2026 Year-End Planning Checklist: 10 Moves to Review Before Dec. 31
Financial Planning
2026 Year-End Planning Checklist: 10 Moves to Review Before Dec. 31
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While many of us focus on the holidays in the final months of the year, this can also be a critical period for tax and planning decisions. And since 2026 is the first full tax year under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), the familiar year-end planning advice “chestnuts” deserve a fresh appraisal.
This checklist explains which decisions could merit review, when to tackle them, and what factors to weigh. At Lido, we approach these decisions through Lido One, which integrates investments, tax, estate, and financial planning into a single, coordinated strategy. We suggest you do likewise and consider each decision in the context of your full financial picture.
First Things First: Decisions That May Need Lead Time
These items involve other people or institutions, so late December may be too late.
1. If You Are 73 or Older, Schedule Your Required Withdrawal
3. Review Your Taxable Investments Before Year-End
When you sell investments at a loss, those losses first offset gains from other sales, and up to $3,000 of leftover losses can offset ordinary income each year. The wash-sale rule, however, may disallow a loss if you buy the same or a substantially identical investment within 30 days before or after the sale, including in other accounts such as IRAs. Your advisor may be able to identify a similar, but not substantially identical, investment that keeps your exposure broadly in line while avoiding a wash sale. To count a loss in 2026, complete any sales by Dec. 31, and check purchases in all your accounts first, since a purchase in early December or early January can undo a late-December sale.
Your portfolio may have changed significantly over the year in response to market performance. Because investments that grow faster take up a larger share of your portfolio, a strong year for stocks can leave you holding more stock, or more of a single sector or holding, than you intended. That can change the risk you are taking and may affect your ability to reach your long-term goals. You might want to review this with your advisor during a fourth-quarter meeting (sometime between October and December) as part of a broader conversation about your overall finances and long-term objectives, including whether to bring your portfolio back in line with your targets and what the tax consequences could be. Realizing some gains may be worthwhile if it keeps your strategy on track, and in a year when your income is lower than usual, perhaps after a job change, time away from work, or fewer investment gains, long-term gains may be taxed at a lower rate. To count gains or losses in 2026, complete any trades by Dec. 31.
5. If You Hold Stock Options or Deferred Pay, Check Your Deadlines
A conversion moves money from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. You pay income tax on the converted amount now, and qualified withdrawals later may be tax-free. The taxable portion counts as income this year, which may push you into a higher tax bracket and may raise your Medicare premiums two years later. Because the cost depends on how much you convert, consider asking your tax professional to model a few amounts, including spreading a conversion over several years, alongside the rest of your 2026 income. You must complete the conversion by Dec. 31 for it to count for 2026. See Roth Conversion Strategies.
10. If Your Estate May Be Taxable, Consider Making Annual Gifts
Many of these choices affect your annual income, which in turn influences other planning decisions. A Roth conversion increases income, while charitable gifts and investment losses may reduce it. Your income can also affect Medicare premiums and your available deductions. Before December, consider reviewing your full financial picture with your advisor to coordinate these decisions.
Lido Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Please note that SEC registration does not denote any particular competence or ability and no inference to the contrary should be made. For complete information on the services we provide and our fees, please review our Form ADV at adviserinfo.sec.gov, call 800-301-LIDO, or mail us at 1875 Century Park East Suite 950, Los Angeles, CA 90067.
The information contained herein reflects Lido’s views as of the date of this newsletter. Such views are subject to change at any time without notice due to changes in market or economic conditions and may not necessarily come to pass. Lido has obtained the information provided herein from various third-party sources believed to be reliable but such information is not guaranteed. Any forward-looking statements or forecasts are based on assumptions and actual results are expected to vary from any such statements or forecasts. No reliance should be placed on any such statements or forecasts when making any investment decision. Lido is not responsible for the consequences of any decisions or actions taken as a result of information provided in this newsletter and does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information.
Past performance is not indicative of future performance. The information in this report is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as the basis of an investment or liquidation decision. Nothing in this report shall be construed to be a solicitation to buy or offer to sell any security, product or service to any non-U.S. investor, nor shall any such security, product or service be solicited, offered or sold in any jurisdiction where such activity would be contrary to the securities laws or other local laws and regulations or would subject Lido to any registration requirement within such jurisdiction. All content herein has been obtained from sources deemed to be reliable, but is subject to unintentional errors, omissions and changes without notice, and is not warranted as to its accuracy or completeness. You should not rely on the information contained herein, and should rely solely on, and carefully read, the appropriate offering and related subscription materials relating to any specific investment product before making any investment decision.
Not all investments are suitable for all clients. It should not be assumed that any security listed or any recommendations made in the future will be profitable or without loss, including risk of loss of principal, or will equal any prior performance. All investments involve the risk of potential investment losses including the potential risk of loss of principal as well as the potential for investment gain. Further, the prior performance figures indicated herein represent portfolio performance for only a short time period and may not be indicative of the returns or volatility each portfolio will generate over a long time period. The performance of the portfolios should also be viewed in the context of the broad market and general economic conditions prevailing during the periods covered by the performance information. Any references to future returns/risk are not promises of the actual return the client portfolio may achieve. Before investing, investors should seek financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities of investment strategies discussed. Not all investments are suitable for all investors.
The information herein is not legal, such as trust or estate planning, advice, or tax advice. Any such information is provided for illustrative purposes only and must not be relied upon without the benefit of the advice of your lawyer and/or tax professional. Lido specifically disclaims any liability from any reliance on such information. Lido is not a legal service provider or tax professional and does not offer legal or tax advice. Should you desire to obtain tax or legal services or advice, you must enter into your own, independent engagement agreement with a licensed attorney or tax professional.
Lido specifically disclaims any and all liability arising from the information or illustrations presented in these materials and is not responsible for the consequences of any decisions or actions taken as a result.
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LEGAL OR TAX: The information herein is not legal, such as trust or estate planning, advice, or tax advice. Any such information is provided for illustrative purposes only and must not be relied upon without the benefit of the advice of your lawyer and/or tax professional. Lido specifically disclaims any liability from any reliance on such information. Lido is not a legal service provider or tax professional and does not offer legal or tax advice. Should you desire to obtain tax or legal services or advice, you must enter into your own, independent engagement agreement with a licensed attorney or tax professional.
Hypothetical performance results have many inherent limitations and no representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those shown. In fact, there are frequently sharp differences between hypothetical performance results and the actual results subsequently achieved by any particular trading program.
One of the limitations of hypothetical performance results is that they are generally prepared with the benefit of hindsight. In addition, hypothetical trading does not involve financial risk, and no hypothetical trading record can completely account for the impact of financial risk in actual trading. For example, the ability to withstand losses or to adhere to a particular trading program in spite of trading losses are material points which can also adversely affect actual trading results. There are numerous other factors related to the markets in general or to the implementation of any specific trading program which cannot be fully accounted for in the preparation of hypothetical performance results and all of which can adversely affect actual trading results. Moreover, all hypothetical results are presented net of fees throughout this presentation.
The use of hypothetical performance is subject to inherent limitations derived from the reliance on historical data and the benefit of hindsight. All trading strategies applied to the analysis were available throughout the performance period. However, the analysis includes certain assumptions where actual performance could be different from the hypothetical performance presented.
Lido One is a single, integrated platform combining all of the outlined services, but not all the services are provided by Lido Advisors, LLC (“Lido”). Lido does not provide legal or tax advice or trustee services. Lido’s affiliates, including, but not limited to, Lido Tax, LLC (“L-Tax”), Enterprise Trust & Investment Company, Enterprise Trust Company (“Enterprise Trust”) and affiliated third-party legal professionals will, upon request, provide formal legal, tax, and/or trustee services for Lido’s client under separate agreement. Prospects and clients are urged to seek the advice of their own independent counsel or tax professional should such services be required.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES
Lido Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Please note that SEC registration does not denote any particular competence or ability and no inference to the contrary should be made. For complete information on the services we provide and our fees, please review our Form ADV at adviserinfo.sec.gov, call 800-301-LIDO, or mail us at 1875 Century Park East Suite 950, Los Angeles, CA 90067.
The information contained herein reflects Lido’s views as of the date of this newsletter. Such views are subject to change at any time without notice due to changes in market or economic conditions and may not necessarily come to pass. Lido has obtained the information provided herein from various third-party sources believed to be reliable but such information is not guaranteed. Any forward-looking statements or forecasts are based on assumptions and actual results are expected to vary from any such statements or forecasts. No reliance should be placed on any such statements or forecasts when making any investment decision. Lido is not responsible for the consequences of any decisions or actions taken as a result of information provided in this newsletter and does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information.
Past performance is not indicative of future performance. The information in this report is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as the basis of an investment or liquidation decision. Nothing in this report shall be construed to be a solicitation to buy or offer to sell any security, product or service to any non-U.S. investor, nor shall any such security, product or service be solicited, offered or sold in any jurisdiction where such activity would be contrary to the securities laws or other local laws and regulations or would subject Lido to any registration requirement within such jurisdiction. All content herein has been obtained from sources deemed to be reliable, but is subject to unintentional errors, omissions and changes without notice, and is not warranted as to its accuracy or completeness. You should not rely on the information contained herein, and should rely solely on, and carefully read, the appropriate offering and related subscription materials relating to any specific investment product before making any investment decision.
Not all investments are suitable for all clients. It should not be assumed that any security listed or any recommendations made in the future will be profitable or without loss, including risk of loss of principal, or will equal any prior performance. All investments involve the risk of potential investment losses including the potential risk of loss of principal as well as the potential for investment gain. Further, the prior performance figures indicated herein represent portfolio performance for only a short time period and may not be indicative of the returns or volatility each portfolio will generate over a long time period. The performance of the portfolios should also be viewed in the context of the broad market and general economic conditions prevailing during the periods covered by the performance information. Any references to future returns/risk are not promises of the actual return the client portfolio may achieve. Before investing, investors should seek financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities of investment strategies discussed. Not all investments are suitable for all investors.
The information herein is not legal, such as trust or estate planning, advice, or tax advice. Any such information is provided for illustrative purposes only and must not be relied upon without the benefit of the advice of your lawyer and/or tax professional. Lido specifically disclaims any liability from any reliance on such information. Lido is not a legal service provider or tax professional and does not offer legal or tax advice. Should you desire to obtain tax or legal services or advice, you must enter into your own, independent engagement agreement with a licensed attorney or tax professional.
Lido specifically disclaims any and all liability arising from the information or illustrations presented in these materials and is not responsible for the consequences of any decisions or actions taken as a result.
–
LEGAL OR TAX: The information herein is not legal, such as trust or estate planning, advice, or tax advice. Any such information is provided for illustrative purposes only and must not be relied upon without the benefit of the advice of your lawyer and/or tax professional. Lido specifically disclaims any liability from any reliance on such information. Lido is not a legal service provider or tax professional and does not offer legal or tax advice. Should you desire to obtain tax or legal services or advice, you must enter into your own, independent engagement agreement with a licensed attorney or tax professional.
Hypothetical performance results have many inherent limitations and no representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those shown. In fact, there are frequently sharp differences between hypothetical performance results and the actual results subsequently achieved by any particular trading program.
One of the limitations of hypothetical performance results is that they are generally prepared with the benefit of hindsight. In addition, hypothetical trading does not involve financial risk, and no hypothetical trading record can completely account for the impact of financial risk in actual trading. For example, the ability to withstand losses or to adhere to a particular trading program in spite of trading losses are material points which can also adversely affect actual trading results. There are numerous other factors related to the markets in general or to the implementation of any specific trading program which cannot be fully accounted for in the preparation of hypothetical performance results and all of which can adversely affect actual trading results. Moreover, all hypothetical results are presented net of fees throughout this presentation.
The use of hypothetical performance is subject to inherent limitations derived from the reliance on historical data and the benefit of hindsight. All trading strategies applied to the analysis were available throughout the performance period. However, the analysis includes certain assumptions where actual performance could be different from the hypothetical performance presented.
Lido One is a single, integrated platform combining all of the outlined services, but not all the services are provided by Lido Advisors, LLC (“Lido”). Lido does not provide legal or tax advice or trustee services. Lido’s affiliates, including, but not limited to, Lido Tax, LLC (“L-Tax”), Enterprise Trust & Investment Company, Enterprise Trust Company (“Enterprise Trust”) and affiliated third-party legal professionals will, upon request, provide formal legal, tax, and/or trustee services for Lido’s client under separate agreement. Prospects and clients are urged to seek the advice of their own independent counsel or tax professional should such services be required.
