FDS Newsletter: Fourth Quarter, 2025

by Financial Design Studio, Inc. / December 31, 2025

Each quarter, we share our most recent or most timely content to keep you informed . . . at your leisure. You shouldn’t have to stay up late searching for answers or tracking the latest financial changes—that’s our job. This quarterly newsletter is one more way we help our clients stay confident in their financial plan without adding extra work to their plate.

Scroll to the bottom (or click here!) to download the full PDF that we mail to our clients.

A Note from Michelle:

“The holiday season is in full swing! Are you a “decorate before Thanksgiving and Christmas music all year long” kind of person or a “no Christmas music and decorations until after Thanksgiving” kind of person?

In a recent conversation with friends someone asked “Are people who decorate for Christmas, before Thanksgiving, happier?” I think they are happier people but I could not find conclusive research to prove that. Yes, I actually looked! However, I did find studies around different aspects of joyfulness that have been done to prove this theory. Maybe this will help settle this question around your holiday gatherings or tables if you want to discuss it further.

Here’s how our team votes:

Michelle: Christmas music and decorations all year round!

Steve: Wait until after Thanksgiving!

Rob: We are a decorate before Thanksgiving. November 14, to be exact as that’s our son’s birthday and we like to start decorating that day. And I personally start Christmas music November 1! The flip side is we take everything down at New Years.

Trevore: I’m a changed man….once was a “respect the turkey guy” and now am “bring on Mariah Carey once Thanksgiving starts”

Anna: Christmas starts in October as soon as I watch a “Nightmare before Christmas.” But the SERIOUS celebrating and decorating starts the day after thanksgiving!

Of course it doesn’t really matter if you want the lights hung up all year or not. Every one of you is unique and different, which is what makes me smile. I think of your unique interests and personalities and smile thinking of you. I hope wherever you are this season that you remember you matter and our team smiles when we think of you!!”

— Michelle Smalenberger, CFP® and CEO