’Twas the Week Before Christmas

Dec 25, 2020 / Bryce Sanders

One of our contributors imagined himself working with a very famous client, resulting in the following holiday reverie based on Clement Clarke Moore’s famous poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas.”

A Visit From St. Nicholas’ Advisor

’Twas the week before Christmas and I was at work,

My clients might need me; it’s no time to shirk.

I started my desktop, my clients to see:

Who needs my attention? Who’s not been called recently?

So I went through my book and I flipped to a page—

When did I last call the Clauses? It must be an age!

“Hi Mr. Claus, thought I’d give you a ring,

I’m sure you’ve heard goal-based planning’s the thing.”

It was a good day to visit, for I was in luck,

He was home for the plumber—his heating was stuck.

“I’m glad that you called, and come by when you can!”

“You’re getting poor service if you haven’t a plan,

Mr. Claus, I have forms—it’s easy as can be!

It’s 10 a.m. now, we can be done by three.”

I started with questions about him and his spouse.

He said Mr. and Mrs. filled up the house.

Yet when I asked for dependents, what did appear?

He claimed eight on his taxes: all tiny reindeer!

“That’s a problem,” I said, “if the IRS comes to call…

I’ll refer an accountant to make sense of it all!”

For the next phase, I asked “What’s important to you?”

He said, “I plan to stop work in a year, maybe two.”

We looked at his assets, but they were a bust.

He said, “Don’t you worry, there’s more in a trust!”

“Helping you meet your needs,” I said, “that is my goal,

So where are these assets held? At the North Pole?”

Well, he shared all his statements—10 million’s not funny.

With those kind of assets, we talked managed money.

He agreed to a transfer; it came in a flash.

And as if by magic, I was looking at cash.

“What else causes you worry, or gives you a scare?

Do you fear lengthy illness? Do you have long-term care?”

As luck would have it, I had just left my last class

For my insurance exam—and I scored a pass.

So we wrote up the forms, and he signed with a flourish!

Then I invited him out—it was time to get nourished!

We stopped at a steakhouse, for it was nearby,

And we poured cabernet, then moved on to rib eye.

As he ate his big steak, his eye twinkled with glee,

And he asked, “What else can you do for me?”

I told him about our lending and more.

He asked, “Why hadn’t you mentioned this before?”

He had bought his North Pole holiday house for all cash.

With interest rates low, he’d be approved in a flash!

Then Claus became serious, and his voice got quite low,

“I’m worried about Mrs. Claus—I’m older you know.

If I should die first, she’d be all alone, you see.

She needs peace of mind—perhaps an annuity?”

He bought a couple of those, and was happy because

He felt he’d provided for dear Mrs. Claus.

We finished the meal, then headed away,

This all tuckered him out, so we called it a day.

As we shook hands goodbye, he smiled merry and bright

And I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—

“When the holiday’s done, can you do me a favor?

I’m happy with you, will you talk with my neighbor?”

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE
This material is provided exclusively for use by individuals with an active license to the Savvy Social Security Planning Program. Use of this material is subject to the Social Security Planning Program Agreement and applicable copyright laws. Unauthorized use, reproduction or distribution of this material is a violation of federal law and punishable by civil and criminal penalty. This material is furnished “as is” without warranty of any kind. Its accuracy and completeness is not guaranteed and all warranties express or implied are hereby excluded.

© 2024 Horsesmouth, LLC. All Rights Reserved.