The start of a new year is the perfect time to revisit your financial plan—this guide outlines key priorities like aligning goals, optimizing cash flow, managing risk, and simplifying strategies for a more intentional year ahead.
The New Year has a way of inviting reflection. Some people set fitness goals. Others swear off sugar (temporarily). But the turn of the calendar is also an ideal moment to step back and ask this meaningful question:
Wealth is dynamic. Tax laws change. Markets shift. Families grow, age, and evolve. The most effective financial plans aren’t built once and put on a shelf; they’re revisited, refined, and recalibrated over time. As we enter the New Year, here are several planning priorities worth your attention, each designed to help bring greater clarity, efficiency, and confidence to your financial life.
Before diving into tactics, start with purpose.
Wealth planning is rarely about accumulating more. It’s about aligning resources with priorities: lifestyle, family, philanthropy, legacy, and peace of mind. Over time, those priorities can shift. A business exit changes your risk tolerance. Adult children alter estate considerations. Retirement reframes how you think about time and spending.
This is a good moment to revisit questions such as:
Clear answers here act as a filter for every other decision. Without them, even the most technically sound strategies can miss the mark.
Many investors spend far more time reviewing investment performance than examining cash flow. Complex income streams (bonuses, equity compensation, distributions, business income) can create blind spots. So can rising lifestyle costs, charitable commitments, or increased family support.
A New Year cash-flow review should answer three things:
The goal is knowing what you can control and what you can’t. When cash flow is clearly understood, investment and tax decisions become easier and far more strategic.
Tax planning isn’t just about April or the end of the year. Some of the most impactful strategies happen well before returns are filed.
Depending on your situation, the New Year may be a good time to:
The value comes from coordination. Make sure investment, tax, and planning decisions are working together rather than independently. When they are, the results can compound over time.
Risk tolerance isn’t static. It changes with age, wealth level, family dynamics, and life events. What felt like “appropriate volatility” ten years ago may feel very different today, even if markets look familiar.
This doesn’t automatically mean becoming more conservative. It means being intentional.
Ask:
A thoughtful risk review can help ensure your portfolio is aligned not just with market expectations, but with your real-world life.
Estate plans have a bad habit of becoming outdated.
Trusts, wills, and beneficiary designations should evolve alongside family relationships, asset values, tax laws, and personal intent. The New Year is a natural time to confirm that documents still reflect your wishes and that the people involved understand their roles.
Beyond documents, consider the human side:
Good estate planning isn’t just about transferring wealth efficiently. It’s about reducing friction, confusion, and stress for the people you care about most.
Longevity is a gift. It’s also a planning variable.
Living longer can mean extended retirements, evolving healthcare needs, and changing spending patterns. It may also open the door to new goals: philanthropy, mentoring, second careers, or deeper family involvement.
A strong New Year planning conversation should consider:
The objective is to build a structure that adapts gracefully.
Complexity has a way of accumulating. Accounts multiply. Old strategies linger. Reporting becomes harder to interpret.
Sometimes the most valuable planning move is simplification:
Simplicity translates into fewer moving parts, better visibility, and more confidence in decision-making.
The New Year isn’t about dramatic financial overhauls; it’s about thoughtful course correction.
At Allworth Financial, we believe great planning is proactive, personal, and integrated. It’s designed to support not just wealth, but the life it enables. Taking the time now to revisit priorities, test assumptions, and refine strategies can make the year ahead feel more intentional and less reactive.
And that, in the end, is what good planning is all about.
If you’d like help turning these ideas into a clear, actionable plan for your specific situation, your Allworth team is here and ready to help you start the year with clarity and confidence.
This information is meant for educational purposes and not as direct tax or legal advice. Rules and regulations can shift anytime, so it’s always best to consult a qualified tax advisor, CPA, or attorney for guidance tailored to your specific situation.
All data are from Bloomberg unless otherwise noted. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investments involve risks, including market, credit, interest rate, and political risks. For more information, please refer to Allworth Financial’s Form ADV Part 2.
Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Asset allocation does not ensure profits or guarantee against losses; it is a method used to manage risk. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. Therefore, it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment, investment allocation, or investment strategy (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended and/or undertaken by Allworth Financial), will be profitable, equal any historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Advisory services offered through Allworth Financial, an S.E.C. registered investment advisor. A copy of our current written disclosure statement discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request. Allworth Financial is an Investment Advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Securities offered through AW Securities, a Registered Broker/Dealer, member FINRA/SIPC.