There’s an old saying: The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second-best time is today. The point is, the tree is only going to grow and provide shade or fruit if you plant it. Yes, 20 years ago would’ve been better, but if you didn’t do it then and you won’t do it now, it’s never going to happen. So now is the time to plant that tree.
Are you thinking about your goals for 2026? Maybe you want to exercise more or learn a new skill or commit to a new personal discipline. But why wait until January 1? If you start now, you’ll be ahead when the new year starts.
If 2026 is the year you want to get your financial house in order, now is the time to start—next year starts today. Here are two things you can do and two resources to help you get started on that path, so you can hit the ground running in 2026, if not sooner.
Interview Financial Planners
If you want to get moving quickly on a financial plan in 2026, use the last few weeks of the year to find and interview a financial planner. Ask friends, relatives, and co-workers for referrals. Do a little research on your own.
Believe it or not, your financial advisor will come to know almost everything about you because your finances affect—and are affected by—many aspects of your life. This includes very personal information, like your health status, your family relationships, your personal goals, and so much more. You have to be ready to share incredibly private, personal, and delicate information so that your advisor can serve you well. So you want to get it right the first time, and take the time needed to choose the right advisor for you.
Use our list of five questions for financial advisors to get started.
Gather Your Financial Documents
As I wrote above, a financial advisor must know nearly everything about your financial life. To come to that understanding, your advisor will need a lot of information, most of which will be contained in various financial statements and documents that you have collected over your life.
Frankly, the start of a new advising relationship is the most difficult part for both the advisor and the client. And it’s also the most important because it will lay the foundation for years to come. So you have to put some work into it. Any diligent, thorough advisor will ask you to provide many files and documents.
If you want to get a head start on collecting these, you can use our Client Document Checklist to begin your task. This is the same checklist we use for our clients.
When you’re ready to choose a financial advisor, we’re here to help. Schedule a complimentary consultation or contact us to find out how we can help you with financial planning and wealth management.