In casual conversations, “we need a market correction” has become commonplace. The S&P 500 has doubled since the lows in March of last year. We achieved 55 new all-time highs this year; the previous record of 77 new all-time highs in 1995 is within reach.

If you have followed investment news through traditional media, you have likely heard the theory that a potential increase in the long-term capital gains rate may cause investors to sell all of their positions with unrealized gains ahead of the tax change in the name of avoiding higher future tax rates. At face value this seems like a reasonable theory, but what does historical evidence tell us?

2021 created a new rivalry – those who believe inflation is temporary and others who believe it’s more indefinite. The U.S. inflation rate increased to nearly 5.4% year-over-year as of July 2021, the fastest rate of growth since 2008. Concern about rising inflation in the next few years has been a major point of contention.

Learn more about an approach to investing known as “tax-efficient investing” in our recently updated 3rd edition Approaching Zero Taxes white paper. This group of concepts and investment tax tools can be used to form a tax-efficient investment approach, with the ultimate goal of increasing after-tax returns.

So far, the markets seem unaffected by the Taliban’s return to power, but without a crystal ball, it’s difficult to know what any potential long-term implications are. In situations like this one, it can be beneficial to understand how the markets have treated other geopolitical events.

In this webinar, Savant advisors challenge and test the investment and financial planning world’s most common rumors, popular beliefs, and urban legends.

The prevailing narrative over the past few years was Big Tech is carrying the market. But this year, the rest of the market is punching back. Daniel Noonan, an investment research analyst, presents a high-level perspective of what’s driving the market.

Because of the “September Effect,” superstitious investors often steer clear of the market this time of year, claiming that it has historically produced low returns for the month of September. Phil Huber, Savant’s CIO, looks at the historical data to put this old adage in perspective.

As we enter mid-August, daily new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have spiked. We saw about 190,000 new daily cases on July 20, up from approximately 20,000 in the prior month, but the death rate remains low. Despite this backdrop, the economy continues to achieve new highs.

Custom indexing appears to potentially be the next disruptive force in asset management. In the same way the invention of the exchange-traded fund (ETF) took assets away from mutual funds, custom indexing will likely compete for assets with ETFs and mutual funds in the years ahead.

International small value stocks have played an important role in portfolios over the past 50 years by providing strong returns and diversification benefits to global investors. Investment research analyst Jonathan Fuller outlines the reasons why investors may want to consider allocating a portion of their portfolio to international small cap stocks.

Skateboarding, karate, surfing, sport climbing, and BMX freestyle are newer sports added to the Olympics in recent years. We will use this exciting global tradition to work our way through a mid-year market update.