6 investment lessons for the year ahead
![](https://assets.livewiremarkets.com/rails/active_storage/representations/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBbmNIIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--9c4c4719f5cab067afaac244ad781dd70782b791/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCem9MWm05eWJXRjBTU0lJYW5CbkJqb0dSVlE2RTNKbGMybDZaVjkwYjE5bWFXeHNXd2RwQWNocEFjZz0iLCJleHAiOm51bGwsInB1ciI6InZhcmlhdGlvbiJ9fQ==--d4026b52d9aa7a676b3d70dbe31c85d930184392/2.jpg)
Portfolio Manager
Geo-political events and broad macro-economic themes were among key factors impacting Australian and global share markets throughout FY2017. Surprise events, such as the election of Trump, generated considerable short-term volatility and weaker consumer sentiment weighed on discretionary retail stocks.
Dissecting the last 12 months in equity markets provides a number of important investment lessons, including the importance of fundamental macro drivers and strong company balance sheets.
I expand on these and other important lessons from FY2017 below.
![Chris Stott](https://assets.livewiremarkets.com/rails/active_storage/representations/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBbmNIIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--9c4c4719f5cab067afaac244ad781dd70782b791/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCem9MWm05eWJXRjBTU0lJYW5CbkJqb0dSVlE2RTNKbGMybDZaVjkwYjE5bWFXeHNXd2RwQWNocEFjZz0iLCJleHAiOm51bGwsInB1ciI6InZhcmlhdGlvbiJ9fQ==--d4026b52d9aa7a676b3d70dbe31c85d930184392/2.jpg)
Chris was the Chief Investment Officer of Wilson Asset Management, having joined the company in 2006. He was also the Portfolio Manager responsible for WAM Capital (ASX:WAM), WAM Research (ASX:WAX), WAM Active (ASX:WAA) and WAM MicroCap (ASX:WMI).
![Chris Stott](https://assets.livewiremarkets.com/rails/active_storage/representations/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBbmNIIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--9c4c4719f5cab067afaac244ad781dd70782b791/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCem9MWm05eWJXRjBTU0lJYW5CbkJqb0dSVlE2RTNKbGMybDZaVjkwYjE5bWFXeHNXd2RwQWNocEFjZz0iLCJleHAiOm51bGwsInB1ciI6InZhcmlhdGlvbiJ9fQ==--d4026b52d9aa7a676b3d70dbe31c85d930184392/2.jpg)
Chris was the Chief Investment Officer of Wilson Asset Management, having joined the company in 2006. He was also the Portfolio Manager responsible for WAM Capital (ASX:WAM), WAM Research (ASX:WAX), WAM Active (ASX:WAA) and WAM MicroCap (ASX:WMI).