Steps To Take in 2026: Reflection, Renewal, and Readiness for the Year Ahead

How can another year have come and gone so quickly?

It seems like yesterday we were making sense of 2025, another year full of surprises, resilience, and reminders that the world (and the markets) rarely follow a script.

Inflation cooled but not without a few bumps. Interest rates stayed higher than we’d grown used to, testing patience and portfolios alike. The stock market, ever unpredictable, delivered a few plot twists of its own. Through it all, retirees like you - planners, savers, and steady hands - proved once again that perspective and preparation matter far more than prediction.

So as we turn the page and step confidently into 2026, this is a wonderful time to pause, take stock, and realign your priorities. Here are a few key areas to focus on as you prepare for another meaningful year

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1. Get Strategic About Taxes

Year-end tax planning isn’t just for the wealthy, it’s for the wise. Consider ways to minimize 2025 taxes and position yourself well for 2026:

Charitable giving: If you’re already inclined to give, consider doing so in a tax-efficient way, perhaps through a donor-advised fund or qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from your IRA if you’re age 70½ or older.
Harvesting losses: If some of your investments declined in 2025, you may be able to offset gains elsewhere in your portfolio through tax-loss harvesting.
RMDs: If you’re now subject to Required Minimum Distributions (currently beginning at age 73), make sure you’ve met those obligations — and explore whether using part of your RMD for charitable giving could reduce your taxable income.
A little planning before year-end can go a long way in keeping more of what you’ve worked so hard to earn.

2. Revisit and Refresh Your Financial Plan

January is a natural time to zoom out and ensure your financial plan still reflects your reality and your goals. Have your income needs changed? Are your expenses trending differently than expected? Have new grandchildren arrived or family plans evolved?

A strong plan is a living document, one that grows, adapts, and occasionally needs a tune-up. The new year offers a clean slate to make sure your portfolio, income sources, and estate documents still align with your vision for retirement.

3. Check Your Comfort with Risk

If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that volatility never really goes away, it just changes shape. Rising and falling interest rates, shifting market narratives, and political headlines can all test an investor’s confidence.

Ask yourself:

How did I feel during this year’s market swings?
Did I lose sleep when values dropped, or wish I’d been more aggressive when they rose?

Your answers help shape your risk tolerance, which naturally evolves with time and experience. The key isn’t to chase returns; it’s to find a balance that helps you sleep well and stay the course.

4. Fund Your Fun - On Purpose

Retirement isn’t just about security; it’s about freedom. So, what do you want 2026 to hold? A long-postponed trip? A kitchen remodel? A family reunion?

If you’re planning larger purchases or experiences, be intentional about how you’ll pay for them. Maybe it’s time to use dividend income or trim a portion of appreciated stock rather than tapping your core income sources. The right funding approach can help you enjoy your plans now without creating financial friction later.

5. Prioritize Your Health (Because Money Can’t Replace It)

Financial well-being and physical well-being are intertwined. The best retirement plans in the world mean little if you’re not healthy enough to enjoy them.

So, as you plan for 2026, consider simple, sustainable steps:

Schedule overdue checkups.
Move more: even short daily walks improve vitality.
Make one small, permanent change (like cutting out one sugary drink or walking before dinner).

Consistency beats intensity when it comes to longevity, in both health and wealth.

6. Reflect, Celebrate, and Look Forward

Before racing ahead, take a moment to look back. What did 2025 teach you? Where did you grow, adapt, or surprise yourself?

The new year doesn’t have to bring massive resolutions. Sometimes the most meaningful progress comes from refining what’s already working, and letting go of what no longer serves you.

As we step into 2026, remember: life doesn’t slow down, but we can choose how we move through it. Reflection brings clarity. Preparation brings confidence. And intention brings peace.

Here’s to a new year filled with both gratitude and purpose. May 2026 bring you health, joy, and the calm assurance that you’re exactly where you need to be - financially and personally.