2026 Financial Planning Calendar
Key Points – 2026 Financial Planning Calendar
- Annual Items to Review
- Year-End Planning Considerations
- Important Financial Planning Dates and Birthdays
- Bank and New York Stock Exchange Holidays
2026 Financial Planning Calendar
Welcome to our 2026 Financial Planning Calendar! We’ll review annual and end-of-year financial planning considerations, key financial planning dates, milestones, birthdays, bank and New York Stock Exchange holidays, and much more.
Annual Items to Review
- Your budget (or as we like to call it, a spending plan)
- Beneficiary designations on your IRAs, investments, pensions, life insurance policies, bank accounts, etc.
- Gifting strategy for family and charity
- Your estate plan — review your beneficiaries, power of attorney, health care directives, etc.
- Your forward-looking, multi-year tax strategy to help manage and potentially reduce your overall tax liability over time instead of on a year-by-year basis
- Rebalance your investment portfolio as needed to help with achieving your overarching goals
Q4 Tasks to Address
- Project income for 2026 and 2027
- Tax-loss (and tax-gain) harvesting
- Review potential tax deductions and credits
- Take Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
- Assess opportunities for Roth conversions
- Keep track of donations to charity
- Review your gifting strategy
- Contribute to college education or gift cash to family members
- Collect cost-basis information on sold investments
- Review sales of appreciated property
- Maximize your retirement plan contributions
- Review Medicare enrollment options
- Review and fund trusts
Big Birthdays | Notable Birthday Milestones
- Age 50
- Catch-up contributions can begin for IRAs and qualified employer-sponsored retirement plans.
- Penalty-free distributions allowed from qualified employer-sponsored retirement plans for retired public safety employees.1
- Age 55
- Penalty-free distributions allowed from qualified employer-sponsored retirement plans.2
- Eligible to make a $1,000 catch-up contribution to a Health Savings Account.
- Age 59½
- Age 60
- Eligible for reduced Social Security survivor benefit.3 Check with your advisor first!
- Employees covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System are eligible for an immediate retirement benefit if they’ve accrued 20-plus years of service.
- Age 60-63
- You can make “super catch-up contributions” during this timeframe.
- Age 62
- Social Security retirement benefit claiming can begin at a reduced amount. Check with your advisor first!
- Employees covered by FERS are eligible for an immediate retirement benefit if they’ve accrued five-plus years of service.4
- Employees covered by FERS could be eligible for a deferred annuity at 62 or Minimum Retirement Age.5
- Age 65
- Apply for Medicare (Parts A & B) three months prior to turning 65. Coverage begins the 1st of the month you turn 65.
- Age 67
- Full Social Security retirement benefits can be claimed.
- Age 70
- Delayed Social Security credits no longer accrue. Apply to get maximum benefits.
- Age 70½
- Eligible to make Qualified Charitable Distributions directly from your IRA to a qualified charity.
- Age 73
- Start making Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) April 1st of the year you turn 73.
January 2026 | Financial Wellness Month
Financial Planning Calendar
January 1
- New Year’s Day
- Bank and NYSE holiday: Modern Wealth Management offices closed. Whether or not you’re on track with your life and financial goals, the beginning of the year is a good time to assess them. Our team at Modern Wealth is here to help you enjoy today while planning for tomorrow. If financial worry is causing you to feel disconnected from the people and causes that you care about, let’s work together to build a plan that can help you change that.
- 2026 Social Security Changes
- Social Security recipients are getting a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment increase for 2026.
- 2026 Medicare Changes6
- What’s new about Medicare for 2026? Check out the U.S. government’s Medicare handbook, Medicare & You 2026.7
- 2026 Inflation-Adjusted Federal Income Tax Brackets
- The IRS has announced inflation-adjusted tax brackets for 2026. Remember that these are for the 2026 tax year. You’ll reference the 2025 tax brackets when filing your 2025 tax return prior to April 15, 2026.
- 2026 Retirement Account Contribution Limits Changes
- New 2026 retirement contribution limits go into effect. Make sure to review your plan and understand how the new contribution limits could affect your savings goals.
- Review Your Spending Plan
- Budget is a negative buzzword for some people, but it’s important to have one, no matter what stage of life you’re in. If the word “budget” makes you cringe, think of it as a spending plan. The beginning of each year is a good time to assess your spending habits and make any necessary changes.
January 9
- December 2025 Jobs Report8
- Check out the employment situation from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
January 13
- December 2025 Consumer Price Index9
- CPI for December 2025.
January 15
- Quarterly Estimated Taxes Due – Fourth Quarter 202510
- Remember to file your estimated taxes for Q4 2025.
- ACA Open Enrollment Ends for 2026 in Most States11
- Affordable Care Act health insurance open enrollment period ends.
January 19
- Martin Lither King Jr. Day
- NYSE and bank holiday: Modern Wealth Management offices closed.
January 26 (Subject to Change … Typically in late January)
- IRS Begins Accepting 2025 Tax Filings12
- Start a conversation with our team to learn about how our tax professionals focus on forward-looking tax planning during tax preparation season.
January 27
- Federal Open Market Committee Meeting – Day 113
- FOMC meets to review the U.S. economy, monetary policy, and its federal funds target rate.
January 28
- Federal Open Market Committee Meeting – Day 214
- FOMC announces its latest actions regarding monetary policy, the federal funds rate, and more.
February 2026 – National Enrolled Agents Month15
Financial Planning Calendar
February 1
- Start Organizing Your 2025 Taxes
- Tax Day isn’t until April 15, but why wait until the last minute to file your taxes? Our Tax Reduction Strategies guide was recently updated to reflect key tax law changes regarding the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Make sure to download a copy, as it includes a tax preparation checklist.
February 6
- January 2026 Jobs Report16
- Check out the employment situation from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
February 11
- January 2026 Consumer Price Index17
- CPI for January 2026.
February 16
- Presidents Day
- NYSE and bank holiday: Modern Wealth Management offices closed.
February 17
- Deadline for 1099-B Forms18
- This is the deadline for furnishing statements to recipients for 1099-B, 1099-S, and 1099-MISC (if amounts are reported in boxes 8 or 10).

March 2026 | National Credit Education Month19
Financial Planning Calendar
March 6
- February 2026 Jobs Report20
- Check out the employment situation from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
March 11
- February 2026 Consumer Price Index21
- CPI for February 2026.
March 16
- Tax Filing Deadline for S-Corporations and LLCs22
- This deadline would typically be March 15, but it’s March 16 since March 15 falls on a weekend. Make sure you’re aware of this deadline if you’re a business owner.
March 17
- Federal Open Market Committee Meeting – Day 123
- FOMC meets to review the U.S. economy, monetary policy, and its federal funds target rate.
March 18
- Federal Open Market Committee Meeting – Day 224
- FOMC announces its latest actions regarding monetary policy, the federal funds rate, and more.
March 21
- Credit Card Reduction Day25
- Do you have high-interest debt? It should be a priority to pay that down as quickly as possible, no matter what day of the year it is.
March 31
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period Ends
- If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, this is the last day that you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan. You can also drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and go back to Original Medicare.
April 2026 | Financial Literacy Month
Financial Planning Calendar
April 1
- Required Beginning Date for Required Minimum Distributions (The Year After You Turn 73)
- Your RBD for RMDs is April 1 of the year after the year you attain age 73. For example, if you turn 73 in 2026, your Required Beginning Date for Required Minimum Distributions will be April 1, 2027. However, if you wait until the first quarter of 2027 to begin RMDs, you’ll be subject to two RMDs in 2027.
April 3
- Good Friday
- NYSE holiday: Modern Wealth Management offices closed.
- March 2026 Jobs Report26
- Check out the employment situation from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
April 6-10
- America Saves Week27
- Is saving something that you’ve always struggled with? Hold yourself accountable and set actionable savings goals during America Saves Week, which has been sponsored by a non-profit organization called America Saves since 2007.
April 10
- March 2026 Consumer Price Index28
- CPI for March 2026.
April 15
- Tax Day
- This is the due date for your taxes for the 2025 tax year. While you can file for a six-month extension if you can’t file your taxes by April 15, this isn’t an extension to pay taxes. April 15 is the firm deadline to pay taxes for the 2025 tax year without being subject to penalties and interest on what is owed. Tax compliance can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. This is a big reason why we focus on forward-looking tax planning.
- Final Day to Contribute to IRAs, Roth IRAs, and HSAs for the 2025 Tax Year
- This is the last day you can contribute to IRAs, Roth IRAs, or HSAs for the 2025 tax year. Consider maximizing your contributions to those accounts.
- Quarterly Estimated Taxes Due – First Quarter 202629
- Remember to file your estimated taxes for Q1 2026.
April 18
- Good Friday
- NYSE holiday: Modern Wealth offices closed.
April 25
- International Financial Independence Awareness Day30
- Don’t get us wrong — financial independence is a cause that’s worth celebrating. But let’s talk about the ideation of this awareness day and its potential faults. The reason International Financial Independence Awareness Day is on April 25 (4/25) is to raise awareness about two retirement rules of thumb: the 4% rule and 25x your annual expenses. Those rules of thumb may work for you, but they may not. Rather than rely on retirement rules of thumb, make sure to work with a team of wealth management professionals that can help you build a comprehensive financial plan that’s tailored to your specific goals.
April 27
- National Teach Children to Save Day31
- As part of Financial Literacy Month, National Teach Children to Save Day is observed annually on April 27. National Teach Children to Save Day is geared toward teaching children about some of the basics of financial education, including how to think about saving and creating a budget.
April 28
- Federal Open Market Committee Meeting – Day 132
- FOMC meets to review the U.S. economy, monetary policy, and its federal funds target rate.
April 29
- Federal Open Market Committee Meeting – Day 233
- FOMC announces its latest actions regarding monetary policy, the federal funds rate, and more.
May 2026 | Older Americans Month34
Financial Planning Calendar
May 4
- International Firefighters’ Day35
- You’ll see shortly that May also features National Police Week and National EMS Week. Modern Wealth’s public safety division supports firefighters and other first responders with their unique wealth management and retirement planning needs.
May 8
- April 2026 Jobs Report36
- Check out the employment situation from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
May 10-16
- National Police Week37
- Modern Wealth’s public safety division features several former police officers, who now assist fellow first responders past and present with their unique wealth management and retirement planning needs.
May 12
- April 2026 Consumer Price Index38
- CPI for April 2026.
May 17-23
- National EMS Week39
- Modern Wealth’s public safety division also supports several Emergency Medical Services employees past and present, as well as other first responders, government employees, and military personnel with their unique wealth management and retirement planning needs.
May 25
- Memorial Day
- NYSE and bank holiday: Modern Wealth Management offices closed.
May 29
- National 529 College Savings Plan Day40
- The One Big Beautiful Bill Act increased the annual limit that families can withdrawal from a 529 plan for elementary or secondary education from $10,000 to $20,000. In addition to helping your children or grandchildren with educational expenses, 529 plans can offer you some tax benefits. Also, we know that college and post-graduation plans can change on a whim. Remember that 529 plans are now eligible to be rolled over to a Roth IRA.

June 2026 – Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month41
Financial Planning Calendar
June 5
- May 2026 Jobs Report42
- Check out the employment situation from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
June 10
- May 2026 Consumer Price Index43
- CPI for May 2026.
June 15
- Quarterly Estimated Taxes Due – Second Quarter 202644
- Remember to file your estimated taxes for Q2 2026.
June 16
- Federal Open Market Committee Meeting – Day 145
- FOMC meets to review the U.S. economy, monetary policy, and its federal funds target rate.
June 17
- Federal Open Market Committee Meeting – Day 246
- FOMC announces its latest actions regarding monetary policy, the federal funds rate, and more.
June 19
- Juneteenth National Independence Day
- NYSE and bank holiday: Modern Wealth Management offices closed.
June 28
- National Insurance Awareness Day47
- No one ever buys insurance and says, “Man, I can’t wait to file a claim!” The security that can come from insurance is intended to help you and your loved ones when disaster strikes, whether it’s following an accident, illness, death, etc. Take some time on National Insurance Awareness Day to review your insurance policies and make sure that your coverage meets your needs.
June 30
- Federal Deadline to Submit FAFSA Form48
- While the federal deadline to submit FAFSA forms is by 11:59 p.m. Central time on June 30, schools may have their own deadline. Make sure to confirm the respective state deadlines on the U.S. Department of Education’s website.49
July 2026 | Celebrate Financial Independence!
Financial Planning Calendar
July 1
- National Financial Freedom Day50
- Are you financially independent? If not, what steps do you need to take to get there? Remember that you don’t need to put it all on yourself to determine those steps. Working with a team of professionals may help you with that. Celebrate National Financial Freedom Day by taking action toward reaching financial independence.
July 2
- June 2026 Jobs Report51
- Check out the employment situation from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
July 3
- Independence Day Eve
- NYSE holiday: Modern Wealth Management offices closed.
July 4
- Independence Day
- Banks closed.
July 14
- June 2026 Consumer Price Index52
- CPI for June 2026.
July 28
- Federal Open Market Committee Meeting – Day 153
- FOMC meets to review the U.S. economy, monetary policy, and its federal funds target rate.
July 29
- Federal Open Market Committee Meeting – Day 254
- FOMC announces its latest actions regarding monetary policy, the federal funds rate, and more.
August 2026 – National Wellness Month55
Financial Planning Calendar
August 7
- July 2026 Jobs Report56
- Check out the employment situation from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
August 12
- July 2026 Consumer Price Index57
- CPI for July 2026.
August 14
- National Financial Awareness Day58
- Does it feel like some of your long-term financial goals are elusive? It’s important to regularly assess your current financial situation in comparison to what you hope it will be in the future. Take some time on National Financial Awareness Day to review your short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals and consult a team of professionals that can help you determine how to reach those goals.

September 2026 – Healthy Aging Month59
Financial Planning Calendar
September 4
- National 401(k) Day
- If you have a 401(k), are you aware of strategies to maximize it, such as getting the full employer match, utilizing catch-up and super catch-up contributions, and automatically increasing your contributions each year? Along with reviewing strategies to maximize your 401(k), it’s important to consider how your 401(k) works and what you want to do with it after retirement.
- August 2026 Jobs Report60
- Check out the employment situation from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
September 7
- Labor Day
- NYSE and bank holiday: Modern Wealth Management offices closed.
September 11
- August 2026 Consumer Price Index61
- CPI for August 2026.
September 15
- Quarterly Estimated Taxes Due – Third Quarter 202662
- Remember to file your estimated taxes for Q3 2026.
- Federal Open Market Committee Meeting – Day 163
- FOMC meets to review the U.S. economy, monetary policy, and its federal funds target rate.
September 16
- Federal Open Market Committee Meeting – Day 264
- FOMC announces its latest actions regarding monetary policy, the federal funds rate, and more.
October 2026 – National Financial Planning Month65
Financial Planning Calendar
October 1
- Last Day to Establish a SIMPLE IRA for a Small Business66
- SIMPLE IRA needs to be opened by October 1 if you’re a small business owner and want to establish one for your small business.
October 2
- September 2026 Jobs Report67
- Check out the employment situation from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
October 7
- World Financial Planning Day68
- World Financial Planning Day occurs on the first Wednesday of October and is geared to raise awareness about financial planning. Do you work with a financial advisor or a financial planner? They’re oftentimes used interchangeably, but they are two different occupations. While financial advisors assist people with managing their money and investments, financial planners typically do that and help people with determining how to achieve their unique financial goals.
October 12
- Columbus Day
- Bank closed.
October 14
- September 2026 Consumer Price Index69
- CPI for September 2026.
October 15
- Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period Begins
- The Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period spans from October 15 to December 7 each year. Don’t forget to use this timeframe to review your coverage and make any necessary changes.
- HSA Day70
- Health Savings Account Day highlights the importance of utilizing HSAs to help cover healthcare expenses. Learn more about how HSAs work here.
- Tax Extension Deadline
- If you filed for an extension before April 15, the six-month extension is up on October 15.
October 19-25
- National Estate Planning Awareness Week71
- National Estate Planning Awareness Week is the third week of October each year. It’s spearheaded by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils and was adopted by the House of Representatives in 2008. When is the last time you reviewed your estate plan? Utilize National Estate Planning Awareness Week to review these important estate planning documents and update them, if necessary.
October 27
- Federal Open Market Committee Meeting – Day 172
- FOMC meets to review the U.S. economy, monetary policy, and its federal funds target rate.
October 28
- Federal Open Market Committee Meeting – Day 273
- FOMC announces its latest actions regarding monetary policy, the federal funds rate, and more.
October 31
- Halloween (Watch Out for Spooky Financial Planning Scenarios)
- Halloween can be a fun time to go trick-or-treating with your children or grandchildren or attend Halloween-themed parties. However, it’s also a good time to check out these examples of financial horror stories — such as retiring at market highs or falling for a scam — and understand how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of one.
November 2026 – National Long-Term Care Awareness Month74
Financial Planning Calendar
November 1
- ACA Open Enrollment Begins for 2027 in Most States75
- The ACA Open Enrollment Period lasts from November 1 through January 15. However, if you want coverage to begin on January 1, you need to enroll by December 15. If you enroll between January 1-15, coverage won’t begin until February 1.
November 6
- October 2026 Jobs Report76
- Check out the employment situation from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
November 10
- October 2026 Consumer Price Index77
- CPI for October 2026.
November 11
- Veterans Day
- Banks closed.
November 15-21
- International Fraud Awareness Week78
- The third week of November is International Fraud Awareness Week. As financial fraud becomes more prevalent, it becomes that much more important to know how to protect yourself against various types of scams.
November 25
- Thanksgiving Eve
- Markets and Modern Wealth Management offices close at 1 p.m. Eastern.
November 26
- Thanksgiving Day
- NYSE and bank holiday: Modern Wealth Management offices closed.

December 2026 | Happy Holidays!
Financial Planning Calendar
December 1
- Giving Tuesday79
- The Tuesday following Thanksgiving each year is Giving Tuesday. If you’re charitably inclined, do you know how to structure your donations in a way to maximize the benefit for the charity and for yourself? Whether you plan to utilize Qualified Charitable Distributions, Donor-Advised Funds, or other charitable giving methods, make sure to review your charitable giving strategy prior to Giving Tuesday.
December 4
- November 2026 Jobs Report80
- Check out the employment situation from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
December 7
- Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period Ends
- The Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period spans from October 15 to December 7 each year. Don’t forget to use this timeframe to review your coverage and make any necessary changes.
December 8
- Federal Open Market Committee Meeting – Day 181
- FOMC meets to review the U.S. economy, monetary policy, and its federal funds target rate.
December 9
- Federal Open Market Committee Meeting – Day 282
- FOMC announces its latest actions regarding monetary policy, the federal funds rate, and more.
December 10
- November 2026 Consumer Price Index83
- CPI for November 2026.
December 24
- Christmas Eve
- Markets and Modern Wealth Management offices close at 1 p.m. Eastern.
December 25
- Christmas
- NYSE and bank holiday: Modern Wealth Management offices closed.
December 31
- Final Opportunity in 2026 for Tax Deductions via Charitable Donations
- Remember to consult with a tax professional when planning charitable donations to understand the tax benefits that may be available to you.
- Final Opportunity in 2026 for IRA Distributions and Roth Conversions
- If you intend to do Roth conversions or take distributions from your IRA, make sure you do so before the end of the year for it to make a difference on your 2026 tax return.
Sources Mentioned in This Article
[1, 2] https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/retiring-early-5-key-points-about-rule-55
[3] https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10084.pdf
[6] https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles
[7] https://www.medicare.gov/publications/10050-medicare-and-you.pdf
[8, 9, 16, 17, 20, 21, 26, 28, 37, 39, 42, 43, 51, 52, 56, 57, 60, 61, 67, 69, 76, 77, 80, 83] https://www.bls.gov/schedule/2026/home.htm
[10, 22, 29, 44, 62] https://www.irs.gov/faqs/estimated-tax
[11] https://www.healthinsurance.org/open-enrollment/
[12] Press release on when IRS begins accepting tax returns
[13, 14, 23, 24, 32, 35, 45, 46, 63, 64, 72, 73, 81, 82] https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomccalendars.htm#42828
[15] https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/february/national-enrolled-agents-month-february
[18] https://www.1099online.com/blog/form-1099-b-deadlines/
[19] https://nationaltoday.com/national-credit-education-month/
[25] https://nationaltoday.com/credit-card-reduction-day/
[27] https://americasavesweek.org/
[30] https://nationaltoday.com/international-financial-independence-awareness-day/
[31] https://nationaltoday.com/teach-children-to-save-day/
[33] https://nationaltoday.com/older-americans-month/
[34] https://www.firefightersday.org/
[36] https://www.policeweek.org/
[38] https://www.naemt.org/initiatives/ems-week
[40] https://nationaltoday.com/alzheimers-brain-awareness-month/
[41] https://www.collegesavings.org/529day
[47] https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-insurance-awareness-day-june-28
[48] https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/fafsa-deadlines
[49] https://www.ed.gov/contact-us/state-contacts
[50] https://nationaltoday.com/national-financial-freedom-day/
[55] https://nationaltoday.com/national-wellness-month/
[58] https://nationaltoday.com/national-financial-awareness-day/
[59] https://nationaltoday.com/healthy-aging-month/
[65] https://www.cfp.net/news/2025/10/celebrate-national-financial-planning-month-with-cfp-board
[66] https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-sponsor/simple-ira-plan
[70] https://nationaltoday.com/hsa-day/
[71] https://www.naepc.org/events/awareness_campaigns
[74] https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/november/long-term-care-awareness-month-november
[75] https://www.healthcare.gov/quick-guide/dates-and-deadlines/
[78] https://nationaltoday.com/international-fraud-awareness-week/
[79] https://kindful.com/nonprofit-glossary/giving-tuesday/
Investment advisory services offered through Modern Wealth Management, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser.
The views expressed represent the opinion of Modern Wealth Management a Registered Investment Adviser. Information provided is for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice. Modern Wealth Management does not accept any liability for the use of the information discussed. Consult with a qualified financial, legal, or tax professional prior to taking any action.