Many of us made resolutions this past New Year’s, and the resolution to improve one’s finances was as popular as ever. Maybe you decided that 2026 would be the year you excel in shedding significant debt, become a strong investor or learn new skills to get a better-paying job.
To stay true to any New Year’s resolution, you need to adopt new healthy habits. What habits should those be when it comes to money matters? We asked financial advisors, “What is your No. 1 habit you recommend to people who want to improve their finances in 2026?” This is what they shared.
Automate Investing
We often hear about the importance of automating savings and monthly payments for essential needs. We hear less about the importance of automating investments.
“The No. 1 habit in 2026 is to automatically convert earned income into assets,” said Derek Russell Munchow, CFP, managing partner at Augustus Wealth. “Where investing becomes a system instead of a decision. Instead of getting distracted by news headlines or uncertainty, stop overthinking and relying on discipline, and start relying on systems.”
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Deal With Taxes All Year Long
Don’t make taxes something you face once a year. Deal with them regularly throughout 2026.
“My top advice and number one habit for 2026 is to make tax optimization a regular habit year-round, not just something you think about in April,” said Bill Harris, CEO and founder of Evergreen Wealth. “Most people will lose their hard-earned money every year just by overlooking smart tax moves.”
Examine Where Every Dollar Goes on a Monthly Basis
Budgets aren’t built to last forever. They should change based on the circumstances of your income and financial goals. For this reason alone, you should make a habit of closely tracking your spending — down to the dollar.
“Clearly, this is much more important for people who are in debt or struggling to save any money,” said Kirk Kinder, director of financial planning at Bastion Fiduciary. “This exercise can find inefficient spending or useless spending (unused subscriptions, bank fees, etc.). It works for people who are saving as well. It provides an opportunity to see if they could be more productive. This can also help people identify if they have loan rates above current market values.”
Ask 3 Questions Every 90 Days
Bryan Gum of Lighthouse Planning champions allotting 20 minutes every 90 days to ask yourself the following:
- What did my money make easier this quarter?
- What did it make harder or more stressful?
- If nothing changed, would I feel good about where my money is going a year from now?
From there, commit to making just one intentional change that can improve your financial situation this year. That one change could wind up being the one that helps you achieve financial success.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: We Asked Financial Advisors the No. 1 Habit To Improve Your Finances in 2026
