The Financial Quarterly

3rd Quarter 2021

Brian Fry, CFP®
https://www.safelandingfinancial.com
Safe Landing Financial
512-662-1835

Despite breaking multiple records, a rocky third quarter ended with a thud as concerns about inflation, political brawls, and viral variants weighed.1

Let's take a look at how markets performed and what we might look forward to in the months to come.

Looking Back

How Did Markets Perform Last Quarter?

S&P 500

The broader U.S. market ended Q3 flat.2

NASDAQ

The tech-focused NASDAQ was rocked by volatility, but closed Q3 only slightly down.2

DOW 30

Blue chip stocks also fell victim to fears of higher interest rates ahead, ending Q3 negative.2

Looking Ahead

What Can We Expect In the Near Future?3

U.S. Economic Outlook

Negative Positive

The U.S. economy continues to recover though the delta variant may weigh on near-term growth.4

Equity Outlook

Negative Positive

Though equities could still have room to grow in the months ahead, a correction would not be suprising.5

Consumer Sentiment

Negative Positive

Consumer sentiment remains positive, but concerns about a slowing recovery could weigh.6

Labor Market

Negative Positive

The labor market continues to grow, though challenges matching open jobs with available workers remain.4

Business Outlook Survey

Negative Positive

The overall business outlook looks positive heading into the close of the year, though supply chain woes may continue.4

Fiscal Policy

Negative Positive

Though prospective government policies look to support near-term economic growth, some have concerns about long-term debt.4

"As we head toward the finish line, we see some clouds on the horizon; however, we still hope for a solid end to the year."

Not receiving our newsletter? Get insightful info on finances and more in your inbox every month with the Insider's List.

Bottom Line

Key Takeaways for Savvy Investors

2021 opened with great optimism and hope that vaccines would put the pandemic in the rearview mirror.

The year so far had a lot of highlights: the U.S. economy roared back from its 2020 recession, personal incomes hit a high mark, home values increased, and U.S. companies enjoyed record profitability.7,8,9,10

All that optimism has led to record-breaking stock performance (50+ all-time-highs in 2021), causing the S&P 500 to double in less than a year.11,12

But, the clouds on the horizon could lead to more market volatility.

There are a few things I’m watching as we head toward the close of 2021:

  • New COVID-19 variants
  • Higher inflation
  • Fed tapering
  • Political and geopolitical concerns
  • Economic growth
  • The rising debt burden

Since markets are cyclical, the good times are bound to end, and now is a good time to be cautious.

The flipside is that rocky times don’t last forever either.

Bottom line, I'm keeping a close eye on conditions and staying flexible.

It's more important than ever to have a strategic investment strategy tailored to your financial goals.

Questions about what’s going on? Or how the markets impact your financial plan or investment strategy?

Please reach out. I'm happy to chat. Free consultation to start planning your financial future.

Brian Fry, CFP®
Safe Landing Financial
512-662-1835
brianfry@safelandingfinancial.com