Year-End Retirement Savings Moves: Finish 2026 Strong
Before 2026 ends, review your retirement savings, consider increasing 401(k) and IRA contributions, use eligible catch-up contributions, and rebalance your investments. For 2026, new Roth catch-up rules also apply to certain higher earners making 401(k) catch-up contributions.
Takeaways
- Review your retirement savings before year-end to see whether you’re on track and whether you can increase your contributions.
- Take advantage of your full employer match and any catch-up contributions you’re eligible to make in 2026.
- Higher earners making catch-up contributions may be subject to the new 2026 Roth catch-up rule.
- Review and rebalance your 401(k) if your investments no longer match your goals and risk tolerance.
Why We Feel Year-End Retirement Planning Matters
The year is almost gone. And with it may go opportunities to make retirement moves that count for 2026.
Some decisions have year-end deadlines, while others are simply easier to address before December turns into a scramble.
Now may be the time to check your contributions, review your investment mix, and make sure you’re taking advantage of the options available to you.
Not every move below may apply to you.
But the ones that do may be worth taking care of before the calendar flips to 2027.
#1 Are You on Track with Your Retirement Savings Goals?
Before making any year-end moves, take a step back and check where you stand against your goals for the year.
Are you on pace to hit your retirement savings target for 2026? And are those goals still aligned with your long-term needs and your current risk tolerance?
Life and markets change, so your strategy may need to change, too.
Take a few minutes to review your current balance, compare it to your annual goal, and factor in any big changes this year, like a raise, a new job, or a shift in household expenses.
Fidelity suggests aiming for a total savings rate of around 15% of your income, including any employer match. [1]
You should consider that a useful benchmark, not a finish line.
Where you need to be depends on your age, your income, and when you want to retire.
#2 Can You Boost or Max Out Your 2026 Contributions?
If you have room in your budget, adding even a little more to your 401(k) or IRA before year-end may help lower your taxable income and grow your savings.
Here are the 2026 contribution limits from the IRS:
- 401(k): You may contribute up to $24,500 in employee contributions. The combined limit for your contributions plus your employer’s is $72,000.
- IRA: You may contribute up to $7,500. If you’re 50 or older, you may add a $1,100 catch-up, for a total of $8,600. [2]
If maxing out your 401(k) or IRA isn’t realistic, that’s okay.
The more useful question can be simpler: Can you contribute just a little bit more before the end of the year?
At the very least, contribute enough to get your full employer match.
Here’s why that can matter:
Say you earn $70,000 and contribute 6% of your pay to your 401(k). That’s $4,200 for the year. If your employer matches 100% of that 6%, they add another $4,200 – bringing your total to $8,400.
That employer match is money you’d otherwise leave on the table.
#3 Are You Eligible for Catch-Up or Super Catch-Up Contributions?
If you’re 50 or older, the IRS lets you contribute more to your 401(k) than younger workers through catch-up contributions.
For 2026, that means an extra $8,000 on top of the $24,500 limit, for a total of $32,500. [3]
There’s an even bigger opportunity for a specific age group. If you’re 60, 61, 62, or 63, you may qualify for a “super catch-up” of $11,250 instead of the standard $8,000 – if your plan allows it.
That brings your total possible contribution to $35,750 for the year.
Q4 may be a smart time to check whether you’re on pace to use these limits. Even a smaller increase may make a meaningful difference over time.
Log into your 401(k) account or contact your plan provider or HR department to confirm you’re contributing the maximum available to you before the year ends.
#4 Are You a High Earner? Understand the New 2026 Roth Catch-Up Rule
This is new for 2026, and it can be easy to miss. If you’re a higher earner making catch-up contributions, they may now need to go into a Roth account.
Here’s the rule from the IRS: If your prior-year wages with your employer were more than $150,000, your catch-up contributions must be made on a Roth (after-tax) basis. [3]
What does that mean for you?
Roth catch-up contributions are made with money you’ve already paid taxes on.
Unlike your regular pre-tax 401(k) contributions, they don’t lower your taxable income for the year.
The trade-off is that qualified Roth withdrawals in retirement may be tax-free.
If this applies to you, we suggest confirming your plan is set up to handle Roth catch-up contributions. A quick check now may help you avoid a surprise later.
[Related Read: 401(k) Catch-Up Contribution Rule Changes for 2026]
#5 Have You Reviewed and Rebalanced Your 401(k)?
Q4 can be a good time to check whether your 401(k) still reflects your goals and your risk level.
Even if you haven’t touched your account this year, the market may have shifted things for you.
Over time, strong stock performance may cause your investment mix to shift, often without you noticing.
Say you originally chose a mix of 70% stocks and 30% bonds. If stocks have done well, that mix could drift to 76% stocks and 24% bonds.
That growth might feel like a win.
But it could also mean you’re now carrying more risk than you planned, which could hurt you if the market pulls back.
That’s where rebalancing comes in.
Rebalancing is the process of adjusting your investments to bring them back in line with your target mix.
It’s not about timing the market. It’s about staying in control of your strategy and your risk level.
#6 Have You Scheduled a Year-End Retirement Review?
As the year winds down, it may be a good time to schedule a check-in with a retirement professional who can look at the full picture with you.
That’s where 401(k) Maneuver can help.
We provide independent, professional 401(k) account management designed to help grow and protect your account.
Our goal is to increase your account performance over time, manage downside risk to minimize losses, and reduce fees that may be hurting your retirement account performance.
When you enroll with 401(k) Maneuver, here’s what you can expect:
- Reviews and rebalancing personalized to your risk tolerance and current market conditions.
- Email updates every time we review and adjust your account.
- Independent fiduciary advice focused entirely on your best interests.
- No in-person meetings required – everything is handled online.
And you don’t even have to move your account. It stays right where it is, and we manage it for you.
Have questions or concerns about your 401(k) performance? Book a complimentary 15-minute 401(k) Strategy Session with one of our advisors.
SOURCES
[1] Fidelity Investments. Fidelity Q1 2026 Retirement Analysis: 401(k) and 403(b) Savings Rates Reach Record Levels, Despite Uncertain Economy. May 2026. https://newsroom.fidelity.com/pressreleases/fidelity-q1-2026-retirement-analysis–401-k–and-403-b–savings-rates-reach-record-levels–despite-u/s/f8f4ee41-ab58-4f14-9adb-dcb4feb3f2c7
[2] Internal Revenue Service. Notice 2025-67: 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustments for Retirement Plan Dollar Limitations. November 2025. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-25-67.pdf
[3] Internal Revenue Service. Retirement topics – Catch-up contributions. 2026. https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-catch-up-contributions
