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2025 Holiday Gift Guide

Client Centered

It's here - our annual holiday gift guide - paired with this week's episode of Your Money with David Hays!

We've searched for items that you can give to kids, teenagers and young adults and adults... some are new, some are classics and some are - well, just for fun.  Nothing listed should be considered an endorsement or recommendation.

We've added links where available (click the different colored links above to go directly to that section), and we encourage you to shop local when possible. 

Some suggestions for online shopping: 

  • Use a credit card instead of a debit card.  Credit cards typically have more protection in case of fraud, loss or damage. 
  • Make sure the website is secure.  Look for a lock icon in the tool bar or a url starting with "https" 
  • Do your research before buying.  Does the website look consistent on each page?  Is there a "Contact Us" section?  Is the company based in the US?  Remember - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 
  • Never give your banking information, Social Security Number or other personal information out! 

For Kids 

 Books

Board Games

Miscellaneous 

 For Teens and Young Adults

  • Ongoing 529 contribution
  • Open a joint checking account 
  • Charitable donation to a cause important to the individual
  • IRA contribution (if they have income)

Books – check online reviews to determine if age-appropriate 

 Experiences

  • Travel - go somewhere special
  • Concerts - who doesn't love live music
  • Foodie adventure/restaurant - a meal can make for great memories
  • Creative workshop - arts, crafts, sports
  • Volunteering - giving back makes a difference for the volunteer and the recipient 
  • Invite to your financial planning appointment - bring someone along to hear the conversation in a financial planning meeting 


For Adults

Books

  • 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History – and How It Shattered a Nation – Andrew Ross Rorskin.
    Doug Hughes review - Lots of good historic insights, characters and insights into the investment activities of people such as Winston Churchill
  • The Art of Spending Money: Simple Choices for a Richer Life – Morgan Housel
  • Women with Money – The Judgement-Free Guide to Creating the Joyful, Less Stressed, Purposeful (and, Yes, Rich) Life You Deserve - Jean Chatzky 
  • How to Adult: Personal Finance for the Real World – Jake Cousineau

 Tried and True Books

Money-management phone apps

  • Monarch Money – customized budgeting, bringing all accounts together in one view
  • Goodbudget – envelope-style budgeting, focused on spending, saving and sharing 
  • Empower Personal Dashboard – tracks investments as well as checking/savings, credit cards, personal loans and more.
  • Honeydue – for budgeting with a partner
  • YNAB – gives every dollar you have a purpose, helping user see financial patterns and habits 

Miscellaneous 

  • Print Subscriptions – Kiplinger, Wall Street Journal (if you can find a printed copy)
  • Financial goals planner/journal (like a checkbook register)
  • Charitable contribution
  • Enrollment into a financial workshop
  • Going back to school? A 529 account
  • Helping with down payment on first home (make sure terms are clearly outlined – is it a loan? What’s the repayment plan? Interest? Consider working with a lawyer to make sure everything is legal and signed by all)
  • Helping with personal debt

Experiences

 Gifts for Others


 For Fun

From EliteTraveler.com (gifts for the billionaire in your life)... 

  • The Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou Wine Collection - $28,000
    • Equal to 100 bottles of wine
    • Only 33 units made/year
  • The Macallan Space Collection Whiskey - $190,000
    • Just 200 bottles available
    • 84 years old
    • Housed in a UFO-style vessel