Smart Retirement: Don't Get Caught Up In The Political Chaos; Count Dividend Dollars Instead

Political Chaos: Just More Noise
Just when it seems it can’t get any worse, it gets worse. The unrest that enveloped Charlottesville, Va. last weekend spilled over into the markets’ arena with each passing day last week.
Going From Bad to Worse

Politicians from the President’s own party, including Mitt Romney and Lindsay Graham, forcefully encouraged the President to make an address to the nation to apologize for his delayed statement on the matter, followed by his doubling down by blaming “both sides” for the chaos.
If that were not enough, business executives on the President’s business council abandoned him one by one until it turned into a flood as many members resigned their posts. Trump disbanded this council before the rest had a chance to jump ship.
Investors had looked to these business heads to work with and consult with the President to advance his agenda to rejuvenate the country’s infrastructure. Stocks heavily tied to the infrastructure trade took large losses as the air was let out of that balloon.
The additional hope that these chief executives would work on tax reform proposals also flew out the window when they took a hike.

Market participants did not lose sight of the implication. It was an “emperor has no clothes” moment. More than one leg in the economic agenda stool had been kicked out from under it, and investors weren’t feeling encouraged.
On Thursday... Read more