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The Ultimate Year-End Financial Planning Checklist (September–December)
From September through December, use this year-end financial planning checklist to review your budget, taxes, investments, insurance, retirement, and family goals. Take control of your finances before the year ends.
Kevin Murray
September 10, 2025
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As summer winds down and the year enters its final stretch, September through December is the perfect time to get your financial house in order.
Too many people wait until the last week of December—or even January—to think about their finances. By then, you’ve missed out on critical opportunities to reduce taxes, maximize savings, and set your family up for success.
That’s why I created this Year-End Financial Planning Checklist. Follow this timeline from September 1 to December 31 and you’ll finish the year with confidence, clarity, and momentum heading into the new year.
September: Get Organized & Review the Big Picture
September is about taking stock of where you are now.
✅ Review your budget:
Compare your spending year-to-date against your goals.
Adjust categories if inflation, lifestyle changes, or unexpected events threw you off track.
✅ Check your emergency fund:
Aim for 3–6 months of living expenses.
If you dipped into savings, set a plan to rebuild.
✅ Review your credit:
Pull your free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com.
Dispute errors and make a plan to improve your score if needed.
✅ Review net worth:
List assets (bank accounts, investments, retirement, home equity).
List liabilities (mortgage, student loans, credit cards).
Track changes since last year—are you moving in the right direction?
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