In Houston, November is usually when the first real cold front finally shows up and the calendar starts to feel short. It's also the start of tax planning season at Advocates Wealth Planning, the weeks when we look at what can still be done before December 31.
This edition is about the moves that come with a deadline attached.
1. Is this your Roth conversion year?
A Roth conversion means paying tax on part of a traditional IRA now so the money can grow and come out tax free later. It counts in the year it's completed, so a 2026 conversion has to be finished by December 31, and it can't be reversed. The strongest case for converting is a year when your income is lower than usual, like the gap between retirement and required distributions. The question underneath the math is who the money is for, and when. Read the full post.
2. How you give matters too
Cash, appreciated stock, and donor advised funds all reach the same charities, but they land differently on your return. Giving shares you've held more than a year can avoid capital gains tax on the growth. A donor advised fund can line up the deduction with a high income year. And starting in 2026, people who don't itemize can deduct up to $1,000 of cash gifts ($2,000 for married couples) made directly to a charity. A stock gift counts when the shares arrive, so it's worth starting now. Read the full post.
3. Taking a loss on purpose
Selling an investment that's down can lock in a loss to offset gains and up to $3,000 of ordinary income, with the rest carried forward. The catch is the wash sale rule, which disallows the loss if you buy the same or a substantially identical investment within 30 days before or after the sale, in any of your accounts. Our full post, including when we'd skip it, goes up November 17.
4. If something changed this year, tell us
A new job, a layoff, a sale, an inheritance, a large gift. Changes like these are exactly what we want to know about before December 31, because they're often what makes a year end move worth doing. Let's Talk.
Watch · Values as Guardrails
Cole Campbell on why goals are the octane in a financial plan and values are what keep it on the road.
Quick Tips for Energy Professionals
Decide where a year-end bonus goes before it lands. Bonuses are often withheld at a flat 22 percent federal rate, which can fall short of what higher earners owe.
If you're planning a charitable gift, look at company shares you've held for more than a year. If you're an officer or insider, check your company's trading policy first, since some treat gifts like trades.
Starting in 2026, if your wages from your employer last year were above about $150,000, any catch-up contribution you make to your 401(k) must go in as Roth. It's worth checking that your plan election reflects that.
Free guide
Our Roth Conversion Window Guide walks through the questions we ask before recommending a conversion. Download the guide.
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