In this pleasant season of thankfulness, many spend time reflecting on the blessings in their lives. When you count your blessings, are you naming your investments? Here are three reasons why you, and your family, can give thanks for them year after year: 

1) Investments, even in a conservative investment plan, can yield 3% or more after taxes and inflation. Without investments, savings would be earning the ‘savings rate’ - at best 1%!  After taxes and inflation, there is a negative return on the money. 

2) Investments allow people to do what they want to do, not what they have to do. Investments are most appreciated when they allow us the freedom to do what we want to do, rather than what we have to do.

3) Investments are good for the economy and our world.  Making a commitment to own shares in a public company signals our belief in our economic system as a whole and supports the hardworking, entrepreneurial spirit of our country.