2021 was another unusual and sometimes challenging year. We alternated between feelings of relief and anxiety and moved through a series of monumental events, including the ongoing effects of the pandemic, extreme weather conditions, faults in many commercial supply chains, and global political changes. COVID continues to cast a shadow over us, especially as the | Read More +
Category: Our Perspective
Sage 2022 Investment Outlook
Introduction: 2021, A Year of Strong Performance Through Uncertainty Stock markets generated strong returns in 2021, while the performance of bonds was mediocre. Following the 2020 U.S. elections, many investors expected higher taxes and a difficult environment for corporations. Instead, corporations registered staggering profit growth, navigating through choppy markets fraught with pandemic-related economic issues (e.g., | Read More +
Insights: Revisiting 2021 Themes and Second Half Outlook
The equity markets performed well in June, supported by continued positive developments throughout the global economy. Equities have performed exceptionally well through the first half of the year, while bonds have been mixed. The MSCI ACWI Index, which represents global equities (i.e., both U.S. and international stocks), advanced by 12.56% in the first half of | Read More +
Our Perspective: Current Trends In U.S. Inflation
Inflation in the United States is receiving significant attention from the financial media and has some investors worried. In this issue of Our Perspective, we will explain why inflation matters, the trends in the current environment, and what they may mean for investors. Why Does Inflation Matter? Per the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, inflation | Read More +
An Anniversary Worth Noting
Over the weekend, we celebrated a somber anniversary – it has been one year since COVID-19 was declared a Pandemic, and countries all over the world began issuing orders to lockdown. The ensuing twelve months have been unprecedented and very challenging. Life moved online, we learned new technologies, and we weathered volatile markets at the | Read More +
Sage 2021 Annual Client Letter
[Read the 2022 Annual Letter from Sage Financial Group] 2020 was a highly unusual year that required all of us to regroup and pivot in response to largely unforeseeable challenges. We faced a global pandemic, volatile financial markets, political and social unrest, and the need to learn how to conduct business and life remotely. For | Read More +
Sage 2021 Market Outlook
Printable version Bulleted summary [Read Sage 2022 Investment Outlook] Introduction 2020 was a year that no market strategist could have foreseen. Within financial markets, nearly all major asset classes globally exhibited positive returns despite extreme volatility, an unprecedented health crisis, a historic economic downturn, a hotly contested election, social unrest, and other systemic shocks. The | Read More +
Our Perspective: An Update on Elections and the Markets
As we await the official election results, we want to share our perspective on how potential outcomes are impacting financial markets now, and in the future. Presidential Election While control of the House and Senate has become more apparent, the presidential election’s outcome remains uncertain, and votes continue to be counted in Nevada, Pennsylvania, Georgia, | Read More +
Our Perspective: Elections and the Markets
On the eve of the U.S. election, we want to share our perspective on potential effects the elections may have on the markets and your investment portfolios. As we have noted periodically over the past several months, heightened volatility is normal around key elections because markets dislike uncertainty. This year, we also are contending with | Read More +
Update On The Markets, The Fed, and Fiscal Policy
Market Returns The bond market was a source of relative stability this week, as the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index finished up 0.6%. This week’s equity market performance, however, was more negative than it has been in recent weeks. Trading was choppy during the first half of the week, followed by sharp selling on Thursday | Read More +
