As part of your planning for next year, now is the time to review funding your retirement accounts in 2026. Recent cost of living calculations means much higher contribution limits for next year. So plan now to take full advantage of this tax benefit. Here are annual contribution limits for the more popular programs:  

Three Retirement Options to Consider besides a 401k

A 401(k) isn’t the only path to a secure retirement. While these employer-sponsored plans are a popular way to save, they may not cover all your future income needs. Whether you’re self-employed and don’t have access to a 401(k) or are looking to diversify your strategy, retirement savings options like traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs and annuities can offer flexible ways to grow your nest egg and help create greater financial security for retirement.

“I hate probate,” Pete tells us in an exclusive interview. (What else did you expect? We created him.) “I went through it when my father died, and my family spent the next year talking to lawyers, trying to get things squared away.” He shares how the probate process caused tension between his siblings. He also harbored frustration over one unanswerable question: “Why didn’t Dad create a living trust? It would’ve made things so much simpler.”

Credit Pete for now following his own advice. He has set up a living trust. Now, he must decide what, if anything, to leave out of it. He has done the homework for you: Here are five things to consider as you structure your living trust.