Last year was another one of, shall we say, “uncivil” political discourse, but that doesn’t stop people from engaging in that discourse. More importantly all that political chatter didn’t prevent the S&P 500 from gaining 17.7% when accounting for paid dividends.
For better or worse, there’s no escaping politics when investing and that scenario will be amplified in 2026 because this is a midterm election year and like the other recent election years, this will be a contentious one. Advisors should acknowledge as much while also noting that politics are top-of-mind for many clients.
Obviously, partisan political conversations are no-no’s with clients. In an ideal world, advisors wouldn’t care about clients’ voting proclivities as long as they’re engaged clients bringing assets to the table. Likewise, clients wouldn’t care how advisors vote provided those advisors are communicative, trustworthy and delivering results.
Alas, we don’t live in a perfect world, but there are some encouraging signs at the 2026 intersection of investing and politics.
Politics Can’t Beat Planning
The CFP Board's 2026 CFP® Professionals Financial Outlook Survey confirms clients are worried about politics in 2026.
“The political environment has emerged as the primary concern clients are raising with their advisors. Half of CFP® professionals report clients mention it in relation to reaching their financial goals — surpassing concerns such as inflation and prices (39%), the national economy (34%) and market stability (34%),” according to the study.
The good news is that clients aren’t letting a fractious political climate get in the way of their investing goals. Nearly half of those surveyed by the CFP Board have optimistic outlooks for 2026. Underscoring the importance of working with advisors, “80% expecting to achieve long-term goals and 72% expecting to reach short-term goals” – percentages likely attributable to confidence in advisor-developed plans.
Clients seeing the value in planning and advisor relationships is pivotal because the only certainty entering 2026 is that there will be uncertainty. Politics aside, turbulent times are when advisors prove their mettle.
Investing ‘Trumps’ Politics
As the CFP Board survey indicates, client emotions entering 2026 run the gamut of anxious, optimistic, cautious and more. One thing they can agree on, broadly speaking, is the need to be proactive – something else advisors can help them with.
“Regardless of their individual outlook, clients are taking action. Nearly half (48%) of CFP® professionals say their clients are more likely to increase investment levels in 2026, while many are also planning home repairs or renovations (40%), vacations (35%) or retirement (39%),” according to the survey.
Another bit of good news. The points of emphasis for advisors and clients are evergreen, meaning they’re relevant no matter what’s happening on Capitol Hill. In other words, advisors can have the conversations clients want to be parts of without talking about politics. It’s a win-win.
“CFP® professionals are focusing 2026 planning conversations on retirement planning (67%), tax planning (58%), investment planning (51%), estate planning and wealth transfer (44%), and health-care costs (30%),” concludes the CFP Board.
Related: The Death of Financial New Year’s Resolutions—and the Rise of Goal-Based Planning