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Michael Townsend

Michael Townsend

Managing Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

Michael is Schwab's Washington-based political analyst. With more than 30 years of Washington experience, he analyzes legislative, regulatory, and political developments to determine how they would affect individual investors, retirement plan participants, and investment advisers.

Michael is the host of Schwab's WashingtonWise podcast, which explores the intersection between policy, politics, the markets, and the economy. He is a featured speaker at dozens of employee, client, adviser, and industry events each year, where he discusses the impact of the political and policy environment in Washington on investors and the capital markets.

Prior to joining Schwab in 2000, Michael worked at Powell Tate, Inc., a Washington, D.C., public affairs firm, and previously worked for two U.S. senators from Maine. He holds an M.A. in English from George Mason University and a B.A. in English from Bowdoin College.

Get Michael's perspective on the industry.

Take a look at what Michael has written or been featured in.

Washington Watch

RIA Washington Watch: Spring ahead of the Washington agenda

This report is current as of May 8, 2026

To a surprising degree, 2026 has been dominated by geopolitical developments. From the brief military action to remove the president of Venezuela to the kerfuffle over Greenland to the war in Iran, foreign policy has been in the headlines on an almost daily basis. The uncertainty around these events has produced a roller-coaster market that saw a first-quarter decline in all the major indexes, followed by a relief rally in which the S&P 500 and Nasdaq not only recovered—but set new all-time highs by late April.

Michael Townsend
Washington Watch

RIA Washington Watch: Six issues that could move markets in 2026

This report is current as of February 12, 2026

In these early days of 2026, we've already seen a number of policy and political developments that have directly impacted the markets, including the U.S. military operation in Venezuela, threats and negotiations over Greenland, and threats against the independence of the Federal Reserve. With 2026 being a midterm election year, the frenetic pace in Washington will likely continue.

In this update, we'll flag some key issues that RIAs will want to watch in the months ahead.

Michael Townsend
Washington Watch

RIA Washington Watch: What to watch post government shutdown

What is RIA Washington Watch?

Every quarter, RIA Washington Watch brings you the most up-to-date information on registered investment advisor news and policy changes to help your firm make informed decisions.

This report is current as of November 24, 2025

Michael Townsend