The end of the year is nearly upon us. While we focus our attention on the spirit of the holiday season, it’s also a great time to assess important aspects of your tax situation. Before 2022 closes, consider some of these tax related tips.
2022
Against a backdrop of tightening monetary policy, heightened geopolitical tensions, weakening economic data, fatigued business and consumer confidence, atypical currency movements, an overall risk-off atmosphere for stocks through the first three quarters of this year, and U.S. midterm elections on Tuesday, November 8th, investors should prepare for further volatility over the remaining months of this year.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines turbulent as “characterized by conflict, disorder, or confusion; not controlled by calm.” There seems no better description of the first half to 2022 given the crosscurrent of interrelated issues including economic uncertainty, persistent inflation build, Federal Reserve monetary policy, and strife in Ukraine.
With the unfolding Russia/Ukraine war, commencement of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s long expected monetary policy change to hike overnight interest rates, widespread concerns over shortage-induced price increases for energy and food, and further COVID-related lockdowns in China, these conditions have produced a high degree of uncertainty to start 2022 and have caused material adverse financial market conditions along with elevated price volatility.
We would like to commence our first of the year message by offering gratitude and sincere appreciation for our clients during this past year filled with so many unknowns.