The presidential election may be polarizing, but the outcome may not be as disruptive as some people fear, JPMorgan strategist Gabriela Santos said Friday.
"We've been talking [to clients] about it as an election of extreme, but a government of moderation, no matter who wins," the global market strategist said in an interview with CNBC's "Squawk Box."
Santos conceded that the election will matter in certain "microsectors," but in terms of the larger U.S. economy, returns, and client investments, there is no need to wait for the election's outcome, she said.
One area Santos is concerned about is trade, but on a broader scale than the candidates' differences on the matter.
"If you think about trade as a big promoter of investment by companies, as a driver of productivity, as a driver of growth, … we are concerned to that extent about this recent rhetoric against trade," she said.
Locally, Santos said loan growth is a hot topic within the financial sector, but the types of loans that drive upward moves are changing.
The strategist said consumer-related loans are overtaking commercial and industrial loans as the main drivers of loan growth for the financial sector.
Consumers, who are prone to take out loans for mortgages and credit cards, will likely "pick up the tab" as commercial-driven loan growth takes a back seat, Santos said.
Overall, the strategist has a positive outlook for financials for the fourth quarter and next year. ""Finally we're seeing the fading of a lot of the headwinds from the stronger dollar and from low oil prices," Santos said. "As these fade, you expect earnings to start turning positive."
One caveat to her vision is that inflation pressures have so far been masked by the strong dollar and low oil prices, though they are causing health care, education, and rent prices to rise.
"If we do get a little bit more wage growth with such a tight market, then inflation will definitely creep up next year," she said.