Year-end is approaching, and a little planning now on retirement, taxes, and inheritance can leave people with more options later — neutral but useful for anyone with savings.

• Check whether your retirement savings are on track, since many people set a contribution rate years ago and never touch it again.
• Even a small bump in what you put into a 401(k) or IRA adds up a lot over time.
• On taxes, work out where your income will land this year and whether moves like charitable giving or selling investments make sense — the earlier you look, the more you can do.
• Review who is named as a beneficiary and whether estate paperwork still matches your life, especially after new children or grandchildren.

Outlook: The window for most year-end money moves closes on December 31, so decisions made in the next few weeks carry into next year's tax bill.