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November 2025 - Focus on the Gobble

A Thanksgiving Perspective

"Values are like fingerprints. Notbody's are the same, but you leave them all over everything you do." 

- Elivs Presley

This time of year reminds us to slow down, be grateful, and pay attention to what matters most. But the holidays also bring value conflicts - those moments when two good things pull you in different directions.

Do you spend or save?

Stay late or head home?

Say yes, or protect your boundaries?

At LeConte Wealth, we see this tension as a normal part of a meaningful life. Your values aren’t a strict ranking; they shift based on what life is asking of you. That’s why focusing on the "gobble" - our lighthearted Thanksgiving reminder to stay present with what truly needs your attention - matters so much.

Instead of trying to satisfy every competing value at once, ask: "Which value needs me right now?" Viktor Frankl framed this as the real work of decision-making: prioritizing based on the moment, not perfection.

Your values work more like a Thanksgiving plate than a pyramid. You keep them all, but the portions change. Health may take the lead during a tough season. Contribution might rise during a big career moment. Presence may outrank everything when family needs you.

Through our Purpose-Built Planning process, we help you identify those values, understand the tension between them, and make choices that align with what matters - right now, and over time.

This Thanksgiving, give yourself permission to focus on the gobble: the meaningful thing that deserves your attention in this moment.

Visit lecontewealth.com to explore how our team can help you build stability.

A Century in the Making

Nearly a century ago, Walt Disney introduced the world to Mickey Mouse, an innovation that sparked a legacy still going strong today. With a Thanksgiving trip to Orlando on the horizon, I’ve been reflecting on what gives a company (or a person) that kind of staying power.

From Disney to today’s visionaries like Elon Musk, the common thread is clear: big dreams, bold decisions, and leaders willing to carry a vision forward.

This month’s blog dives into what legacy really means and why thinking long-term matters for your life, your family, and your financial plan.

Click here to read the full story and consider your own 100-year legacy.

Hoy Grimm
Founder
LeConte Wealth

Smart Tax Planning for Retirees

Annuities are meant to provide security, but for many investors, they create more questions than clarity. Between the guarantees, riders, costs, and surrender schedules, it can be hard to know whether an annuity is truly serving your goals.

This month, we’re launching a new series to unravel that confusion. We’ll break down how annuities work, the advantages and pitfalls, and how to evaluate whether keeping or exiting a contract aligns with your long-term plan.

If you own an annuity or simply want to better understand them, you’ll find this series especially helpful.

Click here to read the first installment and start gaining clarity.

Doug Whitten
Client Adviser
LeConte Wealth

Recently Published On Financial Friction

No additional blog posts this month.

Economy In Focus

The Data:

• 119,000 – Jobs added in the latest employment report
• 36.8x – Current P/E ratio of the “Magnificent 7”
• 8.4% – Year-over-year revenue growth for S&P 500 companies in Q3

Commentary:

November brought a mix of delayed economic data, shifting rate expectations, and pockets of volatility as investors tried to understand what the Fed might do at its December meeting. The labor market is still growing, though at a slower pace. Corporate earnings continue to come in stronger than expected, while a small group of mega-cap stocks continues to dominate valuation conversations.

Even with lofty valuations at the top end of the market, earnings strength across the broader S&P 500 is helping keep the foundation steady. Markets have wobbled around Fed speculation, but not because fundamentals are breaking down, more because policymakers are making decisions with limited and delayed data.

Here’s what matters for investors:

- A still-growing labor market supports consumer spending, even if job growth is cooling.

- Strong revenue and earnings trends show corporate America is holding up better than analysts expected.

- Concentrated valuations at the top may cause more market swings, but they don’t represent the entire market.

With the Fed’s next move uncertain and fewer data releases between now and mid-December, markets may stay choppy. The key question is whether the Fed cuts in December without fresh evidence, or waits for cleaner labor and inflation data in early 2026.

Our team is watching three main currents closely - labor trends, earnings momentum, and Fed policy expectations. Through Purpose-Built Planning, we focus on what these shifts mean for long-term goals rather than short-term noise. Whether volatility increases or settles down, hopefully your plan is built to adapt and keep you aligned with what matters most.

LeConte In The News

‍Tanya dedicated 20 years of distinguished service to the United States Navy, beginning her journey in 1993 as an enlisted Yeoman in Orlando. Through hard work and exceptional performance, she rose to YN1 and was selected for the highly competitive Seaman to Admiral program - an opportunity that allowed her to complete her bachelor’s degree at Purdue University and commission as an unrestricted line officer in 2005.

Her first tour as an officer was aboard the USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG-60), where she led training and administration for 180 sailors and ensured the successful completion of more than 75 critical Navy courses, all with a 100% graduation rate. Her leadership helped maintain the ship’s operational readiness and strengthened the crew she served alongside.

Tanya later deployed to Afghanistan as Officer in Charge of Casualty Operations at the New Kabul Compound. During her 12 months in theater, she oversaw all U.S. casualty reporting, developed a program recognized by CENTCOM as a “Top Ten Best Practice,” and delivered more than 250 briefings and trainings - work that supported service members and families during their most difficult moments.

Her career continued at Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Command in San Diego, where she instructed more than 430 hours annually, led 32 senior staff across 40 courses, and served as Legal Officer for over 150 personnel. Her role spanned instruction, readiness, legal processes, and leadership in both fleet and combat environments.

Tanya retired in 2013 as a Lieutenant (O-3E), closing a remarkable chapter of service marked by integrity, courage, and an unwavering commitment to her fellow sailors and her country.

We were honored to celebrate her this Veteran’s Day.

For the 9th year in a row, our team took home the Canned Peas at the United Way Victory Celebration! Over 6,000 pounds of canned food was donated by LeConte to help fill the shelves at the Chillhowee Baptist Center - the local food banked United Way paired us with.

Earlier this month, things got "spicy" at the office during our 1st annual Chili Cook-Off! A big thank-you to our judges, Jennifer Wackerhagen and Tammi Ford, for bravely taking on the tough job of taste-testing every recipe.

Congratulations to our winners and to everyone who brought their A-game (and their secret ingredients) to the table!

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