Reasons For Investor Gratitude
The holiday season offers an opportune moment to reflect on our blessings, including those related to our financial well-being. Investors often concentrate on potential risks rather than acknowledging positive outcomes. Given the current strong market performance, taking time to review the past year can provide valuable perspective as we look toward new challenges and opportunities ahead.
Historical data shows that financial markets have consistently delivered robust returns, and the current year continues this trend. Year-to-date, the S&P 500 has risen more than 15% including dividends, while the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index has delivered approximately 7% returns. For the first time in several years, international equities have surpassed their U.S. counterparts in performance. Diversified portfolios have generally benefited from this widespread strength across multiple asset classes. What considerations should investors bear in mind as they look ahead to the upcoming year?
