Before you turn the calendar to 2027, ask yourself: Is there anything you’ll wish you had done before December 31?
Between the holidays and year-end commitments, financial planning can easily slip down the list. But a little attention now can mean fewer surprises—and more choices—later. Here are five areas we’re reviewing with our financial planning clients.
1. Know Your Tax Picture Before April
A year-end tax projection gives us time to review income, capital gains, withholding and estimated payments while there’s still room to act.
We use those numbers to identify opportunities and help clients understand their choices. Whether you’ve had a strong business year, sold an investment or changed jobs, knowing where you stand is the starting point.
2. Give Your Retirement Savings a Checkup
Review your 401(k) and other retirement plans to see whether there’s room to contribute more. Pretax contributions can reduce current taxable income while building long-term savings.
Those age 50 and older may have additional catch-up opportunities. One important change for 2026: certain higher earners must make workplace-plan catch-up contributions on a Roth basis, without a current-year deduction. Deadlines vary by plan, so check both the amount and the timing.
3. Look for Opportunity in Investment Losses
An investment that’s down may still have a useful role in your tax planning.
Higher interest rates have left some bonds and bond funds purchased when rates were lower with meaningful losses. In taxable accounts, realizing those losses may help offset gains elsewhere.
Where appropriate, we can reinvest in suitable replacements to maintain the overall investment strategy while observing wash-sale rules. Sometimes, realizing gains makes sense instead. Your tax projection helps us decide which approach fits.
4. Make Your Giving Go Further
If charitable giving is part of your year-end plans, consider how you give.
Donating appreciated investments held for more than one year may offer greater tax benefits than writing a check. A donor-advised fund can help you make a larger contribution now while recommending grants to charities over time.
For 2026, itemizers generally can deduct eligible charitable contributions only above 0.5% of adjusted gross income, subject to other limits. That makes the timing and size of gifts worth reviewing.
5. Tell Us What’s Changing
A home purchase, retirement, business transaction or family change can reshape your financial priorities.
You don’t need every detail worked out before we talk. Sometimes, “We’re thinking about retiring” or “Next year might look different” is enough to start a useful conversation. The earlier we know, the more thoughtfully we can plan.
Let’s Look Ahead Together
For our financial planning clients, we’re managing these areas as part of our ongoing work, bringing taxes, investments and financial goals together.
If we currently prepare your taxes only, keep an eye out for our new premium service for 2027. It will add proactive tax planning to tax preparation, giving us more opportunities to look ahead together throughout the year.
In the meantime, let us know about significant changes in your income or circumstances before year-end.
Know someone who would find this checklist helpful? Feel free to forward it—we’re always happy to start a conversation.