The Biggest Financial Topics of 2022

Here is a look at some of the industry’s hottest topics this year from navigating geopolitical events and the impact of the US midterm elections to evolving issues such as soaring inflation and the volatility of tech giants.

Market Volatility

It was a tough year in the markets, leaving some investors feeling anxious when it came to their finances. Many found themselves contemplating what such market volatility means for their investment strategies.

In “Do Downturns Lead to Down Years?” our partners at Dimensional Fund Advisors provided some optimism by showing that a broad US market index had positive returns in 17 of the past 20 calendar years, despite some notable dips in many of those years.

“There’s not a single year when the market was always positive. There will be times throughout any year when you see the market drop,” said Wes Crill, Head of Investment Strategists at Dimensional. “Most years still end up positive, and even though some do end up negative, we believe you are better off staying invested rather than panicking because of a drop.”

Stock Performance in Recessions

The potential for a recession captured the minds of financial professionals and investors alike in 2022 and continues to be a hot topic going into the new year.

This interactive chart “Market Returns through a Century of Recessions” emphasizes the forward-looking nature of markets as it examines how stocks have behaved during US economic downturns. Ultimately, the piece shows that markets around the world have often rewarded investors even when economic activity has slowed.

The exhibit also captures the uniqueness of recessions. “Each one looks different,” Crill said. “There is no cookie-cutter recession and no absolute signal of when to get in or when to get out of the market.”

The Fed’s Impact

The US Federal Reserve’s series of rate increases reminded investors that markets tend to incorporate such actions in prices before they are officially announced.

In “Markets Appeared to Be Ahead of the Fed,” Dimensional pointed to June’s rate hike to illustrate this phenomenon. On June 10, days before the announcement of a rise in interest rates, the market had already priced it in. Interest rates jumped on June 13, but the actual announcement did not come until two days later. On the day of the announcement, Treasury yields actually decreased.

Benefits of Long-Term Investing

Investors without a solid plan (and professional guidance on how to stick with that plan) may have found themselves making some knee-jerk decisions about their money this year. It’s natural to worry about the effect of so much uncertainty on one’s long-term investments, but Dimensional Founder David Booth is quick to point out “Why Long-Term Investing Is Crucial.”

“Investing in markets is uncertain. The role of markets is to price in that uncertainty. There were a lot of negative surprises over the past 25 years, but there were a lot of positive ones as well. The net result was a stock market return that seems very reasonable, even generous,” Booth writes. “It’s a tribute to human ingenuity that when negative forces pop up, people and companies respond and mobilize to get things back on track.”

Value Bounces Back

After more than a decade of underperforming growth stocks, value stocks bounced back over the past couple of years. While “Value’s Rebound Rewarded Investors Who Stayed in Their Seats,” the rally led some to question how much longer its run can last.

“Just like data shows that bull markets often last longer than bear markets, and have higher peaks, value runs are much longer and reach higher peaks than the downturns,” Crill said. “But it is important for investors to balance their enthusiasm for higher expected returns with their tolerance for underperformance.”

Value investing is based on the premise that paying less for a set of future cash flows is associated with a higher expected return. That’s one of the most fundamental tenets of investing. Combined with lengthy historical data on the value premium, our research shows that value investing continues to be a reliable way for investors to increase expected returns. 

DISCLOSURES

This article was prepared by Dimensional Fund Advisors and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. The information in this material is intended for the recipient’s background information and use only. It is provided in good faith and without any warranty or representation as to accuracy or completeness. Information and opinions presented in this material have been obtained or derived from sources believed by Dimensional to be reliable, and Dimensional has reasonable grounds to believe that all factual information herein is true as at the date of this material. It does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer of any services or products for sale and is not intended to provide a sufficient basis on which to make an investment decision. Before acting on any information in this document, you should consider whether it is appropriate for your particular circumstances and, if appropriate, seek professional advice. It is the responsibility of any persons wishing to make a purchase to inform themselves of and observe all applicable laws and regulations. Unauthorized reproduction or transmission of this material is strictly prohibited. Dimensional accepts no responsibility for loss arising from the use of the information contained herein.

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Risks
Investments involve risks. The investment return and principal value of an investment may fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original value. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. There is no guarantee strategies will be successful.

Diversification does not eliminate the risk of market loss.