Rules, Rallies and 2017 – “Susan On Money” for 12/20/2016

Greg Ip recently wrote a short article in The Wall Street Journal taking a look at a President’s ability to alter economic conditions with simple will.

Rules like gravity tend to have a mind of their own. Here are a few of his points:

Past Presidents have taken on things like inflation by talking companies out of raising prices, halting federal purchases of certain materials and warning of health dangers of others in hopes of price containment. It didn’t work due to:

“a growing budget deficit and lax monetary policy”

Moral of the story being that “when gravity is pulling the economy in one direction, no number of presidential phone calls, threats, or tweets can push it in another.”

It’s important that we implement solid ideas for your wealth without assumptions regarding what 2017 may bring. Change can take time, your wealth should be managed now.

The past few weeks have certainly been easier than early 2016; however, I do think about things like this:

Rising interest rates and a strong dollar can be a real headwind for stocks.

Many of the dividend paying companies investors have relied on for income for years make money abroad and their foreign earnings are worth less with a dollar this strong.

I’m very optimistic and also keenly aware that often times, when caught up with the herd or in a rally, you can lose sight of your own unique and important objectives. Contrarians win much of the time.

Every person and portfolio should think independently.

This is the time to make sure that all required distributions have been taken from IRA accounts, schedule a time to discuss tax projections for 2016, capture gains and/or losses and get positioned for a profitable next year.