Happy Thanksgiving everybody. 

We have much to be thankful for, don’t we?  If you have doubts, just look at where you live – and think about how much tourists pay just to spend a few days here.  If you still have doubts, then you are just looking for reasons to be unhappy.

Oh, there is much going on in the world to be concerned about – all those poor souls who continue to experience significant loss because of a hurricane, or an earthquake or a tsunami – and that damnable war – and pollution, crime – whether blue or white collar, hunger and poverty of all sorts.  Yes, there is much in the world to dislike and to work to change.

Then, too, there is much in our world to appreciate – simple things like hot showers, peanut butter sandwiches, puppies, a child’s laughter, chocolate chip cookies, dinner with friends, a good movie or play – and grander things like that magnificent  Lake Michigan just to our west – and its glorious sunsets.

I hope you can take some time this week to linger over the things deserving of your gratitude…and that you thank somebody for being there for you.

If you want to thank ME for something, I hope it might be for one or more of the following suggestions, any one of which may help you set up for a future of even greater gratitude. What I mean, of course, is that there are a few relatively basic financial planning techniques wise people employ in order to act as good stewards of the wonderful gifts they have been given or feel they have earned.

Good stewards of financial assets devote energy to saving for the future and to making consistently good decisions today.  Here are a few such decisions you might want to consider as we near the end of 2005.  If you have a financial planner, you’ve probably already got these things in progress:

    · If your income has varied from last year, consider calculating a tax projection to assure that you have
      paid enough in and that you have not paid too much in withholding or estimated payments
    · Make charitable gifts, including non-cash gifts, before December 31; if you have appreciated stock or
      mutual funds, it may make sense to gift from these assets before selling
    · Sell any investment losses before the end of the year – up to $3,000 may be claimed in any one year;
      if you have suspended losses, consider selling appreciated assets to use up at least some of those
      losses
    · Submit bills for medical savings and dependent care accounts
    · Update your employee benefits elections for 2006 – including increasing 401k deferrals to $15,000 – plus
      catch-up amounts if you are 50 or older
    · Finish making 2005 IRA contributions – or make sure you’ve taken required minimum distributions if you
      are old enough
    · If it has been a time since you looked at your homeowners insurance,  check to make sure you have
      coverage accounting for appreciation in market value
    · If you are still on an adjustable rate mortgage, consider locking in
    · Move excess cash from loafing accounts like checking or bank savings accounts to investment
      accounts – including “I” Bonds, which are now paying 6.7%
    · Have there been any significant events during the last year that might make it wise to update your
      estate plan?  You DO have an estate plan, don’t you?

And now for my expression of gratitude to you = thank you very much for taking the time to read my writings.  Many of you mention to me a column that struck a chord with you, and this makes me glad I am doing this column.  Thank you.