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In this episode of Retire Smarter, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, walks through a practical Retirement Planning Checklist for 2026, focused on the financial moves that matter most in the first few weeks of the year. From front-loading 401(k) and HSA contributions to planning Roth conversions, setting up Qualified Charitable Distributions, and rebalancing after a strong 2025, we break down what to do—and what mistakes to avoid.
If you want to start 2026 with confidence—and avoid scrambling at tax time—this checklist is your roadmap.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
✅ January is the ideal time to reassess contributions, withdrawals & tax strategies
🔄 Retirees: map out your 2026 withdrawal strategy early
🔁 Split Roth conversions across the year for flexibility & potential tax efficiency
🎯 Use QCDs (Qualified Charitable Distributions) to lower taxable income after 70½
💸 Revisit cash positions: are they still yielding competitive returns?
📉 Consider rebalancing or realizing gains early to get ahead of tax strategy
Have questions?
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