Saver’s Match, RMDs, and 3 More Things to Review Before December 31 

When you review your potential eligibility, you can also plan your 2027 retirement contributions. The first matching contributions are expected in 2028.

However, not all custodians may accept Saver’s Match contributions. You should confirm that yours will before incorporating the matching contribution into your retirement savings plan.

Complete Your Required Minimum Distributions

One of the most important year-end deadlines for many traditional IRA owners involves their required minimum distributions (RMDs).

• You may need to take an RMD in 2026 if:
• You own a traditional, SEP, or SIMPLE IRA and are age 73 or older.
• You inherited an IRA subject to annual distribution requirements. These depend on your relationship to the original owner and when they died.

Most RMDs must be taken by December 31, but if 2026 is your first RMD year, you generally have until April 1, 2027. Just remember that delaying your first RMD until next April will mean taking two RMDs in 2027.

Missing this deadline can be costly. The IRS may impose a 25% excise tax on the amount you failed to withdraw, although the rate can be reduced to 10% if you correct the shortfall within the applicable period.

If you’re 70½ or older, you can use a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) to satisfy all or part of your RMD. A QCD allows you to transfer funds directly from your IRA to an eligible charity, with the distributed amount excluded from your taxable income. With this approach, you can support a cause you believe in while reducing your tax liability and satisfying your RMD.

Taking RMDs from accounts with illiquid assets may also require additional planning, but you can satisfy your requirement by using available cash, selling part of an investment, or taking an in-kind distribution.

Review Your IRA Accounts and Investments

There are a few things in your retirement plan worth reviewing at least once a year, especially if you’ve recently experienced a major life change. Even if nothing significant has changed, an annual review can help you catch things you might otherwise overlook and address potential issues before they become more complicated.

1. Check your beneficiary designations. Marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child may change who you want to inherit your IRA. Your beneficiary designations determine who receives your retirement assets, regardless of instructions in your will.

2. Review your asset allocation. Your retirement goals and risk tolerance should be evaluated each year, so you have time to make sure your investment portfolio reflects your current priorities. Consider whether your investments still align with those goals or whether changes may be appropriate.

3. Check the fair market valuations of your alternative assets. Your self-directed IRA custodian may need updated valuations or supporting documentation for assets such as real estate or private investments. Contact your custodian to confirm what’s required and when it must be submitted. Although account values are generally reported as of December 31, documentation deadlines may differ.

Review Roth Conversion and Other Transaction Deadlines

A Roth conversion is another transaction with an important December 31 deadline if you want it to count for the 2026 tax year. While it’s completely optional, there are several circumstances where it may be worth considering, such as when your income is lower than usual or you anticipate higher tax rates in retirement.

The year-end deadline is especially important to consider if you’re converting alternative assets because you may need additional time for valuations and processing, especially if they involve real estate transactions.

Even if you’re not completing a Roth conversion, it can be a good idea to review any pending purchases, sales, distributions, or investment paperwork to make sure nothing is waiting on additional information. If you want a transaction completed in 2026, confirm your custodian’s processing deadlines, which may fall before December 31.

Review Your IRA Contribution Progress and Limits

With IRA contribution limits increasing in 2026, you may have an opportunity to save more for retirement than you did last year. Reviewing your contributions now can help you determine whether you’re taking advantage of the full amount you’re eligible to contribute.

For 2026, the IRA contribution limit is $7,500, with an additional $1,100 catch-up contribution for investors age 50 or older. That brings the potential total to $8,600. If you set up automatic contributions using the 2025 limits, you may have room to contribute more.

Although you generally have until April 15, 2027, to make IRA contributions for 2026, you may prefer to finish contributing before year-end. Doing so may help you keep track of your contributions and avoid budgeting for two tax years at the same time.

If you’ve determined that additional contributions fit your financial situation, you can adjust your automatic deposits or plan a one-time contribution before the deadline.

Prepare Your Retirement Accounts for the Year Ahead

To make sure you’re on track to meet your retirement goals, take the time to address any outstanding retirement account requirements, review your savings progress, and identify changes you want to make for 2027.

Some year-end account tasks, such as reviewing beneficiaries or planning future contributions, can be completed at your own pace. Others, including RMDs and Roth conversions, have deadlines that could affect your taxes if missed.

If you have a self-directed IRA with Equity Trust, you can review your account information, check outstanding transactions, and access available account services through your online account.

If you don’t have an account, you can learn more about self-directed IRAs here.