Since the 2008-2009 Great Recession, the world has endured financial crises, geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, a pandemic, and so much more. But there has been one factor that has been remarkably persistent: the stock market, from the United States to the UK, has soared to a record high. As 2021 comes to a close, the leading U.S. benchmark indexes will have enjoyed a tremendous year, filled with multiple fresh highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is poised for a 15 percent gain. The Nasdaq Composite Index is on track for a 19 percent rally. The S&P 500 Index will finish the year up 24 percent. Other segments of the financial markets will also record solid gains. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY), which gauges the greenback against a basket of currencies, will likely complete the year with a 7 percent surge. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield is flirting with 1.5 percent. …