Politics & Investing

Equities are Non-Partisan

It would be safe to say that this election season intensified emotions and left many investors uncertain of how the results could impact equity markets and their investments.

However, savvy investors have learned that equity markets have historically cared more about an election being over than they have about who won. While you may be disappointed that the person you voted for did not win, stock prices are nonpartisan. They are more commonly tied to earnings and corporations’ health than politics. What equity markets do not like is uncertainty, and the period prior to an election is filled with just that, especially during this most recent, particularly tense election campaign.

Company earnings, valuations, and the Federal Reserve have historically affected equity markets more than election results. Strong companies find ways to survive under both Democratic and Republican Presidents. For instance, companies like Apple will continue to develop and recreate their iPhones, and Amazon will continue to deliver packages regardless of who wins the election. The best-run companies typically find ways to advance, regardless of who occupies the White House.

History has proven that a well-balanced, diversified plan that eliminates emotion is in the best interest of any investor. The election results have left many either optimistic or pessimistic about the coming years. This can test the confidence of many investors, tempting them to make emotional moves in their financial plans.

Making investment decisions solely based on the election results is not recommended. Emotional investing, or trying to time the market, is typically challenging, if not impossible. Seasoned investors adjust their holdings based on the unique circumstances they are facing and the desired result they are looking to accomplish. A sound investment strategy should focus on the long-term instead of current events or short-term fluctuations.

As your financial professionals, it is our responsibility to help you invest wisely to pursue your goals. If you are nervous or concerned about your situation, please call our office and schedule some time to speak with us.

Tax Law Changes Are Coming

Regardless of whether the candidate you voted for won or not, 2025 and 2026 will bring changes to tax laws. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) is scheduled to sunset on December 31, 2025. Currently, there are many different proposals for extending, expiring, or changing parts of the TCJA. Even if no tax law changes are voted in, tax law changes are scheduled to happen. Here are some items that are on the table investors should be aware of:

Income Taxes: You may find yourself with higher or lower individual tax rates.
Deductions: You could have greater or reduced itemized deductions.
Corporate Taxes: Corporate tax rates could increase or decrease.
Qualified dividends and capital gains rates: There could be higher or lower capital gains rates.
Estate Taxes: Estate tax exemptions could significantly increase or decrease.
Child Tax Credit: There could be a potential expansion for those with children.

We are keeping a close eye on upcoming tax law changes and how they may affect our clients. As your financial professionals, we will guide you when appropriate so that you may plan and strategize according to your unique situation.

Diversification & Long-term Strategies Prevail

While short-term fluctuations may occur around an election, equities are more influenced by economic factors, including interest rates, corporate earnings, and inflation. As you can see from the graph, with the exception of 1981 (due to the Energy Crisis Recession) and 2021 (due to the pandemic-driven downturn), one-year post-election, the S&P 500 has had reasonable returns.

Rather than focusing on the latest headlines from media sources that thrive on the dramatic and sensational side, investors should attempt to adopt a plan that can help them navigate a variety of scenarios that may arise. Remember, a financial or tax professional could assist you by helping you build a sensible plan that can help you weather various economic situations, including election cycles. As the stewards of our client’s wealth, we trust that they feel we know their financial situation more than the talking heads on their television screen. We strive to stay current and educated and maintain an unclouded political judgment on any economic issues that could affect their plan so they can rest easily.

Having a diversified portfolio focused on long-term goals has proven to be a wise strategy for savvy investors. Helping our clients create a well-devised plan that can help them navigate volatility and uncertainty is one of our main goals. Recent history has shown us to expect the unexpected. Regardless of who is sitting in the Oval Office or in the House and Senate, we want our clients to have a plan that can weather a variety of economic scenarios that could occur in the coming years and beyond.

As a reminder, please inform us of any changes (such as health issues or adjustments to your retirement goals). The more we understand about your unique financial situation, the better equipped we will be to advise you effectively.

We take pride in providing:

consistent and effective communication,
a schedule of regular client meetings, and
ongoing education for every member of our team on the issues that impact our clients.

If you would like to discuss your situation with us, please call our office.

Do you know someone who we could help?

We understand that the path toward financial goals is unique and personal for everyone. One of our goals is to offer our services to others to help them pursue the vision they have for their financial future.

We would welcome the opportunity to offer them a complimentary consultation to review their strategy. Please call us at (714) 597-6510 so we can reach out to them!

Do you know someone who could benefit from our complimentary mailings?

Let us know, and we will be happy to add them to our mailing list!

Time is running out!

Have you considered these potentially helpful strategies to implement before December 31?

Proactive Tax Strategies Before Year-End (if applicable)

Maximized Retirement Plan Contributions
Completed RMDs (if applicable)
Explored Roth Conversion Opportunities
Reviewed Primary & Contingent Beneficiaries
Considered Charitable GIfting (including QCDs & DAFs)
Maximized Annual Exclusion Gifts
Identified Opportunities for Capital Loss Harvesting
Identified Opportunities for Capital Gain Harvesting
Reviewed Use of 529 Plans
Reviewed Use of Potential Deduction Timing
Reviewed Estate Plan Strategies

A proactive approach to tax planning, instead of a reactive approach can produce better results! If you would like to explore any of these potential year-end strategies for your situation, please call us!

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Financial Advisors Network, Inc. is a registered investment advisory firm. This article is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are not necessarily the opinion of Financial Advisors Network, Inc. This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal or investment planning advice as individual situations will vary. For specific advice about your situation, please consult with a lawyer, tax or financial professional. The information contained in this report does not purport to be a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of 500 widely held stocks that is generally considered representative of the U.S. Stock market. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Diversification is a method used to help manage investment risk; it does not guarantee a profit or protect against investment loss. Sources: Yahoo Finance; Contents provided by the Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors, Inc.

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