This time of year is perfect for starting to run through your year-end personal finance checklist, according to Manisha Thakor, CFA, director of Wealth Strategies for Women at Buckingham and The BAM Alliance.

The three key areas to tackle in any such annual review, she said, are estate and incapacity planning, risk management (i.e., insurance) and your investment portfolio.

First, make sure you have a will, living will and a durable power of attorney for financial and health matters, and also make sure your beneficiary information is up to date.