The Best Gesture
Holiday 2011
By Katherine S. Newton, CFP ®
Giving presents doesn’t have to mean offering up costly tangible items to a friend or family member. If you’ve been looking for the silver lining during this tough time in the economy, you may already have learned this lesson well. Simple attitudes like gratitude for what is already present in our lives can bring focus to this concept. And regardless of whether your motivation for changing the way you give is idealistic or more practical and cost saving, perhaps you’d like a few ideas for alternative and meaningful presents this year. Here are a few that quickly come to mind:
Honor Someone: Make a gift to a friend or family member’s favorite charity in their honor. If you listen well, you will already know what organizations are near and dear to the heart of the person to whom you’re giving.
Create It: Make something. My favorite-ever gift was from my father who made a beautiful miniature chest of drawers out of cherry wood which was actually a jewelry box. The wood is hand-polished in only the way my father could polish it, and all the drawers are lined in soft felt. It’s a true gesture of love. Everyone isn’t blessed with such creative talents, but even the crafting of a handmade card can send a heart-felt message to the recipient.
Book It: Give the gift of life-changing ideas. John Marks Templeton’s “Discover the Laws of Life,” Thomas Stanley’s “The Millionaire Next Door” (or his more recent “The Millionaire Woman Next Door”), Richard Carlson’s “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff about Money,” the Dalai Lama’s “Art of Happiness at Work,” and SARK’s “Prosperity Pie” (for the truly creative person) are just a few examples for book gifts that have meaningful financial-related messages. For more on this, check out my website where there are other book ideas under the Articles by Katherine tab (
The Estate of Things: Perhaps the best gesture you can make is truly intangible, such as the gift of getting your own estate planning in order for future generations. You may not feel like telling your family you’ve done this, but it will be a gift nonetheless. Your children will experience much less anxiety and helplessness when you do pass on, and they will be truly grateful to you for your forethought and consideration for their wellbeing and feelings.
Make a Wish: This one is from a website blog written by life-coach Cheryl Richardson. Purchase a ceramic jar (less than $10) and write “Ambitions” on it. Then place as many little folded pieces of paper as you can inside it with dreams and life goals of the recipient written on them. You will have gathered these ideas by listening well (a gift in and of itself) to your friend as he/she talks about plans for the future, dreams he/she has, or wild imaginings he/she may have expressed. This one may move the person to tears, so you may want to include a Kleenex box.
Creatively recasting the way you make gifts to family and friends may not only remove some of the stress that’s typical for this time of year but also add more meaning and fun to the process.
Required Disclosures:
The views are those of Katherine Newton and should not be considered as investment advice
or to predict future performance.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
All information is believed to be from reliable sources.
However, we make no representations as to its completeness or accuracy.
Please note that neither Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC, Carroll Financial Associates or any of their agents or representatives give legal or tax advice.
For complete details, consult with your tax advisor or attorney.
Investors should consider their investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses associated with municipal fund securities before investing. This information is found in the issuer's official statement and should be read carefully before investing.
Before investing, the investor should consider whether the investor’s or beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other benefits available only from that state’s 529 Plan.
Katherine Newton, a 30-year veteran of the financial services industry and Certified Financial Planner™, crafts protectorates for her clients’ wealth so they have
confidence to pursue what’s most important in their lives.
You can reach Katherine at her company Waite Financial in Hickory at 828.322.9595
or by email at .
Her registered branch address is P.O. Box 1177, 428 4th Ave., NW, Hickory, NC 28603, 28601.
Registered Representative offering Securities offered through Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Carroll Financial Associates Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Waite Financial, Cetera Advisor Networks, and Carroll Financial Associates are unaffiliated.