Unlocking Insights:
Your Guide to 
Smart Investing

Uncertainty is rampant, and pricing in the innumerable externalities has become the focus on Wall Street. Let’s discuss what just some of these externalities may look like, according to the playbook of Stephen Miran, now-chair of the Council of Economic Advisors for the White House.

As has been the case since the Federal Open Market Committee (“FOMC”) began raising and then lowering their policy rate, the Federal Funds rate (“Fed Funds”), the market is focusing on the next move.

It’s that time again—a new administration will be inaugurated in January, and with a new president comes new implications for markets. The President-elect will, assuredly, have an impact on the economy, the markets, and investment portfolios – both institutional and retail.

At this point we have a new president-elect (does “new” even fit as it is a former president as president-elect?) and many investors – including us – are trying to read the tea leaves and determine if any adjustments are needed in our plan and portfolio. In the following update, we will refer to the former president, now president-elect, as Mr. Trump in order to both show respect for both positions, Mr. Trump, and, honestly, to make our lives just a tad easier.

To say March was a difficult month in the markets would be an understatement. The focus on weaker economic data – both hard and soft data – combined with tariffs that were implemented (autos and auto parts) and soon to come (global reciprocal tariffs) battered the equity markets.

February witnessed a rise in concern about the U.S. economic trajectory and the impact of tariffs on the economy and the markets. What January gave, the second half of February took away as the “style” of the incoming administration and the implementation of their economic/national agenda began to be witnessed and felt.

The lead up to the inauguration of President Trump saw the broader markets higher as many believed his laissez-faire attitude and pro-business policies would benefit U.S. corporations, and therefore the markets in which they trade (their home market, specifically). 

The conclusion of the U.S. presidential election and the changes to the make-up of the legislature removed some of the uncertainty plaguing the markets, and as a result, the broader markets went higher, generating positive returns in both the domestic equity and fixed income markets.

Risk was washed out for the quarter. U.S. stocks entered correction territory led by global trade tensions and the unwind of the large tech and Mag 7 trade.

U.S. GDP growth continues to be resilient and outpace estimates while driving corporate revenues higher in 2024.

The Federal Reserve continued its easing cycle in December with fewer cuts priced in for 2025, as inflation becomes the focus again for the Fed. The yield curve was at its steepest since 2022 on “long bond” weakness.

In Q3, the Federal Reserve initiated an easing cycle with anticipated further cuts as the labor market stabilizes, supporting resilient US economic growth and stock market recovery, particularly in small cap and value sectors. The un-inversion of the 10-2 Treasury spread and positive returns in fixed income underscore bonds’ renewed role as diversifiers amid expectations for continued rate easing.

The Math of Stock Returns takes a deeper look into the math the shapes company valuations and share price. This is a fundamental building block of investing and understanding the market’s moves.

It’s not a revelation that holding equity is a wealth compounder over the long-term, not only for investors but also private business owners that hold large equity interests. Within diversified investment portfolios, equity is a building block of asset allocation along with bonds and cash.

Diversification is a fundamental investment strategy that involves spreading investments across various asset classes, sectors, or geographic regions with the goal of managing risk and enhancing potential returns. In our view, diversification is the underpinning of good risk management.