Checking in before the election. . .adv

Checking in Before the Election

I thought I would provide a few thoughts BEFORE the election results are in. . .which could be Nov 5 around midnight OR some bit of time and days later. I hope this finds you “well and early voted” or well and headed to the booth on Tuesday.

The election result has rarely been a major influencing factor on the financial markets. There has been, at times, a movement on the initial news, but that has been absorbed relatively quickly and ultimately a non-driver of any particular market direction in terms of a Democratic vs a republican win. We aren’t “worried”. In addition, I am a person who has historically had a feeling who was going to win (with a mixed record but I think I got it right more times than not). I literally have no “feeling” or prediction of who will win as our next President. Waiting to see it all unfold in real time.

What is more relevant is that this market has had a relatively non-volatile year and the economic signs have shown “good support” for stocks and a strong outlook according to more investment firms than not and according to the data in general. I have said a number of times that I feel there has been a stealth recession beginning to take hold under the jobs numbers. As I said before, the next couple of months of economic numbers, to me, are going to be bigger drivers of our financial markets than the voting results ahead. . .although which direction CONGRESS falls will have some real relevance ahead, as well.

Changing the subject, I sat on a call this week led by a specialist in cybersecurity/cybertheft. It was enlightening. And while we all know to be aware of the standard fraud attempts that come our way every week, I would acknowledge the increasing sophistication of fraud. Long past are the days of emails from our “friend/relative traveling in Africa who needs money for the short hospital stay”. Modern day fraud shows calls, emails and texts that can impersonate our voices, our personalities, and our normal communications. They can manipulate caller id. . .and they can connect our IDs with people we know. It is both bothersome and uncomfortable what is possible these days. The advice that is more important than ever: Stay vigilant and ALWAYS be skeptical until something is separately or independently verified. This goes double for my friends and clients who are senior citizens. YOU are the primary target. If you wonder about something, run it by a friend or family member. Do a sanity check. Always be careful.

It is a fun time of year. The leaves are changing, the World Series got fun and interesting, football and great weather, Thanksgiving is on the horizon, and a daughter that is about to go to the other side of the world for 2 years. Well, except for that. . .

Key

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Any opinions are those of the author and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Expressions of opinion are as of this date and are subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected.