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WrapManager's Investment Policy Committee

What to Expect from the Markets Under President Trump

Posted by WrapManager's Investment Policy Committee

January 19, 2017

What to Expect from the Markets Under President Trump

On January 20, President-elect Trump will become President Trump. If his campaign rhetoric plays out, we should expect many changes to government and the rules that govern business. Trump has vowed broad-based tax reform, a repeal of executive orders and a roll back of financial, healthcare, and energy regulations (amongst many other things).¹

For investors, the election alone does not change the investment landscape – it’s about what happens next. No matter what your political views, it is important to stay attune to policy proposals that surface after the inauguration, and track their progress through the halls of Congress. If that seems like a lot to take-on, don’t worry – WrapManager is here to help!

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Election Commentary

Legg Mason 2017 Annual Outlook

January 16, 2017

Things didn’t always go as expected in 2016. The U.S. election, U.K. Brexit vote and the Fed’s U-turn on rates took many investors by surprise. Yet worries about volatility proved unfounded. Some asset classes posted solid gains, defying pessimism and showing that opportunity can arise despite the many real risks. With that in mind, we asked our investment managers to identify what could happen if things go right in 2017... [+] Read More

4 Signs You’re Getting White Glove Service from Your Financial Advisor

January 11, 2017

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in April 2014 and updated January 2017. A financial advisor’s job, at minimum, is to create an investment strategy based on your economic situation and goals. But that’s a bit like saying the job of a dancer is to move their body to music. Some do it better than others. A good financial advisor should take the time to get to know you and your family, and spend as much time as it takes to get a firm understanding of your financial situation, goals, retirement income needs, estate planning needs, risk tolerance, etc. The result should be a comprehensive financial plan that considers multiple outcomes and gives an expectation of how much income you can expect to have in retirement. [+] Read More

Announcing: WrapManager's Q1 2017 Top Equity Money Manager Picks

January 10, 2017

There are thousands of money managers out there. If you’re trying to figure out which one (or ones) is right for you to help you reach your investment goals, you may feel overwhelmed by all the options. Where do you begin researching and what criteria do you consider? We’d like to help. Each quarter, WrapManager’s Investment Policy Committee (IPC) compiles a list of top money manager picks in order to help investors discover and evaluate money manager strategies. These encompass a wide range of asset classes and investment disciplines. [+] Read More

Federated Investors 2017 Outlook

January 9, 2017

Stephen Auth, CFA and Chief Investment Officer, Equities, shares his expectations for 2017 including: The effect of the Trump administration and Republican Congress Fiscal stimulus vs. structural reform A new phase for the bull market "Climbing the Wall of Hope" through 2018. A selection is provided below, or you can download the complete commentary as a PDF. [+] Read More

BlackRock 2017 Investing Outlook

January 2, 2017

Global growth expectations appear to be picking up after an extended slide... BlackRock expects U.S.-led reflation (rising nominal growth, wages and inflation) to accelerate, and sees fiscal expansion gradually replacing monetary policy as an economic growth and market driver around the world. They discuss these topics, as well as the impact of technological change, the risk of a China credit bubble and the dynamics of investor risk appetite, in their 2017 Investing Outlook. Read the key points of BlackRock's analysis. Or, download the complete commentary (PDF). [+] Read More

Lord Abbett: Investing in Dividend Payers and Growers

December 26, 2016

We continue to believe investors will be well-served to focus on dividend growth. As bond yields begin to compete with equities, we recommend an ecumenical approach to equity income and growth in dividends. One of the major impediments to using stocks for yield has been the earnings recession over the last five quarters. The continuation of that trend would have undermined the stability of the dividend payout. The market, however, has now withstood the effects of a stronger dollar on multinational earnings and withstood the energy sector’s adjustment to oil at $50 per barrel. And the S&P 500 is finally growing earnings again, year over year. Read on for a summary of their analysis, or view the entire document here. [+] Read More

Nuveen Weekly Commentary December 2016

December 19, 2016

Investors Focus on Positives, Ignoring Negatives Investor sentiment remained skewed positive last week, helping equity markets rally sharply. The S&P 500 Index surged 3.1%, as the focus remained on prospects for better economic growth, tax reform and potential fiscal stimulus in 2017. For the week, small caps and financials led the way, while health care stocks lagged. Read an excerpt of the complete commentary below, or view the entire weekly investment commentary as a PDF. [+] Read More

JP Morgan Investment Outlook 2017

December 12, 2016

Economic warming and political warnings... Short-term interest rates remain extremely low given the relative health of both the U.S. and global economies. 2017 should be a year of global economic warming but also one of growing risks. However, with cash paying less than nothing in real terms in most of the world, investors should still be overweight long-term assets, with a tilt toward those that should do best in a world with somewhat stronger growth, higher inflation and higher interest rates. [+] Read More

BlackRock Update November 2016

December 5, 2016

U.S. equity indexes hit records; U.S. dollar index surges to nearly 14-year highs. Richard Turnill, BlackRock’s Global Chief Investment Strategist, summarizes the week highlights news to watch in the week ahead. Read an excerpt of his weekly commentary below, or download the complete commentary as a PDF. [+] Read More