End-Of-Year Money Moves

Are you ready for the new year? Find out how you can set yourself up for success by taking these steps now.

The end of the year is approaching, and we’ll be well into the next year before we know it. Get a head start on the new year by setting goals and getting plans in order now with this guidance.

Money Moves To Make

Set Goals With A Plan

Get ready for a new year with a fresh start and new financial goals! The key to setting goals is keeping them realistic and specific. For example, if one of your goals is to pay down debt, you’ll create a plan that states exactly how much money you want to contribute to each of your debts every month.

Make A Plan For Bonuses

Are you expecting a bonus at the beginning of the year, or maybe a few coming up? Make a plan to give that extra income purpose, whether that’s contributing to your vacation fund, rainy day reserves, or investment account.

Check Your Credit

Did you know you can obtain a free copy of your credit report annually from each of the three credit bureaus: Equifax®, Experian™, and TransUnion®? Visit annualcreditreport.com to request your report, review, and dispute any errors if needed. If you plan to borrow for a big purchase in 2022, checking your credit report now will help you understand if you’re in good standing or need to work on improving credit.

Use FSA Funds

If you have a Flexible Savings Account (FSA) offered by your employer, be sure you use the funds for any qualified medical expenses before you lose it. If needed, talk with your employer to see if you have a rollover feature or an extended grace period to use the funds.

Open A Retirement Account

Now’s the time to open a tax-advantaged account to start saving for your future. Contribute up to this year’s contribution limit before New Year’s Day to reduce your taxable income for 2021. You can benefit now as well as in the future with these savings.

Max Out Contributions

If you’re already contributing to a retirement fund, now’s the time to max out your contributions – or at least the most that you can. Even if you make contributions every month, it may not be the max amount and the more you contribute, the better.

The same goes for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Contributions to your HSA have a triple tax advantage. Accounts are funded with pre-tax dollars that aren’t subject to federal income taxes, have tax-free growth, and offer tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses.

Plan For Next Year

Conduct a year-end financial review to better understand your financial situation, and use the information to set goals and create a spending and saving plan. Doing so can help you determine contributions to saving, investing, and other accounts in advance. It’s recommended you make contributions automatic, so you can make progress on goals with minimal effort.