If you're a successful professional woman in your 50s or beyond, you've worked hard to build your career and your savings. Now, as retirement gets closer, making smart investment decisions becomes even more important. The good news? You don’t need to be a Wall Street expert to take control of your retirement portfolio before year-end.
Hi, I’m Rich Dunn, founder of Dunncreek Advisors, LLC in West St. Paul, Minnesota. I’ve spent 23 years in financial services- 15 of them as a financial planner, which means I’m legally required to put your interests first, always. Over the years, I’ve helped many women like you build confidence and clarity around their financial future. Today, I’ll share three simple but powerful year-end investment strategies that can help you strengthen your portfolio and prepare for retirement.
Why Year-End Portfolio Planning Matters?
Think of your investment portfolio like a garden. Some plants (or investments) grow faster than others. If you don’t tend to it regularly, your garden, or your portfolio, can get out of balance.
Maybe your stock funds grew more than your bonds this year, or your U.S. holdings outperformed your international ones. Before the calendar flips to 2026, take the time to rebalance your investments and make sure your mix of assets still matches your goals and risk tolerance.
Move #1: Rebalance Inside Your Tax-Advantaged Accounts
Your 401(k), Traditional IRA and Roth IRA are powerful tools because they allow you to buy, sell, and rebalance investments without triggering capital gains taxes.
Let’s say your target allocation is 60% stocks and 40% bonds. After a strong stock market year, you might now be at 70/30. Inside your tax-sheltered accounts, you can sell some stock funds and buy more bond funds to restore balance- all without creating a taxable event.
This is especially valuable as you near retirement. Reducing risk and keeping your portfolio diversified can help protect the wealth you’ve worked so hard to build.
Move #2: Be Tax-Smart in Your Taxable Brokerage Accounts
If you invest through a taxable brokerage account, be strategic when rebalancing. Every sale of a winning investment could trigger a capital gains tax.
Here are two smart year-end tactics:
- Redirect new contributions and dividends. Instead of selling, direct new money into underweighted areas of your portfolio (like international or bond funds) to rebalance gradually without tax consequences.
- Use tax-loss harvesting. Selling underperforming investments to offset gains, or up to $3,000 in regular income, can reduce your tax bill while keeping your strategy on track.
And remember: long-term capital gains (investments held over a year) are taxed at lower rates than short-term gains, so timing matters.
Move #3: Maximize Your Contributions and Plan Ahead for 2025
Before December 31, review your retirement contributions:
- 401(k): You can contribute up to $23,000 in 2025, plus an additional $7,500 catch-up contribution if you’re 50 or older (for a total of $30,500).
- IRA: You can contribute $7,000, plus a $1,000 catch-up if you’re 50 or older (total $8,000).
Maxing out your contributions helps lower your taxable income and gives you new dollars to invest strategically. Direct these contributions toward the parts of your portfolio that need more attention, such as bonds or small-cap stocks, to keep your allocation balanced without selling existing holdings.
Why This Matters for Women Planning Retirement?
As a single professional woman, you’re the architect of your financial future. There’s no backup plan- so your investment strategy must be intentional.
These three year-end actions- rebalancing tax-sheltered accounts, managing taxable accounts wisely, and maximizing contributions can help:
- Optimize investment performance
- Minimize taxes
- Strengthen long-term retirement security
Many women I work with initially feel overwhelmed by investing, but you don’t need to be an expert. You just need a plan and the right guidance.
Take Control of Your Financial Future
Over my 15 years as a financial planner, I've learned that every woman's situation is unique. Your goals, your timeline, your risk tolerance, and your tax situation all matter when creating the right strategy for you. That's why I always recommend having a conversation about your specific circumstances before making major portfolio decisions.
If you're ready to take control of your financial future and want guidance tailored to your life, I'd love to help. Let's find a time to visit about your situation. Just follow this LINK to get started.
You've spent decades building your career and your wealth. Let's make sure the next chapter is everything you've worked for.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Year-End Investment Planning
1. Why is the end of the year a good time to review my investment portfolio?
Year-end reviews help you assess performance, rebalance your investments, and reduce risk. It’s also a great time to make tax-smart moves before December 31.
2. What does it mean to rebalance my portfolio?
Rebalancing means adjusting your mix of stocks, bonds, and other assets to match your goals. It helps maintain the right level of risk and keeps your portfolio aligned with your strategy.
3. How can I minimize taxes when making year-end investment changes?
Rebalance inside tax-advantaged accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs to avoid capital gains. In taxable accounts, use tax-loss harvesting and direct new contributions strategically.
4. How much can I contribute to my retirement accounts for 2025?
You can contribute up to $23,000 to your 401(k) plus a $7,500 catch-up if you’re 50 or older. For IRAs, the limit is $7,000 plus a $1,000 catch-up.
5. Why should I work with a fiduciary financial planner for year-end planning?
A financial planner is legally required to act in your best interest. They provide personalized, unbiased advice to help you make confident financial decisions.