7 Financial Moves to Make Before the End of the Year

The end of the year is a financial deadline for several money moves. Miss them and you could leave thousands on the table. Here are 7 things worth checking before December 31st.

1. Max out your employer 401(k) match

If your employer matches 401(k) contributions up to 6% and you're only contributing 3%, you're leaving free money on the table. Increase your contribution for the remaining paychecks. Even if you can't max out the full $23,500 limit, at least capture the full match.

2. Contribute to your Roth IRA

The 2026 Roth IRA contribution limit is $7,000 ($8,000 if you're 50+). You have until Tax Day to contribute for the current year, but why wait? If you have the cash, front-loading lets your money grow tax-free for longer. Check income limits to make sure you qualify.

3. Use your FSA balance

Flexible Spending Account funds are use-it-or-lose-it (some plans allow a $640 carryover). Schedule that dentist appointment, order new glasses, or stock up on eligible medical supplies before your balance expires.

4. Review your insurance during open enrollment

Open enrollment is your once-a-year chance to change health insurance plans. Compare premiums, deductibles, and whether an HSA-eligible high-deductible plan makes sense for your situation. Also review life and disability insurance if your employer offers it.

5. Tax-loss harvest your investments

If you have investments in a taxable brokerage account that are down, selling them locks in the loss to offset capital gains. You can immediately reinvest in a similar (not identical) fund. This can save you hundreds or thousands in taxes.

6. Check your credit report

You're entitled to free credit reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. Review them for errors — wrong accounts, incorrect balances, fraudulent activity. Disputing errors can improve your credit score, which affects your interest rates on everything.

7. Set up automatic transfers for January

Don't wait for motivation in the new year. Set up automatic transfers now: savings contributions, extra debt payments, investment deposits. Automation beats willpower every time. Schedule them to start in January so you hit the ground running.