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Season’s Greetings Dear Friends and Financial Partners,

Recently, I heard a man talk about being cut off in traffic. Rather than complaining, the man surprised me by saying that less than one percent of the world’s population will own or even be in a car. He had the attitude of gratitude. Now, I don’t know how to test the veracity of the man’s statistic, but his point was well received by me.

In the United States of America, so many of us are blessed to live like kings and queens. A little over one hundred years ago, our forefathers did not enjoy the conveniences of indoor plumbing, hot water on demand, carpeting, microwave ovens, refrigeration or air conditioning. These modern-day conveniences are quite remarkable and only made possible by the hard work and sacrifice of those who have gone before.

Perhaps you are familiar with this phrase by the English mathematician Sir Isaac Newton some 340 years ago in 1676: “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” Sir Isaac Newton was just 34 years old when he uttered those words.

What Sir Isaac Newton meant—while pondering his life as a physicist, astronomer, alchemist, inventor, natural philosopher, and mathematician—was that by using the understanding gained by major thinkers, who had gone before, he was able to make the intellectual progress that he did.

In a similar way, each generation of Americans has sought to make the lives of their children and grandchildren better than their own. Today, we are the beneficiaries of those who have gone before. (FYI: From Latin, the prefix, “bene,” means well or good.)

We have all heard of someone who has survived a horrific disaster, such as an earthquake, flood, major automobile accident, or household fire. It is not uncommon to hear him or her say, “Thankfully, I have my family and what else matters?”

Everything that is ultimately important comes back to our family and friends. It all comes down to our personal relationships with each other. At Smedley Financial, you become not only our friends, but more like family. We are so grateful for you.

Please have a safe, wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas, and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Bullish Best Wishes,

Roger M. Smedley, CFP®
President

SFS