The Update

Year End Financial Checklist

As 2023 draws to a close, take a moment to go through this year-end financial checklist to ensure your finances are in order before the start of the New Year.

Review Your Budget

Is your current monthly budget working for you? Are you stretching some spending categories or finishing each month in the red? Take some time to review your budget and make any necessary changes.

Top Off Your Retirement Plan

If you have a 401(k), check to see that you are taking full advantage of your employer’s matching contributions. If you haven’t contributed as much as you can, you have until the end of the year to catch up, to a limit of $19,500. If you have an IRA, you have until April 15 to scrape together the maximum contribution of $6,000, with an additional $1,000 if you are 50 years or older.

Check Your Progress on Paying Down Debt

Review your outstanding debts from one year ago and hold up the amounts against what you now owe. Have you shed any debt from one year ago, or is your debt growing? If you’ve made no progress, or your debt has deepened, consider taking bigger steps toward paying it down in 2024.

Check Your FICO Score

The end of the year is a great time for an annual credit checkup. As a member of Rio Grande Credit Union, you can check your FICO Score for free! You can even do it from our mobile app.  

Review Your Investments and Allocations 

You may need to make some adjustments to your mix of stocks, bonds, cash and other investments to better reflect your personal financial goals and/or the current state of the economy and market.

Review Your Beneficiaries 

Has your family situation changed during the past year? If it has, be sure to switch the beneficiaries on your accounts and life insurance policies to accommodate these changes.

Review Your Tax Withholdings 

Review your W-4 to see if the amount of tax withheld from each paycheck needs to be adjusted. If you’re not a numbers person, ask your accountant for help.

Free Financial Coaching

If you're looking for additional help in 2024, setup a free 1-on-1 financial coaching appointment through RGCU. Our certified coaches can help you set a budget for your lifestyle, give you tips on how to improve your credit, and teach you more about finance. 

Use this checklist to make sure your money matters are in order before the start of 2024.