# 7 ways to build wealth before December 31

An episode of [Money Girl](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/209859739), 23 Sep 2026, 14 min.

Audio: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/69c148bb1a160b44db9c8fcc/e/6ab1285f5573cd64f74b3b2a/media.mp3

1053. Host Laura Adams walks you through seven ways to lower your taxes, maximize savings, and protect your hard-earned cash before midnight on December 31. Don’t let holiday chaos cause you to miss this critical deadline. Key Takeaways • Employer-sponsored retirement plans like 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and 457s require employers to deduct contributions from paychecks by December 31. • Zero out your flexible spending account (FSA) before year-end or confirm your employer’s specific rules, such as a limited carryover or grace period. • If you’ve met your annual health insurance deductible, schedule remaining doctor visits, recommended tests, or prescription fills in December before your coverage limits reset on January 1. • Those over 73 must make required minimum distributions (RMDs) from traditional retirement accounts by December 31 to avoid steep penalties. • If you can move certain expenses (such as a mortgage payment or property taxes) into December, they may help you deduct more by itemizing. • Check card portals before holiday shopping to activate quarterly bonus categories and redeem annual travel credits or expiring reward points to offset end-of-year expenses. Related Episodes 1045 916 1018 1044 981 966 1043 Discover more from Money Girl! Facebook Newsletter Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com. Email: Laura@LauraDAdams.com or leave a voicemail: (302) 364-0308. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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