When reviewing your investments and financial planning, it’s hard to ignore that this is an election year, especially given the global scale of political changes this year. In 2024 alone, 64 countries worldwide are holding or have already held elections. While we’ve seen headlines about voting in France, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela, there’s one election that seems to be on everyone's mind: the U.S. presidential race set for November 5, 2024.

You might be wondering how these political shifts could affect your investment portfolio, retirement plans, or overall financial strategy. It’s a valid concern, and you’re not alone in asking these questions. In times like these, it’s crucial to step back and look at the bigger picture. As you navigate this election year, it’s helpful to gain some perspective on recent events, insights from past elections, and practical advice on how to approach your finances during this potentially turbulent time.

s we are all aware this last 3 weeks has been bad for the stock market. The market has dropped just under 20% from the peak as of yesterday’s close. Many of you are nervous and that is understandable. Over the last few weeks, a virus scare has become a hysteria. In my 22 years as a financial advisor I have never seen a hysteria quite like this one. In a small way it reminds me of a more extreme version of Y2K scare … stockpiling dry goods, worry about the unknown, and massive media hype playing into the worst parts of our fears.