Sharing the Season: Holiday Traditions from the STWS Team

The holiday season is a time for reflection, celebration, and creating cherished memories with loved ones. Here at Serving Those Who Serve, we understand the importance of community and connection, especially during this special time of year. 

With that in mind, we’d like to share some of our team members’ favorite holiday traditions. From heartwarming family rituals to festive activities that bring joy and laughter, these personal traditions remind us of the bonds that unite us all. 

Read on to discover the unique ways that our team celebrates the holidays and how these traditions help make the season brighter.

Olivia Musonda
Office Coordinator, RJFS

Our family tradition is starting a late movie night on Christmas Eve, usually with a marathon of three movies that runs into Christmas Day. It’s a great way for us to unwind together, and it’s always filled with laughs and snacks. After the movies, we do a gift exchange to wrap up the night. It’s a tradition that has brought us closer and helps us truly appreciate the joy of the season.

Rachel Charles
Director of Business Operations, RJFS

A new thing we’re trying this year for our immediate family is foregoing physical gifts in lieu of giving personally crafted experiences for our gift exchange. Then depending on the experience, it can be shared with some or all family members over several days. We’re looking forward to trading in the retail hustle for some quality time together.

Jennifer Meyer, CFP®, ChFEBC℠, AIF®
Financial Planner, RJFS
Since my kids are now in college, we have been waiting until they come home for winter break to decorate our tree. It is always a fun trip down memory lane opening ornaments from years past and hearing the “almost” grown kids talk about their memory and connection to certain ornaments. In typical mom fashion, I have many “Baby’s first Christmas” ornaments for my first born and a poor effort for my second. We have tried to make up over the years with ornaments like “teenager’s first Christmas” when she turned 13. But it will never measure up! Take note, my teammates with young ones!  Matt Kramer, CFP®, ChFEBC℠
Financial Planner, RJFS
My favorite tradition is going to pick out a tree with the family on the Saturday after Thanksgiving at Butler’s Orchard. We usually pay the extra to cut down our own tree – which should be cheaper if you ask me, but it’s worth the fun with the family. We then bring it home to decorate with holiday music and cheer! We had to do a fake tree this year with the little one’s birth, but we are looking forward to starting it back up next year!

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Katelyn Murray, CFP®, ChFEBC℠
Director of Relationship Management, RJFS
One of my favorite holiday traditions is frying oysters every Christmas morning, a tradition I inherited from my Papa. He always bought his oysters from the same locally owned grocery store-he assured us they were superior-and he always used House of Autry seafood breading. Every Christmas morning of my childhood followed the same pattern: I’d open the gifts that Santa left me and then my mom and I would head over to my grandparents, where I was greeted with a kiss and a hug from Papa, and as he whispered “What’d Ol’ Santy Claus bring you?”, he’d sneak a fried oyster into my hand. When he passed in 2009, I took over the honor of frying the oysters. It’s a simple but meaningful way to feel a little closer to him each Christmas morning. Gentry Payan Foreman
Client Service Associate, RJFS
Even though we don’t currently have any little ones in the family, we still make it a point to wake up early on Christmas morning to make breakfast, sit around the fire, and exchange gifts in our Christmas pajamas! You’re never too old to get up early for ‘Santa’ in our family!  Marty Olson
Executive Assistant, RJFS
My holiday traditions always seem to involve baking. This year, because I will be traveling, I asked my son’s family to each pick a favorite, so I am only baking four varieties of cookies. In the past, however, it has been as many as thirty different types of cookies. The house is filled with the smell of sweets and spices. And like the Sipe family, holiday movies are always playing while I bake. Chelsea English, CFP®, ChFEBC℠, AIF®
Relationship Manager, RJFS
For Christmas dinner, my husband and I make spiced mushroom pasta with chanterelle mushrooms. We started the tradition when we lived in Washington state, where local chanterelles were easy to find and became the star of our holiday meal. Now that we live elsewhere, it’s a bit trickier to track them down, but our grocery store usually stocks them for a short time in December, so we’re able to keep the tradition going. Not only is it a delicious dish, but it also brings back wonderful memories of our time in Washington. 

As we reflect on these holiday traditions, we’re reminded of the importance of connection, family, and the memories that make the season special. Whether through time-honored family rituals or cherished holiday meals, these traditions inspire us to embrace what truly matters. We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about our team’s favorite traditions and that they inspire you to create and celebrate your own meaningful holiday memories.

The information has been obtained from sources considered reliable but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Serving Those Who Serve writers  and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James. Any information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy suggested. Every investor’s situation is unique and you should consider your investment goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon before making any investment or financial decision. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation. While we are familiar with the tax provisions of the issues presented herein, as Financial Advisors of RJFS, we are not qualified to render advice on tax or legal matters. You should discuss tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional. **

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