Broad stock market returns were quite favorable in 2017. In fact, coming off a year of good returns in 2016 and with the numerous political and geopolitical uncertainties one year ago, the returns of the past year generally were unexpected and quite remarkable. With the help of some basic math, recent returns can be put in context and some perspective for the period ahead can be provided. Of course, this admonition is ever present, “Past returns are no guarantee of future results.”