For families, January isn’t about resolutions or reacting to market noise. It’s about perspective.
With multiple accounts, entities, and advisors involved, complexity can quietly build over time. The start of the year offers a valuable opportunity to step back, review the full picture, and make sure everything is still working together — intentionally.
At Keel Financial, we encourage families to use January as a planning checkpoint. Here are several areas worth reviewing early in the year.
Revisit Family Goals and Priorities
Wealth planning begins with alignment.
Families change over time — and so do priorities. January is a natural moment to revisit:
- Short- and long-term financial goals
- Education funding plans
- Lifestyle expectations
- Multigenerational considerations
Clear communication helps ensure financial strategies continue to reflect what matters most to the family, not just what worked in the past.
Review Investment Strategy and Risk Exposure
Portfolios are often spread across multiple accounts and structures.
A new year is a good time to step back and assess:
- Overall asset allocation across accounts and entities
- Concentration risk
- Liquidity needs
- Rebalancing opportunities
The objective isn’t short-term performance. It’s ensuring the investment strategy remains aligned with long-term goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance.
Coordinate Tax Planning Early
Effective tax planning is proactive, not reactive.
January provides an opportunity to review:
- Expected income and deductions for the year ahead
- Capital gains exposure
- Charitable giving strategies
- Trust and entity-level planning considerations
Planning early in the year often allows for greater flexibility and more thoughtful decision-making as opportunities arise.
Review Estate, Trust, and Legacy Planning
Estate planning is more than a set of documents — it’s an ongoing strategy.
At the start of the year, families may benefit from confirming:
- Beneficiary designations remain current
- Trust structures and distributions still align with goals
- Gifting strategies are appropriate
- Wealth transfer plans reflect family values and intentions
Regular reviews help ensure legacy plans remain purposeful and aligned as circumstances evolve.
Assess Advisor Coordination
Planning often involves multiple professionals.
January is a good time to evaluate whether:
- Financial, tax, and legal strategies are aligned
- Communication among advisors is effective
- Changes in one area create unintended consequences in another
Strong coordination can help reduce complexity and improve overall outcomes, in our opinion.
Starting the Year With Clarity
January offers a natural pause — a chance to look at the full picture before the year gains momentum.
For families, proactive and coordinated planning can make a meaningful difference throughout the year. If it’s been some time since your family has conducted a comprehensive review, the start of the year is an ideal moment.
We invite you to connect with Keel Financial to ensure your investment strategies, tax planning strategies, and estate planning strategies remain aligned and intentional.
Learn more at www.keelfinancial.com.
Sources:
Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov) – Estate, gift, and tax planning guidance
CFP Board (cfp.net) – Best practices for comprehensive financial planning
Disclosures
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.
Asset allocation does not ensure a profit or protect against loss.
Rebalancing a portfolio may cause investors to incur tax liabilities and/or transaction costs and does not assure a profit or protect against a loss.
This information is not intended to be a substitute for individualized tax or legal advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a tax advisor or qualified attorney.
This material was created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools
