Financial Wellness in the New Year: Building a Strong Foundation for 2026

by Alex Freedman, Senior Wealth Advisor

As the calendar turns, January offers the perfect moment to reflect, reset, and plan for the year ahead. True financial wellness goes far beyond balance sheets; it’s the confidence, clarity, and flexibility that allows you and your family to pursue what matters most. Building on the guidance we’ve shared throughout the year, here are key steps to help you enter 2026 with a stronger, more intentional financial foundation.

1. Reflect on Last Year’s Wins and Lessons

Take stock of your financial year. Did you complete your retirement contributions, make year-end gifts, or adjust your plans in response to policy changes? Revisiting past decisions—from tax strategies to charitable giving—helps identify what worked well and what could be improved.
Suggested links:

Make charitable giving a strategic part of your financial plan
Check your year-end financial health with our RMDs, gifting, and tax move checklist
Stay informed on how new OBBBA provisions could affect your finances

2. Reassess Your Financial Health

Now is an ideal moment to step back and assess your broader financial wellness. How are you progressing toward your long-term goals? A thoughtful review of your debt management strategies and wealth building behaviors can help ensure your plan is supporting your life today and the future you’re building.
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Learn how financial independence starts with strong habits and long-term planning
Manage student debt while building a strong financial foundation early in your career
Evaluate your progress toward retirement with a mid-year wealth checkup

3. Protect and Preserve

Financial wellness includes protecting what you’ve built. Assess life insurance coverage, revisit estate planning documents, and ensure your digital and financial assets are secure. Risk management isn’t just about minimizing loss—it’s about providing peace of mind for yourself and your loved ones.
Suggested links:

Safeguard your financial assets and personal information online
Determine if your life insurance coverage meets your family’s needs
Ensure you have the right estate planning documents in place to protect your loved ones

4. Plan Across Generations

If you have heirs or educational goals for family members, now is the time to plan proactively. Strong multi-generational planning and education-funding strategies help ensure a smooth transfer of wealth while empowering future generations with both resources and knowledge.
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Prepare heirs for successful generational wealth transfer
Explore smart college funding strategies for your family

5. Align Wealth with Your Values

Financial wellness is inherently personal. It’s about ensuring your wealth reflects what you value most—whether through philanthropy, mission-aligned investments, or supporting initiatives that inspire you. When your financial strategy aligns with your principles, your wealth supports your goals and your legacy.
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Empower yourself with greater financial control and make an impact in your community
Turn generosity into a strategic part of your financial plan

Start the Year with Intention

Financial wellness is a journey, not a destination. By looking back at the past year, taking stock of where you stand today, strengthening protections, refining your plans, and ensuring your wealth aligns with your values, you can step into 2026 with confidence.

Schedule a financial wellness check-in or download our 2026 Financial Wellness Checklist to help ensure your goals are met throughout 2026.