Final Countdown: Your Year-End Contribution and Transaction Deadlines

December 1, 2025  | By Sheila Schmitt

December is a good time to review deadlines for contributions, distributions, charitable giving, and account updates. Many account actions must be completed before December 31 to count for the 2025 tax year, and processing times can vary depending on the type of request. 

Below is a simple guide to help ensure everything is submitted on time and in good order as we close out the year.

Important Notes

• Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)

The AWM process for annual required minimum distributions (RMDs) is in full swing. If we’ve reached out to you, but you have not received your RMD, please know that your distribution is in our queue. 

• Recurring IRA Transactions

To ensure our clients’ contributions and distributions are processed for the 2025 tax year, we may contact you to confirm processing times. Please note that the distributions processed on December 31, 2025, will be documented as 2025 for tax purposes, but funds may not post to your account until January 2, 2026. 

A Few Extra Things to Keep in Mind

• Digital tools offered by our custodians generally allow for the fastest processing. Paper requests require significantly more lead time and may be processed only on a best-efforts basis after deadlines.
• End-of-year volume increases the chance of delays, so early submission is the best way to ensure timely completion.
• “As of” (backdated) processing is not permitted for distributions or contributions after December 31.

As always, our team is here to support your year-end planning and ensure your contributions, distributions, and charitable gifts are handled smoothly. If you anticipate any transactions before December 31, or if you’d like to discuss strategies such as Roth conversions, charitable gifting, or RMD planning, please contact us as soon as you can. We’re here to help make the close of 2025 as seamless and stress-free as possible.