Financial Insights

KCM On Balance – December 2024

Wishing you a prosperous and joyous December!

As we wind down the year and begin planning for 2025, take some time to celebrate the season and all you’ve accomplished in 2024.

Following the U.S. presidential election, market activity surged with predictions about its potential impact. However, it’s important to understand that early analysis and forecasts don’t guarantee certainty. For instance, the 2016 election showed that initial market reactions don’t necessarily reflect long-term outcomes.

Predicting election results and their effects on the market can be risky for investors, given the uncertainty surrounding new administration decisions and their far-reaching consequences. Ultimately, financial markets are inherently unpredictable. While we aim to understand the future, we recommend focusing your long-term investment strategies on evidence-based approaches to manage that uncertainty.

Articles of Interest

How to Feel About Consumer Feelings

According to Dimensional Fund Advisors, the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index, currently below its long-term average, has not reliably predicted stock market performance, as stocks often rise even during periods of pessimism.

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Misleading Indicators 

“What’s most important to recognize is that no amount of math will yield the optimal answer. A balanced judgment is likely to provide as good an answer as any,” writes Adam Grossman in his Humble Dollar article.

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2024 Year-end Tax Planning Can Protect You From a Big Tax Bill

Year-end tax planning is crucial. With 2024 fast approaching, here are key areas to focus on, according to Kiplinger.

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Here’s How to Maximize Your Tax Breaks for Charitable Giving

CNBC provides information about how charitable donations work—and how they can potentially boost your tax break.

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The Forbes Vetted Holiday Gift Guide

Forbes created more than 30 curated guides for everyone on your “nice” list.

Learn More


Advisory services offered through KCPAG Financial Advisors LLC and insurance services offered through KCPAG Insurance Services LLC, subsidiaries of Kemper Capital Management LLC. Tax services offered through Kemper CPA Group LLP.

Symmetry Partners, LLC is an investment advisory firm registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm only transacts business in states where it is properly registered, excluded, or exempt from registration requirements. Registration of an investment adviser does not imply any specific level of skill or training and does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC.

No one should assume that future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, product, or non-investment-related content made reference to directly or indirectly in this newsletter will be profitable. You should not assume any discussion or information contained in this email serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice. Symmetry does not provide tax or legal advice and nothing either stated or implied here should be inferred as providing such advice. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions.

Diversification seeks to improve performance by spreading your investment dollars into various asset classes to add balance to your portfolio. Using this methodology, however, does not guarantee a profit or protection from loss in a declining market. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Investors cannot invest directly in an index. Indexes have no fees. Historical performance results for investment indexes do not reflect the deduction of transaction and/or custodial charges or the deduction of an investment management fee, the occurrence of which would have the effect of decreasing historical performance results. Actual performance for client accounts will differ from index performance.