As we entered the second half of 2018, markets appeared to be hitting an inflection point. On one hand, economic data remained robust, with the consumer fully engaged, wages growing at a modest pace, industrial production steady, and the corporate tax cut creating the opportunity for meaningful investment.

As the first quarter closed, equity and bond markets were searching for direction following the losses posted in the back half of the quarter after an exemplary January.

Now that Congress has passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, what’s next on the legislative agenda? Washington policy expert Doug Fisher weighs in on what we can expect depending on the results of upcoming mid-term elections.

As January began, it was clear that 2017 was going to be a tough act to follow for investors. It was a year marked by historically low volatility, essentially unchanged Treasury yields, and a straight up trajectory for equity markets, and as such, it seemed unlikely for this Goldilocks scenario to repeat itself again in 2018.

With the failure of Congressional Republicans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, tax reform is now thrust to the front of the line as the White House and Congressional Republicans look for their first major legislative policy win.

Many U.S. based investors largely invest in domestic companies and institutions, whether through equity investments in U.S. companies, the purchase of debt issued by those same companies, or debt issued by state and federal governments. However, ignoring the myriad opportunities available outside the United States can potentially hinder performance in the long term.