Welcome back to KPA Wealth. In today’s roundup, we dive into Jerome Powell’s cautious but steady tone on interest rates. Mortgage rates also made a quiet move down today—even as the Fed insists it’s in no rush to ease. Markets are shifting, innovation is accelerating, and strategy matters more than ever.

Also Today: We also break down how AMD is shaking off its “money destroyer” label with solid earnings, while ElevenLabs proves that voice-first AI tools can be more than just digital gimmicks. Whether you're buying a home or following chip stocks, there’s a lot to watch—and a few smart moves to make.

Today’s Topics

• Jerome Powell Speech: Why the Fed Isn’t Racing to Cut Interest Rates

• Meet 11ai: The Next-Level Personal AI Voice Assistant

•  AMD - Advanced Money Destroyer or Advanced Money-Making Dominator?

• Today’s Mortgage Rates + 2025 Outlook

Jerome Powell Speech: Why the Fed Isn’t Racing to Cut Interest Rates

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speech today delivered a clear message: the Fed will hold interest rates steady until it fully understands how tariffs inflation is unfolding. Speaking before Congress on June 24, Powell reinforced the Fed’s mandate to maintain price stability while supporting employment.

He noted the U.S. economy remains “solid” and the labor market is near full employment. Still, inflation stays stubbornly above the 2% target, and uncertainty around tariffs is clouding the outlook..

We’re seeing a textbook example of central-bank patience: Powell won’t point to specific rate cuts, especially not at the upcoming July meeting and he’s not afraid to dial back on political noise—specifically, former President Trump’s calls for aggressive rate reductions. On Truth Social, Trump accused Powell of being “dumb, hardheaded,” but Powell held firm: politics doesn’t influence Fed policy.

What This Means for You

• For borrowers: No immediate relief—bank and credit card rates are unlikely to drop soon.

• For consumers: If tariffs do drive up prices this summer, expect continued upward pressure on everyday goods.

• For investors: Markets are pricing in a possibility of rate cuts in September rather than July. The Fed’s “dot plot” reflects this cautious tone.

My Take

Powell feels like the cool-headed referee in a heated basketball finals game (doesn’t call the grab on TJ McConnell). He’s not rushing to make calls, waiting instead for actual data to land. That’s encouraging—stable policy rooted in evidence rather than politics is exactly what nurtures long-term confidence in the economy. And yes, watching tariffs inflation play out in June and July could be the defining factor.

Key Highlights at a Glance

• Solid economy & jobs: Powell reiterated that growth remains steady and employment is strong.

• Inflation above target: CPI readings for May edged up to 2.3% (overall) and 2.6% (core), with tariffs expected to push it higher.

• No rush on rate cuts: Hold steady at least through July, maybe into September depending on tariff impacts.

• Independence affirmed: Powell made it clear the Fed isn’t swayed by political pressure.

In short: Powell’s congressional testimony wasn’t flashy, but it was firm. His message? The Fed will remain data-driven—not tweet-driven—as it navigates inflationary pressures tied to tariffs.

How We Feel: It’s refreshing to see the Fed’s focus on fundamentals. Delaying a rate cut amid uncertain fiscal shocks shows restraint, not weakness. If you’re navigating investments, mortgages, or just everyday budgets, this disciplined approach should give you some reassurance that abrupt swings won’t happen without cause.

🤖 Meet 11ai: The Next-Level Personal AI Voice Assistant

ElevenLabs just dropped 11ai, a powerful AI voice assistant built on their new Conversational AI platform—positioning it as a real competitor to Siri and Alexa. Here’s why it’s a game‑changer:

• Voice-first action: You can literally talk to it—and it acts. Want to plan your day? Just say “Plan my day and add tasks to Linear.” Need customer intelligence? Tell it to research using Perplexity and summarize findings.

• MCP-enabled integrations: 11ai connects instantly with Perplexity, Linear, Slack—and more like Gmail, Notion or HubSpot via Model Context Protocol. You can even plug in your own MCP server for custom workflows.

• Customize your voice: Choose from 5,000+ AI-generated voices—or clone your own in seconds. It feels more personal than a robotic echo.

• Mobile-first convenience: ElevenLabs launched their mobile app simultaneously—letting you generate voice clips on iOS/Android where you previously needed a browser. Create sample clips on the go with up to 10 minutes of free audio generation.

• Next-gen TTS models: The app features their new v3 alpha text‑to‑speech models, letting users control tone and expression via tagging—perfect for dynamic workflows .

Why I’m Excited

I’ve tried 11ai and was struck by how natural and seamless the voice interactions were. It actually does work—you ask it to triage your Slack messages or file a Linear ticket, and it just gets it done. Plus, selecting a custom voice really makes the assistant feel like your own personal helper.

This isn’t just another “ask and answer” AI. It’s designed to take action, integrating with real workflows and handling everything by voice. In its alpha version, it’s already impressively smooth, and integrations are rolling out weekly.

TL;DR

• 11ai is a voice-first AI assistant built by ElevenLabs.

• Integrates out-of-the-box with Perplexity, Linear & Slack via MCP—plus your own servers.

• Pick from 5,000+ voices or clone your own.

• Mobile app supports on-the-go audio generation and expressive voice control.

• It’s free in alpha; watch it evolve with more integrations.

For anyone who’s ever thought, “If only my assistant could actually do things,” 11ai feels like the future—today📰 

AMD - Advanced Money Destroyer or Advanced Money-Making Dominator?

AMD recently released its Q1 2025 earnings earlier this year, and despite being tagged by some as an “Advanced Money Destroyer,” the quarter’s results show a different story. Here's why this chip giant feels more like a money-making dominator right now:

📊 Q1 2025 Results at a Glance

• Revenue hit $7.44 billion, up 36% YoY, beating expectations.

• GAAP net income reached $709 million; non‑GAAP net income was $1.57 billion ($0.96 EPS), topping estimates.

• Data Center revenue surged 57% to $3.7 billion, led by EPYC CPUs and Instinct

Cheap vs. Normal Valuation?

Despite the strong YoY growth, AMD still trades below its historical valuations. Analysts peg its forward P/E around 21.9×—lower than peers—suggesting it's undervalued . MarketBeat notes that AMD beat both EPS and revenue consensus ($0.96 vs $0.93 EPS; $7.44B vs $7.10B revenue). This kind of beat-and-beat narrative often spurs re-rating—but the share price still feels cheap relative to fundamentals.

Not a Destroyer, But a Dominator

Sure, AMD faces a projected $1.5 billion hit in 2025 from U.S. export curbs to China, including a ~$800 million charge, and margins could dip 11 percentage points. But it’s still guiding Q2 revenue at ~$7.4 billion, above the $7.2 billion street estimate . Data center momentum remains the core engine.

My Take

So yes, calling AMD an “Advanced Money Destroyer”? Feels off. This quarter shows it's consistently growing top and bottom lines—even when macro headwinds loom. At today’s multiples, it seems undervalued given its accelerating AI/data center trajectory. If you're looking for proof AMD can turn headlines into hard results, Q1 is it.

Bottom line: AMD isn’t a money drain—it’s an Advanced Money-Making Dominator, delivering expanding revenue, rising earnings, and bargain-bin valuation.

🏠 Today’s Mortgage Rates + 2025 Outlook

📉 Rates Ease, But the Fed Isn’t in a Hurry

Mortgage rates got a little friendlier today—even as the Fed reminded us they’re in no rush to cut. It’s a weird mix: better numbers for buyers, but a central bank that’s still playing the long game. Still, progress is progress.

Despite the Fed’s firm stance on being “patient” with any policy changes, markets reacted positively to softening economic data and cooling inflation. The result? Slightly improved rates, giving homebuyers a small but welcome breather.

So, where are we heading?

• Fannie Mae still expects rates to settle around 6.1% by year-end.

• Market momentum suggests gradual easing could continue—provided inflation stays tame and no major surprises hit the radar.

• Some economists are floating a late summer cut if the data keeps lining up.

Here’s how I see it:

The numbers are shifting in the right direction, just not at the pace we’d all like. But today’s rate dip shows that markets are sniffing out change before the Fed pulls the trigger. That’s a key signal.

I’m telling buyers:

• If you’re seeing mid-6% rates and it fits your budget, go for it. Waiting for sub-6% might leave you chasing your tail.

• Shop aggressively. Even a 0.25% rate difference can mean thousands saved over the life of your loan.

• Ask for credits. Seller-paid buydowns can drop your effective rate far more than a waiting game.

The Bottom Line

Rates are inching down—even if the Fed isn’t moving yet. Today was a reminder that markets often lead the narrative. Don’t bank on a miracle drop, but do take advantage of these small shifts when they land. Smart timing isn’t about waiting forever—it’s about recognizing the moment when it shows up.

🚀 Must-Have AI Tools for Real Estate & Financial Pros

Check out our Top 30 AI Tools for Real Estate, Finance, and Investment

Kyle Allgair
CEO of KPA Wealth
📞 (279) 977-8149 | ✉️ [email protected]
🌐 KPAhomeloans.com

Kyle Allgair is the CEO of KPA Wealth, and is continuously helping clients build wealth through real estate and strategic financial planning. Contact him for personalized advice on achieving your financial goals.