‘Tis the month before year-end, the year’s almost done,
And we eagerly look forward beyond twenty twenty-one.
Sure, stocks have rallied, and in quite a hurry,
As markets ascended that big wall of worry.
But bonds have experienced some much worse fates,
Especially those that respond more to interest rates,
As markets rethink how the big central banks
Will react to the higher costs of filling our tanks.
And more broadly, we all have had to endure
Another year spent fighting back the allure
Of life more normal than the current routine
That’s once again thanks to that COVID-19.
But there’s hope on the horizon for the year yet to come
Which will hopefully be filled with less of the ho-hum
From supply chains and prices and the virus’ genome,
And new waves of lockdowns that keep us at home.
Of course, the outlook is not absent of queries and risk
and pundits’ voices will again rise as growth proves less brisk
Than what has been seen through the recovery stage
(though it’s a normal progression as the cyclical does age).
And on China, uncertainty will continue to linger
About the next sector to go through the wringer.
The ground ‘neath US politics will stay far from firm
As partisan cries rise before the midterms.
And what of inflation? Will it remain itchy and hot?
Or will it prove transitory as initially thought?
Amid all the unknowns that can impact your wealth,
It pays to have someone watching your finances’ health,
Who can offer sound advice, sometimes who is rhyming,
And knows that with markets “time in” matters more than “timing”.
