5 Financial To-Dos to Consider This Fall

September has a way of feeling like a fresh start. Summer is winding down, routines are settling back in, and the end of the year is suddenly not so far away.

From a financial planning perspective, this can be a great time to check in. There are still several months left in the year, which means there may be opportunities to make thoughtful adjustments without the pressure of trying to tackle everything in December.

Here are five areas worth putting on your radar this fall.

1. Take a Look at Your Year-to-Date Income and Taxes

Has anything changed since the beginning of the year?

Maybe you received a raise or bonus, sold an investment, started receiving retirement income, exercised stock options, or experienced another change that could affect your taxes.

September can be a good time to review your income and tax withholding and determine whether any adjustments may be appropriate before year-end. For those who make quarterly estimated tax payments, the third 2026 estimated tax payment is due September 15.

The goal isn't to predict your tax return down to the penny. It's to identify potential surprises while there's still time to plan for them.

2. Check Your Retirement Contributions

Take a moment to look at how much you've contributed to your retirement accounts so far this year.

Are you on track with the savings goal you set for yourself? If your goal is to maximize an employer-sponsored retirement plan, do you need to adjust contributions over your remaining paychecks?

The IRS specifically recommends reviewing retirement contributions as part of a midyear tax checkup. For 2026, the basic employee contribution limit for 401(k), 403(b), and most 457 plans is $24,500, although different limits and catch-up rules may apply depending on your age and circumstances.

Even if maximizing contributions isn't the right goal for you, this is a good opportunity to make sure your savings strategy still aligns with your bigger financial picture.

3. Start Thinking About Year-End Giving

If charitable giving is important to you, now is a good time to start thinking about what you'd like that giving to look like this year.

Rather than waiting until the final weeks of December, planning ahead gives you time to consider not only how much you'd like to give, but also how you'd like to give.

Depending on your situation, that conversation might include gifts of cash, appreciated investments, donor-advised funds, or qualified charitable distributions from an IRA.

The best strategy will depend on your individual circumstances, so this is an area where coordinating with your financial advisor and tax professional can be especially helpful.

4. Get Medicare Open Enrollment on Your Calendar

For those on Medicare—or helping a parent or loved one navigate Medicare—fall brings an important annual planning opportunity.

Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7. During this period, individuals can review their current Medicare health and prescription drug coverage and make certain changes for the coming year.

Plans, costs, benefits, prescriptions, providers, and even your own healthcare needs can change from year to year, so it can be worthwhile to review your coverage rather than assuming last year's choices are still the best fit. Medicare recommends beginning that review around October 1.

5. Revisit the Bigger Picture

Not every financial check-in needs to result in a change.

Sometimes the most valuable thing you can do is simply ask: Are we still on track?

Think back to the goals and priorities you had at the beginning of the year. Have they changed? Has life changed? Is there something you've been meaning to address but haven't gotten around to yet?

Financial planning isn't something that only happens when markets move or a major life event occurs. It's an ongoing process of making sure your resources continue to support the life you're building.

A Little Planning Now Can Go a Long Way

September gives us a helpful window between summer and the busy holiday season to take stock and look ahead.

You don't need to tackle everything at once. Start with the areas that are most relevant to you, and remember that we're here to help you sort through the details.

If there's anything on this list you'd like to talk through—or if something has changed in your life or finances—we'd love to hear from you. Reach out to the McKay Wealth team, and we'll help you determine what deserves your attention before year-end.