How a little planning now can set you up for a stronger year ahead 

Happy New Year! Too early to talk about tax season? Maybe. But like holiday decorations appearing before Thanksgiving, April 15 has a way of sneaking up faster than expected. And with economic uncertainty, evolving tax rules, and market expectations all top of mind, April 15 is more than a deadline. It’s a chance to reassess, reset, and get ahead in the year to come. 

Decisions made now can influence not only your 2025 tax outcome, but how prepared you are for the rest of 2026 and beyond. The 2026 wealth and market outlook underscores both opportunity and uncertainty going into the year: with interest rates stabilizing, inflation moving toward target levels, and volatility expected to persist, investors who plan around their goals—not short-term noise—have a meaningful advantage. 

Here are five key areas worth reviewing before tax day to help you build momentum for the year ahead. 

1. Maximize Tax-Advantaged Contributions and Think Beyond April 15 

Tax-advantaged accounts remain one of the most powerful tools for building long-term wealth, especially with the passage of the Budget Reconciliation Act of 2025 (often referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) which has reduced uncertainty by extending and expanding key tax provisions, giving investors greater clarity as they plan ahead. In 2026, the focus shifts to understanding which updated tax rules apply to you and using them proactively, reinforcing the idea that effective tax planning is an ongoing strategy, not a once-a-year filing exercise. 

While April 15 marks the deadline for many contributions, the real opportunity lies in reinforcing your plan’s structure for the year ahead. Contributions to IRAs, SEPs, HSAs, and other tax-advantaged vehicles can still be made before the deadline. And they remain one of the most effective ways to reduce taxable income while strengthening long-term savings. 

Beyond the immediate tax benefit, these accounts play an important role in long-range planning, especially as retirement timelines, healthcare costs, and future tax rates remain uncertain. Even modest contributions can compound meaningfully over time when aligned with a broader financial plan. Aligning contributions now, and not just retroactively before tax day, helps solidify that structure early in the year. 

2. Review and Rebalance Your Investments—Market Conditions Are Evolving

Markets may continue to “climb a wall of worry” through 2026, according to Schwab’s 2026 Market Outlook. Volatility and rotation across sectors are expected as stocks adjust to mixed economic signals, interest rate expectations, and inflation dynamics.  

Today’s environment is dynamically unstable, with underlying relationships shifting in real time, making traditional forecasting less reliable. Rather than being driven only by external unknowns, this instability reflects structural forces like uneven tariffs, constrained housing mobility due to locked-in mortgage rates, shifting labor dynamics, persistent fiscal imbalances, volatile inflation components, and rapidly changing stock market breadth. 

If your portfolio hasn’t been reviewed recently, your allocation may no longer reflect your intended risk level or time horizon. That makes rebalancing a powerful risk management strategy in an uncertain environment: 

• Stocks and bonds may behave differently as yields and policy expectations shift 

• International equities could offer diversification benefits with attractive valuations compared to U.S. indexes  

• Fixed-income markets may offer solid returns in 2026 even as labor strength softens 

A pre-tax-season rebalance reconnects your allocation to your goals and maintains discipline as conditions evolve—ensuring diversification, managing risk exposure, and positioning your investments in a way that supports both near-term needs and long-term objectives. 

3. Capture Deductibles and Strategic Giving—Plan with Perspective 

With market and economic uncertainty front of mind for many investors (for example, concerns around affordability despite optimistic signals), tax planning becomes a lens through which to view your financial choices. Tax efficiency often comes down to details. Professional fees, medical expenses, and charitable gifts can add up, but only if they’re properly captured and coordinated. 

Charitable giving, in particular, benefits from planning. Whether you’re donating cash, appreciated securities, or using donor-advised strategies, thoughtful timing can enhance both tax outcomes and philanthropic impact. A quick review now can help ensure your generosity aligns with your financial goals, not just your intentions. 

Capturing deductible expenses and charitable giving is part of designing a tax-efficient year by: 

• Coordinating charitable gifts with cash-flow needs and market positioning 

• Considering tax-loss harvesting if markets are choppy 

• Documenting deductible expenses deliberately, not retroactively 

4. Review Cash Flow for the Next 12 Months—Less Reacting, More Planning 

A strong financial plan connects today’s decisions with tomorrow’s realities. Reviewing cash flow for the next 12 months (expected income, major expenses, tax payments, and liquidity needs) can help prevent surprises and reduce reactive decision-making later in the year. 

For business owners, this step is especially critical. Changes in revenue, capital needs, or compensation strategy can have ripple effects across both personal and business finances. Planning ahead helps ensure flexibility, not just compliance. 

Quarterly check-ins, savings goals, and liquidity planning that anticipate events like tax payments, bonuses, or portfolio rebalancing can help you get comfortable with what the year ahead might demand. 

Why it matters this year: 

• Even if markets feel volatile, stable cash flow helps you stay positioned to act rather than react. 

• Aligning spending and saving early can prevent forced selling during market swings. 

• Knowing your liquidity needs supports better choices around fixed income, emergency funds, and contribution timing. 

5. Align Business Value and Personal Planning—A Strategy, Not an Event 

For entrepreneurs, tax season is a natural moment to zoom out. Business value, tax strategy, and personal wealth planning are deeply interconnected, yet often managed in silos. 

Business owners already juggle a mix of strategic decisions: tax structure, compensation planning, retirement offerings, and eventual business transition planning. Designing your portfolio around distinct outcomes and managing both sides of your balance sheet with intention can help you connect business value to personal goals before April 15 by: 

• Helping you clarify whether tax strategies and personal financial goals align 

• Allowing better choices around timing income, deductions, and investment positioning 

• Enabling legacies and exit strategies to be part of your plan, not an afterthought 

Aligning these elements early—rather than waiting until a transition or exit is imminent—can reveal opportunities to optimize structure, manage risk, and build long-term optionality. The most successful transitions are rarely last-minute decisions; they’re the result of years of coordinated planning. 

Why This Matters 

The 2026 market and economic outlook reflects cautious optimism: inflation is moving toward target ranges, interest rate environments are stabilizing, and there are signs of durable economic and earnings support, even as volatility and uncertainty remain present. 

In other words, the backdrop for 2026 markets and financial planning is nuanced. And that’s exactly why planning before April 15 matters: it gives you time to interpret the backdrop, not just react to it. 

So, April 15 is about setting direction. A few thoughtful adjustments now can lead to better tax efficiency, stronger portfolio alignment, and greater confidence throughout the year. 

It’s not about doing everything. It’s about doing the right things, at the right time, with a clear view of what lies ahead. 

Curious what you might be overlooking? 

Sometimes a fresh set of eyes makes all the difference. 

A 30-minute conversation could uncover opportunities you didn’t know you were missing. If you’d like to see how these items apply to your unique circumstances, schedule a consultation with us today.