided in the course of journalism. This podcast benefits from the exemption under Article 20 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (FPO), It does not require approval by a person authorised under the FSMA. Generic information, not identifying any specific investment, fund, provider or service, about a class of investments such as shares, bonds, derivatives and cryptoassets, might be provided and/or discussed during this podcast. Such discussion falls within the generic promotions exemption (Article 17 of the FPO). Such discussion is not a financial promotion requiring approval by an authorised person under section 21 of the FSMA. Investing involves risk. You should consult a suitably qualified adviser who can assess your individual circumstances before making any investment decision.