Monthly Insider – November, 2025

Don’t forget to RSVP for our Holiday Party!  

Celebrate the season with Goodwin Investment Advisory at our annual Holiday Party! Please bring your family and join us for a night of celebrating the season, a beloved GIA tradition with a festive new twist!

NEW LOCATION!

Social Security Announces 2.8% Benefit Increase for 2026

The Social Security Administration recently announced a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026. This increase means that, starting in January, the average Social Security retirement benefit will rise by about $56 per month. The adjustment helps benefits keep pace with inflation and reflects the Social Security Administration’s ongoing commitment to provide stability for retirees. Additionally, the maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security tax will increase from $176,100 to $184,500. If you receive Social Security or SSI benefits, you’ll receive your updated benefit notice in early December—either by mail or through your my Social Security online account.

Generosity

Our recent blogs are all focused on generosity for the month of November. Fitting as this is the month we celebrate Thanksgiving. At Goodwin Investment Advisory, generosity isn’t just a word, it’s a core value woven into every part of who we are. From the trusted guidance we provide clients to the way our founder and CEO, Tim Goodwin, encourages our team to give back – generosity is part of our DNA.

Check out our 3 recent blogs:

1. Generosity in Action: How Goodwin Investment Advisory Supports Community & Global Causes
2. The Power of Generosity: How affluent family are shaping the future of giving
3. Generosity at the Heart: Celebrating Dale Alexander

Redefining Generosity in the Workplace: Lessons from Chick-fil-A’s Kevin Williams

Money PIG Podcast | Brought to you by Goodwin Investment Advisory, which is also a proud sponsor of the Chick-fil-A 5K in Cherokee County.

In this inspiring episode, host Tim Goodwin sits down with Kevin Williams — longtime Chick-fil-A Operator of three Canton, Georgia locations and author of Irrational Kindness: The Crazy Pursuit of an Extraordinary Life. Together, they explore what it really means to lead with generosity, humility, and purpose in today’s workplace.

Kevin shares stories from his journey building thriving teams where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to grow — not just as employees, but as human beings. From his signature “Coffee with Kevin” sessions to his belief that failure is one of life’s best teachers, Kevin invites us to rethink leadership as an act of service.

Listeners will learn how generosity can be both irrational and impactful—how giving time, grace, and opportunity can create loyalty, drive excellence, and transform company culture from the inside out.

This conversation reminds us that generosity isn’t just a line item on a budget — it’s a way of life that multiplies meaning, both in business and beyond.

🎧 Key Takeaways:

• What “Irrational Kindness” looks like in real leadership.
• How to create a culture of trust and purpose.
• Turning failure into growth and grace.
• Sustaining generosity without burnout.
• Practical steps any leader can take to lead with heart.
• Join us as we explore how generosity — in the workplace and in life — creates ripple effects that extend far beyond profit and performance.

Nourish to Flourish

By Tara Bruce

Gratitude You Can Feel (and Others Can, Too)

November has a way of whispering, “slow down.” Shorter days, warmer meals, familiar faces. It’s the perfect month to practice the kind of gratitude that doesn’t just live in our heads—but shows up in our words, calendars, and checkbooks.

Here’s a simple, uplifting practice for the month: Express gratitude you can feel—and others can, too.

When gratitude becomes visible, it multiplies peace, strengthens relationships, and gently reorders our priorities.

1) Say It: The 3-Sentence Thank-You

Pick one person each week and send a note (text, email, or handwritten). Keep it short and specific:

1. Name the moment: “When you ___…”
2. Name the impact: “…it helped me ___.”
3. Bless the future: “I’m grateful for you and cheering you on in ___.”

2) Show It: A Tiny, Tangible Act

Choose one of these micro-actions to match your message:

• Return on time: Give someone the gift of punctuality and full presence.
• Cover a shift / task: Take something off a teammate’s plate.
• Tip with a note: Add “You are exceptional” on the receipt.
• Listen fully: Phone on Do Not Disturb, eyes up, no multitasking.

3) Schedule It: Gratitude on the Calendar

Gratitude grows where it’s planted.

• The 10-Minute Table: Before Thanksgiving dinner, invite each person to share one story of being helped this year.
• Friday Thank-You: Put a repeating 10-minute block on Fridays to send your 3-sentence note.
• Memory Jar: Keep a jar in the kitchen; slip in one slip of paper each day until month-end. Read them together.

4) Aim It: Give Your Dollars “Names”

Money always goes somewhere. Give it direction.

• Pre-name a gift: Choose one cause or person you’ll support before December 1.
• Try a % rule: “First ??% of every paycheck goes to generosity.” Start small; be consistent.
• Family Giving Chat: Ask, “What kind of impact do we want our name tied to this year?” Let everyone pick one cause to research and share at dinner.

Want help aligning generosity with your plan? We can discuss donor-advised funds, qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), and gifting appreciated stock to increase impact and potential tax efficiency—without complicating your life.

5) Practice Forgiveness (The Quiet Kind of Gratitude)

Gratitude and resentment can’t share the same chair. If someone comes to mind, try this:

• Name the hurt.
• Release the debt (even if only in your heart today).
• Wish them good.

Forgiveness won’t change the past, but it will change the weight you carry into the holidays.

A Blessing for Your November

May your table be full and your pace be gentle.
May your words lift someone who needed it today.
May your giving have clear names and quiet joy.
And may gratitude—spoken, scheduled, and shared—lead you toward more peace, independence, and generosity