I’ve made a good deal of progress pursuing my financial goals so far this year, but I’d like to be in a position to do an even better job next year. What should I do about year-end planning?

Any time you sit down to address your year-end planning needs, it makes sense to review your investments to determine whether you need to rebalance in order to stay on the right financial track. If you have not reviewed your portfolio lately, you may be surprised at what you find. It’s possible that your current asset allocation has changed quite a bit since the last time you checked, due to the different performance of the various investments in your portfolio. If that’s the case, or if your outlook has changed, it may be time to readjust.

You should also think about conducting an insurance needs analysis. There are many forms of insurance but, unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all policy. Life insurance, for example, may be a vital necessity if you have a spouse and children, but perhaps is less important for a single person. But disability insurance, which provides an income stream if you are unable to work, may be important for everyone.

You’ll also want to turn your attention to estate planning (including tax-efficient gifting strategies), so you can potentially minimize gift and estate taxes and keep more of your assets for those you care
about.

It may help to meet with your financial advisor to discuss your year-end planning needs. Make sure to bring the following documents: insurance policies and annuity contracts, as well as pension, investment and savings account statements. 

You should also be prepared to provide an overview of your most important short- and long-term financial goals. That way, you’ll be able to see “the big picture” and then focus in on laying the groundwork for a lifetime of financial security.

It is an opportunity to assess your entire

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