A financial advisor is urging people to use the holiday season as a natural checkpoint to review their money situation before the new year, which is good news for anyone who's let their finances drift out of sight.

• Big life changes — a new job, a new child or grandchild, caring for aging parents, or nearing retirement — are all signals it's time to revisit your financial plan.
• Charitable giving before year-end comes with annual limits and planning opportunities, so people planning donations or helping a family member financially should check the rules now rather than after December 31.
• Commonly forgotten items include updating beneficiaries on accounts, reviewing old 401(k) plans left behind at former jobs, and checking on rollovers that were never finished.
• The main advice is simple: figure out what matters most to you financially, then book time with a trusted advisor to fine-tune your plan around it.

Outlook: Those who schedule a year-end review now are more likely to catch missed paperwork and giving opportunities before the year closes out.