How World Politics Impact Investments

Investment advisor representative Darcy Bergen advocates for low-risk strategies that protect investments and create retirement income streams. On a recent retirement class, Darcy Bergen discussed the volatile nature of retirement investments in the stock market. 

In addition to the normal up and down cycle of the market, stock investments can be impacted by world events. Some of the most influential changes to the global economy include: 

- New tax structures. Governments often make changes in the way businesses and industries are taxed. Companies may respond to higher taxes by moving to a different country. Conversely, lower taxes may encourage more investment. Shareholders may sell or buy stock accordingly, which impacts share prices. 

- Currency value. Correlated with stability and collective confidence in a country’s government, currency value can plummet if a nation undergoes severe political turmoil. This can have a ripple effect throughout the global economy since many companies have distributors and suppliers based around the world. 

- War or political instability. Likewise, an armed conflict in a single nation can have ramifications across the international stock market. Companies may have to shut down overseas operations due to violence. While markets usually recover in time, the initial shock caused by a revolution, coup, or war can trigger a significant drop. 

Arizona-based financial advisor Darcy Bergen supports the work of Bergen’s Mission, a charitable organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people in East Africa. Darcy Bergen serves as the charity’s treasurer. The organization is a longtime partner of the Canadian nonprofit, Hope for the Nations. 

To address a lack of access to education, Hope for the Nations established the Hope Gateway Education Center in the Sinai neighborhood of one of the Nairobi's biggest slums. Home to more than 200,000 people, Sinai has no public school system. Families must pay for private school if they want to educate their children. 

To help break the cycle of illiteracy and poverty, Hope for the Nations partnered with a local agency to establish the Hope Gateway Education Center in 2005. More than 200 elementary school children attend the center at no cost. 

Every pupil also receives two healthy meals and free school uniforms. With the help of high school students from British Columbia, the center was able to install an on-site pumping system to ensure that students have access to clean water. 

Investment advisory services offered through Horter Investment Management, LLC, a SEC-Registered Investment Advisor. Horter Investment Management does not provide legal or tax advice. Investment Advisor Representatives of Horter Investment Management may only conduct business with residents of the states and jurisdictions in which they are properly registered or exempt from registration requirements. Insurance and annuity products are sold separately through Darcy Bergen. Securities transactions for Horter Investment Management clients are placed through E*TRADE Advisor Services, TD Ameritrade and Nationwide Advisory Solutions. Your investment advisor may recommend third-party money managers who utilize investment strategies designed to minimize portfolio volatility and reduce the risk of declines in account values. Low Risk or Low Volatility strategies are generally defined as strategies that have a 10-year maximum drawdown of less than 10%. Like any other investment strategy, this approach entails risks, including the risk that client accounts can still lose value and the risk that a defensive position may, at any given point in time, prevent client accounts from appreciating in value.