Love is palpable this time of year, but it is often intertwined in the occasions of visiting, decorating, gift giving, baking, and other activities that we often look forward to because they are comforting, nostalgic, and bring us cheer. This Christmas, let us accept the challenge of stepping out of this place of contentment to practice sacrificial love.

Picture this with me: More than a decade ago, I’m sitting at a crowded bar, and this guy who I’ve just met (who, by the way, has whiskers and a nose drawn on his face), is chattering away, sloshing his beer about clumsily. But instead of talking about himself, he spends most of our time together pointing around the bar, and telling me stories about each of his buddies and listing all the quirky characteristics that endear each one of them to him.

One of the most common college savings vehicles right now is a 529 plan. While 529 funds never expire and can be passed on to another family member by the account owner, circumstances sometimes arise where the account owner would like the money to remain the beneficiary’s. This is where the 529-to-Roth rollover over could make sense.

A couple of summers ago, my husband and I loaded our bags into the car’s trunk, mounted our road bicycles on the roof, and headed out for a road trip. Little did I know that it would be a memorable experience that taught me the importance of perseverance.