As 2021 winds down, we are starting to look ahead to 2022. As a starting point to begin forecasting stock market performance next year, we want to first assess the economic growth outlook and where we are in the economic cycle. If we are approaching the middle of an economic cycle that has at least a few more years to go (our view), then we believe the chances of another good year for stocks in 2022 are fairly high. Mid-cycle simply means we do not believe a recession is likely anytime soon—nor do we expect the big equity gains typically seen when the economy emerges from recession (those came last year).