Since 2020 was a train wreck, you may wonder if it is even worth planning anything. However, knocking off a few financial tasks early this month will better prepare you for whatever the new year will bring.

Readjust your retirement savings

Contribute more to your retirement. Take advantage of your employer's match in a 401(k) or 403(b) after you have funded your Roth IRA. Financial planners often advise people to save some money into a Roth IRA so that they can better control their taxes when they retire.

You may be able to convert a portion of an existing traditional IRA to a Roth account if your gross income is too high for a Roth contribution. However, the ability to contribute starts to phase out at $140,000 for singles and $208,000 for married filing jointly.