Fall Forward: Year-End Planning Tips to Prepare for 2026

October 30, 2025

Fall invites us to slow down, take stock, and get ahead. With the kids back in school, football on the weekends (Go Lions!), and cider season in full swing, it’s also the perfect time to reflect on your financial picture and make strategic moves before the end of the year.

Financially, this is an ideal season to review your goals, make timely adjustments, and position yourself for a strong start to 2026. Whether you’re building wealth, nearing retirement, or already enjoying it, several smart moves can be made before year-end.

At CooperDavis, we proactively review these items for all our clients and provide guidance tailored to each situation—so you can move forward with confidence, knowing your financial plan and advisor are working for you.

Key Strategies to Review Before December 31st

1. Roth IRA Conversions

Converting funds from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA can offer long-term tax advantages. Although the converted amount is taxable in the year of conversion, future growth and qualified withdrawals from the Roth are tax-free.

This strategy may also reduce future Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), potentially lowering your tax burden later in retirement. Since there’s no limit to how much you can convert, it’s important to carefully evaluate the impact on your current and future tax brackets.

TIP:Your advisor can help determine if a Roth conversion is right for you—and how much makes sense in your specific situation.

2. Charitable Giving Strategies

If charitable giving is part of your financial and personal values, here are a few tax-efficient ways to give:

Donating Appreciated Securities
Contribute stocks or other appreciated assets directly to charity. You’ll avoid capital gains tax and can deduct the full fair market value of the gift.
Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)
“Bunch” several years’ worth of charitable donations into one tax year to maximize your deduction, while distributing gifts to charities over time.
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)
If you’re age 70½ or older, you can donate directly from your IRA to a qualified charity—satisfying part or all of your RMD and excluding the gift from taxable income.

BONUS: These strategies can increase the impact of your giving while providing tax benefits for you or your estate.

3. Review Beneficiaries and Estate Plans

Major life events—such as births, deaths, marriages, or divorces—can quickly make old beneficiary designations outdated. Even if no changes have occurred, reviewing your estate plan annually ensures your legacy is protected and aligned with your current wishes.

NOTE: A quick review now can help prevent confusion, unintended outcomes, or unnecessary legal hurdles later.

4. Tax-Loss Harvesting Opportunities

For those with taxable investment accounts, realizing capital losses before year-end can offset gains elsewhere in your portfolio—or even reduce your ordinary income by up to $3,000 annually.

Proceeds can then be reinvested in similar (but not “substantially identical”) assets to maintain your investment strategy while capturing the tax benefit. This strategy can be especially valuable in volatile markets or after a year of mixed investment performance.

Let’s Fall Forward Together!

As 2025 winds down, now is the time to be intentional. The right financial moves today can reduce taxes, support causes you care about, and strengthen your long-term plan.

If you know anyone who might benefit from this kind of proactive planning, have them reach out! We’d love to meet them, and are here to help

Connect with a CooperDavis advisor to get started.