In this episode of Money and Taxes from Bb to XYZ, Jason Speciner, CFP®, EA, and Regina Neenan, CFP®, ABFP®, focus on retirement planning in 2026. They discuss how small, intentional decisions early in the year can have a big, long-term impact. Using real-life examples, they discuss the importance of prioritizing tax-advantaged accounts like Roth IRAs, HSAs, and 401(k)s while still maintaining a strong emergency and future opportunities fund (EFOF) to support flexibility when life happens. The conversation highlights how time, compounding, and cash-flow planning work together — and why retirement planning should never exist in isolation from the rest of your financial life. They also emphasize balancing long-term retirement goals with near-term priorities, ensuring your financial plan supports both future security and present-day enjoyment, whether you’re still working or already retired.

Takeaways

  1. Contributing to retirement accounts early in the year maximizes the time value of tax-advantaged growth.
  2. A well-funded emergency fund provides flexibility to invest confidently and handle unexpected expenses.
  3. Retirement planning should align with immediate-term cash-flow planning, short-term goals, and the major life events mixed throughout — not just long-term projections.
  4. You may need to adjust retirement contributions temporarily to fund upcoming goals without derailing your overall plan.
  5. Financial planning continues through retirement. Distribution strategies matter just as much as saving.

Have a tax question for the show?

Email , and Jason or Regina might answer it in a future episode! New episodes drop every other Thursday — always ad-free and no subscriptions required. Learn more about FPFoCo at fpfoco.com and connect with us on social media @fpfoco.

Disclosures

Jason Speciner and Regina Neenan are investment advisor representatives of FPFoCo, a registered investment advisor. The information in this podcast is for general educational and entertainment purposes only. It may not apply to your individual circumstances and should not be considered financial, investment, or tax advice.

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