Because No One Is Coming to Save Us Financially — Your Year-End Checklist

Your Money Must-Dos —

Wrap up the year with more calm, clarity, and certainty

Another year has gone by — whoosh — and this year, it seems more than ever we need to be looking out for ourselves financially. With the longest government shutdown in history and the cutting of benefits by DoDGE & the OBBB, social safety nets in the US seem even less safe than historically.

Therefore, this is your year-end checklist to ensure you’re doing what you can for your financial wellbeing, including retirement, tax optimization, and protecting your money and your loved ones. 

Saving & Investing

[  ] Review your accounts. Look for:

• Automatic deposits and investments that you setup are still flowing where you want. Maybe you’ve finally built up your 3-6 months of savings and are ready to contribute more to retirement accounts. Make those adjustments. 

• Accounts that are regularly hit with fees. If you’re are getting hit with frequent fees on accounts, consider making adjustments to your habits or moving those accounts to a new bank. Fees can eat away your money fast. 

• Any orphaned 401Ks from a previous employer. Roll those over to your current 401k or to a IRA. Otherwise, you’re missing out on YOUR money and losing a lot to fees. 

[  ] Max out your 401K — This year’s contribution limit is $23,500. If you can’t make that, ensure that you’re contributing enough to get your employer’s match. With a traditional 401K, it reduces your taxable income by the amount you contribute. If you’re in a financial position to do so, and your company allows, you can also contribute to a mega backdoor Roth. Year-end bonuses are a great way to boost these contributions. 

[  ] Max out your IRA — $7000 is the max contribution for those under age 50. Whether you’re eligible for a Roth IRA or reducing your taxable income with a traditional IRA depends on your income. Double check your situation to be sure. Tip: You have until April 15th to make this contribution. 

Taxes

[  ] Ensure you’re on track with taxes. 

• If you have a CPA who does your taxes, meet with them to discuss updates. 

• If you don’t have one, and your income has gone up this year, confirm you’ve paid in 110% of your previous year’s tax obligation. 

• If you got hit with a hefty tax bill in April, then now is the time to start stashing cash so you’re ready come next April. 

[  ] Harvest Tax Losses — Even though the market has largely been up this year, you may still have some investment losses. If those losses are in a taxable account, sell those in the red to offset capital gains. 

Optimization and Protection

[  ] Max out you HSA — The Health Savings Account limits this year are $4300 solo or $8550 for a family, but only if you’re covered by a High Deductible Health plan. Whatever you contribute to an HSA also reduces your taxable income, if it comes directly out of your paycheck. 

[  ] Spend FSA money — If you have money in a Flexible Spending Account, that’s use-it-or-lose-it. Get any care you need and submit receipts before the end of the year. If you don’t have any more care, check out the FSA store for eligible items you might want to have on hand like skincare, a thermometer, even tampons. 

[  ] Check Account Beneficiaries —Whoever you have listed on your 401k and investment accounts will get those accounts upon your death, so verify they’re up-to-date. 

[  ] Plan to create a Will — While no one’s favorite task, everyone — even those with few-to-no assets — needs a Will and other Estate Planning documents. Docs like Power of Attorney and Advanced Medical Directives guide the correct people to make medical decisions for you, and to take care of children, pets, and property. 

[  ] Choose a 2026 Money Intention — Whether it’s learning to invest, choosing a bank that aligns with your values, or understanding how your money story is shaping your finances, take a few moments to set an intention for your financial life. This can help you decide what to say “yes” or “no” and set you up for your most abundant year yet. 

This may seem like a lot in an already busy season, but not all of these may apply to you. If you need to pick and choose, prioritize the items that have a strict deadline of December 31st: 401K, harvesting tax losses, HSA, and FSA. The others can slide into the New Year if they really need to, but don’t let them go too long. 

Everything on this list is important for overall financial wellbeing, and protects and provides for you and your loved ones.