Plan Your 2026 Financial Check-Ins

Summary: Setting regular (quarterly or semi-annual) financial check-ins helps you stay on track with your goals. Here’s a simple guide to what to cover at each meeting so you can easily monitor your progress.

Recommended cadence

• For most households, meeting every quarter is often the sweet spot—it’s frequent enough to keep your goals moving forward, but not so often that it feels overwhelming. Quarterly check-ins are especially useful when markets are shifting or when life throws you a curveball.
• If your finances are more straightforward, meeting twice a year can work well. You’ll still have strong oversight, and you can always schedule an extra check-in if something big happens—like a new job, inheritance, or a new addition to the family.

Quarterly meeting focus

• Q1: Look back at last year’s results, update your goals, refresh your budget, and confirm your retirement and savings contributions for the new year.
• Q2: Check how your investments are performing (compared to your benchmarks), rebalance if needed, and review your year-to-date taxes. Make any adjustments to your withholding or estimated payments as needed.

Continued quarterly topics

• Q3: See how you’re tracking toward your annual goals, review your insurance coverage and any key risks, and check on funding plans for college or big purchases.
• Q4: Do a year-end review—look at your overall portfolio performance, consider tax-loss harvesting or Roth strategies, review charitable giving, and set your priorities for the year ahead.

Semi‑annual meeting structure

• First half of the year: Take a big-picture look at your goals, cash flow, savings rate, and how you’re investing. Talk about any life changes since your last meeting.
• Second half of the year: Go deeper on your portfolio, review your retirement readiness, touch on tax and estate items, and create a checklist of action items to finish before year-end.

At every check‑in

• At every check-in, start with a quick recap of your last meeting. Then, track your progress on each important goal using updated statements, balances, and a simple checklist of action items.
• Wrap up each meeting by outlining clear next steps, both for you and your advisor. Before you finish, schedule your next check-in so keeping on top of your finances becomes easy and automatic.

Disclosure:

This material is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice. Any strategies or examples discussed may not be suitable for your individual circumstances. Clients and readers should consult with a qualified financial, tax, and/or legal professional before making any decisions based on this information. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and no guarantee is made that any goals or outcomes described will be achieved.

Sources:

• Messett Financial – how often to review a financial plan: https://messettfinancial.com/how-often-will-we-meet-to-review-my-financial-plan/​
• Practice Building Playbook – quarterly client meetings guidance: https://practicebuildingplaybook.com/learning-center/financial-advisors-meeting-clients/​
• EntryPoint Wealth – benefits of quarterly planning meetings: https://entrypointwm.com/quarterly-financial-planning-meetings/​
• Success Credit Union – how to conduct a quarterly financial review: https://www.successcreditunion.com/how-to-conduct-a-quarterly-financial-review​
• Evolve Bank & Trust – quarterly financial checklist: https://www.getevolved.com/financial-checklist-heres-what-to-review-each-quarter/​
• SmartAsset – creating a financial advisor client meeting agenda: https://smartasset.com/advisor-resources/financial-advisor-client-meeting-agenda​
• Kitces – sample annual review for planners: https://www.kitces.com/center-for-financial-planning-sample-annual-review/​
• Select Advisors Institute – annual review templates: https://www.selectadvisorsinstitute.com/our-perspective/annual-review-templates-financial-advisors​
• eMoney Advisor – client retention strategies and meeting frequency: https://emoneyadvisor.com/blog/crafting-a-client-retention-strategy-best-practices-for-financial-planners/​
• Kitces – creating client service calendars: https://www.kitces.com/blog/how-to-create-client-service-calendar-financial-advisor-value/​

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