Year-End Financial Checklist: 5 Tasks to Complete Before 2026

 

The final weeks of the year tend to disappear in a blur of celebrations, deadlines, and good intentions postponed until January. But when it comes to your financial life, the end of the year is loaded with opportunities—many of which expire the moment the calendar flips.

Here are the five most important financial tasks to complete before 2026, ensuring you finish strong and start the new year on stable ground.

 

1. Review and Maximise Your Pension Contributions

Pension contributions remain one of the most tax-efficient ways to build long-term wealth, and the end of the year is the ideal moment to check whether you’re taking full advantage of the available reliefs.

 

What to review:

• Are you contributing enough to meet your long-term retirement goals?
• Have you maximised your allowable tax-relieved contribution for 2025?
• Are you taking full advantage of employer matching?

 

Even a small increase in contributions can have a surprisingly large impact over time thanks to compounding growth.

 

Why do it before year-end?
Pension contributions made before the deadline may qualify for tax relief for the current year. Waiting until next year means missing out on a full year of tax efficiency and potential investment growth.

 

Unsure whether you’re maximising your pension properly? Schedule a January pension review with Imperius Wealth to start the year aligned and optimised.

 

2. Complete Your Year-End Tax Planning

Tax planning isn’t just about reducing what you owe—it’s about increasing what you keep.

 

Key actions to consider before 2026:
• Review capital gains and losses to see if strategic selling could reduce your liability.
• Ensure all allowable deductions and credits are captured, especially those tied to pension contributions, medical expenses, or investment activity.
• Check whether additional charitable donations could improve your tax position while supporting causes you care about.

 

Tax efficiency is easiest when it’s proactive. Waiting until after the year-end deadline can lead to lost opportunities—or unnecessary surprises.

 

If you want to make sure no tax-saving opportunities slip through the cracks, book a year-end tax review with Imperius Wealth.

 

3. Update Beneficiaries and Key Financial Documents

 

Life changes faster than most people update their paperwork.

But outdated beneficiary records can lead to complications, delays, or even assets going to the wrong person.

 

Review the following:
• Pension beneficiary designations
• Life insurance policies
• Investment accounts
• Wills and enduring powers of attorney

 

These documents override wills—so even if your will is perfect, an old pension designation may still send assets in an unintended direction.

If you’ve experienced a major life event this year (marriage, divorce, new child, bereavement), this step is critical.

 

A quick January planning session with Imperius Wealth can ensure your beneficiaries and documents reflect your actual wishes—not last year’s circumstances.

 

4. Conduct an Annual Investment Review

Markets move, economies shift, and personal circumstances evolve.

Your investment strategy should evolve with them.

 

Your investment review should cover:
• Risk profile: Does your current allocation still match your comfort level and timeline?
• Diversification: Are you overexposed in certain sectors or asset classes?
• Performance: Are your investments aligned with your long-term financial plan—not just short-term movements?
• Fees: Are you paying more than you should for funds or management?

 

A year-end review ensures your portfolio remains purposeful rather than accidental, and that it continues supporting future goals.

 

If you want clarity heading into 2026, book an investment review with Imperius Wealth and ensure your portfolio is working hard for you.

 

5. Set Clear Financial Goals for 2026 and Beyond

Goal setting isn’t a “nice to have”—it’s the engine that drives good financial decisions.

 

Create or update goals for:
• Retirement savings
• Emergency funds
• Home improvements or purchases
• Education planning
• Debt reduction
• Investment milestones

 

Break large goals into quarterly mini-targets.
Small, consistent progress outperforms grand plans that never leave the page.

 

Why do this now?

January is full of optimism—but also chaos.
Planning now gives you something far more powerful: momentum.

 

If you want help setting smart, achievable goals for 2026, Imperius Wealth can guide you through a personalised planning session.

 

Final Thought

Completing these five tasks before the end of the year is one of the smartest ways to take control of your financial future. With a few deliberate actions—reviewing pensions, optimising tax planning, updating beneficiaries, assessing investments, and setting clear goals—you’ll enter 2026 with confidence rather than apprehension.

If you’d like a personalised year-end review or tailored financial plan, Imperius Wealth is here to help you make 2026 your strongest financial year yet.

 

Start the year with a clear financial plan. Book your January Financial Check-Up with Imperius Wealth.