FINAL COUNTDOWN: Here's what 17 experts are predicting for Fed rate hikes

Some believe it'll happen on Thursday when the Fed concludes its next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. Some believe it'll happen in October. Other believe it'll happen in December. And then there's the very few who think we'll have to wait until 2016 to see a move.

One thing is clear: no one has a very high conviction or a particularly convincing case for their call.

The Fed brought its benchmark fed funds rate target to 0.00%-0.25% in December 2008 in its effort to stimulate growth and inflation in the wake of the global financial crisis.

The question now is if the economy is ready for higher rates.

We thumbed though the notes and compiled the predictions from 17 Wall Street firms. Below you'll find their calls and snippets from their research. We'll find out who is right and wrong on Thursday afternoon.