By Candace Corette-Pratt Partner EBS Contributor
Sponsored Article
A note from our team and your 2025 year-end investment planning guide from Shore to Summit Wealth Management.
As we approach the close of 2025, this is an important time to reflect on your financial progress, prepare for upcoming opportunities, and complete several essential year-end tasks. Markets have been dynamic this year, offering both challenges and moments of meaningful growth, and thoughtful planning now can help you enter 2026 with clarity and confidence.
At Shore to Summit Wealth Management, our mission is to support you through every peak and valley of your financial journey. Whether you’re reviewing investments, making charitable gifts, or simply checking in on your goals, my team and I are here to assist you with any outstanding year-end items to ensure your strategy continues to serve your long-term goals.
As you look ahead, there are several key actions to consider before Dec. 31. Each one can make a meaningful difference in how you close out the year and position yourself for the future. The following checklist highlights the most important steps to review now.
2025 market year-end summary
2025 has been a year marked by moderate but steady economic growth, continued innovation in technology sectors, and shifting interest-rate expectations as inflation finally stabilized. Key themes include:
- U.S. equities showed renewed strength, especially in mid-cap and growth sectors.
- Bonds offered more stability as interest rates settled, giving investors a chance to revisit income strategies.
- The broader economy held steady, with healthy consumer spending, low unemployment, and cooling inflation.
These shifts create space for long-term planning, but they also call for thoughtful recalibration. As we turn the corner into 2026, diversification, disciplined long-term investing, and tax-efficient strategies remain central to managing both risk and opportunity.
A brief review with a Shore to Summit team member could reveal opportunities worth
pursuing that may help shape your strategy going forward.
Your year-end checklist: must-complete items by Dec. 31, 2025
- Tax-loss harvesting: A smart finish
If you’ve realized gains this year, now may be the time to offset them. Selling underperforming positions can reduce your tax liability and create room for reinvestment.
Consider:
- Realizing losses to offset capital gains
- Rebalancing allocations for 2026
- Evaluating concentrated positions and risk exposure
Reviewing your investment strategy and taking a closer look at your holdings offers an opportunity to explore whether a few strategic adjustments could strengthen your foundation for the year ahead.
- Required minimum distributions (RMDs): don’t leave it to chance
For those age 73 or older—or anyone with an inherited IRA—RMDs must be completed by Dec. 31. Missing this deadline can trigger steep penalties.
Make sure:
- All retirement accounts are accounted for
- Beneficiary IRA rules are correctly applied
- Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) are considered, if appropriate
- Transfers are scheduled early to prevent processing delays
We’re happy to double-check your calculations and make sure everything’s in motion. A quick review now can save you time and stress later.
- Charitable giving: make it count
Giving is personal, but it’s also strategic. The right approach can amplify your impact and
reduce your tax bill.
You may want to explore:
- Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) for flexible giving
- Appreciated stock gifts, which can eliminate capital gains
- Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) if you are 70-and-a-half or older
- Cash contributions eligible for 2025 tax deductions
Let’s design a giving plan that reflects your values and maximizes your generosity. We’ll help you choose the path that fits best.
- Family Gifts: celebrate with intention
The 2025 annual gift exclusion allows you to give up to $18,000 per person without affecting your estate exemption. Beyond the numbers, gifting is a way to support loved ones and pass on financial values.
Common strategies include:
- Funding 529 college savings plans
- Helping adult children with down payments or financial milestones
- Gradual wealth transfer to reduce future estate tax exposure
- Supporting grandchildren through custodial accounts
If you’re considering a gift this season, let’s talk through the options. We’ll help you structure it in a way that feels meaningful and aligns with your broader goals.
- Contributions: don’t miss the window
Before the year ends, it’s worth confirming your contributions to retirement plans, HSAs, and FSAs. These accounts offer powerful tax advantages, but deadlines vary.
Check your status on:
- 401(k), 403(b), 457 plans – workplace deadlines may be earlier than Dec. 31
- Roth IRAs and Traditional IRAs – income limits apply—but you can still strategize
before the year closes
- Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)—confirm use-it-or-lose-it rules or allowable carryovers
Let’s make sure you’ve taken full advantage of what’s available. A quick check-in could
boost your savings and reduce your taxable income.
- Beneficiary designations: a five-minute check-up
It’s easy to overlook, but outdated beneficiary information can cause real complications. Life changes—marriage, divorce, births, deaths—should always prompt a review.
Review designations on:
- Retirement accounts (IRAs, 401(k)s, etc.)
- Life insurance policies
- Annuities
- Transfer-on-Death (TOD) accounts
- Trust documents
If it’s been a while since you checked your designations, let’s take care of it together. This small step can protect your legacy and simplify things for your loved ones.
- Planning refresh: step into 2026 with clarity
Your investment plan evolves with you, adapting not only to life’s milestones but also to shifts in the markets and changes in the economy. As the year wraps up, it’s a good time to revisit your goals, assess your progress, and make adjustments.
Topics to review:
- Retirement income planning and projections
- Tax strategy review for 2026 and beyond
- Insurance coverage and long-term care evaluation
- Cash-flow planning and emergency fund needs
- Debt management and interest-rate considerations
- Estate planning strategies and legacy updates
Let’s make sure your strategy reflects where you are and where you want to go.
Wishing you a meaningful season
As we close out 2025, we want to thank you for the trust you place in us. Investment planning is deeply personal, and it’s a privilege to walk alongside you. At Shore to Summit, we’re committed to helping you build a life that reflects your values, supports the people you care about, and prepares you for whatever comes next. If you’d like help with any of the items above, we’re here. Let’s make the most of this season, together.
Candace Corette-Pratt is a Partner at Shore to Summit Wealth Management. She currently lives and works in Bozeman, MT with her husband and 2 children and 2 dogs.
Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network does not provide legal or tax advice.
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