3 Year-End Retirement Moves to Start Thinking About for 2026

There are only a few weeks left in 2026, and while you've probably got a lot on your mind, it's important not to lose track of key year-end retirement planning moves that could make your future a lot more comfortable. Some actions, like maxing out your IRA, can wait until the April tax filing deadline, but for others, you only have until Dec. 31, 2026.

The three moves below may not all apply to you, but if you're interested in any of them and you haven't acted yet, make sure to fit them in within the next few weeks.

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1. Required minimum distributions (RMDs)

All adults 73 and older must take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from their tax-deferred retirement accounts each year and pay taxes on them. Those who will be 74 or older by the end of the year must complete theirs by Dec. 31, 2026. Seniors who turned 73 this year have until April 1, 2027.

You can skip RMDs from Roth accounts and your current 401(k) if you're still working and own less than 5% of the company. Talk to your plan administrator to learn how much you have to withdraw from your other accounts before the end of the year.

2. Roth IRA conversions

Roth IRA conversions let you change tax-deferred savings into Roth retirement savings, but you must pay taxes on the funds in the year of the conversion. The end of the year is a popular time to do this because you usually have a good idea of where your annual income will wind up.

Many choose to contribute just enough to reach the top of their tax bracket. Then, they wait to convert additional funds until the next year. This can help spread the tax liability out over time. Talk to your plan administrator to get the ball rolling on any Roth IRA conversions you'd like to complete in 2026.

3. Making 401(k) contributions

You can only make 2026 401(k) contributions through the end of the year. Unlike IRAs, 401(k)s don't allow prior-year contributions. If you've already got recurring deferrals from your paychecks set up, there might not be anything you need to do.

If you were hoping to max out your accounts, take stock of how much you already have saved and how many pay periods remain in the year. Then compare the remaining amount to your annual contribution limit. This is $24,500 if you're under 50, $32,500 if you're 50 to 59 or 64 or older, or $34,750 if you'll be 60 to 63 by the end of the year. Divide the amount you still have to save by the number of pay periods to figure out how much you have to set aside out of each check.

It's OK if you don't manage to fully max out your accounts. Just set aside as much as you're able to, and then come up with a plan for how much you'll save each pay period in 2027.

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