As 2025 winds down, many professional women I work with are looking for ways to make the most of their retirement savings before December 31.
Just last week, I met with Sarah (not her real name), a marketing director in her mid-50s, who discovered she had been leaving money on the table in her 401(k). With a few adjustments, she’ll add an extra $3,000 to her retirement account this year alone.
If you’re a professional woman in your 50s or early 60s, the next few weeks offer a golden opportunity to supercharge your savings. After 23 years in financial services, 15 as a fiduciary financial planner, I’ve seen how a few smart moves before year-end can make a real difference in retirement outcomes.
Here are four strategies to help you maximize your 401(k) and build a stronger retirement.
1. Max Out Your 401(k) Contributions
If you’re 50 or older, the 2025 401(k) contribution limit is:
- $23,500 standard contribution
- $7,500 catch-up contribution
- Total: $31,000
Many clients aren’t hitting this maximum- but if you have room in your budget, now’s the time to increase your contribution.
Action steps:
- Check your year-to-date contributions
- Increase your percentage for remaining paychecks
- Confirm you’re contributing enough to capture your full employer match
Why it matters:
Every dollar in your traditional 401(k) lowers your taxable income. For example, if you contribute an extra $5,000 in the 24% tax bracket, you could save about $1,200 in taxes, while growing your retirement nest egg tax-deferred.
2. Don’t Leave Free Money on the Table
Many women miss out on employer-matching contributions because of timing. Some companies match per pay period, so front-loading contributions can mean missing matches later in the year.
Quick check:
- Review your 401(k) match formula (e.g., 50% of contributions up to 6% of salary)
- Look at your year-to-date contributions
- Spread contributions evenly for the remaining pay periods
Capturing the full employer match is free money that compounds over time, and adjusting now can have lasting benefits.
3. Consider Your IRA and HSA Options
IRA Contributions
If you’re 50+, you can contribute $8,000 to an IRA in 2025 ($7,000 + $1,000 catch-up).
- Traditional IRA: Tax deduction now, taxed on withdrawals
- Roth IRA: No deduction now, tax-free withdrawals in retirement
Deadline: You have until April 15, 2026, to make 2025 IRA contributions.
Health Savings Account (HSA)
For high-deductible health plans, you can contribute $5,300 if 55+ (self-only coverage). Benefits:
- Tax-deductible contributions
- Tax-free growth
- Tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses
HSAs are often called the triple crown of tax savings, a stealth retirement account for healthcare costs in retirement.
4. Review and Rebalance Your Investments
It’s important to review where your money is invested:
- Does your portfolio align with your risk tolerance and retirement timeline?
- Are you missing opportunities for tax-loss harvesting?
- Would a Roth conversion make sense this year if your income is lower?
These steps help protect what you’ve already saved while keeping your investments positioned for growth.
Your Next Step
Financial planning can feel overwhelming when juggling a demanding career, family, and retirement goals. That’s why I became a fiduciary financial planner, to put your interests first and help you make confident, informed decisions.
These four strategies are a starting point. Your retirement plan should be personalized to reflect your goals, timeline, and vision for your next chapter.
As we wrap up 2025, I'd love to sit down with you and review where you stand. We can look at your 401(k), talk about your retirement timeline, and make sure you're taking advantage of every opportunity available to you.
Let's find a time to visit about your situation. Just follow this LINK to get started.
Here's to finishing 2025 strong and stepping confidently into your retirement years.
*As a fiduciary financial planner with 15 years of experience serving clients, I'm committed to putting your interests first. The information in this blog is for educational purposes and shouldn't be considered personalized financial advice. Let's talk about your specific situation.*
I am a financial planner who is an advocate for my clients ALL THE TIME – a fiduciary financial planner. I provide guidance based on clients’ best interests, not commissions or sales quotas. I think it’s the best way to serve clients and I am thrilled to work this way all the time.
And yes, I’m still taking on a few great families to be part of my financial planning practice in West Saint Paul, Minnesota and, thanks to Zoom, across the country.
Dunncreek Advisors does not provide legal or tax advice, nor is this article intended to do so.
FAQs About Year-End Retirement Planning for Women 50+
1. How much can I contribute to my 401(k) in 2025 if I’m over 50?
Up to $31,000 total — $23,500 standard plus $7,500 catch-up contribution.
2. Can I still contribute to an IRA for 2025?
Yes. You have until April 15, 2026, to make 2025 IRA contributions.
3. Should I prioritize my employer match or maxing out my 401(k)?
Capture your full employer match first — it’s free money. Then focus on maximizing contributions if your budget allows.
4. What is the benefit of rebalancing my 401(k) and other investments?
Rebalancing keeps your portfolio aligned with your risk tolerance, retirement timeline, and tax strategy.
5. How do Roth conversions help with retirement planning?
Roth conversions allow money to grow tax-free and avoid required minimum distributions, providing more control over retirement income.