By Stuart Canzeri, Founder of Peachtree Financial

October is one of the most overlooked opportunities on the financial calendar. The pace is slower. Deadlines are not yet pounding at the door. The holidays have not swept in with their usual blend of joy and stress. For individuals and families who care deeply about their financial future, this window is golden. It is the last calm before the Q4 storm.

At Peachtree Financial, we encourage clients to take full advantage of October as a planning month. Smart moves made now can prevent rushed decisions later. They can reduce tax burdens, improve portfolio efficiency, and even ease the mental load as the year wraps up. Think of it like winterizing your home before the first freeze. The earlier you prepare, the more confident and comfortable the season becomes.

Make Charitable Giving Count While Emotions Are Cool

Philanthropy is a core value for many families, especially as the season of giving approaches. October offers a more strategic setting to evaluate charitable giving goals before the holidays tug at the emotional strings. Whether you are gifting cash, appreciated securities, or using donor-advised funds, there are meaningful ways to give that also reduce your tax exposure.

A thoughtful approach to giving allows time to coordinate with advisors and charities. It avoids last-minute rushes that often result in missed deductions or inefficient donations. It also allows for integration with broader planning strategies, like bunching contributions in high-income years or aligning gifts with capital gains realization.

Harvest Losses Before the Market Closes the Window

Tax-loss harvesting is a valuable tool when used with intention. October is a smart time to review unrealized losses and determine if any can be used to offset gains. With the benefit of a full year of market performance to evaluate, you can make choices that not only reduce your tax bill but potentially reposition your portfolio for future growth.

This is not about market timing. It is about tax efficiency. Being early gives your portfolio time to recover after any rebalancing or replacement trades. It also keeps you well clear of the December scramble when custodians are overwhelmed and liquidity tightens.

Revisit Cash Positions While Rates Still Reward Discipline

For the first time in many years, cash is back in the spotlight. Higher interest rates have made money market accounts, short-term bonds, and high-yield savings accounts much more attractive. Still, many investors hold too much idle cash in accounts earning little to nothing.

October is a great time to review your cash allocation. Is your emergency fund sized correctly? Are excess funds parked in yield-efficient vehicles? Could your short-term cash strategy be improved with CDs or laddered Treasury bills? These small tweaks can quietly add meaningful returns without increasing risk.

Fine-Tune Income Strategy Before Bonuses Hit

For high earners, year-end often brings business distributions, bonuses, or other variable income. Waiting until December to assess the tax impact of that income limits your options. Evaluating income projections now allows for proactive strategies, such as:

• Accelerating deductions
• Deferring income where possible
• Pre-funding retirement accounts
• Reviewing Roth conversion opportunities

Getting ahead of these decisions gives your CPA and advisor time to collaborate. It also helps avoid unnecessary surprises in March when tax season arrives.

Confirm Retirement Contribution Progress

Many clients aim to max out contributions to their IRAs, 401(k)s, or other tax-advantaged accounts. Too often, they wait until the eleventh hour. The result is rushed funding, missed windows, or lost compound growth.

Review your contribution status now. Are you pacing to hit your limits? Have catch-up contributions been applied if you are eligible? Is your 401(k) invested in line with your long-term goals? These questions are best answered before the calendar year closes.

October also presents a good time to evaluate workplace retirement benefits. If you have not revisited plan selections recently, now is the time to ensure your allocations reflect your risk tolerance, life stage, and financial goals.

Coordinate with Your Advisor Before Calendars Fill Up

The end of the year tends to feel crowded. Between holidays, travel, and business deadlines, finding space to think critically about your finances becomes harder. Advisors and tax professionals often book out weeks in advance. October is your chance to get ahead.

Schedule a year-end planning meeting now. This allows time to:

• Discuss portfolio rebalancing opportunities
• Evaluate tax scenarios and capital gains
• Review charitable giving and estate updates
• Align on Q1 goals for 2026

Early planning reduces the pressure later. It makes room for more strategic and less reactive decisions. It also sets the tone for confidence going into the new year.

Simplify to Strengthen

Complexity tends to creep in throughout the year. New accounts, overlapping strategies, or duplicated holdings can cloud your financial picture. October is an ideal time to simplify.

Consolidate accounts where appropriate. Eliminate redundant positions. Review beneficiaries and titling. Clarify your current net worth and progress toward key milestones. When your financial life is more organized, your decisions become clearer. That clarity is what allows wealth to build with less friction.

Use October as a Lever, Not Just a Lull

There is something uniquely powerful about getting ahead. It creates margin, confidence, and intentionality. October may not feel urgent, but that is exactly why it matters.

The clients who use this month to reflect and reset often enter Q4 with calm rather than chaos. They are not racing the clock. They are driving the strategy. That is the difference between reacting and leading.

If you want to explore these opportunities further, let us know. We are here to help you make the most of this valuable planning season.