Home Adviser Fund Update How Will the Election Impact Markets? Published August 17, 2012 Elections and the Markets Set against the backdrop of uncertainty in Europe and a slow-growth environment, the upcoming presidential election has raised many questions about where our country and the economy are headed. From an investing standpoint, however, those in the know can mostly ignore the impact the election will have on investors. While there are plenty of reasons to focus on who you’ll vote for in November, investing isn’t one of them. Yes, taxes are a concern for many, but in terms of pure stockA financial instrument giving the holder a proportion of the ownership and earnings of a company. market action, either party could argue that their winning candidates spur more earnings in the markets (either while they’re in power or in the years afterwards as the effects of policies instituted during their tenure begin to have an impact). Before we show you why the historical trend doesn’t overwhelmingly favor one party over another, keep this in mind: The election is likely having its greatest influence on Wall Street right now. Investors don’t like uncertainty, whether it’s uncertainty in elections, earnings, foreign markets or anything else. Presidential polls that show a narrowing gap between the candidates give Wall Street the jitters. That’s good for investors who can run contrary to the crowd. At Adviser Investments, we’ve always believed that you should use the market’s weakness to do some buying. When the furor dies down after the election, Wall Street will once again focus on interest rates and earnings, the two factors that have more to do with where stocksA financial instrument giving the holder a proportion of the ownership and earnings of a company. go than anything else. No matter which candidate finally wins, you can rest assured that there will be a much greater focus on economic issues for the next few years than there has been in the previous few. And that, ultimately, should be good for the market and investors. Now, as promised, here are but a few of the many statistics used to bolster the case for a bull or bear marketA period in which stock prices decline significantly from recent highs and remain below previous high marks for weeks or months. Generally, a decline of at least 20% in stock prices is considered the threshold marking the start of a bear market. based on the election outcome. If the findings prove anything, it is that statisticians from both political parties can claim bragging rights to the stock market’s long-term gains. Democrat Stats Since 1901, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has risen at an 8.9% annual rate under Democratic presidents. (Up only 5.7% on average under Republicans.) Since 1926, the S&P 500 has risen an average 14.9% under Democratic administrations and has also gained an average of 14.9% the year after an election where a Democrat wins an election. (Up just 8.6% on average when Republicans have held the White House and down 6.6% when a Republican replaces a Democrat in the White House.) Real GDP under Democratic presidents has risen an average of 4.1% per annum since 1948. (The Republican record: A 2.6% average gain.) Republican Records Since 1901, the Dow Jones has risen an average of 13.0% the year before a Republican was elected. (It’s risen an average of just 1.9% preceding a Democrat’s victory.) The Dow has risen in the latter half of an election year 13 of the 14 times that Republicans have won. The average six-month gain: 11.8% (The market rose in the second half of eight of the 13 years when a Democrat won. The average gain in those years was just 4.1%.) Since 1926, the S&P 500 has risen an average of 9.3% the year after a change of political parties in the White House, compared to an average gain of 7.4% when the incumbent party wins. Dinner Table Talking Points See the table below for a slew of numbers you can use to argue for one party or the other. How StocksA financial instrument giving the holder a proportion of the ownership and earnings of a company. Performed While we’ve presented a lot of ways to slice and dice the data, the fact remains that most of it is not what we’d call statistically significant, as some of the scenarios have only played out a handful of times over the last century. So while the numbers may make for some lively conversation around the dinner table or online, they should be considered strictly anecdotal. About Adviser Investments Adviser Investments operates as an independent, professional wealth management firm with expertise in Fidelity and Vanguard funds, actively managed mutual funds, ETFsA type of security which allows investors to indirectly invest in an underlying basket of financial instruments (these may include stocks, bonds, commodities or other types of instruments). Shares in an ETF are publicly traded on an exchange, and the price of an ETF’s shares will fluctuate throughout the trading day (traditional mutual funds trade only once a day). For example, one popular ETF tracks the companies in the S&P 500, so buying a share of the ETF gets an investor exposure to all 500 companies in the index., fixed-income investing, tactical strategies and financial planning. Our investment professionals focus on helping individual investors, trustsA legal document that functions as an instruction manual to how you want your money managed and spent in your later years as well as how your assets should be distributed after your death. Assets placed in a trust are generally safe from creditors and can be sold by the trustee in short order, avoiding the lengthy and costly probate process., foundations and institutions meet their investment goals. Our minimum account size is $350,000. For the fifth consecutive year, Adviser Investments was named to Barron’s list of the top 100 independent financial advisers nationwide and its list of the top advisory firms in Massachusetts in 2017. We have also been recognized on the Financial Times 300 Top Registered Investment Advisers list in 2014, 2015 and 2016. For more information, please visit www.adviserinvestments.com or call 800-492-6868. Disclaimer: This material is distributed for informational purposes only. The investment ideas and expressions of opinion may contain certain forward-looking statements and should not be viewed as recommendations, personal investment advice or considered an offer to buy or sell specific securities. Data and statistics contained in this report are obtained from what we believe to be reliable sources; however, their accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed. Our statements and opinions are subject to change without notice and should be considered only as part of a diversified portfolio. You may request a free copy of the firm’s Form ADV Part 2, which describes, among other items, riskThe probability that an investment will decline in value in the short term, along with the magnitude of that decline. Stocks are often considered riskier than bonds because they have a higher probability of losing money, and they tend to lose more than bonds when they do decline. factors, strategies, affiliations, services offered and fees charged. Past performance is not an indication of future returns. The tax information contained herein is general in nature, is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal or tax advice. We do not provide legal or tax advice. Always consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific legal or tax situation. The Barron’s rankings consider factors such as assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory record, quality of practice and philanthropic work. This award does not consider client experience and is not indicative of future performance. Editors at the Financial Times bestowed “elite” status on 300 firms in the U.S., as determined by assets under management, asset growth, longevity, compliance record, industry certifications and online accessibility. © 2018 Adviser Investments, LLC. All Rights Reserved.