November 2016 Advisory Commentary

While October saw the broad markets experience a long overdue pullback, we are all preparing to cross the finish line of this long Presidential election cycle. This issue will obviously dominate the headlines well into the new year.

In the middle of October, we moved out of some of our more aggressive stock positions in favor of a more volatility-oriented allocation. We still see interest rates moving generally higher, alongside the conundrum of slower economic growth in the United States. There are very few “cheap” areas to look at in the market currently. It has been, and will likely continue to be, a challenge to find good places to pursue risk-adjusted growth.

With many investors focused on how good or bad either of the candidate’s policies or personalities will be for the market, it’s doubtful that either side will be able to get much done (good or bad) in a very short period of time. We would view any outsized pullback as a chance to pick up some relative bargains, should they appear. The longer-term policies that will be attempted to be put in place will drive much more of the investment landscape moving forward.

While uncertainty is nothing new for this market cycle, it seems to be reaching a new high at the moment. With so many things swirling around us, one is reminded of the famous Mark Twain quote:

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you in trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”

Brian Weckman, RFC
Chief Investment Officer
Actis Wealth Management L.C.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. The economic forecasts may not develop as predicted and there can be no guarantee that strategies promoted will be successful.