Good morning. If your Thanksgiving plan is to eat until you need a nap and then eat again, you’re doing it right.

In this issue:

• Holiday scam season: the 3 threats hitting right now
• Worth Knowing: year-end tax moves, Open Enrollment, estate planning
• From the Archives: 50 ways to show someone you care
• Slice of Life: Black Friday from the couch

I got a text last week that said my FedEx package couldn’t be delivered. I hadn’t ordered anything. That’s how it starts.

The FTC reports fraud complaints jump 25-30% between November and January. Holiday season is peak scam season, and the three biggest threats are already circulating.

Scam 1: Fake delivery texts. “Your package couldn’t be delivered. Click here to reschedule.” The link installs malware or steals your information. Here’s what to know: USPS, UPS, and FedEx never ask you to click a link in a text to fix a delivery. If you get one, delete it.

Scam 2: Charity fraud. Fake charities surge this time of year. Before you donate, check the organization at charitynavigator.org or give.org. The rule: legitimate charities accept checks and credit cards. If someone asks for gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, it’s not real.

Scam 3: Gift card draining. Scammers tamper with gift cards on store racks — they copy the numbers, reseal the packaging, and wait for someone to buy and load them. What to do: choose cards from behind the rack, check that the packaging hasn’t been opened, and buy from behind the counter when you can.

One universal rule covers all three: if someone pressures you to pay with gift cards, it’s always a scam. No government agency, utility company, or bail bondsman accepts gift cards. Ever.

Report scams at reportfraud.ftc.gov or call 1-877-382-4357.

Check a charity at charitynavigator.org →

💰 3 year-end tax moves (deadline: December 31)

These catch people off guard every year. (1) If you’re 70½ or older, a QCD (Qualified Charitable Distribution — a direct donation from your IRA to a charity) counts toward your RMD and lets you donate up to $105,000 tax-free. (2) Harvest investment losses to offset capital gains — your brokerage can help. (3) Prepay January medical expenses now to hit your itemized deduction threshold this year. Ask your tax preparer which of these applies to you before the 31st.

📋 Open Enrollment closes December 7 — 12 days left

Last call for Medicare changes. If you haven’t compared your 2026 plan options yet, go to medicare.gov/plan-compare now. Why this matters: after December 7, you’re locked into your current plan until next October, with very limited exceptions. Twelve days is plenty of time, but only if you start this week.

→ Compare plans at medicare.gov

🏡 Year-end estate planning checklist

December is when estate attorneys get busy — everyone remembers their will at the same time. Don’t wait until the last week. Benjamin Wells wrote a thorough walkthrough covering wills, trusts, power of attorney, and beneficiary designations. If you haven’t reviewed yours this year, this is the week to start.

→ Read Benjamin’s estate planning guide

50 Heartwarming and Fun Valentine’s Day Ideas for Seniors — by Nino C.

I know Valentine’s Day is months away. But this article isn’t really about Valentine’s Day — it’s about 50 ways to show someone you care. Writing a handmade letter. Baking heart-shaped cookies with a grandchild. Hosting a game night. Taking a scenic drive just because.

I wrote this one, and I’ll be honest — I go back to it whenever I need an idea for making an ordinary week feel a little more intentional. Most of the ideas cost nothing and work any time of year. If you’ve got someone in your life who could use a small gesture this holiday season, there’s something on this list for you.

See all 50 ideas →

My neighbor said he was going to “hit Black Friday hard this year.” I saw him Friday morning on his porch with coffee and a blanket. He said he changed his mind after seeing the parking lot at Best Buy on the news. “I saved a hundred percent,” he told me. “On everything.”

Until next Tuesday,

Nino

P.S. If this was useful, forward it to someone who could use a heads-up about those scams. And hit reply if you’ve got a question — I read every reply.