Budgeting & Debt

As the year draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and take proactive steps to align your financial life with your goals. A structured year-end review ensures you’re maximizing opportunities for tax efficiency, fine-tuning your investments, and entering the new year with confidence. Below, you’ll find two tailored checklists—one for individuals still in their working years and another for those enjoying retirement. For Working Individuals: Positioning for

Each fall, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announces the annual  Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) , which determines how much benefits will increase to help keep up with inflation. For 2026, Social Security benefits are set to  increase by approximately 2.8% . While this adjustment is automatic, it plays a very real role in your retirement income plan, especially if you’re currently receiving benefits or planning to claim them within the next few years. Below, we bre