By Matthew Gaude & Shawn McGuire
2022 is now history. Good riddance. With the turn of the calendar to a new year, this time of year always makes me reflect on the year that was—to step back from the day-to-day and look at what really happened—and look ahead to what may come in the next 12 months.
When it comes to the economy and markets, we’ve obviously been in a bear market and have seen a record down year for the conventional stock-bond portfolio. High inflation persisted and the dollar strengthened all year.
Plus, the biggest war in Eastern Europe in decades broke out and is still ongoing, raising fears all over the world and resulting in massive casualties on the ground in Ukraine. No matter how your portfolio fared amid all the volatility, it’s time to look ahead…
What happened in 2022 is in the past. It’s time to start thinking about switching gears to prepare to take more action in 2023.
The economy and various sectors of the markets are facing a lot of unknowns right now. And uncertainty means volatility for stocks (which can be good or bad). Could the next 12 months be a straight shot higher for the markets? Sure, but it looks unlikely.
A few big topics are on the table…