This time of year brings plenty of to-dos, from checking off your holiday gift lists to making travel plans. But there’s one to-do you may not think of that can have a big payoff in the months to come: getting your year-end finances in order.
By taking a little time to do the following tasks, you can make the most of your money for the remainder of 2024 and set the stage for a successful new year.
10 money moves to make before the end of the year
Start 2025 off on strong financial footing by doing these things right now.
1. Use your remaining FSA funds
Flexible spending accounts, or FSAs, are typically use-it or lose-it accounts. That means you usually can’t roll over funds from one year to the next. If you still have money in your FSA, be sure to spend it before Dec. 31.
You can use your FSA funds for many items, including contact lenses, prescription drugs and bandages.
2. Max out your retirement contributions
“The more money you can put into a retirement account, the better,” said Chris Berkel, investment adviser and President at AXIS Financial. There are limits to how much you can put into a 401(k) or IRA annually, and contributing as much as you’re allowed to can help you reach your savings goals faster.
“If you’re planning to contribute to a retirement account in the near future, take advantage of the current limits to maximize where possible,” Berkel said.
3. Consider donating to a charity
Donating to charity can be highly rewarding. And your donations don’t just lead to warm feelings and a good night’s sleep. They can also help you when tax season rolls around.
You can write off charitable cash contributions on your taxes up to 50% of your adjusted gross income. This can reduce your taxable income and potentially bump you into a lower tax bracket, reducing how much tax you owe.
4. Review your insurance policies
Insurance is an essential part of a well-balanced financial strategy. But your insurance coverage may no longer fit your personal or financial situation. For instance, big life events like marriage or the birth of a child can significantly affect how much coverage you need.
Review your auto insurance, homeowners or renters insurance, health insurance and other policies and consider how your needs may have changed over the last year. Then, compare other providers to ensure you’re still getting the best deal possible.
5. Review and rebalance your investment portfolio
You should rebalance your investment portfolio at least once a year. This ensures that your investments stay on track to help you achieve your goals. And Emily Luk, CFA, CPA, CEO and co-founder of Plenty, says that rebalancing shouldn’t be cumbersome.
“You shouldn’t need to be making material changes in what you’re investing in unless you get closer to big milestones like buying a house or retirement,” Luk said.
What should you do? “The No. 1 investing mistake that today’s adults are making is holding too much cash,” Luk said. “So before you start rebalancing your investment portfolio, you should rebalance your money.” That means making sure you have three to six months of expenses in an emergency fund and for goals you want to achieve in the next year.
Once you have your cash holdings squared away, think about what your asset allocation should look like. One way experts recommend doing this is based on your age. For example, if you’re 25, consider holding 25% of your investments in lower-risk assets like bonds and 75% in higher-risk assets like stocks. As you age, your risk appetite will likely decline, so you’d shift more money into lower-risk assets.
From there, consider diversifying among asset classes. For instance, to diversify your stock holdings, you could invest in low-cost index funds. These funds use investments from large groups of investors to build diverse portfolios that track indexes like the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average. You could diversify your bond holdings with exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track Treasury bills and other Treasury-backed securities, as well as bonds from issuers like Vanguard.
To determine the best investing strategy for you, speak with a financial professional.
6. Update your beneficiaries
There are several reasons you may want to change the beneficiaries for your insurance policies and estate. Maybe your children have become adults and don’t rely on you as much as they have in the past, or maybe you have a new spouse to support.
It’s important to regularly review your beneficiaries and ask yourself if your current list is accurate according to your wishes. If it isn’t, now is a great time to update it.
7. Review your interest rates
The interest rate environment is changing quickly. The Federal Reserve has cut the benchmark federal funds rate twice in the past few months, and more rate cuts are expected in the coming months. This can affect your money in a number of ways.
Here are a few things to consider to make current interest rates work to your advantage.
- Savings accounts: High-yield savings accounts can pay annual percentage yields, or APYs, up to 10 times the national average rate (or more). If your money is languishing in an account with a paltry APY, switching it to an HYSA can help you grow your bottom line faster. And with rates on the way down, the sooner you open one, the more interest you stand to earn.
- CDs: A certificate of deposit is a great way to lock in today’s APYs before additional rate cuts. Unlike savings accounts, which have variable rates, your CD rate is fixed when you open an account, so your returns will stay the same even if the Fed cuts rates again. Also, if you have a CD maturing soon, be sure to check competitors’ rates before you let it roll over.
- Mortgages: Mortgage rates are falling. Market rates are currently around 7%, and they’re expected to drop to around 6% by the end of the year. If you purchased your home when rates were peaking, you may want to consider refinancing. The general rule of thumb is that it may be worth it if you can lower your rate by at least 1%. That said, rates could fall into the mid-to-high 5% range over the next year, so keep that in mind when making your decision.
- Debts: If you have high-interest debts like credit cards and personal loans, you may be able to take advantage of recent rate reductions to consolidate your debt and pay off your balances faster.
8. Consider a Roth conversion
With traditional retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs, you make pre-tax contributions — taxes are deferred until you start withdrawing funds from your retirement account. You may be able to maximize your tax advantages by converting your traditional retirement account to a Roth IRA.
With a Roth IRA, you make your contributions with after-tax money. Then, when you draw from your account in retirement, you’ll do so on a tax-free basis. That means you won’t pay any income taxes on the growth your Roth IRA produces — which could offer meaningful savings over traditional retirement alternatives. Consider these things when deciding if this is the right route for you.
9. Take any required minimum distributions
If you’re 73 years or older, it’s important to take the minimum required distributions from your retirement accounts before the end of the year. If you don’t, the remaining amount you should have withdrawn will be subject to a 25% excise tax.
You can use this calculator to determine your required minimum distribution if you’re unsure what yours is.
10. Set financial goals for the new year
Keep the positive momentum going by creating money goals to carry into the new year. Examples might include:
- Paying off debt: If you have high-interest credit card debt, your top financial priority should be getting rid of it. Create a plan to pay off your debt for good.
- Mastering your budget: It’s relatively easy to create a budget, but it can be difficult to stick to one. Set a goal to not only create your budget but to master it in the new year.
- Fully funding your emergency savings: Most experts agree that you should have at least three months of expenses in your savings account at all times. If that’s not the case right now, set your sights on fully funding your emergency account by the end of 2025.
- Finding your savings sweet spot: Do you know how much money you can comfortably save each month? Here’s a guide to doing just that.
