I’m specifically putting this together on Monday, November 7th, before Election Day, before we know the outcome of our long national sojourn. So many have been writing things like “I can’t wait for this election to be over!” and I have felt the same.

But now is when the real work begins.

Again, today is Monday. These words are from BEFORE anything was known of the outcome, so you know they’re coming without any kind of dog in the fight, so to speak. That’s always been my professional posture, and it will continue to be.

So, regardless of who is/becomes our President-Elect, it’s time to lay down our weapons for a while, and do the hard work of healing after all of the shouting is finished.

And by the way, do you want to know who I voted for?

I voted for YOU. My vote has always been with the ones who are out there clawing and scrapping, who are working jobs and running businesses, and who need a little encouragement and help along the way. That’s really how we see ourselves here at Team Newcomb.

>>Before I get to what I’m writing about today, a quick reminder that open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act healthcare policies started on 11/1. You will need “minimum essential coverage” in order to avoid the increasingly-significant penalties, come tax time.

So, in the spirit of the above, I’d like to tell you a story today about real wealth. Wherever you find yourself, I hope it helps.

Alan Newcomb’s Story of Real Wealth

“My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there.” – Charles Kettering

A rich farmer liked to ride around his vast estate so he could enjoy his great wealth. One day, while riding his favorite horse, he saw Hans, an old tenant farmer, sitting under a tree.

Annoyed because Hans wasn’t hard at work, he halted his horse and asked, “What are you doing there?”

Hans replied, “I was just thanking God for my meal.” And the farmer saw Hans eating a modest lunch of rice and beans.

“If that was my lunch, I wouldn’t be giving thanks for it,” the farmer said.

“It’s all I have,” said Hans, “but it’s all I need, so I give thanks.”

The farmer was about to ride on when Hans called out to him. “I thought I should tell you that I had a dream this morning. A voice said to me, ‘The richest man in the valley will die tonight.’ I just thought you should know.”

The farmer rode away, but Hans’ words worried him. He was the richest man in the valley, wasn’t he? So he called his doctor when he got back to his mansion. The doctor came out and looked him over, but found nothing wrong with him. The farmer went to bed, still worried, and slept fitfully.

When he woke the next morning he thought, “Well, there was nothing to that dream after all. Here I am, alive and well.”

Then a servant knocked at his door. “What is it?” the farmer asked.

“It’s about that old tenant farmer, Hans, sir,” the servant said.

“What about it?”

“He died in his sleep last night, sir.”

And once again, allow me to remind you that although we are VERY busy right now as we lead into the end of the year, we always have time for you. Give us a call at (618) 532-7223, and let’s get your 2016 tax return set up to save you the most that is legally and ethically possible.

Warmly,

Alan Newcomb

(618) 532-7223

Bills Tax Service