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Make the Most of the Year-End to Boost Your Retirement Readiness

Make the Most of the Year-End to Boost Your Retirement Readiness

| December 10, 2025

As the year ends, it’s a great time to check in on your retirement strategy, especially if you’re approaching your final working years. This transition is more than just a financial shift; it’s a lifestyle change. Taking proactive steps now can help you enter retirement with confidence.

Here are several key areas to focus on:

1. Maximize Contributions
If you’re in your peak earning years, maxing out your 401(k) or IRA can significantly impact your retirement income and tax situation. If you’re over 50, catch-up contributions allow you to save even more.

2. Rebalance Your Portfolio
Review your investments with a financial professional to ensure your portfolio still aligns with your risk tolerance and time horizon. Rebalancing can help correct imbalances caused by market changes.

3. Optimize Tax Efficiency

  • Tax-Loss Harvesting: Offset gains with losses in taxable accounts.
  • Charitable Giving: Donate appreciated assets or contribute to a Donor-Advised Fund.
  • FSA/HSA: Use up FSA funds before they expire and consider maxing out your HSA for tax-free healthcare savings.

4. Review Insurance Coverage
As you near retirement, your insurance needs to change. Evaluate long-term care and disability insurance, review Medicare options, and update life insurance policies and beneficiaries.

5. Revisit Estate Plans
Ensure your will, trusts, and powers of attorney are current. Update beneficiary designations and consider charitable bequests or legacy strategies.

6. Set Retirement Goals
Start mapping out your retirement lifestyle and income sources. Review your Social Security claiming strategy and consider part-time work or relocation plans.

7. Work with a Financial Professional
A trusted advisor can help you integrate these steps into a personalized plan that supports your goals and helps you avoid costly mistakes.

Let’s make sure your retirement plan is ready for what’s next.

Cetera exclusively provides investment products and services through its representatives. Although Cetera does not provide tax or legal advice, or supervise tax, accounting or legal services, Cetera representatives may offer these services through their independent outside business. This information is not intended as tax or legal advice.

Rebalancing may be a taxable event. Before you take any specific action be sure to consult with your tax professional.

Generally, a donor advised fund is a separately identified fund or account that is maintained and operated by a section 501(c)(3) organization, which is called a sponsoring organization. Each account is composed of contributions made by individual donors. Once the donor makes the contribution, the organization has legal control over it. However, the donor, or the donor's representative, retains advisory privileges with respect to the distribution of funds and the investment of assets in the account. Donors take a tax deduction for all contributions at the time they are made, even though the money may not be dispersed to a charity until much later.