Important End-of-Year Financial Actions

By Brett Gottlieb

The end of the year can sneak up on you, especially when your financial to-do list keeps getting pushed aside. Maybe you haven’t reviewed your investments in a while, you have employee benefits you still need to use, or you’re wondering if there are any tax moves you should make before December 31.

Before 2026 comes to a close, here are five end-of-year financial actions we recommend reviewing so you can take care of anything that needs attention and head into 2027 feeling more prepared.

1. Assess Your Emergency Fund

Start with the money you have set aside for unexpected expenses. A common guideline is to keep three to six months of essential living expenses in an emergency fund, although the right amount depends on your circumstances.

If you’re self-employed, rely on commission or seasonal income, or have a single-income household, you may feel more comfortable keeping additional cash available.

Emergency savings should also be easy to access when you need them. Consider keeping this money in an FDIC-insured savings or money market deposit account that offers a competitive interest rate while maintaining the liquidity an emergency fund requires.

2. Review Your Asset Allocation

The end of the year is also a good opportunity to look at how your portfolio is invested. Market performance throughout the year can shift the mix of stocks, bonds, and other investments away from the allocation you originally intended.

Review whether your current investments still reflect your goals, time horizon, liquidity needs, and tolerance for risk. If your circumstances have changed or your portfolio has drifted significantly, you may want to consider whether rebalancing makes sense.

3. Consider Charitable Donations

If charitable giving is already part of your plans, year-end can be a good time to decide when and how you want to make those gifts.

Beginning in 2026, taxpayers who don’t itemize may deduct up to $1,000 in qualifying cash charitable contributions, or $2,000 for married couples filing jointly. Different rules apply to taxpayers who itemize, including a new 0.5%-of-adjusted-gross-income floor for charitable deductions.

Depending on your circumstances, you may also want to consider donating appreciated investments or bunching several years of charitable contributions into one year. These strategies can have different tax consequences, so coordinate charitable giving with your tax professional before making larger year-end gifts.

4. Use Your Employee Benefits

Some employee benefits expire or reset at the end of the year. Take a few minutes to review what you have available so you don’t unintentionally leave valuable benefits unused.

Medical and Dental Benefits

If you’ve been putting off medical or dental care you already need, review your health plan before scheduling it. Deductibles and annual dental benefits often reset with the new plan year, although the details depend on your specific coverage.

Flexible Spending Account

If you have a flexible spending account (FSA), check your remaining balance and your employer’s rules. For 2026, employees can contribute up to $3,400 to a health FSA. If your employer’s plan allows unused funds to carry over, the maximum permitted carryover from 2026 into 2027 is $680.

Not every plan offers a carryover, so check your plan before assuming unused money will still be available next year. If you have funds that will expire, review which eligible expenses you can pay before the deadline.

Sick and Vacation Time

Paid time off policies also vary by employer. Check with your HR department to find out whether unused vacation or sick time carries into 2027 or whether any of it expires at year-end.

If you have time that won’t carry over, consider using it for a break, appointments you’ve been meaning to schedule, or simply some well-earned time away from work.

5. Revisit Your Plans and Policies

Your financial life can change considerably over the course of a year. Marriage, divorce, a new child or grandchild, retirement, a home purchase, or changes in your finances may all be reasons to revisit your estate plan and insurance coverage.

Review your estate documents periodically and after major life events to make sure they still reflect your wishes. It’s also a good idea to check the beneficiaries listed on retirement accounts and insurance policies.

Your insurance needs can change as well. Paying off a mortgage, retiring, changing jobs, or seeing your family circumstances change may be reasons to reassess how much coverage you need. Depending on your situation, you may also want to review disability or long-term care coverage.

Start 2027 With a Financial Check-In

The end of the year is a great opportunity to check in on your finances and take care of any decisions that are time-sensitive. It’s also a chance to look ahead and decide what you want to prioritize financially in 2027.

At Comprehensive Advisor, we can help you make sense of where you stand and determine which steps make sense for the year ahead. Email us at [email protected] or call (760) 813-2125.

About Our Advisors

With nearly two decades of industry experience, Brett Gottlieb, and the team at Comprehensive Advisor provide personalized retirement planning and investment services. They help clients sift through the sea of investment options and make sense of what strategies are best suited for your unique needs. Our advisors customize financial strategies centered around “The Retirement Defense” process, a unique way we build your written plan that is designed to help get you to and through retirement by focusing on the key areas of your financial life. Our investment philosophy serves as a road map for helping you navigate the complexities of the financial landscape. By prioritizing capital preservation, emotional resilience, and personalized strategies, we help empower you to confidently pursue your financial goals and adapt to life’s changes.

Insurance products are offered through the insurance business C.A. Financial & Insurance Services. Comprehensive Advisor, LLC is an Investment Advisory practice that offers products and services through AE Wealth Management LLC (AEWM), a Registered Investment Advisor. AEWM does not offer insurance products. The insurance products offered by are not subject to investment Advisor requirements. CA Ins. Lic. #6000262

Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal.

Neither the firm nor its agents or representatives may give tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult with a qualified professional for guidance before making any purchasing decisions. C.A. Financial & Insurance Services is not affiliated with the U.S. government or any governmental agency.

This article is meant to be general and is not investment or financial advice or a recommendation of any kind.

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