Resource Search

The upset presidential election victory of Donald J. Trump and the Republican hold of the House of Representatives and the Senate signal major changes ahead in both the federal government’s approach to growth and the Federal Reserve’s approach to monetary policy. Most evident will be a return of supply-side tax cuts, large operating fiscal deficits, and a move back toward more traditional monetary policies that, over time, should lead to higher short- and long-term interest rates.

With Republicans controlling both houses of Congress and the White House, there are three things to know about heading into 2017: (1) expect tax reform to be a high priority; (2) individual tax reform will focus on lower rates but expect to lost some deductions and credits; and (3) business tax reform will focus on rates, depreciation and international taxes.

Donald Trump’s election as the 45th President of the United States on November 8 is expected to bring changes to the tax laws for individuals and businesses. President-elect Trump had made tax reduction a centerpiece of his economic plans during his campaign, saying he would, among other things, propose lower and consolidated individual income tax rates, expand tax breaks for families, and repeal the Affordable Care Act. As the next few weeks and months unfold, taxpayers will learn more about Trump’s tax plans.

On November 9, 2016, many Americans woke up to (or stayed awake for) an unexpected election outcome. As of that day, the downside for the DOW and the S&P 500 Index appeared to be less than the declines that occurred after the 2008 and 2012 elections. However, it is still early. During these uncertain times, it is best to stick with your investment plan as we wait to see how trends play out in the coming months and longer term.

In this quarterly edition of the CIO Insights, the analysis is on the economic consequences of government policies, assessment of risk and uncertainty in financial markets, and a focus on generating returns in a low-growth world. There is also a look at renewed confidence in emerging markets, as well as a summary of our economic and market forecasts. While forecasts cannot directly measure risk, they do provide a way of understanding what is possible and what is not—and thus how to position portfolios accordingly.

The October 2016 Market Review outlines the market highlights and gives a summary of current events (such as employment housing updates, geo political events and meetings) and their impact on the markets and asset classes. Highlights include economic growth accelerating at its fastest pace since the 3rd Quarter of 2014, expectations for December Fed rate hike rise to its highest level since Brexit, and the U.S. dollar posting its best month since November 2015, rising to its highest level in eight months. The U.S.

In this edition of Tax Topics, the focus is on the IRS release of the 2017 inflation-adjusted numbers, along with planning points to keep in mind for both year-end and in general. It also has the November 7520 rate and applicable federal mid-term rates.