Hey {{first_name | Mixtape Reader}},
Month 2 starts with a ticking clock.
Most people think January 1 is the cutoff for last year's retirement contributions. It is not. You have until April 15 to make IRA and HSA contributions that count toward your 2025 tax year. That deadline is eight days away, and for Gen X investors, it is worth taking seriously.
🎵 Vol. 2, Track 1: The April 15 Window Most People Miss
Here is what is still on the table for 2025.
Traditional IRA and Roth IRA
The 2025 IRA contribution limit was $7,000, or $8,000 if you were 50 or older by December 31, 2025. If you did not max out your IRA last year, or did not contribute at all, you can still make that contribution right now. It counts as a 2025 contribution as long as you complete it by April 15, 2026.
A few things to know before you act:
Traditional IRA: If you or your spouse are covered by a workplace retirement plan, the deductibility of your traditional IRA contribution phases out at certain income levels. For 2025, the phase-out for a single filer covered by a workplace plan was $77,000 to $87,000. For married filing jointly where the contributing spouse is covered, it was $123,000 to $143,000. If you are above those thresholds, you can still contribute but it will not be deductible. That changes the math significantly.
Roth IRA: You cannot deduct Roth contributions, but the income limits work differently. For 2025, Roth eligibility phased out at $150,000 to $165,000 for single filers and $236,000 to $246,000 for married filing jointly. If you are within the limits, a Roth contribution is one of the cleanest long-term moves available. Tax-free growth. Tax-free withdrawals. No required minimum distributions.
If you are not sure which one fits your situation, the default rule of thumb is this: if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement than you are now, favor the Roth. If you expect to be in a lower bracket, favor the traditional. If you genuinely do not know, a Roth is usually the more flexible choice.
HSA (Health Savings Account)
The HSA deadline also follows the tax filing deadline, so April 15 applies here too.
If you were enrolled in a high-deductible health plan in 2025, you can still contribute to your HSA for that year. The 2025 limits were $4,300 for individual coverage and $8,550 for family coverage, with an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution allowed if you were 55 or older.
We covered HSAs in Month 1, but this is worth repeating: the HSA is the single most tax-advantaged account available to anyone who qualifies. Contributions go in pre-tax. The invested balance grows tax-free. Withdrawals for qualified medical expenses come out tax-free. No other account type gives you all three.
If you have been sitting on cash in your HSA instead of investing it, that is money working below its potential. Max the contribution before April 15, then move the investable balance into low-cost index funds.
The move this week
Check whether you made a 2025 IRA contribution. Log into your brokerage and look for a 2025 contribution entry. If there is nothing there or you did not hit the max, you have until April 15.
Check your HSA balance and contribution status. If you were on an HDHP in 2025 and have unused contribution room, put it to work before the deadline.
If you are filing an extension for your 2025 taxes, note that the April 15 IRA deadline does not extend with your return. The IRA contribution must be made by April 15 regardless.
This is a genuine, time-limited opportunity. Eight days. That is enough time to act if you start today.
Wednesday we go deeper on two tax strategies you can use right now for 2026: tax-loss harvesting and asset location. Neither requires a deadline, but both have compounding value the earlier you implement them.
The Mixtape Millionaire Team
Mixtape Millionaire is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions.