Check out the latest edition of our newsletter!
DECEMBER 2025
901-388-5805 DouglassRunger.com
I make decisions quickly and boldly. Speed over perfection is my philosophy when it comes to facing choices, which happen to us daily. Where I get bogged down is when I have a bunch of decisions I have to make. Decision fatigue or analysis paralysis is a very real thing, and many people struggle when they have too many options or are too afraid of making the wrong choice. We often rely too heavily on the consensus of other people’s opinions or simply overthink and seek perfection. Many have trouble establishing a hierarchy of priorities and don’t understand that not every decision is equally important. Make Up Your Mind Day is on Dec. 31, and the truth is, most decisions we struggle to make are not life or death situations. If you can identify your non-negotiables, trust your gut, and move quickly, you’ll find that action beats indecision every time. About four years ago, I took the Predictive Index behavioral assessment, which assigns you an archetype based on your personality traits. I don’t know all of the different archetypes, but apparently, I am a maverick. Mavericks make decisions very quickly and move fast. Decisiveness isn’t something I have a lot of trouble with. In business and life, you need that momentum to keep moving forward, so I tend not to waste a lot of time in my own head when I need to make a choice. First, I think about my non-negotiables: my values and the things I will not compromise on. This clearly defined set of criteria guides my decision-making and protects me from decision-making fatigue. I’ve also adopted a mindset about failure; if you are going to fail, fail fast. In other words, go all in, and if it becomes apparent you made an incorrect decision, then switch gears and just move on; otherwise, you’re going to get stuck. You just have to make up your mind. You’re wasting time by not taking imperfect action. The small choices are easier to make, but when something has more gravity, I ask myself what’s the worst possible outcome if this goes horribly wrong. I always formulate a couple of contingency plans so if things go awry, I have a greater sense of confidence because I have a game plan. I set a timeline for myself and honor that timeline. My first instinct is usually correct, and if I feel 80% right on something, I will move forward. If I don’t, I will keep ruminating on it and returning to the same thing. If I let things drag on, it will just slow me down. Where I struggle a little is when the timing on something I know needs to happen just isn’t right. Most of my decisions occur at work, and I often have to juggle what I know, like a new hire not working out, and mitigating the negative repercussions that acting on that could have for everyone else. A termination, for example, may have immediate short-term effects we can’t Fail Fast, Move Forward Imperfect Action Always Wins
bear. Timing is everything, so you have to give those types of decisions a little more thought and try to expedite the communication of your choice. There’s not a lot of time to sit around and dillydally. Avoiding decisions out of fear bogs you down mentally as they pile up. We are all leaders to someone, whether it’s an employee or a family member; someone is looking to us for answers. If you fail fast, it will give you peace of mind because imperfect action beats stagnation, and it’s better to cut your losses quickly when it becomes apparent you made the wrong choice. Sometimes you just have to say this is either going to be amazing or it’s going to blow up in my face, and it’s not a big deal if it does. You win some, you lose some, but no one is sitting there keeping score. Ultimately, trusting in yourself and your gut is the key to making up your mind. All you can do is do something. Momentum creates clarity, and you’ll only get there when you make a move. Hopefully, if you are facing a decision on December 31st that is bogging you down, this article will give you the push you need to make up your mind!
901-388-5805 • 1
From Chores to Choices
Teaching Teens the Art of Responsibility
Raising a responsible teenager can be challenging. As children navigate the social and hormonal riptides of adolescence, parents may wonder if an alien has landed in the house. While teaching children personal responsibility is important from toddlerhood on, the stakes rise sharply when your child enters adolescence. Teens’ choices in friendships, school, and extracurricular activities shape who they become as adults. Parental roles shift, too, from providing direct care to a coach, monitoring the teens’ activities more from the sidelines. SET A DIRECTION Many adolescents yearn for independence. That desire can be a powerful incentive for them to learn responsibility. Talk with your teen about the benefits that await them if they learn to finish homework on time, keep promises, and do their assigned chores.
If you catch them behaving responsibly (for example, consistently getting ready for school on time with their homework done), praise them and remind them that consistent, responsible behavior will earn them greater independence. Help your child learn the skills needed to manage adult responsibilities by helping them plan ahead and break projects into manageable tasks. And if they slack off on an assignment, don’t intervene with the teacher! Let them suffer the bad grade. ALLOW NATURAL CONSEQUENCES Seeing teens endure the consequences of their missteps can be difficult. But it is one of the most effective ways to teach responsibility. For example, if they forget to do their laundry, they may be stuck wearing an outfit they dislike. Point out examples in books, TV, or films of how unattractive irresponsible behavior
can be to others. It is easy to dislike Harry Potter’s selfish Muggle relatives, the Dursleys, for example, for shirking their responsibility to care for Harry. Remind your child that taking responsibility for one’s mistakes is a major step toward becoming the kind of person others trust and appreciate. Be a good listener and observer. If you notice your child struggling, explore whether it’s mental health difficulties, feeling overwhelmed, or being bullied. In those cases, you may need to intervene and provide support. Above all, set an example you would like your child to follow. As a famous author once said, don’t worry about whether your child is listening. Worry that they are watching! Your example will speak louder than any words as your child enters adulthood.
Ring in 2026 With a Smart Estate Plan Ensure Your Estate Plan Matches Your Vision
As the year comes to a close, many of us are eyeing new goals and looking ahead at what we want to accomplish in 2026. But, before the calendar flips, it’s also the perfect time to review your estate plan. Life can change quickly, and so can family dynamics, laws, and your assets. A few thoughtful updates to your estate plan now can ensure your wishes are clear, your information is up-to-date, and your loved ones and legacy are protected. MAJOR CHANGES, MAJOR UPDATES Start by considering any significant milestones or changes in your life or family. If your family dynamics, wealth, location, job, or health have shifted, those are all signs that it may be time to update your estate plan. Some of the most common changes can greatly impact your designations. A marriage or divorce means you need to update any payable on death beneficiaries on bank accounts or life insurance policies, as well as update your will
or trust, so your spouse is accounted for. A new child in the family may mean you need to add provisions for their inheritance or future care if something should happen to you. Think about your executors or trustees as well. If one of those individuals dies or something changes with your current agents, you must designate new people to serve in those roles. PLAN AHEAD Not only do you want to make sure all the details of your plan reflect your current situation, but you can also use this end-of-year review to start thinking about the future. Being proactive helps you keep your goals at the forefront and align your estate plan to accomplish them. Review your financial accounts to check that they are appropriately titled and beneficiary designations are correct on any joint accounts, retirement accounts, or trusts. Analyze your insurance coverage and think about whether you need to increase your coverage to cover future long-term
care or provide for a child. It’s never too early to think about taxes, so this is an opportunity to explore strategies to reduce your tax liabilities. Give yourself a fresh start in 2026 with an estate plan that reflects your vision for the future and your current values and needs. Contact Douglass & Runger today to schedule a plan review and gift yourself peace of mind this holiday season.
2 • DouglassRunger.com
The holiday season is a natural time to think about gifts, and as we go into 2026, that means more than just the presents you put under the tree. With the right gifting strategies, you can utilize your estate plan to support the people you love most. The new year is bringing an increase to the federal estate tax exemption and new limits for a handful of provisions. Understanding and leveraging these updates can ensure the assets you gift in your plan achieve the maximum benefits while potentially reducing your overall tax burden. GIFT TAX LIMIT There is a federal gift tax on money or assets you give to someone in your plan, but that is only triggered if you exceed a specified amount. The annual gift tax exclusion sets that dollar amount every year, outlining what you can give away per recipient without being required to report it to the IRS. In 2026, individuals can gift up to $19,000 per person, and married couples can jointly give up to $38,000 without reporting it. Exceeding the limit doesn’t mean you’ll automatically have to pay a gift tax; it just means you must submit a gift tax form to the IRS. LIFETIME GIFT TAX EXCLUSION The lifetime gift tax exclusion is the total cumulative value of assets an individual can give away during their life, or leave to heirs at death, without incurring a federal gift or estate tax. In 2026, that number will increase from $13.99 million to $15 million for individuals and $30 million for married couples. This change is permanent, and the lifetime gift tax exclusion works in tandem with the annual gift tax exclusion. Any amount you gift over the annual limit will reduce your remaining lifetime exclusion, and if you exceed that, you’ll have to pay taxes. MAXIMIZING 2026 GIFT LIMITS The increase of the lifetime limit opens the door to larger lifetime gifts and could be a good reason to explore the possibilities. Think about how much you can realistically afford to give away over your life without making major changes to your lifestyle and long-term goals. Once you make an irrevocable gift, it no longer belongs to you, so you must find the balance between generous intentions and financial stability. If you are ready to explore how to make gifts work for you and your beneficiaries, contact Douglass & Runger today for a plan review. Maximize Your Generosity 2026 Gift Tax Exclusion and Lifetime Limits Explained
Baked Feta, Tomato, and White Bean Skillet
Sometimes, you just need to mix your favorites with something new to create a delicious new dish!
Ingredients • 2 pints cherry tomatoes • 2 (15-oz) cans no- salt-added cannellini beans, rinsed • 4 medium cloves garlic, finely chopped • 2 tsp Italian seasoning • 1/4 tsp salt • 6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 6 oz feta cheese,
packed in brine, cut into 4 pieces
• 1 tbsp hot honey • Basil leaves, for garnish • 4 slices toasted whole-wheat country bread,
optional, for serving
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 450 F. 2. In a large, oven-safe skillet, combine tomatoes, beans, garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt. 3. Drizzle with 5 tbsp of olive oil and stir gently. 4. Add feta pieces 2 inches apart in the mixture and drizzle with remaining olive oil. 5. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the tomatoes have burst. 6. Remove from oven and drizzle with hot honey. Garnish with basil leaves, and serve with toast if desired. INSPIRATION “Love the giver more than the gift.” —Andrew Peterson
901-388-5805 • 3
2865 Summer Oaks Drive Bartlett, TN 38134 901-388-5805 DouglassRunger.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 The Power of Fast, Fearless Choices 2 Practical Strategies for Raising Responsible Teens Major Life Events Require Major Updates 3 Making Your Estate Gifts Work Harder in 2026
Baked Feta, Tomato, and White Bean Skillet
4 The Animals That Outfreeze Death
Nature’s Coolest Survival Trick FROZEN, THAWED, AND STILL ALIVE
The wood frog is the best-known example. As the air temperature drops, it burrows into fallen leaves, letting the cold take over. First, its skin freezes, and then ice spreads through its blood vessels until the heart stops. That should be the end, but when the warm weather returns, so does the frog. Glucose floods in from the liver and acts like antifreeze, keeping organs safe and cells intact long enough to make it through winter. Frogs are not the only ones. Painted turtle hatchlings also freeze, though their survival depends on slowing metabolism rather than flooding the body with sugar. Insects have their own tricks. Gall fly larvae freeze and thaw with every swing in the weather. Gall moth larvae skip freezing altogether; they can stay liquid even below zero because their blood is so saturated with sugar that ice crystals cannot form.
And then we have the microscopic tardigrades. They don’t freeze at all. Instead, they dry out until almost nothing is left. Then, their eight legs pull in, their brains shut down, and they ride out the cold weather. Once conditions improve, they rehydrate and come back to life. These creatures are so resilient and resistant to temperature extremes that scientists have even dropped them into liquid nitrogen, and they come out just fine. The intriguing part is how these animal kingdom survival tricks may help humans. Scientists are hoping to apply the principles to organ transplants. Right now, a heart lasts about four hours outside the body. If we could use the same principles to improve organ storage, that window could expand significantly.
Some animals don’t merely survive the winter. They freeze their brain, heart, and everything else completely solid. Then, when spring returns, they thaw and go about their life like nothing happened. This might be hard to believe, but several species of animals manage this every year.
Nature already knows how to pause life. The challenge is figuring out how to follow its lead.
4 • DouglassRunger.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator