INSIGHTS FROM THE PRIVATE BANK
2025 Year-End Planning Guide
Carly Doshi
EVP, Head of Flagstar Family Advisory and Trust
FDIC-Insured—Backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government
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Before you go
As the calendar year draws to a close, it's an ideal time to review your financial plan. This annual guide is designed to help high-net-worth individuals assess their 2025 financial position and prepare strategically for 2026. It covers key areas including retirement contributions, tax planning, investment strategies, and estate planning.
Note: Always consult with your legal and tax advisors before implementing any financial, estate, or tax planning strategies.
Income Tax Planning
- Review withholding and estimated tax payments to avoid underpayment penalties.
- Manage Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) exposure by timing income and deductions.
- Defer income strategically to manage tax brackets and reduce taxable income.
- Evaluate non-qualified deferred compensation plans to reduce current-year tax liability.
- Assess state income tax exposure and consider domicile planning if relocating.
- Contribute to 529 plans and take advantage of state tax benefits where available.
Retirement Planning*
- Maximize retirement account contributions and capture any employer match.
- Consider Roth IRA contributions or conversions for long-term tax efficiency.
- Fund pre-tax savings accounts such as HSAs and commuter benefits.
- Establish Roth accounts for income-earning children for tax-free growth.
- Take Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and consider Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs).
- Plan for business succession and begin pre-transaction planning early.
Investment Portfolio Management
- Review long-term and short-term objectives to address any changes in circumstance
- Review and rebalance portfolio drift to align with objectives and risk tolerance.
- Identity and review low-basis concentrated holdings for potential charitable gifting.
- Harvest tax losses to offset realized capital gains.
- Review executive compensation including stock options and RSU’s for tax and liquidity planning.
Wealth Transfer & Estate Planning
- Make annual exclusion gifts up to $19,000 per donor, per recipient in 2025.
- Review and update estate documents including wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations.
- Fund charitable giving and consider front-loading 2026 gifts in 2025 before OBBBA restrictions.
- Use lifetime gift tax exemption ($13.99M in 2025, increasing to $15M in 2026) for wealth transfer.
- Explore advanced planning strategies such as GRATs, SLATs, and IDGTs.
A holistic approach to wealth management
Modern financial planning requires a comprehensive view of your entire balance sheet—from cash flow and retirement planning to investment management and legacy planning. At Flagstar Private Bank, our advisors begin every conversation by understanding your goals and crafting a personalized strategy to help you achieve them. With the expertise of our Family Advisory, Planning & Trusts team, we simplify complexity and empower confident decision-making—ensuring every financial move supports both your present purpose and long-term legacy.
At Flagstar Private Bank, we provide holistic advice for your personal finances, including your family’s long term wealth planning needs. Our team of highly credentialed, experienced Wealth Planners develop comprehensive planning strategies for business owners and individual investors. Our services include estate and income tax planning, charitable planning, business succession and pre-liquidity planning, and family dynamics. As always, contact your legal and tax advisor before undertaking any tax planning strategy.
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Important Legal Disclosures and Information
These materials are intended for distribution to Flagstar Private Bank clients, and do not constitute the provision of investment, legal, accounting, or tax advice to any person. This material presented is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be an offer, recommendation, or solicitation to purchase or sell any security or product, or to employ a specific investment or tax planning strategy. Forward looking projections are based on historical trends, actual results will differ. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
The information contained herein was obtained from sources deemed reliable. Such information is not guaranteed as to its accuracy, timeliness, or completeness. The information contained and the opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice, are those of the individual author(s), and may not necessarily represent the views of Flagstar Bank or any of its subsidiaries.
Flagstar Private Bank is a division of Flagstar Bank, N.A. (“Flagstar Bank”), Member FDIC. Flagstar Bank provides FDIC-insured banking products and services and lending of funds to individual clients. Securities, insurance, brokerage services, and investment advisory services are offered by Flagstar Advisors, Inc. (“Flagstar Advisors”), Member FINRA/SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and SEC registered investment adviser. Flagstar Advisors is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Flagstar Bank.
*Investments, Brokerage and Insurance Products Are:
Not Insured by the FDIC or Any Other Government Agency. | Not Bank Guaranteed. | Not Bank Deposits or Obligations. | May Lose Value.
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