John invested $$1,000$ in large U$.$S$.$ stocks at the beginning of $2017.$ The investment earned $16\mathrm{.}21\%$ in $2017\mathrm{.}11\mathrm{.}96\%$ in $2018$ and $7\mathrm{.}5\%$ in $2019.$ What was the average annual return $($geometric$)$ that John earned during this three$-$year period? $($Provide your answer as a $\%$ and round to two $(2)$ decimal places$)$