As 2025 winds down, here are four tips on gaining the initiative in 2026.
Book Your Q1 Activities Early
Wrapping up business for the year can make it challenging for advisors or any profession to look ahead. The bookkeeping, gauntlet of holiday events, and completion of business before the break make looking beyond December a challenge. Pushing past that is worth it for several reasons. Travel is cheaper the earlier you book it, and having an action plan going into the new year will help you wind down the current year with intention.
For example, the Exchange conference is in March. As such, registering and booking travel seems like it could wait, but the reality is that acting earlier will get you better flight and hotel prices. Plus, when you run into folks at a holiday party, you can tell them where you’ll be and start planning who you will see and connect with in Vegas.
Remember That the Year End is an Arbitrary Date
It can be easy to feel like all 2025 business needs to be settled, but the reality is that the end of the year is an arbitrary date. It is okay to leave some things for 2026 and just because a lot of folks wind down and pause at the end of December doesn’t mean you have to cross every ‘t’ or dot every ‘i.’ Accordingly, it will all be there in early January.
It is also useful to remember that there is always something. Tax season comes and goes, then the dog days of summer and summer vacations, and the next thing you know its the holidays again. Embrace the steady stream of activity and you’ll keep your momentum going in 2026.
Get a Jump on the 2026 Tax Season
Speaking of tax season, try to schedule meetings and get some face time with your clients in advance. Getting some of that work done in December will actually make your early 2026 workload lighter and give you the bandwidth you need to build and grow as you navigate tax season..
Don’t Forget to Rest
The holidays are about seeing the people that matter most to you and spending time recharging your batteries. It is easy to get swept up in business and holiday parties and other forms of churn, but don’t forget to take a few days to rest. That’ll actually increase your productivity and help you avoid burnout.
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