Are you looking for tips on improving your portfolio? As part of Morningstar.com's Portfolio Makeover Week in December, director of personal finance Christine Benz will be making over five real-life portfolios to show how investors of all stripes may streamline and upgrade their holdings. To be considered for a makeover, submit a request to portfoliomakeover@morningstar.com. Include a general description of your situation, including portfolio size, as well as your goals for the makeover. We will alert you if we decide to feature your portfolio on the site and will remove any personally identifying information in any published material.

As each calendar year winds down, investors are often exhorted to get on the stick: to review their portfolios, rebalance, and scout around for tax-loss candidates. That's because Dec. 31 is the deadline for most tweaks that can affect your tax bill for that year.