Planning With Purpose: A Fresh Look at Financial Wellness in 2025
Offering Insight to Help Turn Intentions into Thoughtful Action
As we move through 2025, financial planning continues to shift alongside changes in legislation, market conditions, and personal circumstances. Midyear is a valuable time to revisit your overall financial approach and make adjustments if needed.
Whether you’re planning for retirement, managing tax considerations, or evaluating your charitable strategy, a structured review can help identify areas for refinement.
That’s where IntentGen Financial Partner’s 2025 Financial Planning Guide comes in. It’s designed as an educational resource to help individuals and families assess where they stand, explore timely planning topics, and prepare to have more informed conversations with their financial advisors.
The goal isn’t to create a one-size-fits-all plan—it’s to equip you with relevant tools and knowledge so you can make choices that align with your evolving priorities.
Start with a Wellness Check
IntentGen encourages you to take a holistic approach to your financial situation. Key areas to review include:
- Tax planning and charitable giving
- Investment strategy and retirement preparation
- Insurance and risk management
- Estate and legacy considerations
- Education savings and Social Security
Using the self-assessment scorecard can help you identify which areas may benefit from updates or further discussion. See page 7 in the Finanical Planning Guide. https://static.fmgsuite.com/media/documents/79b7b249-d0e3-4d3e-a926-71538a7cde57.pdf This checklist is especially helpful after major life events such as a marriage, divorce, job change, or the birth of a child.
What’s New in 2025?
This year introduces several updates worth reviewing with your advisor:
- The lifetime gift tax exemption has increased to $13.99 million per person. Barring legislative change, that amount is scheduled to drop significantly in 2026.
- New “super catch-up” contributions allow individuals ages 60–63 to contribute up to $11,250 to certain retirement plans—potentially creating more flexibility for those nearing retirement.
- Elevated interest rates may impact strategies involving charitable trusts or intra-family loans.Keeping pace with regulatory updates and tax code changes is a vital part of financial planning. When overlooked, small details can have long-term implications.
Intentional Planning—Key Areas to Explore
· Retirement Readiness: There are various factors to consider when evaluating savings targets and potential income sources. Monte Carlo simulations and replacement ratios can offer perspective on different retirement scenarios, helping you stress-test your assumptions before making any major decisions.
· Investment Tax Efficiency: Asset location strategies—allocating specific types of investments to different accounts—may help reduce tax drag. Reviewing your portfolio through a tax-aware lens can inform how assets are distributed across taxable and tax-deferred accounts. Over time, even modest improvements in tax efficiency can enhance overall performance.
· Estate and Legacy Planning: For individuals seeking to align their estate plan with their values and family priorities, 2025 may be a good time to review wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations. Depending on your situation, certain gifting strategies could warrant consideration.
· Charitable Giving: If charitable giving is part of your financial life, the guide offers a comparison of giving vehicles—from direct contributions to donor-advised funds. It also highlights the potential benefits of “charitable bunching” for those who itemize deductions and explores options for non-cash giving.
· Insurance and Risk Management: Life insurance, long-term care coverage, and umbrella policies all play a role in protecting what matters most. The guide explores how insurance can support your broader planning strategy and reduce exposure to unexpected events.
A Planning Resource, Not a One-Time Solution
Financial planning is an ongoing process shaped by personal goals, changing needs, and evolving external factors. While you may not have the full 2025 Financial Planning Guide in hand, the ideas shared here reflect key planning topics that can guide meaningful conversations with your advisor.
The insights presented are not recommendations but conversation starters. The most effective financial plans are those built over time in partnership with a team that understands your needs and values.
See the full 2025 Financial Planning guide here:
https://static.fmgsuite.com/media/documents/79b7b249-d0e3-4d3e-a926-71538a7cde57.pdf
Let’s Talk About What Matters to You
If you have questions or would like to explore how these planning concepts may apply to your unique situation, we welcome the opportunity to connect.
Schedule a conversation with an IntentGen advisor to begin the dialogue—whether you’re just starting out or reviewing your long-standing plan.
Contact us today at (630) 821-6990 or visit IntentGen.com.