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Chief Investment Officer, Shannon Saccocia, sits down with Ryan McQuilkin, Head of Fixed Income, and Nancy Perez, Senior Manager to discuss: (1) the outlook for 2020 since 2019 was a banner year for a balanced portfolio; (2) how the impending U.S. presidential election might impact consumer optimism; and (3) which sectors they are watching.

It is an open question whether investors in 2020 will remain as sanguine as they did in 2019. The U.S. and China are settling into a protracted battle over strategic interests, global economic growth is slowing, and central banks are running out of options. Meanwhile, political uncertainty is elevated with voters voicing their frustrations everywhere. Even if politics and growth do surprise to the upside, weak earnings and stretched valuations, at least for many assets, may weigh on returns.

The financial services sector was cited as one of the top industries likely to experience increase in deal activity in 2020, according to BDO’s US Private Capital Outlook. We take a deeper look at the trend in this episode of the Private Equity PErspectives Podcast.

While investing isn't the same as war, Sun Tzu's advice on preparation is still applicable. In looking ahead and preparing for what can happen, a set of key themes and investment implications emerge around fractured politics in 2020, trade war and the unloved expansion, and efficacy of monetary policy and negative yields.

More than a decade ago, central banks embarked on a highly unconventional monetary policy path—generally referred to as "quantitative easing." This made possible the longest recorded U.S. economic upswing in history. But can this monetary "magic" continue to work? It is up for debate and is the premise of this year's six investment themes, beginning with "policy pressures need prudent response."

The U.S. equity income market could be in for a wild ride in 2020. Learn how exposure diversification may help your portfolio weather the coming storm.

One of the biggest challenges corporate and municipal bond investors face when it comes to portfolio performance is interest rate fluctuation. Changing interest rates can increase risk and decrease investment value. Incorporating a separately managed account made up of evenly weighted bonds into an investment strategy may help reduce risk and make it easier to withstand rising interest rates.

2019 witnessed an uncommon surge for both risky and safe assets as stocks and bonds had their biggest simultaneous gains in more than two decades. An improving outlook on the economy, progress between the U.S. and China on trade, and the Fed’s interest rate cuts boosted investors’ confidence. However, fears of a global manufacturing slowdown, aggravated by trade conflicts, helped push up defensive assets along the way.

For investors, it's helpful to consider the forces that could impact the markets. Taking some time at the beginning of the year to pause, reflect on the past, and consider carefully how it informs you about the future is a valuable exercise. It allows you to thoughtfully consider the environment you are entering and explore some of the opportunities and challenges that may drive the market's narrative in the coming year. In 2020, there are three things worth watching above all others.

Positive screens include good companies, and negative ones exclude bad companies, right? Discover why they’re really just two sides of the same coin.