A new year is a natural time to reset—not just personally, but financially as well. You don’t need to overhaul everything or become an investment expert to make meaningful progress. Often, the most impactful steps are simple check-ins and small updates that help ensure your financial life still reflects your priorities today.
As 2026 begins, here are a few practical financial resolutions to consider—designed to help you feel organized, confident, and prepared for the year ahead:
Having accessible funds matters. While holding too much cash has tradeoffs, not having enough flexibility can be stressful when unexpected expenses arise.
A thoughtful liquidity approach may include maintaining an appropriate cash reserve, keeping savings accessible, and spreading cash across institutions when FDIC limits are a concern. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s having enough flexibility to handle life without disrupting longer-term plans. Your financial advisor will be best equipped to guide you though building the appropriate liquidity plan.
Checking your retirement progress doesn’t require deep market knowledge. Instead, focus on the big picture:
Retirement planning is about aligning your resources with the life you want later on. Periodic reviews help ensure your plan continues to make sense as circumstances evolve.
Beneficiary designations are easy to forget, yet they play a critical role in how assets are ultimately distributed. If they’re outdated, federal or state law—or default plan rules—may determine outcomes that don’t align with your intentions.
Account titling can affect access, efficiency, and coordination with your estate plan. If an account is titled only in one spouse’s name, the surviving spouse may face delays or complications.
Review whether accounts are titled individually, jointly, or include transfer-on-death designations—and whether those choices still align with your intentions. Small adjustments here can prevent unnecessary issues later.
If giving is important to you, the beginning of the year is a good time to step back and review how you give.
Some families choose to donate appreciated assets rather than cash, while others use donor-advised funds to simplify future giving. Coordinating charitable efforts with tax planning can help make your generosity more efficient and intentional.
Wealth transitions tend to go more smoothly when expectations are shared and understood. Consider starting—or continuing—a family conversation about values, priorities, and what you hope future generations will carry forward.
A simple family mission statement can help frame these discussions and reinforce the purpose behind your financial decisions.
Important documents often live in multiple places—emails, mail, portals, and filing cabinets. Going digital and centralizing key records can reduce stress and make information easier to access when needed.
Your advisor may also offer secure tools to help store and organize important financial documents in one place.
Even if you’re not focused on markets day-to-day, it’s important that your investments feel aligned with your values and priorities. Whether that means incorporating sustainability considerations or simply understanding how your portfolio supports your long-term goals, alignment matters.
A conversation with your advisor can help clarify these preferences in a straightforward, accessible way.
Life changes—sometimes quickly. Sharing updates about career shifts, family milestones, health considerations, or new goals allows your plan to stay relevant.
Regular check-ins with your advisor help ensure your financial plan continues to reflect where you are today and where you’re headed.
These resolutions are a starting point, not a checklist to rush through. Every financial situation is different, and thoughtful planning takes time.
If you’d like to talk through any of these topics or explore how they apply to your own goals for 2026, the team at Wela Financial Advisory is here to help.
