Wilmington Trust is a registered service mark used in connection with various fiduciary and non-fiduciary services offered by certain subsidiaries of M&T Bank Corporation including, but not limited to, Manufacturers & Traders Trust Company (M&T Bank), Wilmington Trust Company (WTC) operating in Delaware only, Wilmington Trust, N.A. (WTNA), Wilmington Trust Investment Advisors, Inc. (WTIA), Wilmington Funds Management Corporation (WFMC), Wilmington Trust Asset Management, LLC (WTAM), and Wilmington Trust Investment Management, LLC (WTIM). Such services include trustee, custodial, agency, investment management, and other services. International corporate and institutional services are offered through M&T Bank Corporation’s international subsidiaries. Loans, credit cards, retail and business deposits, and other business and personal banking services and products are offered by M&T Bank. Member, FDIC.

M&T Bank Corporation’s European subsidiaries (Wilmington Trust (UK) Limited, Wilmington Trust (London) Limited, Wilmington Trust SP Services (London) Limited, Wilmington Trust SP Services (Dublin) Limited, Wilmington Trust SP Services (Frankfurt) GmbH and Wilmington Trust SAS) provide international corporate and institutional services.

WTIA, WFMC, WTAM, and WTIM are investment advisors registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration with the SEC does not imply any level of skill or training. Additional Information about WTIA, WFMC, WTAM, and WTIM is also available on the SEC's website at adviserinfo.sec.gov.

Private Banking is the marketing name for an offering of M&T Bank deposit and loan products and services. Custom credit advisors are M&T Bank employees. Loans, retail and business deposits, and other personal and business banking services and products are offered by M&T Bank Equal Housing Lender. Bank NMLS #381076. Member FDIC.

Investment and Insurance Products • Are NOT Deposits • Are NOT FDIC Insured • Are NOT Insured By Any Federal Government Agency • Have NO Bank Guarantee • May Go Down In Value

Investing involves risks and you may incur a profit or a loss. Past performance cannot guarantee future results. This material is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the sale of any security or service. It is not designed or intended to provide financial, tax, legal, accounting, or other professional advice since such advice always requires consideration of individual circumstances. There is no assurance that any investment, financial or estate planning strategy will be successful.

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Wealth Planning

Building a Strong Foundation for Your Financial Plan

February 10, 2026

Having a well-built plan can allow you to optimize opportunities as they emerge

Financial planning is an ongoing process, and it’s important to begin by building a strong foundation upon which the rest of your plan can grow. The foundation of your plan is designed to provide financial stability and protection. Key building blocks. The following are fundamental to establishing a healthy financial plan:

Ensure emergency reserve of cash. These funds can cover three to six months of your living expenses. In the event that someone in your household can no longer work, even temporarily, this reserve of cash can help maintain your budget and make liquidating assets from your investments unnecessary. Another liquidity option that may be worth considering is to use the equity in your home to obtain a home equity line of credit. This option would provide you with cash when needed, with the opportunity to pay back the funds at some point in the future.
Maintain an accurate budget. Building your plan based on a true understanding of your living expenses helps you know exactly how much cash you should have on hand as well as improve the accuracy of projections that your financial plan can meet your long-term goals.
Keep estate documents up to date. A regular review of your estate planning documents—such as your will, revocable trust, durable power of attorney, health care proxy, and living will—can ensure they account for any life changes.
Coordinate beneficiary designations. Make sure you know who is listed in your beneficiary designations for your various accounts, such as retirement accounts or life insurance plans.
Review and update life insurance policies. Bring together all of your life insurance policies to ensure you know how much coverage you have, and whether it is adequate to protect all members of your family and achieve your estate goals.

Optimization strategies

Even though you may feel that you have a solid plan in place that doesn’t require any changes, it’s important to explore opportunities that may arise from various economic or legislative conditions. The following are a few strategies that you may want to consider implementing to optimize the effectiveness of your plan. Many of these strategies require you to keep your long-term goals in mind, and perhaps make a financial sacrifice today that may benefit you in the future.

Consider a Roth IRA conversion
Look for tax-loss harvesting opportunities
Create a philanthropic giving plan
Review your risk management and asset protection plan

If you’ve successfully built your foundation and explored the many layers of planning, be sure to review your plan at least annually to affirm you are still on track, considering your current lifestyle and financial goals. The best financial plan is one that is customized to your particular situation.

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This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the sale of any tax, estate planning, or financial product or service, or a recommendation or determination that any tax, estate planning, or investment strategy is suitable for a specific investor. This article is not designed or intended to provide financial, tax, legal, accounting, or other professional advice since such advice always requires consideration of individual circumstances. If professional advice is needed, the services of a professional advisor should be sought.

There is no assurance that any investment, financial, or estate planning strategy will be successful.

Wilmington Trust is not authorized to and does not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. Our advice and recommendations provided to you are illustrative only and subject to the opinions and advice of your own attorney, tax advisor, or other professional advisor.

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