IN Fox Chapel Area Fall 2016 | Page 10

INDUSTRY INSIGHT YOUR FINANCES SPONSORED CONTENT Republican or Democrat? Makes No Difference to Stocks A common belief holds that the stock market will fare better when a Republican is in the White House because the Grand Old Party tends to be more pro-business. The related expectation is that Democrats—with their purported preference toward higher taxes and increased regulation— hinder economic and market growth. However, the historical evidence doesn’t support either notion. Consider:  The markets have done very well, and had bouts of difficulty during the terms of presidents from both parties.  If you look at the returns of the Dow Jones Industrial Average since its inception in 1897, it’s clear the stock market does not favor either party. Investors who stay the course are likely to fare much better than those who invest only when one of the two major political parties controls the White House. Exhibit 1: Neither Party Can Lay a Claim to Delivering Better Market Performance Sources: Bloomberg, OppenheimerFunds. As of 12/31/14. Past performance does not guarantee future results. At Confluence Financial Partners, our team has always valued common sense. The investment plans we develop, along with the personalized portfolios that drive them, are based on your unique goals. While investing can be complex, we believe there’s something refreshing about providing simple, straightforward advice. We are investing in great companies, not mediocre presidents. If it’s time to adopt an investment experience based on an uncommon, common sense approach, please give Jonathan Jordan or Randy Holcombe a call at 412.391.0377.      8 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Fox Chapel Area