Financial Festivus

It just wouldn’t be late December without Festivus, the holiday for the rest of us. This wonderful fake celebration became part of American lore in 1997 when Seinfeld’s Frank Costanza described its bare aluminum pole, Feats of Strength, and the special dinner devoted to the Airing of Grievances. While we wish you nothing but the happiest holiday season, let’s all take a moment to have a healthy laugh at ourselves with Financial Festivus for a moment.

As Frank told Jerry and the gang, “At the Festivus dinner, you gather your family around, and tell them all the ways they have disappointed you over the past year!” It’s absolute comedic brilliance, and a great annual excuse to clear the air. Substitute “the financial services industry” for family and Festivus can begin. Ready?

Airing of Grievances

Elections! Thank goodness the big one happens only every four years

Fees! Buried expenses and disguised fees…everywhere

Sales! Who’s selling and who’s advising?

Guessing! Still making predictions of oil between $20 and $200 per barrel.

Opaque! What happened to that transparency promise?

A fresh start in the New Year

Ah, it feels good to get those grievances out! And let’s be clear, we can all be a little or a lot guilty of some of them.

Reduce your grievance list for 2017 by promising yourself to root out those disappointments and replace them with satisfying solutions of your own.

Happy holidays to one and all!

Steve Mott – Guest Columnist & Osbon Capital Editor