“Season of Giving”
December 12, 2022
It is Christmas season, full of shopping, parties, and various work and family events to celebrate the holiday spirit! Giving and receiving are such a big part of this time of year. When we are young, we learn the fun of receiving gifts very quickly. I still remember the joy of lining up on the stairs with my four brothers waiting with an impatient anticipation of unwrapping the gifts “Santa” left for us. We would pose for the annual picture my mom had to take while we squirmed and pushed one another around.
Now I get the joy of sharing the excitement of this season with my children and seeing their faces light up. The happiness I feel giving to them far outweighs any feelings I have towards receiving gifts. In Acts 20:35 Paul quotes Jesus saying, “It is more blessed to give, than to receive.”
Learning the joy of giving takes us a little longer to learn but has far greater benefits. People are drawn to those that are generous. Believe it or not this isn’t primarily because they are hoping to get something for themselves. Who wants to associate with someone they know is a “Scrooge” or selfish? We want to be around people who are loving, caring, kind, and helpful. When we are givers, we become wealthier in relationships, family, and friends.
Giving also makes us more content. When we give something that we can afford to give, and witness the joy someone has in receiving how much more content are we with all the blessings we still have? Contentment is a cornerstone of happiness and the best way to find it is through giving.
Our primary role as financial advisors is to help our clients meet their needs and retirement goals so that they can live into retirement with peace and joy. Often some of those goals are around the topic of giving to family, church, or charities they are passionate about. Our team works to ensure that we are up to date on the various tax benefits of giving so that our clients can give as efficiently as possible while reducing their tax burden.
If you are interested in learning more about ways you can give more tax efficiently contact Dale, Jack, or me anytime and Make Your Wealth a Blessing! (thedittogroup@rwbaird.com)
Semper Fi,
D. Stewart Ditto II, CFP®
VK2022-1114
If you have any questions do not hesitate to reach out to our team! Thedittogroup@rwbaird.com