Items to cross off your year-end investing checklist

Use this simple checklist to save money and prepare your finances for 2018.

Max out 401(k) contributions

Perhaps you began the year intending to max out your 401(k). If that hasn’t happened yet, you have until Dec. 31 to fund your account.

Get ahead of your taxes

Don’t ignore taxes until April, especially if you’re a mutual fund investor. Hold off on buying funds between now and January to avoid an unnecessary tax burden.

Re-examine your portfolio

Want a useful end-of-year ritual? Spend some time reviewing your portfolio. Kate Warne, investment strategist at Edward Jones, recom- mends doing these three basic maintenance tasks by Dec. 31:

• Offset gains and losses: Also known as taxloss harvesting, this involves selling investments at a loss before Dec. 31. The goal? To lower or eliminate the taxes on gains you made in taxable accounts during the year.

• Portfolio rebalancing: If a portfolio that’s meant to be 70 percent stocks has ballooned to 80 percent, you must sell stocks and buy bonds to restore the balance.

• Diversification: Now’s a good time to check your portfolio’s diversification among assets, such as stocks and bonds, and categories within each. — Nerdwallet