
‘Twas the week before Christmas
 And we’re again filled with cheer
 To provide our blog readers
 A review of the year:
There’s been some big changes
 Since Donald’s election
 It probably merits
 Some deep introspection
While many lamented
 His election as dire
 Globally, rates
 Have clearly moved higher
Here in Canada
 Measures were taken
 To allay housing costs
 Thus saving our bacon
For if rates rise fast,
 And these measures failed
 A downturn in housing
 Would leave us assailed
In many countries
 Were promises made
 By politicians
 On tax and on trade
Take “conscious uncoupling”
 —by this we mean Brexit—
 Article 50 means it’s
 Two years to exit
During this time,
 How “May” things go?
 We hope not too hard
 But we still just don’t know
And North America
 Has still yet to see
 What NAFTA will look like
 Just how it will be?
The U.S.’s new tax bill
 With significant cuts
 May soon become law
 No if, ands, or buts
And then there is China's
 Economic transition
 We do not envy
 Their leaders’ position
For the main question
 We all want to know:
 If you clean up your banks
 Can you still grow?
And now let’s talk Bitcoin
 For all its elation
 No, it’s not “value”
 It’s just speculation!
It’s a big part
 Of this whole equation
 In which we see broadly
 Steep valuation
All of this happened
 With stock markets winning
Another year up?
 But remember: “late inning”
Equities could just
 Keep rising next year
 But they could easily tumble
 That much is clear.
But since most investment goals
 Are long term in type
 Keep your eyes on the horizon
 And beware of the hype
A resilient portfolio
 Will weather most storms
 From markets correcting
 The bubbles that form
So as 2017
 Draws to a close
 What’s in store for next year?
 No one really knows
But this we can say
 With all of our might,
 Merry Christmas to all,
 And to all a good night!


