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Frederica Focus - November 18, 2025

Frederica Focus - November 18, 2025

November 18, 2025

Good morning!

I want to thank everyone for the positive words about our new newsletter.  We are hoping for it to be more bite sized, yet full of helpful information.

I would LOVE to feature any of your pictures in our FRAME IT section.  Especially pictures from your travels.  Just shoot it to me in an email with a brief description!  Or a long story!  We love to hear from you.

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Market Recap - Megacap Volatility

What a nail biter of a week!

We saw volatility tied to megacap tech valuations, interest rates, and finally the government shutdown coming to an end.

  • S&P 500:0.08%

  • Nasdaq:-0.454%

  • Dow:  0.34%

  • International (MSCI EAFE): 1.63%


What Happened

  • Early week: Stocks rising fueled by hope that the government would quit being silly and open.

  • On Tuesday, stocks took off as word came in that the Senate had passed a bill to open the government.

  • Midweek: Dow pushes higher with growing conviction the shutdown would be over.

  • Later in the week: The shutdown basically behind us, the market got back to what matters, valuations.

  • Worry over whether the Fed would adjust interest rates next month.

  • Despite a brief dip, as the week concluded, markets stabilized and we saw minor gains in the S&P and DOW.

Tax Deductions You Won't Believe

I am asked all the time, "Can I deduct this?" 

Well, the IRS allows for legitimate deductions but draw the line on creativity.  Here are some examples of what passed scrutiny and a few that didn't:

Surprisingly Approved

School related costs- A family deducted travel, room, and board for sending a child with respiratory issues to a school in Arizona.  (I wish my mom would have thought of that!)

Pet Food for a working cat- The cat was hard at chasing vermin away from inventory

Swimming pool- Have emphysema and have doctors' orders to exercise?  Maybe your new grotto can get deduction.

Too Creative

Mink Coat for client dinners- Not quite a necessary "business expense."

Bath oil for dry skin- Deemed not "medically necessary."

Lost "memories"- A taxpayer tried to deduct sentimental items tossed by landlord.

Cosmetic enhancements- No, you can't write off that tummy tuck and quarterly Botox injections.

*ALWAYS ask your tax professional before making tax related decisions.  Definitely don't rely on what you read on the internet.

The Lighthouse - Saint Simons Island

We have all seen it and a few of us have actually climbed it, but did you know:

The St. Simons Lighthouse, built between 1868-1872, stands over 100 feet tall and is one of only a few on the Georgia Coast.  It is actually a replacement for an earlier light station destroyed in the Civil War.

The lens has been projecting light since 1872.  In 1934 the light was converted from kerosene to electricity and was automated in the 50's.

See this cool lightshow recognizing the 150th birthday:

St. Simon's Lighthouse "Legacy of Light" Projection FULL Show

Picture Credit:  Ana Colbert Photography

In this section, we want to address common or not-so-common questions that we find worthy to share:

"Should I pay off debt or invest?"

This really could be a million-dollar question.  Really, it depends on the math and your comfort level.

High interest debt is usually the winner in debt to tackle first.  Paying it off first will often save you more money than you could make in the markets.

Low interest debt is different.  You could potentially outperform the cost of that debt in the markets, over time.  This leverage could help you build wealth faster.

But there are no guarantees in investing.  So really, it comes down to how you feel about debt.  For some, being debt free is a bucket-list item and they will sleep better at night knowing they have no debt.  For others, eliminating bad debt and still investing consistently is enough to stay on track for the future.

"...To know even one life has breathed easier because you lived.  This is to have succeeded" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Success is defined differently by everyone.  Is it a number?  A feeling?  How do you compare it to your friends, family, neighbors or even the world.

Emerson struck a nerve with me as I read this.  Success is not about accumulation.  It is about contribution.  In a world obsessed with "more", this is a reminder that the real markers of a life well lived are often the ones that cannot be measured.

I hope by this definition, I am viewed as a success.

If someone you care about is flying blind with their money, send them our way.  Forward this newsletter or tell us, we will handle the rest.