Monthly Insider – December, 2025

Our hearts are celebrating!

Joanna and Grant Billy are thrilled to announce the arrival of their son, Elijah John Billy, born on November 14 at the magical moment of 11:11, weighing 6 lb 15 oz.

A perfect little blessing.

End-of-year planning guide

The end-of-year planning guide below is a collection of helpful guidance from Goodwin Investment Advisory, along with insights from our trusted partners, Sarah White for estate planning, and Krista Dempsey at Pantana for tax planning. Together, this guide provides straightforward and practical recommendations on investing, retirement planning, tax considerations, and estate preparation to help you conclude the year with confidence and clarity.

2025 important numbers quicksheet

This quicksheet is an easy reference for key 2025 numbers that matter for your financial and tax planning. It includes important limits, thresholds, and benchmarks for 2025.

Generosity in Action

It’s incredible to see what generosity can look like at scale. Michael and Susan Dell recently committed $6.25 billion to help families across America access education savings through the new “Trump Accounts” program—a powerful reminder of how money, when stewarded with purpose, can create real opportunity for others. While most of us won’t give billions, every act of intentional generosity—big or small—carries the same heart. It’s a beautiful example of using wealth to make a meaningful difference.

Health insurance subsidy changes coming to ACA in 2026 – What you need to know!

If you’re planning to retire before age 65 (or already have), you’ve probably wondered how to handle health insurance until Medicare kicks in. For many of our clients the ACA Marketplace, sometimes called “Obamacare”, serves as that bridge between employer coverage and Medicare.

A new law called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) brings some major updates starting in 2026. These changes could impact how much you pay for coverage and whether you still qualify for a premium subsidy. After the passage of the Bill, Congress has continued to debate the extension of the enhanced ACA premium credits, and there’s a possibility they could be reinstated. However, we believe it’s wise to plan as though these enhancements will not continue given the current legislative gridlock.

You can read the blog to find out what’s changing.

Art at the Heart with Chris Brazelton of Woodstock Arts

In this episode, Tim Goodwin sits down with Chris Brazelton, Executive Director of Woodstock Arts, to explore how art can be a heartbeat for the community and how generosity can show up through creativity.

Chris shares his story, from studying theater at Florida State to leading Woodstock Arts right here in Cherokee County, Georgia. Under his leadership, Woodstock Arts has become a vibrant hub offering theater, music, visual arts, and education programs for all ages. Whether it’s pottery classes, improv for professionals, or music under the stars, their goal is to make art accessible and meaningful for everyone.

This episode touches on:

• Why community-centered arts matters even for those who don’t think of themselves as “artsy”
• How Woodstock Arts helps solve real community problems (like partnering with foster agencies and mental health nonprofits)
• What it means to create a space where people feel connected, seen, and inspired
• The power of local giving and how businesses (like Goodwin Investment Advisory) can partner to make a lasting impact

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For our listeners who are quietly building wealth and want to give back meaningfully, this conversation is a reminder that generosity isn’t always financial. Time, talents, and presence all matter.

🎨 Whether you’re retired, raising kids, or running a business, you’ll walk away inspired to use what you have to make where you live better.

💡 Learn more at woodstockarts.org and consider how you can support or get involved.

Nourish to Flourish

By Tara Bruce

A Christmas Season Pause

In the rush of December, it’s easy to move from task to task without truly experiencing the moments that make this season meaningful. So here’s a gentle reminder: give yourself permission to slow down. Savor the conversations, the traditions, the quiet mornings, the laughter around the table.

This time of year isn’t just about giving presents, it’s about giving presence. Your presence with loved ones, your attention to what matters most, and your gratitude for the year that has shaped you.

The greatest gift we can offer isn’t wrapped, it’s our presence. When we truly show up for the people we love, we give them something priceless.

As you move through the days ahead, may you find pockets of peace, unexpected joy, and moments that remind you of the abundance already in your life. And may this season nourish your spirit as you prepare to step into a new year with clarity and purpose.

From our team to yours, wishing you a Christmas filled with warmth, rest, and meaningful connection.

Ray Brown’s TOP SECRET 🤫
Christmas Confetti Cookies recipe

• 1 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
• 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
• 1 large egg (at room temperature)
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon butter emulsion (or butter extract)
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled, see Notes)
• ½ teaspoon fresh baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup holiday sprinkles
• ½ cup white chocolate chips

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Position oven rack in the middle. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  Add 1 cup unsalted butter and 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar to the mixing bowl. Set the mixer to medium speed and cream the ingredients together for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the mixture is fluffy, smooth, and very pale in color. Pause the mixer as needed and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula to ensure the entire mixture is well-blended. Don’t over-mix.
• When the mixture is fluffy and pale, pause the mixer. Crack 1 large egg directly into the mixing bowl, then add 2 tablespoons of light corn syrup, 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, and ½ teaspoon of butter emulsion. Mix ingredients together on medium speed until just combined.
• Once combined, pause the mixer. Add 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon fresh baking soda, and ½ teaspoon salt to the mixing bowl and mix on medium speed until dough forms.
• When the dough has formed, remove the bowl from the stand mixer. Add ½ cup holiday sprinkles and ½ cup white chocolate chips to the bowl and use a large metal spoon to mix until sprinkles and chocolate chips are just incorporated. Be careful not to overmix.
• Once all ingredients are fully incorporated, use a cookie scoop to portion the dough into 2-tablespoon scoops.
• Roll each scoop of dough between palms of hands to form into a smooth ball, then place the ball of dough on the prepared cookie sheet.
• Repeat with the remaining cookie dough until all the dough has been rolled into dough balls and transferred to the cookie sheet. Leave approximately 2 inches of space between dough balls to allow for dough to spread during baking.
• Place baking sheet in preheated oven. Bake cookies 6 minutes, then begin checking doneness. Continue baking as needed, checking often, until cookies have flattened and edges are just lightly golden brown.
• Once the edges of the cookies begin to turn lightly golden brown, carefully remove the cookie sheet from the oven and set it aside. Let cookies rest on cookie sheet 5 minutes.
• After 5 minutes, carefully remove cookies from the cookie sheet with a spatula. Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack(s) and let cookies cool completely. Serve as desired.

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