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End of Year Planning: Many of you have been in touch with your end-of-year needs, but as we turn into December, we just wanted to remind you that we are available to help in any way we can with your end-of-year donations or planning. With tax season approaching, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your advisor or customer service team with any questions. We are thankful for the opportunity to work with you!

Teacher Deductions: Teachers who spent their own money on items like masks and hand sanitizer or other Covid-19 related things have the opportunity to get a bit of extra help come tax time. While surveys revealed that most teachers spent an average of $750 of their own money on supplies, they can claim up to $250. While they deserve so much more, it is something!

Charitable Giving: December is often a month for focused giving and often makes good financial sense for retirees. For smaller donations, givers can receive credit for a portion of their donations even without itemizing donations. For midsize donations, retired givers should use the Qualified Charitable Distribution designation. For more significant donations, experts suggest donating highly appreciated assets from taxable accounts. The bottom line is that if you’re retired, interested in charitable giving, and wondering what your best options are, reach out to your advisor today.

Holiday Humor: With the tight labor market and concerns of Covid risks continuing, one industry taking a hit is a shortage of Santas, leaving many organizations scrambling to find bearded men in red suits. Working Santas are raising their rates as high as $200 an hour.

We also continue to monitor economic inflation and thought you might enjoy this: