THE FATHER BLOG

If you are anything like me, you get absolutely disgusted when you start seeing Home Depot and Lowe’s displaying their Christmas decorations in early October. For the love of God….can’t you wait just a bit longer? We’ve still had many days in the 70 to 80 degree range as well…doesn’t feel much like Christmas yet.

But even though I disagree with the stores pushing things forward to quickly, I understand the need for families to start planning things out for Thanksgiving and Christmas early. When Mary and I were first married, we either did a split of the holidays (one family got the “eves” while the other got the actual day) or we had years when we just had everyone together. When the kids were younger, it definitely felt like it was way more important for the grandparents to get equal time. But the kids have cell phones and Emily is driving…so staying in contact isn’t a barrier like it was in the past. Not that there was ever a huge barrier, but putting a 2 year old on the phone and telling them, “say HI to Grammy” wasn’t the biggest connection or long interaction.

So with the holiday season approaching, we are still hashing out plans as far as I know. Luckily, between my Mom, Mary, and my sister in law…they eventually figure things out. Where as myself, Dad, and brother basically just say, “tell me where I need to be and when”. And then we make sure there is beer.

So what are your plans for the holidays? How do you divide time or decide where to go on which days?

Here is a Christmas picture from 2016: My buddy Radek was there that year and is coming for Thanksgiving from FL to be with us this year.

Thanksgiving was apparently rough on Emily that year:

Mikey enjoying Christmas in 2013

Wait…am I off track on topics yet again? Tuesday is supposed to be some type of alcohol topic! Don’t worry my friends….today you will learn a little American History about this country in the early 1900s.

In the time between 1920 and 1933, alcohol was illegal here in the US due to Prohibition and the ratification of the 18th Amendment. The U.S. wanted Prohibition due to a combination of factors, including the belief that it would improve public morals and health, reduce crime, and solve social problems like domestic abuse and poverty. It was also driven by powerful lobbying groups like the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and the Anti-Saloon League, which were concerned about the destructive effects of alcohol on families and the workforce. Additionally, progressive reformers saw Prohibition as a way to impose greater control and order on society. 

Well…..that didn’t stop people from drinking. Tell people they can’t do something they enjoy and have been doing for years and they will find a way around it. They certainly did and that led to a surge in organized crime, smuggling, and corruption, as illegal alcohol production and distribution became highly profitable. It also resulted in unintended social changes, like the rise of speakeasies and a new sense of rebellion among women. 

Prohibition lasted about 14 years but ended with the ratification of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution on December 5, 1933, which repealed the 18th Amendment. This was largely a result of public opinion shifting due to the Great Depression, which made the economic benefits of ending the alcohol ban (like new jobs and tax revenue) more appealing than maintaining it. 

So there is a little history lesson for you. Want some good bar/pub trivia for your friends? Ask them which two states (of the 48 at the time) rejected the 18th Amendment. The answer to that question is Connecticut and Rhode Island. And some kudos go to my home state of New Jersey who fought in legislation for two years against the ratification of the 18th Amendment but ultimately ratified it in March of 1922.

What are we catching up on you ask? Your 401K…especially for older guys like me over 50…or you REALLY old guys between 60 and 63. Here is some things to think about:

For 2025, individuals age 50 and older can make an extra $7,500 in 401(k) catch-up contributions. A higher limit of $11,250 applies to those ages 60 through 63. These contributions are on top of the standard 2025 employee contribution limit of $23,500. 

Key Rules for 401(k) Catch-Up Contributions

• Eligibility: You must be age 50 or older by the end of the calendar year to be eligible for the standard catch-up contribution. Participants ages 60 through 63 are eligible for a higher “super” catch-up amount.
• Plan Permitted: The catch-up contribution feature must be expressly offered within your employer’s 401(k) plan document. Check with your plan administrator to confirm your plan allows them.
• Contribution Method: Catch-up contributions are made as additional elective deferrals, automatically “spilling over” once the regular annual limit is reached, or through a separate election, depending on your plan’s setup.
• Tax Treatment (2025): For 2025, you can generally choose to make catch-up contributions on either a pre-tax (traditional) or after-tax (Roth) basis, if your plan offers both options.
• Total Limits: The total amount you can contribute (regular plus catch-up) to a 401(k) in 2025 is:
  • Ages 50-59 (and age 64+): $23,500 (regular) + $7,500 (catch-up) = $31,000
  • Ages 60-63: $23,500 (regular) + $11,250 (catch-up) = $34,750
• Employer Contributions: Employer matching or profit-sharing contributions do not count against your personal elective deferral or catch-up limits. 

Coming Change for High Earners (Effective 2026)

Starting in 2026, participants who earned more than $145,000 in FICA wages in the preceding calendar year will be required to make their catch-up contributions on an after-tax Roth basis. If your employer’s plan does not offer a Roth option, high earners will not be permitted to make catch-up contributions at all. 

For the remainder of 2025, all eligible participants can still choose between pre-tax and Roth catch-up contributions, regardless of income, provided their plan allows for both.