2026 Retirement Planning Checklist: 8 Things To Do Before Spring

Max Out 2025 Retirement Contributions  

You have until April 15, 2026, to make 2025 contributions to IRAs and HSAs. This is a valuable opportunity to lower your taxable income and grow tax-advantaged savings. Contribution limits for 2025 are as follows: traditional IRA limit: $7,000 (plus $1,000 catch-up if 50+); Roth IRA limit is the same as Traditional (eligibility based on income); and the HSA limit is $3,850 for individuals and $7,750 for a family (+$1,000 catch-up if 55+). If you're still working, review your 401(k) deferrals and consider maximizing 2026 contributions early in the year. 

Review Your Income Plan and RMD Strategy  

If you're age 73 or older, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from traditional IRAs and 401(k)s must begin. Q1 is the time to confirm your RMD amount for 2026, strategize the best timing and source of withdrawals, and consider Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) if you're charitably inclined.

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Rebalance Your Portfolio  

The beginning of the year is ideal for assessing asset allocation and making adjustments. Consider the following questions: Has market performance shifted your allocation? Do your investments align with your risktolerance and time horizon? Should you adjust income-producing assets based on current rates? 

Evaluate Your Tax Plan Early  

Don’t wait until April to think about taxes. Planning ahead now can help you to identify Roth conversion opportunities, realize capital gains or losses strategically, and coordinate deductions or charitable giving for optimalimpact. 2026 is a critical year to start planning ahead of the 2025 tax law sunset. Strategic moves now can pay off in future flexibility. 

Revisit Your Spending and Withdrawal Plan  

For those in retirement, revisiting your spending projections at the start of each year is essential. Are you drawing down from accounts in the most tax-efficient order? Has inflation or lifestyle shifted your needs? Are you maintaining a sustainable withdrawal rate? 

Review Insurance, Medicare, and Health Expenses  

Health care is a major expense in retirement. Use Q1 to review Medicare coverage (especially if you made changes during AEP), revisit long-term care coverage or health-related spending accounts, and update healthcare proxies or plan for future care costs. 

Reassess Estate Plan and Beneficiaries  

Life changes, laws evolve, and goals shift. The beginning of the year is the perfect time to confirm your will, trusts, and POAs reflect your current wishes; check beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and insurance; and discuss legacy goals with your family and advisor team. 

Leverage The Knowledge and Experience of A Professional – Better Yet, A Whole Team 

A seasoned financial advisor can provide critical insights and advice to help keep you on track toward the retirement you want. Even better is an advisory or wealth management firm that takes a team approach, because it applies the knowledge and experience of a variety of professionals at to your plan. At WHZ, we surround our clients with a dedicated group of professionals – a Client-Centered Team – to proactively guide every stage of each  client’s financial life.  

Closing Thought 

A confident retirement doesn't happen by accident; it happens through proactive planning. As 2026 gets underway, let our team help you check off these priorities and move forward with “Absolute Confidence.  Unwavering Partnership. For Life.” Contact us for a complimentary consultation at whzwealth.com or call (860) 928-2341.  

Authored by WHZ Associate Vice President, Wealth Advisor Jonathan Mathews. AI may have been used in the research and initial drafting of this piece. Rebalancing does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets and cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. 697 Pomfret Street, Pomfret Center, CT 06259 and 392-A Merrow Road, Tolland, CT 06084, 860.928.2341. http://www.whzwealth.com. These materials are general in nature and do not address your specific situation. For your specificinvestment needs, please discuss your individual circumstances with your financial advisor. WHZ Strategic Wealth Advisors does not provide tax or legal advice, and nothing in the accompanying pages should be construed as specific tax or legal advice.