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Fall Planning for Your Finances: A Clean Year-End Reset Thumbnail

Fall Planning for Your Finances: A Clean Year-End Reset

Insights

As the weather cools, fall is a natural checkpoint: What still matters before 2025 wraps up, and what should be teed up for 2026? A few disciplined steps now can compound into real progress later.

 Key takeaways

  • Use fall as a reset to realign your plan and prepare for 2026.
  • Revisit allocation and rebalance if market moves pushed you off target.
  • Button up taxes, documents, and giving—then set a realistic holiday budget.

1) Revisit asset allocation

Markets drift, portfolios follow. Year-end is the time to compare current weights to targets (stocks/bonds/cash/alternatives), trim overweights, and add to underweights. The objective isn’t prediction; it’s keeping risk aligned with long-term goals so the plan can work through changing conditions.

 2) Get proactive on taxes

Small, intentional moves can improve after-tax results.

  • Employer plans (e.g., 401(k)). Check progress toward annual limits and catch-ups (if eligible).
  • IRAs. Confirm eligibility and consider topping off traditional or Roth contributions (typically allowed until the April filing deadline).
  • Asset location. Place tax-efficient holdings in taxable accounts and tax-inefficient ones in tax-advantaged accounts where appropriate.
  • Tax-loss harvesting. Where suitable, realize losses to offset gains while maintaining overall market exposure.

Note: Contribution limits and rules change—confirm current IRS guidance before acting.

 3) Update the estate plan

Life events don’t automatically update documents. Review wills, powers of attorney, medical directives, and beneficiary designations so instructions and people match today’s reality. For lifetime gifting, consider direct gifts, 529 funding, or (when appropriate) irrevocable trusts; paying tuition directly to an institution can also be efficient.

 4) Be intentional with charitable giving

Align the impact you want with how you give:

  • Cash vs. appreciated securities (often more tax-efficient).
  • Donor-advised fund for flexibility and potential tax benefits.
  • For larger, ongoing missions, a family foundation can formalize multi-generation philanthropy.

5) Set a holiday budget (future-you will thank you)

Travel, gifting, and year-end tips add up. Decide the total first, then allocate by category and stick to it. A clear budget keeps January from becoming a cleanup month.