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MONTH-2-MONTH
DECEMBER 2025
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MONTH-2-MONTH is intended to provide you with updates on AFP and timely financial planning and investment information on a variety of topics.
If you find our content useful, please forward this email to a friend.
| | Twinkling lights and crackling fires herald December's quiet arrival. Evergreens stand tall and gift wrap rustles, while darkness settles comfortably before dinner ends. With each frosted windowpane catching candlelight, we're reminded to slow down, cherish the moment, and welcome the season's hopeful warmth. | | |
COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE
Our team had an incredible day volunteering at the Mid-Ohio Food Bank on December 8th! We’re grateful for the opportunity to support such an important organization and to give back to families in our community.
A huge thank-you to everyone who contributed non-perishable food items at our office. Your generosity truly makes a difference.
| | | NEW YEARS REMINDER– Please keep in mind when scheduling an appointment that we do not hold client meetings during the first 15 days of January. We use this time to prepare for the new fiscal year and close out any remaining items from the previous year. | |
THE WOMEN'S $ CIRCLE- Part 2: RSVP Now!
Join us for Part 2 of our Women's $ Circle, where we'll focus on redeeming points strategically for travel, cashback, and more!
Thursday, January 22nd at 6:30 PM
| We can't wait to see you there as we dive deeper into making your points work harder for you! | |
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM AFP
As the year draws to a close, we wanted to take a moment to thank you for your continued partnership and confidence in us throughout 2025.
Please note our holiday schedule:
Christmas Wednesday, December 24th – Office will close at 12pm (noon) Thursday, December 25th – Office is closed
New Year's Wednesday, December 31st – Office will close at 12pm (noon) Thursday, January 1st and Friday, January 2nd – Office is closed
We will return to regular business hours on Monday, January 5th.
Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year!
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Click below to read our December 2025 Blog edition.
What if the Best Gifts Can't Be Wrapped?
We would enjoy receiving your feedback on our Blog. Please share any comments or suggestions for future topics with us via email.
| | | | There is never a lack of things to do in December! There’s all the usual stuff, and then there are those other things that seem to stand out. The family get-together to make cookies was a blast, with lots of people in my kitchen making all different kinds of cookies at the same time. It was a bit chaotic but fun! I went down to Hocking Hills with friends for what we thought would be a long weekend of hiking and just chilling. We did some hiking and chilling, but we ended up leaving early due to the weather. It was a bit of a nail-biter driving back to Columbus, with a wrong turn providing a beautiful view. Last Sunday was our choir concert with the Capriccio Choir. It is such a joy to be a part of this group of singers. I wish you all a safe, warm, and memorable holiday season. | | | | | We enjoyed our time in Virginia over Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful meal with Lisa’s mom and stepdad, as well as her niece, and even did a little Black Friday shopping. Basketball season has also started for both of the girls. I’m coaching Ainsley’s team again this year, and I believe she’s the only one on the team who has played basketball before. I think it’s always fun to try to get the girls to play something that resembles basketball at the beginning of the year and then compare that to their dribbling, passing, and shooting ability at the end of the year. The progress that they make over just a few months is amazing. Beyond that, we’re all looking forward to taking time off over Christmas and New Year’s to spend time together. | | | | | It feels like a week has been lost, probably since Thanksgiving was later than usual. We finally got our Christmas tree and decorated it with lights and tinsel. We’ll add ornaments when Cayleigh gets home. I’m slowly working through the rest of the holiday decor, finding forgotten treasures and memorializing them through reuse. This year is expected to be simple but pleasurably focused on spending quality time with family and friends. I hope your holiday is merry & bright, full of love & laughter, whether you’ve planned a spectacular celebration or a simple gathering. | | | | | December has arrived and brought with it a slower, cozier pace than November's whirlwind. My boyfriend and I started a new tradition this year: watching a holiday movie every night that we can throughout the month. So far, the clear fan favorite has been The Holiday. It was his first time watching, my one thousandth time, and it somehow gets better with each viewing. The highlight of December, though, was our family trip to Mexico. This was the first year my boyfriend has attended and he was indoctrinated into the nightly ritual of Euchre. As we quickly approach Christmas and the New Year, I plan to spend as much time looking at lights, blasting Christmas music and enjoying all the joy these holidays have to offer. Hope yours is filled with warmth and lots of cookies! | | |
Current Economic and Investment Information | | |
DIVERGENT JOBS DATA- Two employment reports conflicted last week: ADP showed private payrolls fell 32K in November (lowest since March 2023), while weekly jobless claims dropped to 191K (lowest since September 2022). (Sources: ADP, DoL)
CHEAP AND STABLE GAS- On 12/1, national average gas prices fell below $3/gallon for the first time since May 2021. Prices have varied less than 9% over the past year—the narrowest range since at least 2024. (Source: AAA)
IT'S ALL RELATIVE- The Magnificent Seven trade at a 36.8x trailing P/E multiple—less than half the 80+ average the dot-com era "four horsemen" (Cisco, Microsoft, Dell, Intel) reached at their peak. (Source: Bloomberg Intelligence)
LOWER ZESTIMATES- Zillow data shows 53% of US homes declined in value over the past year, up from 14% a year ago and the highest level since 2012 during the housing crash. (Source: Zillow)
| | American holiday spending intentions have shifted significantly over the past decade. In the mid-2010s, approximately 65% of consumers planned to spend about the same as the previous Christmas, maintaining steady holiday budgets. By 2024, this figure dropped to just 52%—the lowest point recorded. The proportion planning to spend less spiked dramatically to 28% in 2020 during the pandemic before stabilizing around 23-25% in recent years. Meanwhile, those intending to spend more have remained relatively consistent at 13-20%. This trend reflects growing financial caution among consumers, with nearly half now adjusting their holiday spending rather than maintaining the budget consistency that characterized earlier years. | | Source: Statista, "Average Christmas spending of U.S. consumers 2014-2025" Statista | |
Closing Out 2025: What To Review Before The Year Ends
By David Kudla
Source: Forbes
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Year-end isn’t just the holidays—it's your final chance to capture tax breaks, maximize retirement contributions, and handle key financial tasks before they vanish on December 31. Miss an RMD and you could face a 25% penalty; skip 401(k) contributions (up to $23,500, or the new $11,250 “super” catch-up for ages 60–63) and that room is gone for good. Acting now can save you thousands in taxes, secure Roth conversions at better rates, and ensure your estate documents stay accurate. With deadlines piling up and major tax changes coming in 2026, a quick review of contributions, distributions, charitable moves, and beneficiary designations can help you avoid costly mistakes. Before the calendar resets, know which year-end actions can meaningfully improve your finances—because many can’t be fixed in January.
Click here to read this article.
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With the penny going away, what should you do with the ones in your coin jar?
By Daniel De Vide and Mike Snider
Source: USA Today
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Americans hoard billions in forgotten coins—the average household has $60-$90 stashed away, typically underestimating its value by half. Viral stories promise million-dollar wheat pennies, but experts say these are mostly AI-generated hype. While genuine rarities like 1943 copper pennies exist, finding one is lottery-odds rare. The real value is in everyday coins gathering dust, not mythical treasures. Returning them to circulation could even reduce new minting needs. Your coin jar is probably worth more than you think—just not for clickbait reasons.
Click here to read this article.
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Ways You Can Manage the Trap of Subscription Auto-Renewal
By Nicole Nguyen
Source: The Wall Street Journal
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he average person now pays over $250 a month for 19 active subscriptions—many of which they've forgotten about. What started as convenient streaming has become "subscription captivity," with everything from fitness trackers to coffee beans locked behind paywalls and rising prices. This article reveals where hidden charges lurk, why companies have you trapped, and offers smart strategies to break free—including one simple trick that forces every service to re-earn your business. Your wallet will thank you.
Click here to read this article.
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Do you know someone who can benefit from FINANCIAL PLANNING?
At Alexander Financial Planning, we are passionate about financial life planning. We also know that it is not just about the numbers. While numbers are important, they are there to support your hopes, dreams, and desires. When we can put all the components of financial planning together, (cash flow, insurance, investing, taxation, and estate planning) your unique picture of a path forward comes into view. For 28+ years, we have been helping individuals and families develop their plan and navigate the twists and turns each year.
Whether you’re planning for retirement, becoming an empty nester, or navigating how to take retirement distributions, we are your thinking partner. We are here to make sense of it all, one step at a time. If now is the time for you or someone you know to get serious about your financial future, contact us. We’d love to be of service.
WHAT SETS US APART
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"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."
- Winston Churchill
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Alexander Financial Planning | |
3600 Olentangy River Rd, Ste. C2
Columbus, OH 43214
614-538-1600
Office Hours:
Monday–Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Registered Investment Advisor
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This material is distributed by Alexander Financial Planning, Inc., (AFPI) and is for information purposes only. Although information has been obtained from sources we believe to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy. It is provided with the understanding that no fiduciary relationship exists because of this report. Opinions expressed in this report are not necessarily the opinions of AFPI and are subject to change without notice. AFPI assumes no liability for the interpretation or use of this report. Financial planning, investment conclusions, and strategies suggested in this report may not be suitable for all investors and consultation with a qualified advisor is recommended prior to executing any investment strategy. No portion of this writing should be construed as legal or accounting advice. All rights reserved. | | |
© Alexander Financial Planning, Inc. | |
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