In the Home Stretch

This stretch of the year is always a busy one. In addition to the actual work of preparing financial plans for all the people I’m lucky enough to work with, here’s a brief overview of what’s in the calendar (so far):

November is the last half of retirement income planning season, and I’m meeting with all of my ongoing clients who are just about to or have already retired. We’re updating their income, assets, and spending goals, running draft tax returns and new stress-tests, and making sure that any adjustments that need to be made are done before the end of the year. 

In the middle of the month, I’ll be at a non-profit in Waterloo to deliver two workshops for their employees, and then writing my now traditional end of the year “what I want for you” newsletter

December is the season for wrapping up the year. I’ll hold fewer introductory calls so I can focus on finishing up planning work that needs to be done before the end of the year, put Ready…Set…Money on its mid-season break, and walk out of my office on December 16th. 

In January, I’ll be back at my desk on the 4th, and as usual will spend the entire first day of work going through my inbox. Then I’ll jump right into annual review season, meeting all of the ongoing clients who aren’t retired yet to update their financial plan and check in on their progress since last year. 

In February, I’ll head out of the office for a few days for an annual strategic retreat, to review what went well in 2026, what could stand to change, and what I want for myself and my clients in 2027. When I get back, tax season begins, and like all the other special nerds who prepare tax returns with the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, I’ll be gearing up to spend Saturdays at my local library, up to my eyeballs (and happy as a clam) in tax returns.