The end of 2024 will be here before you know it. Don’t let the end of the year get here before you’ve done everything you can to maximize your finances heading into 2025!

Review Your Financial Goals

As we begin the final quarter of the year, now is a great time to sit down and review our financial goals for the year. Are you still on track to reach your goals or is it time to reevaluate?

Whether it’s saving a certain amount of money, paying down debt, or something else, you don’t have to completely give up. Slightly readjusting your goal to something attainable is always better than nothing. Plus, that can help you begin working towards setting new goals for 2025!

Get a Free Copy of Your Credit Report

Have you checked your credit report lately? If not, now is the time!

You can get a free credit report annually at AnnualCreditReport.com.

Regularly checking your credit report is the best way to spot errors or signs of identity theft.

Most credit card companies offer some sort of credit score monitoring, however, these scores may be slightly different than what’s on your official credit report. That’s okay. The free credit report is still a good free tool for regularly monitoring your credit.

Maximize your 401(k) Contributions

If you’re planning to max out your 401(k) for 2024, the last chance to do so is December 31st.

If your company offers a match that you haven’t maxed out yet, start doing so now. Also, if your job is expected to hand out a holiday or year-end bonus, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to set aside a certain amount of that for your retirement fund.

Harvest Tax Losses

Did you know that you can write off investment losses on your taxes? The IRS calls this capital loss, which reduces your taxable income and nets you a small tax break in the process.

So, if you have a losing stock in a taxable account, and it no longer fits your investment plan, sell it to offset other gains you’ve made this year.

If you haven’t made any gains with your portfolio this year, the tax loss can be used to offset up to $3,000 of ordinary income and any unused losses can be carried forward to next year.

You do have to sell the stock before the end of the final trading day of the year in order to qualify for the deduction.

Use your Flexible Spending Account Balance

If you have a flexible spending account (FSA) through your employer, check to see how much is in your balance, because the funds have to be used by December 31st or else they are lost.

While some employers offer a two-month grace period, not all do. Be sure to check before you try and hold any funds over.

So, if there’s something you’ve been putting off – like physical therapy, a procedure, or new prescription eyewear just to name a few things – you’d better get yourself on the schedule before appointments book up!