Many predictions and forecasts have been made about how the country will change under his leadership and whether many of the more controversial policies he espoused during the election campaign will be enacted.
Financial Planning Today asked Financial Planners what they thought of the imminent coming to power of Mr Trump and what affect his accession may have on the advice sector and investments. Could it alter strategies for clients?
Chartered Financial Planner Danny Cox FPFS, head of communications at Hargreaves Lansdown
Some clients will look for reassurance and many will look to see which stocks or funds might benefit from changes in policy. The problem here is that by the time they look the market has already reacted. Far better for planners to ensure their clients understand, trust and believe in their plan, so they put it in a drawer and forget about it until the next review.
A change of president or prime minister makes little difference to the role of the Financial Planner. Even less of a difference with Trump, as he is over 3,500 miles away and a continent away from the UK and issues more relevant to the UK client.
Short term market volatility created by macro events such as these should not impact on the longer term strategic plans agreed with clients. There may be adjustments of actual returns and future assumptions at the next planning review - but the planner would be reviewing these anyway.
Chartered Financial Planner Tamsin Caine CFPTM Chartered MCSI of Smart Financial
None of us can predict what impact Donald Trump’s presidency will have on the world. However, we do have experience of the impact of unexpected news on the global markets. Our investment philosophy is not about making active calls on the potential outcomes of such news. It centres around asset allocation, selecting funds that appropriately replicate the movement of those assets. Therefore, we do not plan on making any changes to the way in which we work with our clients. Our priority is now, and always has been, to help our clients to get and keep their desired lifestyle, through lifestyle Financial Planning.
Chartered Financial Planner Martin Bamford CFPTM Chartered MCSI FPFS managing director, Informed Choice
Trump becoming President of the US will hopefully have little real impact on our lives as Financial Planners here in the UK. It is however symptomatic of the rise of populism across the world, and along with Brexit could foreshadow further political upsets during 2017, especially in France and Germany where elections are due to take place.
From an investment perspective, many investors have high hopes for a Trump presidency. He has made some bold promises and pledges which, if successfully implemented, could create a boom time for US businesses and also support the global economy.
I am however pessimistic and share George Soros’s highly negative view of Trump and I believe that he is going to fail. Since he was elected, I have been predicting he will fail to serve the full term of office, and I stick by that prediction.
One ray of sunshine for the US economy under Trump is that he has picked some experienced cabinet members with real business experience. These individuals are likely to favour big businesses and deregulation, rather than worry too much about the population who actually voted for Trump. I think he will very quickly be discovered to be an elitist as he brushes aside many of his most popular election pledges in favour of measures for friends in order to shore up support.
Regardless of how things turn up, investors should do their best to ignore the noise surrounding Trump and focus on their long-term goals. A well diversified portfolio which is regularly rebalanced will continue to perform as expected over the longer term, regardless of what happens in the White House.
Mike Horseman Dip PFS, managing director, Cockburn Lucas
The past six months or so have been incredibly interesting and also unnerving for many of us both in the financial and real world. One of the major takeaways for myself personally has been the dire performance of the pollsters to judge the mood of the people and also provide any degree of accuracy in the outcome. This perhaps is like many fund managers and economists who offer overpriced and disappointing outcomes to their investors and their clients.
Whilst “Brexit” and “Trump” will no doubt have spooked many into hoarding cash or buying the yellow stuff the key issue to remember in our book is the price you’re paying for the assets you want to own and the timescale you want to own them for. Whilst I have no doubt Geo-Political risks now exist this is nothing new, so our response is to shut out the short term noise and look at the bigger picture. Asset prices are running very hot in certain sectors of the market and a correction looks likely. Diversifaction will pay but avoid “diworsification”.
Chartered Financial Planner Keith Churchouse FPFS CFPTM Chartered FCSI, director at Chapters Financial
As a team, we have been considering the new US position as part of our business planning, with Donald Trump in charge and are optimistic for a positive economic environment & returns, certainly over the first two years of his Presidency. With control of the Senate and House of Representatives until November 2018 (partial Senate elections) as a minimum, we do not see any major obstacles to ‘Trumpenomics’ for the initial period, likely to be focussed on US infrastructure.
Looking at the UK, we are hopeful that the outcome of change following Brexit will be positive, although (sadly) we still seem to be in the infancy of discussions. President Trump could have a major impact on any outcome, whilst we anticipate that Europe will continue to face significant economic headwinds over the period.
Much to consider in Financial Planning, but we are confident of a buoyant market for business over the next 2-3 years, although there is doubt that this position will be maintained thereafter.
Chartered Financial Planner Steve Martin CFPTM Chartered MCSI, owner of Smart Financial
Never has there been such uncertainty as to the direction the USA will take following Trumps election.
The one thing I'm sure of is that it will be less radical than many fear. I'm looking forward to seeing how he will interact with probably the first ever unsupportive congress of the same party.
Like or loathe him, he is going to shake up the political system and I do always enjoy a shake up!