The last month of 2019 is important for both reflecting on the things that went right during the year, but also the things that didn’t go the way we wanted. We also wanted to reflect on some of the important articles of December.

Do you consider yourself to be financially healthy? Financially coping? Financially vulnerable? According to this article, just 29% of Americans consider themselves to be “Financially Healthy”. Even if you consider yourself to fit in the “Financially Coping” category, there are steps that you can take to improve your finances. It all starts with having a plan.

If you’re a retiree wanting to make charitable contributions before the year is out (or even in 2020), it’s important to understand your options. While it’s become more difficult to write them off (due to the increase in standard deductions), there are still some tax efficient ways to make a donation. Here is an article that discusses some options. Be sure to speak with your tax advisor.

While “porch pirates” can be an issue year-round, there is definitely a larger opportunity for them during the holidays. Video doorbells, security cameras, lock boxes and more can help protect your packages according to CNBC. Have you taken steps to protect your merchandise?

Cyber scams are on the rise. A popular one right now involved Social Security. While it’s easy to believe you will never fall victim, it can happen to anyone. If you (or someone you know) have been scammed, it’s important to understand the steps you should take to protect yourself. This article provides an overview of steps that you should take if scammed. If you have loved ones who answer the phone, be sure that they understand how persuasive the scammers can be.

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