December 20, 2025

From festive traditions to financial realities, this episode covers a wide range of timely topics as the year comes to a close. We start with a lighter look at the season, unpacking some of this year’s biggest holiday trends, starting with Elf on the Shelf’s Marietta roots. Elf on the Shelf has grown from a simple idea into a global enterprise. Its deep connection to holiday tradition has helped create a sustainable, enduring business model year after year.

Next we jump into the shopping trends from Labubu to Crumbl Cookies to luxury items. We consider what current consumer spending trends reveal about shoppers’ confidence. We’ll discuss what a K-shaped recovery tells us about consumer financial health and what it could mean for the economy heading into the new year.

From there, we turn to the economy, diving into recently released data including November’s employment growth and the current unemployment rate. Is the AI trend fully supporting our economy? In some ways yes, but we’re also seeing the broader market catch up to the Magnificent Seven.

Student loans are also back in the spotlight, with significant changes carrying major implications for millions of borrowers. We break down what’s happening with income-driven repayment plans, including updates to IBR and the emerging Repayment Assistance Plan, and how these shifts may affect monthly payments and long-term forgiveness timelines. Our host KC was recently quoted in CNBC on these developments, and we’ll explain what the legal and policy changes mean for your financial future.

Finally, we look at repayment plan phase-outs and expanded rules around federal education benefits—part of the broader One Big Beautiful Bill that could reshape student debt and college costs in the years ahead.

Join hosts Nick Antonucci, CVA, CEPA, Director of Research, and Managing Associates K.C. Smith, CFP®, CEPA, and D.J. Barker, CWS®, and Kelly-Lynne Scalice, a seasoned communicator and host, on Henssler Money Talks as they explore key financial strategies to help investors navigate market uncertainty.

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Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.
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