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An annual investment review in your 60s covers more ground than at any other life stage because multiple tax, retirement, and healthcare deadlines interact each year. This checklist covers every material item, ordered by deadline sensitivity, so nothing falls between the cracks.

Swoopr Editorial Team By Swoopr Editorial Team Published AI-assisted research, human-reviewed

Your Annual Investment Review Checklist for Ages 60-69

First quarter review items for investors in their 60s

January through March: verify the current-year IRA contribution limit and catch-up amount at IRS.gov; confirm whether you are in the ages 60-63 enhanced catch-up window; set up or adjust IRA and 401(k) contributions to reach the limit by year-end; review your Medicare coverage and any premium increases effective January; model Social Security claiming age if you have not done so, using the SSA estimator at ssa.gov; and check beneficiary designations on IRAs, 401(k)s, and life insurance for accuracy.

Mid-year review items and Medicare IRMAA planning

By June, you have enough income data to project your full-year taxable income. This matters because Medicare Part B and D premiums for the following year are based on your income from two years prior (the IRMAA look-back) (CMS: 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles). If a Roth conversion, capital gain realization, or RMD will push income above an IRMAA threshold, calculate the premium surcharge and weigh it against the tax benefit of the conversion. The 2026 IRMAA surcharge starts at modified adjusted gross income above $109,000 for single filers and $218,000 for joint filers. Adjust the conversion amount to stay below the threshold if the premium cost exceeds the tax savings.

Year-end review items: Roth conversions, RMDs, and tax harvesting

October through December: complete Roth conversions by December 31, filling up your target bracket; execute any tax-loss harvesting in taxable accounts, pairing gains and losses before year-end; confirm that any required minimum distribution has been taken if you are 73 or 75 and older; review your portfolio allocation against targets and execute any needed rebalancing; confirm that your 401(k) contribution has reached the limit before the last payroll of the year; and review your cash buffer and refill from bond maturities or equity sales as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the IRA contribution limit and catch-up for ages 60-69?

In 2026, the base IRA contribution limit is $7,500. The standard catch-up for ages 50 and older is $1,100 (total $8,600). The IRA has no enhanced catch-up for ages 60-63; the higher SECURE 2.0 amount applies only to workplace plans such as a 401(k). The 401(k) base limit is $24,500 in 2026, with a standard catch-up of $8,000 for ages 50 and older (total $32,500), and an enhanced catch-up of $11,250 for ages 60-63 (total $35,750). At 64, the 401(k) catch-up returns to the standard $8,000. These limits are subject to annual IRS adjustments.

How often should I rebalance my portfolio in my 60s?

At minimum, review allocation annually and rebalance if any asset class has drifted more than 5 percentage points from its target. Many investors in their 60s combine calendar rebalancing (annually, in December) with threshold rebalancing (if a class drifts 5 or more points, rebalance immediately). The cash-buffer approach also naturally rebalances by selling equities during strong markets to refill the buffer.

What deadlines should investors in their 60s never miss?

Critical deadlines: April 15 (IRA contribution deadline for prior tax year); December 31 (RMD must be distributed, Roth conversion must be complete, tax-loss harvesting complete); December 7 (Medicare Open Enrollment, which begins October 15, ends); and the seven-month Medicare Initial Enrollment Period around your 65th birthday (missing it triggers permanent premium penalties). Add these to a calendar with 30-day advance reminders.

References

The rules and figures stated on this page come from these primary sources. Tax and benefit rules change, so confirm current amounts with the source before acting.