Picture two executives approaching retirement.

You can spend an hour opening account statements and still miss the decision that needs your attention. Start with the last pay stub, the latest account balances, and any deadlines your employer has already sent you. Then ask a question that has nothing to do with the market. Which decision would be harder to make if you waited until December?

Give each decision an owner and a date

If you expect a bonus, ask payroll when it will be paid and which elections, if any, are still available. If you’re considering a move with tax consequences, give your CPA the details early enough to review the full picture. If money is already set aside for a household expense, put the amount and timing on the same page as your savings goals.

A short list might read like this:

• Payroll: Confirm the bonus timing and any election deadlines.

• CPA: Review expected income and identify the decisions that need attention before year-end.

• Household: Set aside what you’ll need in the next 12 months and decide what can stay invested longer.

Look past the December calendar

You may end the review with one question still open. Where should the next dollar of long-term savings go? The answer depends in part on when you’ll need it. Money earmarked for a move next spring has a different job from money intended to support your household 15 years from now.

Put that distinction on the page. It gives your CPA and financial advisor something concrete to discuss and helps you start January with fewer decisions still hanging over you.

Want a second set of eyes on your year-end priorities?

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You're An Ambassador To An Enemy Nation

In “You're An Ambassador To An Enemy Nation” by Jack Hibbs, the message explores what it means for Christians to represent Jesus Christ in a world that often rejects God's truth. Drawing from the biblical teaching in 2 Corinthians 5:20, which describes believers as ambassadors for Christ, the message reminds us that our true citizenship is in heaven. Just as an ambassador represents their country in a foreign land, Christians are called to represent God's kingdom through their words, actions, and the way they treat others. Even when society promotes values that conflict with Scripture, we are encouraged to remain faithful to God's Word without allowing fear, anger, or pressure to change what we believe.

What really stands out is the reminder that we are not called to hate the world, but to bring the love and truth of Jesus into it. Being an ambassador for Christ means showing kindness, speaking the truth with courage, forgiving others, and sharing the hope of salvation even with people who disagree with us. Jack Hibbs' message challenges us to consider whether our everyday lives truly reflect the God we claim to follow. Instead of becoming comfortable with worldly influences or responding to opposition with hostility, we should stand firm in our faith while demonstrating Christ's compassion. The central lesson is that our mission is not to become like the world, but to help the world see Jesus through us.