Money Girl

7 ways to build wealth before December 31

September 23, 2026·14 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

1053. Host Laura Adams walks you through seven ways to lower your taxes, maximize savings, and protect your hard-earned cash before midnight on December 31. Don’t let holiday chaos cause you to miss this critical deadline.Key TakeawaysEmployer-sponsored retirement plans like 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and 457s require employers to deduct contributions from paychecks by December 31.Zero out your flexible spending account (FSA) before year-end or confirm your employer’s specific rules, such as a limited carryover or grace period.If you’ve met your annual health insurance deductible, schedule remaining doctor visits, recommended tests, or prescription fills in December before your coverage limits reset on January 1.Those over 73 must make required minimum distributions (RMDs) from traditional retirement accounts by December 31 to avoid steep penalties. If you can move certain expenses (such as a mortgage payment or property taxes) into December, they may help you deduct more by itemizing.Check card portals before holiday shopping to activate quarterly bonus categories and redeem annual travel credits or expiring reward points to offset end-of-year expenses. Related Episodes1045916101810449819661043Discover more from Money Girl!FacebookNewsletterTranscripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com.Email: Laura@LauraDAdams.com or leave a voicemail: (302) 364-0308. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Podzilla Summary coming soon

Sign up to get notified when the full AI-powered summary is ready.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.

Listen to This Episode

Get summaries like this every morning.

Free AI-powered recaps of Money Girl and your other favorite podcasts, delivered to your inbox.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.