1. Review Your Financial Goals
Life changesβand your financial strategy should adapt to it. Reviewing your strategy annually helps keep your portfolio aligned with your evolving goals. Ask yourself:
β Have your retirement goals shifted?
β Has your net income, family situation or investment time horizon changed?
β Are your investments still aligned with your objectives?
Want a second opinion on your financial plan? Contact Fisher Investments to see how we can help.
2. Evaluate Your Estate Plan
Estate planning helps ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes. Review your estate-planning documents periodically to help ensure they align with your legacy goals. Some key areas to revisit:
β Beneficiary designations on 401(k)s and IRAs
β Trust funding and asset titling
β Estate documents following major life events
Life changes like marriage, birth, divorce or a loved one passing away may necessitate updates to your estate plan. If you have a trust, reviewing trust funding can also help you avoid unintended probate.
3. Maximize Your Retirement Contributions
If youβre still working, contributing more to retirement accounts may help strengthen your future financial security. With higher contribution limits for many plans in 2026βincluding expanded catch-up opportunities for those ages 60 to 63 through 2028βnow may be a good time to revisit your strategy. Consider the following:
β Review your current contribution rate for accounts such as 401(k)s, IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs or other eligible plans
β Ensure youβre receiving your full employer match, if one is offered
β Check how you can increase contributions under the higher 2026 limits.
β Determine if you qualify for catch-up contributions
Maximizing contributions to these accounts can help build your retirement savings and may help reduce your taxable income if you contribute to a tax-deferred account like a Traditional IRA or 401k. Even small increases today may help improve your retirement savings over time.
Have questions about your retirement strategy? Fisher Investments can help evaluate whether your contributions and investment approach align with your long-term goals. Connect with us today to learn more
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4. Plan for Required Minimum Distributions
If you are age 73 or older in 2026, you must take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from certain retirement accounts. Failure to do so can result in significant penalties. Planning ahead helps ensure you:
β Withdraw the correct amount
β Coordinate distributions with your tax strategy
β Avoid unnecessary penalties
5. Review Your Expected Tax Situation
Your tax outcome can change throughout the year due to shifts in income, investment activity or realized gains. Taking time to review your expected tax position can help you avoid surprises and keep your broader financial strategy on track. For example:
β Evaluate changes in income or investment activity that may affect your tax outcome.
β Identify potential tax liabilities early to avoid surprises at filing time.
β Adjust tax withholdings if necessary to better align with your current situation.
β Confirm your investment strategy still supports your broader financial plan.
6. Review Your Incapacity Planning
Financial and healthcare decisions may need to be made on your behalf in the event of incapacity. Review whether you have:
β Durable power of attorney
β Medical directives
β Healthcare proxies
β Advanced directives
If these documents are missing or outdated, updating them may help avoid the cost, delays and stress of court-appointed conservatorship.
7. Plan Wellness Visits
Healthcare can be one of the largest retirement expenses. Scheduling annual medical checkups can help provide:
β Early health insights
β Better cost visibility
β More accurate long-term expense planning
Understanding potential healthcare costs can help support more informed expense planning.
8. Strengthen Your Digital Security
Cybersecurity is increasingly important when managing finances online. Protect your accounts by:
β Updating passwords regularly
β Enabling two-factor authentication
β Installing the latest anti-virus, firewall and critical software updates
These steps help protect sensitive financial information. Click here for more tips from Fisher Investments on protecting yourself from financial scams and fraud.
9. Review Upcoming Major Expenses
Large expenses can impact your long-term financial plan. Consider upcoming costs such as:
β Home renovations
β Property purchases
β Family support or education costs
β Major lifestyle changes
Planning ahead can help ensure funds are available when needed. If you work with a portfolio manager, informing them of expected withdrawals allows them to prepare your portfolio accordingly.
Need Help Planning for Retirement?
A checklist is helpful, but having a personalized strategy can make an even bigger difference. At Fisher Investments, we work with investors to build tailored retirement plans designed to support their long-term goals and financial priorities. Whether you want to review your investment strategy, evaluate retirement readiness or create a plan to support your future financial goals, our team is here to help.
Take the Next Step
Connect with Fisher Investments today for a personalized financial review, discuss your retirement goals with an experienced professional and build a strategy aligned with your future.
The contents of this webpage should not be construed as tax advice. Please contact your tax professional.