I have had many times of intense communication during my lifetime – especially during times of crisis. Sometimes these discussions were painful. Afterward we often felt that these were times of growth as individuals and as a family.

For example, when my father was dying, my sister and I along with our families got together around my father’s death bed. We were with him for his last 13 days, and then we went to his funeral. During this time we told and retold many family stories. We talked a lot about our dreams and expectations. We told one another that we loved each other. We laughed together and cried together. My sister and I and our families grew closer, and we have remained closer.

That was a time of high emotions, of family bonding and also personal growth. I am sure that we will all remember those times vividly for decades.

As I think back, I ask:
Do we have to wait for death or some other crisis to communicate and grow together as families?

Why not get together to discuss your own dreams, goals, and values with your family members and find out more about theirs – so that you know what is in each other’s hearts? What is your family here for? How can you use your resources and unique abilities to help each other?

You may also want to think about your family’s role in your community and also your family’s legacy. Are there values and goals that you all share? Can or should your family have a role in the larger community – in an area of shared concern? Can you use your individual and collective time (volunteering), money (charitable contributions), and other resources to act on your common values? Would those actions affect your family and community to make the world an even better place?

Thank you for your generosity.

This past year was our ninth Fischer on Finance sponsored Charitable Match. Personal thanks again to everyone who is helping to make the world a better place. Here is a list of our clients’ favorite charities in 2007:

• Adath Jeshurun: Siegel-Jacobs Fund
• Camp Ramah in Wisconsin
• CARE
• City Inc
• Good Samaritan Society of Arlington
• Grant County Food Shelf
• Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind
• Hope Multipurpose
• Hospice of North Iowa
• Jewish Free Loan Program
• Lake Atitlan Libraries
• Last Hope
• Lionsgate Academy / Autism Society of MN
• Mental Health Association of Minnesota
• Minnesota Food Share
• Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
• Nechama – Jewish Response to Disaster
• Presentation of the BVM School
• Ragom
• Ruth’s House
• Smile Train
• Spikenard Farms
• St. Patrick School
• Stebens Children Theater
• Talmud Torah of Minneapolis
• Talmud Torah of St Paul
• United Way of Faribault
• Youth Farm 

Each of you was able to leverage your own contribution through our match. The total, including our match, was $5,350 this year – nearly double last year. Thank you again.

News from Fischer on Finance.

Danika Zick is now my partner. This is a big deal, because we will be able to provide more service and long-term viability for clients. After working together for 18 ½ years, it’s about time she became partner – she deserves it. I will be mentoring her in coming years so that she can be even more of a resource to all of my clients.

Danielle Spencer has been with us now for 6 months. She helps us develop and set up workshops, client events, and client appointments. Preston Carlson is our newest employee. Pres handles client billing and accounting.

We are now providing an additional consulting service for business owners. It is organized into a new business called Next Success. It will develop exit planning strategies and coordinate the transfer of businesses to new owners. We will tell you more about this in coming months.

We are developing a new email newsletter to complement this one. It will be brief, practical, and more frequent. Watch your emails for it.