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☆ How to avoid the 'survivor's penalty' before a spouse passes
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Jessie Casson | Digitalvision | Getty ImagesIt's hard to lose a spouse, and a costly surprise makes it even more difficult, especially for older women — higher taxes. watch nowTypically, the surviving spouse inherits the deceased spouse's individual retirement accounts, and so-called required minimum distributions are about the same. But the surviving spouse now faces higher tax brackets, Gagliardi said. Spouses may consider partial Roth IRA conversions, which transfers part of pretax or nondeductible IRA funds to a Roth IRA for future tax-free growth, Jastrem said. Check investment accountsIt's always important to keep account ownership and beneficiaries updated, and failing to plan could be costly for the surviving spouse, Jastrem said.

Persons: Jessie Casson, Digitalvision, Edward Jastrem, —, Donald Trump's, George Gagliardi, Gagliardi, Roth, Jastrem Organizations: Getty, Centers for Disease Control, Heritage Financial Services, CNBC, Coromandel Wealth Management, Wealth Locations: Westwood , Massachusetts, Lexington , Massachusetts

☆ Another Hollywood strike? Musicians union ‘prepared to do whatever it needs’ for AI protections and streaming residuals
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Elizabeth Wagmeister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The American Federation of Musicians (AFM), a union representing musicians across the entertainment industry, will begin negotiations Monday on a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The union said it is seeking a deal to better reflects the current state of streaming media. The AFM is also seeking AI protection, increased wages, health care improvements, improved working conditions and residual payments for streaming content. According to the AFM, musicians who record on soundtracks make 75% less on streaming content due to less residual income. And the AFM is not the only union in the entertainment industry which might strike in 2024.

Persons: Los Angeles CNN —, ”, Tino Gagliardi, “, ” Gagliardi, “ We’ve, they’ve, Matthew Loeb, ” Loeb Organizations: Los Angeles CNN, American Federation of Musicians, Alliance, Television Producers, CNN, Federation, Writers Guild of America, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, WGA, SAG, International Alliance, “ Locations: United States, Canada, Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks, California

Investors like dividend stocks for their yields, but the equities' returns have been pretty dismal so far this year. "That's what is putting pressure on these [dividend] stocks, or maybe just keeping them from lifting." IPDP YTD line Dividend Performers ETF (IPDP) performance year to date When it comes to specific stocks, Gilreath likes two under-the-radar plays: Brady Corporation and ABM Industries . Brady, which manufacturers identification and health-care products, has a 1.7% dividend yield. Diversification in light of recession risk When it comes to dividends, investors should look for quality rather than quantity.

Persons: That's, Bond, Andrew Graham, Dave Sheaff Gilreath, Gilreath, Morningstar . Brady, Capital's Graham, Graham, Dow, Laura Mattia, Morningstar, George Gagliardi, You'd, I'm Organizations: Investment, Jackson, Capital, Federal Reserve, Brady Corporation, ABM Industries, Dow Inc, Dow, LyondellBasell, Shell, Coromandel Wealth Management, U.S Locations: San Francisco, Indianapolis, Sarasota , Florida, Lexington , Massachusetts

☆ How to prepare for the 'survivor's penalty' before a spouse passes
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Nosystem Images | E+ | Getty ImagesMany older women outlive their spouses and may not expect higher future taxes after suffering from the loss. As a result, many married women eventually face a "survivor's penalty," resulting in higher future taxes, according to certified financial planner Edward Jastrem, chief planning officer at Heritage Financial Services in Westwood, Massachusetts. watch nowTypically, the surviving spouse inherits the deceased spouse's individual retirement accounts and so-called required minimum distributions are about the same. But the surviving spouse now faces higher tax brackets, Gagliardi explained. Review investment accountsIt's always important to keep account ownership and beneficiaries updated, and failing to plan could be costly for the surviving spouse, Jastrem said.

Persons: Edward Jastrem, —, Donald Trump's, George Gagliardi, Gagliardi, Roth, Jastrem Organizations: Getty, Centers for Disease Control, Heritage Financial Services, Coromandel Wealth Management, Wealth Locations: Westwood , Massachusetts, Lexington , Massachusetts

☆ Cryptoverse: As good as gold? Spot bitcoin ETFs aim to whip up US demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Suzanne Mcgee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Mainstream investment giants such as BlackRock (BLK.N) and Fidelity, as well as crypto-focused firms like Grayscale, have filed applications for spot bitcoin ETFs. U.S. crypto firm NYDIG estimates demand for a spot bitcoin ETF at around $30 billion. Their calculation compares the sizes of the gold and bitcoin ETFs - $210 billion versus $28.8 billion, respectively - and adjusts them for their relative volatility. BlackRock declined to comment on its pending spot bitcoin ETF, other than to confirm that it is still awaiting final SEC approval. His forecast is based on how demand evolved in smaller markets where spot bitcoin ETFs already exist, such as Canada.

Persons: Dado, Dave Mazza, George Gagliardi, cryptocurrencies, bitcoin, Todd Sohn, Steven McClurg, Crypto, Matthew Sigel, Matthew Hougan, Steve Sosnick, Suzanne McGee, Ira Iosebashvili, Michelle Price Organizations: REUTERS, Roundhill Investments, Fidelity, U.S . Securities, Exchange, Coromandel Wealth Management, Strategas Securities, Boston Consulting, BlackRock, SEC, Bitwise Investments, Interactive, Thomson, Reuters Locations: U.S, BlackRock, Lexington , Massachusetts, Canada

☆ YOUR MONEY How to get high rates to work for you
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Chris Taylor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

July 17 (Reuters) - There is no doubt that higher interest rates are hard on a many people – especially if you are taking out a loan on a home or a car, or are struggling to catch up with credit-card debt. But for some, steep interest rates are not actually bad news. In fact, 38% of people say they have benefited from higher interest rates during the past year, according to a new survey from Allianz Life Insurance. “That’s the dichotomy: Higher interest rates are both crushing some people and benefiting others at the same time,” says Kelly LaVigne, vice president of Consumer Insights for Allianz Life. That means if you have some savings set aside, it is time to think about how to flip this negative of higher interest rates into a positive.

Persons: “, ”, Kelly LaVigne, Amy Arnott, Morningstar, Arnott, Rowe, Baird, Jeremy Keil, Keil, George Gagliardi, Lauren Young, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Allianz Life Insurance, Consumer, Allianz Life, U.S . Federal Reserve, Morningstar, FDIC, Bills, CIT Bank, BMO Alto, Citizens, Financial, Thomson Locations: New Berlin , Wisconsin, Toronto, Lexington , Massachusetts

☆ These energy investments spin out attractive income, even as oil prices have fallen
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Energy stocks are also this year's underdogs, with the S & P sector down more than 7%. In turn, the limited partners collect income distributions from the business. MLPs aren't subject to federal income taxes, but the limited partners are responsible for levies on the income they receive. In that case, the C-corp pays corporate income taxes and the shareholders are responsible for levies on dividends they get. Tax hurdles Attractive income aside, investors need to be on the lookout for where they keep these MLPs.

Persons: there's, Stephen Ellis, Ellis, MLPs, George Gagliardi, you'll Organizations: West Texas, Energy, Morningstar Research Services, Wealth Management, MLP, Internal Revenue Service

☆ Argentina eases access to 'morning after pill', broadening reproductive rights
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Anna-Catherine Brigida | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Catholic country and homeland of Pope Francis approved a law allowing abortion up to 14 weeks in December 2020, part of a wave of liberalizing legislation around the region, even as the United States further north has seen abortion access tightened. In the official bulletin, the health ministry wrote that the measure would help avoid unintentional pregnancy by helping overcome "difficulties of access to health services, contraception supplies, and education" faced by some. "This removes an important barrier to access," Valeria Isla, director of sexual and reproductive health at the Health Ministry, told Reuters. The day-after pill is available without a prescription in at least 70 countries, including the United States. "For a long time it was thought to induce an abortion, which is not true," Gagliardi said, referring to the common criticism of emergency contraception from pro-life groups.

Persons: Wade, Read, Pope Francis, Valeria Isla, Vanessa Gagliardi, Juntas, Izquierda, Gagliardi, DerquiXlaVida, Anna, Catherine Brigida, William Maclean Organizations: U.S, Embassy, Supreme, Women's Health Organization, Catholic, Health Ministry, Reuters, World Health Organization, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Dobbs, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, American, United States, Argentine

☆ Broadway Musicians Object to David Byrne’s ‘Here Lies Love’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Michael Paulson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

But Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians says its contract with the Broadway League requires the use of 19 musicians for musicals at the Broadway Theater. (The number of musicians required under the contract varies based on theater size.) The union says it is seeking to preserve jobs for musicians and quality for theater lovers. “We’re not going to stand by and let this happen,” said Tino Gagliardi, the local’s president and executive director. The request is to be assessed by a panel that includes neutral observers as well as representatives of the Broadway League and the musicians’ union; it is not clear how long that process will take, and the ruling can be appealed to arbitration.

☆ The last chance for some retirees to avoid a 25% tax penalty is April 1
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In 2022, Secure 2.0 raised the age to 73, which starts in 2023. RMDs apply to both pre-tax and Roth 401(k)s and other workplace plans, along with most individual retirement accounts. Secure 2.0 reduced the RMD penaltyIf you skip your RMD or don't take out enough, there's a 25% penalty, levied on the amount you should have withdrawn. Secure 2.0 dropped the penalty to 25% from 50% starting in 2023, with the possibility of reducing it further to 10% if you take your missed RMD during the "correction window." "In the past, the IRS was lenient about missed RMDs, but with the new reduced penalties, they may get more aggressive," he said.

☆ 'There is no such thing as a free lunch.' 4 lessons for crypto investors from the FTX collapse
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Bahamas-based crypto exchange FTX filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. on Nov. 11, 2022, seeking court protection as it looks for a way to return money to users. "I think the collapse of FTX will end up being good for traditional finance companies like Fidelity who are entering the crypto space, because they come with a certain level of trust," Lum said. Earlier this month, Fidelity Investments announced plans to launch a commission-free crypto product, allowing investors to buy and sell bitcoin and ether. The FTX collapse has also renewed interest in cold storage, or taking digital currency offline, making it less susceptible to hacks. The [FTX] collapse should be a lesson that any individual company — be it a crypto exchange or more traditional business — can go bankrupt in times of distress.

☆ 75% of young, wealthy Americans get this 'wrong' about investing, says CFP
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Ryan Ermey | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Although advisors generally recommend that younger investors hold the vast majority of their investments in stocks, wealthy young people are skeptical that traditional investments can get the job done. In fact, 3 in 4 say it's not possible to achieve above-average returns with stocks and bonds, according to the survey. Young rich investors may 'mistake success with expertise'Why are young, affluent investors pulling away from stocks? It could be that there are newer, fresher ideas out there, says Ken Shepard, head of investments at Bank of America Private Bank. Why stocks are still the best option for young investors

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