Retirement Planning Resolutions: How to Set Yourself Up for Success in 2026
Tom has made the same New Year’s resolution for three years straight: get serious about retirement planning. Each January started with good intentions, but by March, daily life pushed retirement to the back burner. Now, at 58, he realizes he can’t afford another year of procrastination. The difference between starting today and waiting another year could mean thousands in retirement income.
According to a new study, nearly 84% of Americans have a financial resolution for 2026. Yet last year, 75% fell short of their saving and spending resolutions in 2025.
Sticking with resolutions is tough. Understanding why we lose steam—and how to get back on track—can be the first step toward making next year’s goals actually stick.
Retirement planning resolutions carry a heavy weight when considering their future impact. The actions you take in 2026 directly impact your financial security for decades to come. Whether you’re ready for your “financial resolution rebound” or just want to keep pace with your retirement goals by focusing on specific, actionable goals rather than vague intentions.
Resolution 1: Complete a Comprehensive Retirement Readiness Assessment
Many people have ideas about retirement goals but lack the specifics. Start 2026 by conducting a thorough retirement readiness assessment that quantifies where you stand and what you need to accomplish.
Calculate your current retirement savings across all accounts including 401(k)s, IRAs, taxable investment accounts, and other assets earmarked for retirement.
Ready to start crunching the numbers? Try out our retirement calculator.
Resolution 2: Optimize Your Social Security Strategy
Social Security claiming decisions rank among the most consequential financial choices you’ll make, yet many people claim without fully understanding the long-term implications.
Make 2026 the year you develop a comprehensive Social Security strategy. While you can start claiming Social Security at age 62, full retirement age ranges between ages 65-67 depending on the year you were born. Moreover, you have the option to wait 70 for delayed retirement credits. The difference between claiming at 62 versus waiting until 70 can result in benefits that are 77% higher.
Consider working with a financial advisor who can model different scenarios based on your specific circumstances.
Resolution 3: Address Estate Planning Gaps
Estate planning often falls to the bottom of to-do lists despite its critical importance.
Review and update beneficiary designations on all retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and financial accounts. These designations override wills and are often overlooked when circumstances change. Outdated beneficiaries create complications and unintended consequences for families.
Ensure you have current powers of attorney for both healthcare and financial decisions. These documents specify who can make decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. Without them, families often need costly court-appointed guardianships.
Resolution 4: Reduce High-Interest Debt
Carrying high-interest debt into retirement creates unnecessary financial stress and reduces resources available for living expenses.
Credit cards interest rates in the U.S tend to be relatively high. APRs on new credit cards can average at about 24%. There is a big difference depending on your credit score too. Borrowers with poor credit can be charged interest rates that are almost 7 percentage points higher than those offered to borrowers with excellent credit.
Create a debt elimination strategy that targets highest-interest debt first while making minimum payments on other obligations.
Creating Accountability and Tracking Progress
“The difference between retirement planning intentions and actual achievement comes down to accountability and systematic follow-through,” says Howard Hoffer, Senior Vice President, Investments at David Lerner Associates, Inc.
“Set specific goals with measurable targets and deadlines and then track your progress monthly. This approach transforms vague resolutions into concrete achievements that compound over time.”
Schedule specific times for retirement planning activities. Set aside time in January for your retirement readiness assessment, quarterly sessions for portfolio reviews, and monthly check-ins to verify you’re on track with contribution goals.
Sharing your goals with a trusted friend, family member, or financial counselor can provide accountability. Regular check-ins with someone invested in your success increases follow-through rates significantly.
The retirement you envision won’t happen by accident. It requires intentional planning, disciplined execution, and persistent effort over many years. 2026 can be the year your retirement planning resolutions become achievements rather than abandoned intentions. Remember that even if you fall off your goals, you can always reset and rebound throughout the year.
Material contained in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be used in connection with the evaluation of any investments offered by David Lerner Associates, Inc. This material does not constitute an offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities and should not be considered in connection with the purchase or sale of securities. These materials are provided for general information and educational purposes, based on publicly available information from sources believed to be reliable. We cannot assure the accuracy or completeness of these materials. The information in these materials may change at any time and without notice. The subject of this article is fictitious and created for illustrative purposes only. It is based on events of a similar nature and should not be interpreted as a direct depiction of any specific individual, organization, or incident. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental.