2025 Year-End

  Checklist  

Investment Strategies

Tax-Loss Harvesting

In 2025, Athos has optimized realized losses where appropriate. Clients using direct indexing may see more losses realized. For unmanaged accounts, review your portfolio and consider selling positions with losses to offset gains.

Be sure to avoid the wash-sale rule when tax-loss harvesting. If you sell a security at a loss and buy the same one within 30 days before or after the sale, the loss will not be allowed for tax purposes.

Exercise Stock Options

If you have vested but unexercised ISOs, consider whether exercising makes sense for you. Exercising may trigger the alternative minimum tax (AMT), so be sure to review the potential impact on your year-end tax situation before proceeding.

Savings & Investments

Maintain your emergency savings balance.

Review your year-end bonus and decide how much to allocate for savings and investments.

Review the amount you can add to your investment portfolio, and consider setting up a recurring monthly transfer.

Income & Cash Flow

Inform Athos of any changes to your annual income, expected cash flow, and bonus amounts.

Consult Athos on where to most effectively allocate extra income and bonuses for long-term financial goals.

Retirement & Savings

IRA Contributions*

Contribute to your IRA through 4/15/26

  • Contribution limit:

    $7,000

    Catch-up contribution (age 50+):

    +$1,000

  • Contribution limit:

    $7,000

    Catch-up contribution (age 50+):

    +$1,000

    (No tax deduction allowed, and income limits apply)

  • Converted amount is taxed as ordinary income for the year.​

    No annual limit; conversion deadline is December 31 to count for same tax year.​

    Withdrawals of converted funds must wait five years to avoid penalty.​

    Roth IRAs offer tax-free growth and no required minimum distributions.

Employer-Sponsored Plans*

Make contributions before year-end

  • Contribution limit:

    $23,500

    Catch-up contribution limit for (age 50+):

    +$7,500

    Catch-up contribution for ages 60–63 (if plan allows):

    +$11,250

    *Consult your employer or a tax professional to confirm your eligibility and the maximum amount you can contribute, as plan rules and individual circumstances may vary.

  • Contribution limit:

    $17,000

    Catch-up contribution limit (age 50+):

    +$3,500

  • Contribution limit:

    Lesser of $70,000 or 25% of compensation (for self-employed owners, use net earnings; typically about 20% after deduction adjustment).

    Catch-up contribution limit:

    Not allowed

    Only employer contributions are permitted (for the self-employed, contributions are made by the business owner as employer, not employee); employees cannot make their own elective deferrals to a SEP IRA.

    Compensation eligible for contribution calculation is capped at $350,000 for 2025.

RMDs

Take RMDs by December 31 each year to avoid penalties.​

Missing the deadline can result in a 25% tax penalty on the amount not withdrawn (reduced to 10% if corrected promptly)

HSA & FSA

Maximize HSA contributions if you have a high-deductible health plan

  • Contribution limit:

    $4,300 (Individual)

    $8,550 (Family)

    Catch-up contribution limit (age 50+):

    +$1,000

Spend FSA funds before they expire; you may be able to carry over up to $660 or use a 2.5-month grace period, depending on your employer’s plan.

Estate Planning & Annual Gifting

Estate Planning

Review your estate plan to ensure it matches your current goals and major life changes. Update documents (wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives) as needed.

Consider using the permanently increased lifetime exemption: $13.99 million per individual ($27.98 million for married couples) for 2025 federal estate and gift tax. Starting 2026, this increases to $15 million per individual under new law.

Annual Gift Exclusion

For 2025, you may gift up to $19,000 per individual ($38,000 per married couple) to as many people as you wish without affecting your lifetime exemption. Gifts above these limits begin to reduce your lifetime exemption.

Debt & Liability Management

Review High-Interest Debt

Review any high-interest or floating-rate debt, as interest rates remain high. Refinancing or repaying these liabilities can reduce interest costs and improve cash flow.

Consider paying down smaller or non-essential debts before year-end, especially if you have excess cash or lower-yield investments.

Evaluate Opportunity for Early Payoff

Charitable Giving & Philanthropy

Charitable Donation Options

Consider donating appreciated securities, cash, or private company stock (requires a more thorough process).

  • IRA owners age 70½ and older can make up to $108,000 in tax-free charitable donations during 2025 through qualified charitable distributions (QCDs). To make a QCD for 2025, contact your IRA trustee early to ensure the transaction is completed by December 31.​

    • Each eligible IRA owner can exclude up to $108,000 in QCDs from taxable income for 2025. For married couples, if both spouses qualify and have separate IRAs, the combined limit is $216,000.​

    • QCDs must be sent directly from your IRA custodian to the qualified charity.

    • QCDs count toward your required minimum distribution and do not require itemizing deductions.

    • Not all charities are eligible (e.g., donor-advised funds and private foundations do not qualify).

Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)

A DAF enables immediate charitable contributions with ongoing flexibility in selecting future recipients.

Employer Match

Check if your employer offers a charitable matching program to boost your donation’s impact.

Year-End Deadlines

Be mindful of provider deadlines for donations to ensure contributions are processed in 2025. if you are an Athos client, be sure to reach out to an advisor by December 15th to process any year-end donations.

*Limitations may apply to certain tax deductions, tax credits, or contributions to retirement plans, such as income limitations or limitations based on eligible expenses. Consult the IRS website or work with a tax professional to ensure all rules and limitations are considered. Deductibility of Traditional IRA contributions: If you or your spouse is covered by an employer retirement plan, your deduction may be limited or completely phased out. Roth IRA contribution limits: If your income is over certain limits, your contributions may be limited or completely phased out.

Contact us

Haylie Mathis 
For more information contact us at athos@athoswealth.com