The escalating military conflict between the U.S. and Iran has unsettled markets in the short term, with Dow futures falling 0.16% and Brent crude rising 6.05% above $91 per barrel. Yet historical S&P 500 data compiled by Charlie Bilello, Chief Market Strategist at Creative Planning, shows average returns increasing from 3% three months after a conflict begins to 12% after one year, 94% after five years and 685% after 20 years. Bilello says wars eventually end while the economy and corporate earnings tend to grow over time. Creative Planning's Peter Mallouk separately said debt-funded government spending is inflationary and can lift prices for stocks and other assets. The S&P 500 was up 12.44% in 2026, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 13.63% and the Dow Jones rose 10.70% year to date. On Friday, SPY fell 0.23% to $769.35, QQQ declined 065% to $716.43 and DIA slipped 0.03% to $535.06; in Monday premarket trading, the three ETFs were down 0.17%, 0.13% and 0.16%, respectively.