Give Thanks. The Grass is Greener Here.

As we enter this holiday season, it’s worth taking a look at your individual circumstances and gauging whether your financial situation is stronger than it was last year, three years ago or five years ago. We can all find reasons to gripe about one thing or another, even in the best of the times. But that’s why it’s so important to remember when things were more difficult. This may be the very reason why bad things happen to good people — to help make us stronger.

The U.S. has its troubles, from Wall Street to Main Street. Although we must suffer through the onslaught of political campaign ads, it’s a small price to pay for the right to participate in democratic elections.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, “Why is Hong Kong Protesting?” from BBC News, Oct. 18, 2014.]

Our economic growth has been slow to recover since the recession, but our government made an attempt at pre-emptive stimulus several years ago, and quantitative easing in the Unites States appears to be coming to an end.

[CLICK HERE to read Janet Yellen’s speech, “What the Federal Reserve Is Doing to Promote a Stronger Job Market,” from The Federal Reserve, March 31, 2014.]

[CLICK HERE to read the article, “Japan’s Central Bank Shocks Markets with More Easing as Inflation Slows,” from Reuters, Oct. 31, 2014.]

Economically speaking, opinions abound as to whether the U.S. government has done too much or too little to rally jobs, real estate values and stimulate growth. But instead of comparing our current state to the past, perhaps we should compare it to how well other countries are faring now.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, “Europe Must Act Now,” from Guggenheim Partners, Oct. 29, 2014.]

[CLICK HERE to read the article, “Why the Next Financial Crisis Will Be Different,” from Knowledge@Wharton, Oct. 28, 2014.]

We complain about our nation’s unwieldy and costly health care system, but is there somewhere else you would prefer to be treated for a serious medical condition? We have ongoing issues we must address regarding equal rights across race, gender and sexual orientation. But it could be worse.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, “Beyond Ebola: What’s Needed to Combat the Next Outbreak,” from Knowledge@Wharton, Sept. 3, 2014.]

[CLICK HERE to read the article, “Short Skirts, Bad Stars, Chow Mein: Why Men in India Rape Women,” from Reuters, Oct. 30, 2014.]

Below is a link to the top news stories of 2007. Despite the fact that these events took place seven years ago, many stories bear a striking resemblance to prominent headlines today: the war in Iraq, poor care at a VA facility, the shooting rampage at Virginia Tech and the quarantine of a man infected with tuberculosis.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, “National News Headlines of 2007,” from Boston.com; accessed Oct. 31, 2014.]

If we don’t address the mistakes we’ve made in the past, we are surely destined to make them again in the future. This is true not just as a country, but within each of our households. If we can recommend proactive strategies tailored to your circumstances to help you feel confident in your financial future, please give us a call.

But remember — especially this holiday season — that whatever your current grievances, there are others all over the world who wish they could live as well as you.

Our firm assists retirees and pre-retirees in the creation of retirement strategies utilizing insurance products. Our firm is not affiliated with the U.S. government or any governmental agency.

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