A new year often brings the urge to make changes.

New strategies. New predictions. New ideas.

But for many people nearing or in retirement, the most important work in 2026 is not about changing everything.

It is about not assuming that doing nothing is the same as staying on track.

Because retirement planning is not static. And time has a way of changing the stakes, even when life feels steady.

What worked five years ago may still be working.
But it may not be working as efficiently.
Or as safely.
Or as intentionally as you think.

That is why revisiting the fundamentals matters, even in years when nothing feels urgent.

Your Income Sources

As retirement gets closer, the question quietly shifts.

Not how much you have saved.
But how dependable your income really is.

Many people assume income will simply “show up” when the time comes. Social Security. Portfolio withdrawals. Maybe a pension.

But income is not automatic. It has timing. Tax consequences. Tradeoffs.

A plan that looks fine on paper can feel very different when income actually becomes your paycheck. Revisiting where income will come from, and when, helps prevent the uncomfortable realization that clarity was assumed rather than planned.

Confidence in retirement often starts with knowing exactly where next month’s income comes from.

Your Tax Exposure

Taxes have a way of creeping in quietly.

A little more income here. A distribution there. A new Medicare surcharge that was not there before.

Nothing dramatic. Just enough to matter.

Many retirees pay more in taxes than they expected, not because they made bad decisions, but because they let old assumptions carry forward too long.

Revisiting your tax picture each year is not about chasing loopholes. It is about making sure today’s decisions are not creating tomorrow’s regrets.

Once taxes are paid, there is no undo button.

Your Cash Position

Cash feels comforting.

It does not fluctuate. It does not make headlines. It does not cause stress in volatile markets.

But comfort can quietly turn into complacency.

Holding too little cash can force bad decisions in bad markets. Holding too much can slowly work against long-term goals without ever feeling risky.

The right amount of cash changes over time. What made sense when you were working may not make sense when income becomes the focus.

Revisiting your cash position is not about chasing returns. It is about making sure your sense of safety is actually serving you.

Your Investment Mix

Markets change. Portfolios drift.

Even without trading, your investments may no longer reflect the role they are supposed to play in your life.

A portfolio built for growth feels different once withdrawals begin. Volatility that was tolerable before can suddenly feel personal.

Revisiting your investment mix is not about predicting the next market move. It is about asking an honest question.

If markets struggle this year, would your plan still hold up?

Your Healthcare Assumptions

Healthcare rarely becomes a problem all at once.

It becomes expensive quietly.

Premiums rise. Rules change. Income triggers higher costs in ways that are not obvious until they arrive.

Even if your health is stable, your exposure may not be. Revisiting healthcare assumptions helps prevent surprises that ripple through the rest of your plan.

This is one area where “we’ll deal with it later” often turns into “we wish we had planned sooner.”

Your Retirement Timeline

Most people carry a retirement date in their head.

Sometimes it was set years ago. Sometimes it has never been questioned.

A single year can change more than expected. It can affect taxes, income flexibility, and the margin for error in your plan.

Revisiting your timeline does not mean committing to a new date. It means making sure your plan reflects reality, not habit.

The Bigger Picture

The biggest risk in retirement planning is not making the wrong move.

It is assuming that standing still means you are staying on track.

Strong plans are not built on constant change. They are built on awareness. On small adjustments made before they are forced.

2026 does not have to be the year you overhaul everything.

But it should be a year you make sure your plan still fits the life you are living now, not the one you planned for years ago.

That kind of check-in is not about fear.
It is about care.

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Just reply to this email with any questions or feedback.
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​Keeping wealth in focus,

The MY Wealth Management Team