Summit Blog

One of the focal points following the presidential election is the potential for an increase in tariffs applied to goods produced outside the US. Many investors have wondered what this could mean for markets. One period offering perspective on this issue is President Trump’s first term in office. Beginning in 2017, the administration eyed China…

A common investor focus after elections is speculating on what types of businesses stand to benefit from the new administration’s political agenda. While there’s always uncertainty over how much of this agenda will be implemented, investors may feel they have a sense for which sectors will be impacted. But those expectations may not help predict…

The start of a new year is a great time to reflect on the past, set goals for the future, and tune out predictions from the financial industry. The S&P 500 Index rose by 23.3% in 2024. This far exceeded expectations from analysts polled at the end of 2023, none of whom believed the S&P…

Every January, many of us commit to resolutions like eating healthier or exercising more, but a lot of us fall short of sticking to them—because lifestyle change is hard. Improving success in most areas of life demands increased effort and action. But investing is different in a way many of us have a hard time…

Against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, economic challenges, and electoral uncertainty, 2024 proved the resilience of public financial markets and the power of human ingenuity once again. Markets continued to do what they do best: efficiently process information and set fair prices, rewarding long-term investors with positive returns. The year started with concerns about stubbornly…

When it comes to investing, a big obstacle many people face is the fear of catastrophe. If you invest in a stock, there’s always the possibility that the value may drop to zero. In fact, we used to have a wall in the office lunchroom that was covered with stock certificates from liquidated companies. Most of those…

The US presidential election has concluded, but uncertainty remains about what comes next. For those focused on market returns, it can be helpful to look at the historical success of markets across presidencies. It’s important for investors to remember that whether you are optimistic or pessimistic about the future state of the world, you should be…

This year marks the 15th time I’ve had the opportunity to vote for our nation’s leader. When I was growing up in Kansas, my family instilled in me the importance of casting your ballot. It’s a civic responsibility I continue to take seriously. In many ways, this year’s presidential election feels like the most unusual…

Ask investors what kind of return they expect out of stocks in any given year, and many will respond with the market’s historical average return. For the S&P 500 Index from January 1926 through December 2023, that’s been a little over 12%. Unless you have a crystal ball, that’s a reasonable guess in any given…