Lieber: For Americans who have made a lot of money in the markets, it's a moment to share

In the days since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, plenty of people have tried to predict what it will mean for gas prices or interest rates or your investments.

There is no harm or shame in this — not exactly, at least. Self-preservation — and its attendant instinct, wealth preservation — is an understandable impulse.

It is reasonable for prognosticators to try to settle people and markets down, even though forecasters regularly get it wrong.

But as with any act of military aggression that has the potential to rattle global finance, one immediate question ought to be this: Who is most likely to need help right away?

Chances are, it is the people who are taking shelter in subway stations or fleeing their homes.

If you are reading this, you are probably not among them. We are entering Year 3 of a global pandemic, but you are still alive, even if you may have lost people close to you. The job market is strong for those who want to work and feel safe doing so.

If you own a big, broad basket of U.S. stocks, they have risen about 40% in the past two years, even after the recent correction. If you own a home, those prices are up at least 20% — more than $50,000 for those at the median.

This is not a call for celebration but instead to marvel, briefly, that this may be your reality. And it is true that the ability to dig deep to help others depends in part on preserving what you have.

On the day Russia's invasion began last month, Michael Zawadiwskyi, a Ukrainian American financial planner, said he did talk a few clients out of the idea that they should sell various investments to shield themselves from potential losses. About half his clients share his roots.

But he did not get as many calls as you might have expected. Shared heritage aside, he and his clients subscribe to universal principles of sound financial planning.

They have their money in buckets of investments, some to use now and some for later. They are prudent about risk and diversification. They do not deviate from the plan unless radical changes in their own lives demand it.

And he knows his history. "I don't think war slows the economy down long term," Zawadiwskyi said.

If you have lost little — and certainly if you have gained plenty — hark back to your own family's history of having been helped. Even if your ancestors were never officially refugees, they probably encountered hardship if they moved from country to country. It is an old story, with new protagonists each year.

For decades, Refugees International has focused on public policy and other initiatives that can ease their struggle. HIAS is another stalwart in this area that is sending money to Right to Protection, its Ukrainian partner. Other established nonprofits are likely to mobilize if the situation worsens.

You can donate appreciated stock to many charities and avoid paying capital gains taxes on those winnings. You can move a pile of securities into a donor-advised fund and spend it down over time while capturing any charitable tax deductions that you might be eligible for.

And if you have investment losses, deduct those if you can and imagine any tax savings as a subsidy toward generous donations.