This Is the First Thing Retirement Savers Should Do in 2026

Group 1 - The start of a new year is an opportune time for individuals to set financial goals for the upcoming year, including aspirations for home purchases, debt repayment, or enhancing retirement savings [1][7] - A significant strategy for improving retirement savings in 2026 is to immediately allocate any incoming raises into IRA or 401(k) plans [2][3] - Automating larger contributions to retirement savings from the beginning can help individuals avoid the temptation to spend their raises on non-essential items [4][5] Group 2 - In addition to banking raises, individuals should ensure they are aware of their workplace 401(k) match and aim to maximize this benefit to avoid missing out on free retirement funds [6][8]