Financial Writer & Market Commentator

Translating Wall Street for Main Street

30 years inside the financial industry - from newsrooms to trading floors to the editor's desk. Now sharing insights that help everyday investors make smarter decisions.

Market Trends Personal Finance Economic Policy Investment Analysis
Phin Smith
30+
Years in Finance
3
Market Crashes Covered
500K+
Newsletter Subscribers
1,200+
Articles Published

The view from inside the machine

"I've spent three decades watching how money really moves - not how textbooks say it should. That perspective changes everything."

For thirty years, I've had a front-row seat to every major financial event of our time: the dot-com crash, the 2008 financial crisis, the COVID market collapse, and the inflation surge of the 2020s. I started as a young reporter at Investor's Business Daily, earned my MBA at Chicago Booth during the chaos of Y2K, and went on to work inside some of the most influential institutions in finance.

At T. Rowe Price, I learned how institutional money actually thinks. At JPMorgan Asset Management, I saw how policy decisions ripple through global markets. At Morningstar, I built the frameworks that help everyday investors evaluate their options. And at Barron's, I distilled it all into analysis that matters.

Now, I write for the people who were never invited into those rooms - translating the language of Wall Street into insights anyone can act on. No jargon. No hidden agendas. Just thirty years of hard-won perspective, delivered straight.

MBA, Chicago Booth Class of 2000
Georgetown University B.A. Economics, 1994

Three decades of market wisdom

1994 - 1998
Financial Journalist
Investor's Business Daily
Cut my teeth covering tech stocks during the early internet boom. Learned to spot hype versus substance - a skill that would prove invaluable.
2000 - 2004
Senior Equity Analyst
T. Rowe Price
Navigated the dot-com aftermath. Developed deep expertise in fundamental analysis and learned how patient capital thinks differently.
2004 - 2010
Portfolio Strategist
JPMorgan Asset Management
Front-row seat to the 2008 crisis. Worked on asset allocation strategy for institutional clients managing billions.
2010 - 2016
Director of Research
Morningstar
Built analytical frameworks used by millions of retail investors. Championed transparent, accessible financial research.
2016 - 2021
Managing Editor, Markets
Barron's
Led coverage through the COVID crash and recovery. Returned to my journalism roots with three decades more wisdom.
2021 - Present
Independent Writer
PhinSmith.com & Substack
Launched my own platform to share unfiltered market analysis. No sponsors. No conflicts. Just straight talk about money.

What I write about

Four pillars that define my coverage - all connected by a single mission: helping you make better financial decisions.

Market Trends & Drivers

What's actually moving markets - beyond the headlines. I break down the forces shaping stocks, bonds, and commodities with context that matters.

Personal Finance Strategies

Practical guidance for building wealth, managing debt, and planning for retirement. Real strategies tested over decades, not internet hacks.

Economic Policy Impact

How Fed decisions, tax changes, and regulations actually affect your portfolio. Policy analysis translated into actionable insight.

Investment Opportunities

Where to find value - and what traps to avoid. I highlight asymmetric opportunities and call out the warning signs others miss.

The Inside Edge Newsletter

Every Tuesday and Friday: market analysis, investment ideas, and economic insights from 30 years on Wall Street - delivered free to your inbox.