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☆ Money tips for single moms: 'It can be very challenging to raise kids on one income,' advisor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"It can be very challenging to raise kids on one income," said Cathy Curtis, founder and CEO of Curtis Financial Planning in Oakland, California. Experts shared these 3 financial tips for single mothers. After accounting for fixed expenses, Curtis said, "closely monitor and budget for variable and miscellaneous expenses." Single mothers also should make sure they're preparing for their own future, said Jennifer Bush, a certified financial planner with Mainstreet Financial Planning in San Jose, California. To manage fears and be prepared for such a scenario, Curtis said, single mothers should take some additional precautions.

Persons: Christopher Hopefitch, Cathy Curtis, Curtis, That'll, Jennifer Bush, Bush, Emma Johnson, Johnson Organizations: Bank, Getty, National Women's Law, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Curtis Financial, CNBC FA, Fidelity Investments Locations: Oakland , California, overspending, San Jose , California

☆ Millennials have a gusto for bond ETFs — and that may be bad in the long run
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Eva-katalin | E+ | Getty ImagesMillennials are holding and buying bond exchange-traded funds with more gusto than older investors — and that's likely not an ideal strategy, experts said. That's a higher allocation than Generation X and baby boomers, who had respective allocations of 37% and 31%. Millennials investing for the long term can afford to — and generally should — take more risk than older investors by allocating relatively heavily to stocks. That's because stocks typically outperform bonds over decades, said Jenkin, a member of CNBC's Advisor Council. "Millennials in their 30s probably shouldn't have 45% of their allocation in bonds," Jenkin said.

Persons: Eva, katalin, Charles Schwab, X, Schwab, — doesn't, Ted Jenkin, Jenkin Organizations: Millennial Locations: Atlanta

☆ This is 'the most attractive feature of an ETF,' advisor says — and it can help cut your tax bill
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Kate_sept2004 | E+ | Getty ImagesAs mutual fund investors brace for year-end distributions, experts have tips to lessen the tax burden in future years. Certain mutual funds have capital gains payouts in November and December, which can trigger taxes in brokerage accounts, even if you haven't sold shares. Review your mutual funds' cost basisGlassman said many investors own mutual funds "going back years or decades" with significant gains. "People may be able to sell those and avoid the [capital gains] distribution on those shares." But there's an easy way to reduce next year's capital gains distributions.

Persons: Barry Glassman, Morningstar, Glassman, Matt Knoll Organizations: Wealth, CNBC's, Planning Locations: McLean , Virginia, Moline , Illinois

Keeping my credit score high will also help if I take out a small business loan as an entrepreneur. I decided to ask certified financial planner Patrick Marcinko for ideas for how I could leverage my high credit score to help with future financial goals. "With a high credit score, lenders are more willing to give you a better deal on mortgage rates. How I can keep my credit score highSince it's taken me quite some time to achieve this high credit score, I asked Marcinko for ways that I can maintain it in the new year. Additionally, Marcinko says that with a high credit score, I might have access to perks and benefits that credit card companies reserve for those with strong credit.

Persons: —, I've, Patrick Marcinko, Marcinko Organizations: Service

You don't have to be wealthy to start investing — $100 is a perfectly fine amount to tuck away. We asked five financial planners how best to invest that $100 and they suggested Roth IRAs and more. To prove this, Insider spoke with five certified financial planners, each offering advice for how they'd invest a simple $100. Fill your health savings accountFrank McLaughlin, a financial planner with Merriman, agrees with Botto that a Roth IRA is the best place to invest $100. "If you're looking to invest in your future, what future do you want to invest in?"

Persons: Roth IRAs, —, you've, Wesley Botto, Botto, Roth, Cynthia Meyer, Meyer, Frank McLaughlin, Merriman, McLaughlin, Get, Tania Brown, Brown, it's, Laurie Nardone, Shira Organizations: Service, Films, Cornerstone Financial, IRS, Invest, Real, SEC, SaverLife, Wealth Management

ETFs are a wrapper for individual assets such as stocks and bonds, similar to mutual funds. However, many ETFs have better tax efficiency and lower expense ratios than mutual funds, driving many investors to make the switch. "ETFs have come a long way over the past 15 to 20 years," said certified financial planner Barry Glassman, founder and president of Glassman Wealth Services in McLean, Virginia. In 2022, investors sold more than $900 billion from mutual funds and poured roughly $600 billion into ETFs, according to Morningstar data. The most attractive feature of an ETF is that most don't distribute capital gains at the end of the year.

Persons: Barry Glassman, " Glassman, Cathy Curtis, Marguerita Cheng, Kamila Elliott, Cheng Organizations: Wealth, CNBC's, Morningstar, CNBC's FA Council, Curtis Financial, Blue, Global Wealth, Wealth Partners Locations: McLean , Virginia, Oakland , California, California, Gaithersburg , Maryland, Atlanta

☆ HSAs are a 'powerful, yet underutilized' financial tool, says CFP—how to take advantage during open enrollment
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Ryan Ermey | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

But as you're considering your options, financial advisors would like to make sure that you're taking one crucial financial tool into account. If your employer offers a high-deductible health plan (those with deductibles of at least $1,500 for individuals or $3,000 for families), those who enroll in it gain access to a health savings account. Some 81% of accountholders keep HSA money in cash, according to a recent survey from the Plan Sponsor Council of America. "This feature positions HSAs not just as a tool for current medical expenses, but as a strategic component in long-term financial planning." Under this convention, you'd pay for medical expenses out of pocket in the short-term in order to reap the benefits of long-term compounding growth.

Persons: Sean Lovison, HSAs, whatever's, Michelle Fait, you've Organizations: of America, Investments, Fidelity, Satori Financial Locations: Moorestown , New Jersey, Seattle , Washington

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

☆ Watch for this 'phantom tax' before taking Affordable Care Act insurance subsidies, advisor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

d3sign | Moment | Getty ImagesAs millions of Americans compare health plans on the Affordable Care Act insurance marketplaces, experts say it's critical to run projections and rethink popular tax moves before enrolling in subsidies. The average enrollee is paying premiums of $124 per month after the subsidies, which were boosted through 2025 via the Inflation Reduction Act. If your actual income exceeds your estimates, you might be required to repay some or all of the subsidy. "If your actual income exceeds your estimates, you might be required to repay some or all of the subsidy." The subsidy eligibility calculation also considers your location, family size and whether you spouse has available coverage.

Persons: Tommy Lucas, Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo, Lucas, Sean Lovison Organizations: Affordable, American, Center of Budget, Security, Philadelphia Locations: Orlando , Florida

I tend to overspend during the holidays, so I asked a financial planner about spending strategies. AdvertisementEvery year, when November arrives, I start to get stressed out about holiday spending. As I took a closer look at my finances, I realized that it wouldn't make sense to drain my savings account for holiday spending and wondered about other payment strategies to use instead. FOMO makes deals seem overly importantOne of the biggest reasons I often blow through my holiday spending budget is because the deals this time of year seem so great. AdvertisementShe even suggests being transparent with people in your life about your holiday spending and savings.

Persons: —, Shinobu Hindert, it's, Hindert, FOMO, I've Organizations: Service, Brands

☆ Cut your tax bill and revamp income-generating investments with this move
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Tax loss harvesting is a staple of year-end planning. Bonds are ripe for tax loss harvesting in the wake of the Federal Reserve's rate-hiking cycle. Consider that the longer-dated iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) has a year-to-date total return of about -7.3%, while the shorter-term iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) has a total return of roughly 0.7% in 2023, according to Morningstar. "Tax loss harvesting is a silver lining for some of the pain they've been feeling the last couple of years." Bonds and the wash sale rule To benefit from tax loss harvesting, investors must avoid violating the wash sale rule .

Persons: Bonds, Morningstar, Kristy Akullian, Jeffrey Levine, St . Louis, Levine, Jordan Naffa, Naffa, VGSH, Lisa, Kirchenbauer Organizations: Treasury Bond ETF, Bond, BlackRock, Internal, Strategic Wealth, Arista Wealth Management, Treasury, SEC, VGIT, Omega Wealth Management Locations: St ., Las Vegas, Arlington , Va

☆ 56% of Gen Z doesn't have an emergency fund—here's the first thing you should do to build one, according to a CFP
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Annie Probert | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

High inflation and interest rates have made it hard for people of all ages to build up emergency funds, but Gen Z seems to be having a particularly difficult time stashing away cash, a recent Bank of America survey found. In fact, 56% of Gen Zers say they don't have enough savings to cover three months of expenses in the event of an emergency. Given that emergency funds tend to grow as people get older and wealthier, Gen Z's lack of savings doesn't come as a shock to Douglas Boneparth, certified financial planner and president of Bone Fide Wealth. But this doesn't mean that younger generations should procrastinate when it comes to starting an emergency fund. Here are the basics of an emergency fund and why it's important for Gen Z to begin stashing away cash now.

Persons: Gen, Gen Zers, They're, Bankrate, Douglas Boneparth, it's, Z Organizations: of America, Bone, CNBC

☆ Here's how much you can make in 2024 and still pay 0% capital gains taxes
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The IRS on Thursday released dozens of inflation adjustments for 2024, including higher income tax brackets, increased standard deductions and boosted income thresholds for capital gains. For 2024, there are higher thresholds for the 0%, 15% and 20% long-term capital gains brackets, applying to assets owned for more than one year. How to calculate your capital gains tax bracketYou're more likely to fall into the 0% capital gains bracket in 2024 with higher standard deductions and capital gains income thresholds. "It's really quite a bit of capital gains you can receive without paying any tax," said certified public accountant Tom Wheelwright, CEO of WealthAbility. Who may fall into the 0% capital gains bracket

Persons: Tommy Lucas, Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo, Lucas, Tom Wheelwright Organizations: IRS Locations: Orlando , Florida

☆ Exchange-traded funds are among the top 3 investment products that got more popular from 2020, survey finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Getty ImagesExchange-traded funds came in third among the top 10 investment products to grow in popularity with U.S. households from 2020 to 2022, according to a new survey. Additionally, consumers are more aware of what investment products they own compared to a decade ago. Separately managed accounts grew the mostMeanwhile separately managed accounts and high-yield savings accounts beat out ETFs for spots No. 2 in the Hearts & Wallets survey of investment products that grew the most from 2020 to 2022. Meanwhile, high-yields savings accounts speak to the story around inflation and the Federal Reserve increasing rates, which "have been the main headline the last year or so," he said.

Persons: Gen Z, Laura Varas, Douglas, Boneparth, Douglas Boneparth, Blair duQuesnay, duQuesnay Organizations: Getty, Exchange, Finance, Bone, Federal Reserve, FDIC, CNBC's FA, Ritholtz Wealth Management, CNBC FA Locations: U.S, New York, CNBC's

☆ 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

☆ Higher Contribution Limits Are Coming for 401(k) Retirement Plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Ann Carrns | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Even if you can contribute the maximum amount, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should, Mr. McBrien said. You may have other goals to save for besides retirement, said Craig Copeland, director of wealth benefits research at the Employee Benefit Research Institute. Under the Secure 2.0 Act, a law passed late last year, savers earning $145,000 or more who make 401(k) catch-up contributions would have had to make them as pretax Roth contributions starting in 2024. Can I change the amount of my 401(k) contributions after open enrollment? But while health insurance choices are typically fixed for the full year unless you have a big change in your life, many employers let you tweak your retirement contributions at any time.

Persons: don’t, Kyle McBrien, McBrien, ”, Craig Copeland, “, Roth, pretax Roth Organizations: Research

☆ 31% of millionaires say they're part of the middle class, survey finds. 'People feel squeezed,' advisor explains
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Roughly 60% of investors with $1 million or more of investable assets said they are more likely upper middle class, according to a recent Ameriprise Financial survey of more than 3,000 adults. "Many people feel squeezed between higher prices and lower asset prices," said Kim Maez, a certified financial planner and private wealth advisor at Ameriprise. Some even said they feel poor, according to a separate survey conducted by Bloomberg. Of those making more than $175,000 a year, or roughly the top 10% of tax filers, one-quarter said they were either "very poor," "poor" or "getting by but things are tight." Despite their high-net worth, just 44% all millionaires felt "very comfortable," another report by Edelman Financial Engines found.

Persons: Kim Maez, it's, — Organizations: Finance, Bloomberg, Edelman Financial Locations: Ameriprise

☆ Here's why it 'doesn't make financial sense' for Americans living abroad to give up their U.S. citizenship, one expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"It typically doesn't make financial sense, and there's a few reasons why," said Italy-based Alex Ingrim, a financial advisor at Chase Buchanan Wealth Management. While there may be some instances where "the pain of being American" arises in the tax liability, "you're very rarely double-taxed" as an American, Ingrim said. Similarly, if you earn Portuguese income and pay Portuguese income taxes, you will get some credits on your U.S. filing for taxes paid overseas, according to Boudreaux. However, they still have the U.S. tax liability. "For those people, it's a pain, and [they] opt for giving up their citizenship to avoid paying taxes," Ingrim said.

Persons: Alexander Spatari, Alex Ingrim, Ingrim, Jude Boudreaux, expats, Boudreaux, Jordi Mora Igual Organizations: Chase Buchanan Wealth Management, Planning, Social, CNBC FA Locations: Italy, New Orleans, U.S, Portugal, Monaco, Dubai

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Persons: It's, Apex Crypto, It’s, Tessa Campbell, Read Organizations: Forbes, Robinhood, CFP, Invest, Trade, Ideas, Finance, New, Apex, M1 Finance

☆ Closed-end funds can generate income – and they’re cheap. Here’s how they might fit in your portfolio
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Closed-end funds offer a fixed number of shares, but they also trade publicly on exchanges. Right now, a confluence of events is resulting in some sharp discounts for closed-end funds, especially for those that hold bonds. Investors in closed-end funds have shed some of those holdings and that's resulting in sharper discounts to net asset value. Closed-end fund plays Financial advisors have called out closed-end funds holding municipal bonds as a way to add duration on the cheap. Closed-end funds offer other ways to pick up income: Paul Winter, CFP and portfolio manager at Five Seasons Financial Planning, likes funds that use buy-write strategies.

Persons: Dave Lamb, Lamb, Jeffrey Gundlach, Robert Finley, Paul Winter, BOE, Nuveen's Lamb Organizations: Treasury, Western Asset, Muni Fund, Asset Management, Five, Virtus, Strategy, BlackRock Locations: New York, York

You shouldn't expect high-yield savings account interest rates to drop anytime soon. High-yield savings accounts are a great choiceDespite the fact that APYs will likely fall eventually, high-yield savings accounts can still be a really good place to put your money. "By its nature a high-yield savings account will still provide more interest than an ordinary savings account at a major bank," Herzog says. In fact, now may be the time to take advantage and put funds into a high-yield savings account if you haven't already. "If we see more talk of interest rates slowly declining, I think there will be more interest in longer-term securities or options to lock in those interest rates," Valega says.

Persons: —, you'll, we're, Andrew Herzog, Herzog, Catherine Valega, It's, Valega, it's Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve, Fed, Green Bee

☆ Three tips to maximize benefits during open enrollment
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Chris Taylor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

More than two out of three employees (67%) spend less than 30 minutes reviewing benefits options during open enrollment season, while almost half spend less than 20 minutes, a new Voya Financial survey shows. To get enrollment over with quickly, more than 90% of employees click the same options as last year, a new report by insurer Aflac shows. Compound that figure from enrollment every November, and you can see how your options can create a solid financial future or a shaky one. "Open enrollment isn't just a formality. After all, things might have changed since the previous open enrollment.

Persons: Eric Thayer, Sean Lovison, Jack Heintzelman, Spenser Liszt, Liszt, Nate Black, Black, it's, Chris Taylor, Lauren Young, Richard Chang Organizations: Macy's, of Labor Statistics, Employers, Employees, Thomson Locations: New York, Moorestown , New Jersey, Needham Heights , Massachusetts, Dallas

☆ Money market funds are yielding north of 5%. Here's when it may pay to look elsewhere
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Investors can't get enough of money market funds these days due to their attractive yields, which are north of 5%. When money market funds work Those who need easy access to cash could benefit from the money market funds' liquidity, which is one of the asset's biggest advantages, Benz said. However, unlike bank savings accounts, money market funds are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. While money market funds may be yielding more than longer-term Treasurys or investment-grade bonds right now, that isn't necessarily always going to be the case. "Why would someone invest in a 5-year Treasury note when a money market fund is yielding higher?

Persons: Christine Benz, hasn't, Charles Schwab, Hermes, Peter Crane, Benz, Barry Glassman, Glassman, laddering, —, Jesse Pound Organizations: Morningstar, Crane Data, Fidelity, Data, Vanguard, Wealth, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Benz, CNBC

☆ Here are some key open enrollment tips and strategies for employees
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Jimvallee | Istock | Getty ImagesOpen-enrollment workplace checklist ✔ Health insurance ✔ Savings and spending accounts ✔ Dental and vision plans ✔ Life insurance ✔ Disability insurance ✔ Retirement savings ✔ Beneficiary selection1. If your spouse has their own health insurance option at work, you'll want to both sit down and compare the different offerings. Many employees will notice that the health insurance plans offered by their company don't include dental and vision coverage. Consider life, disability insuranceDuring open enrollment, employees will typically also be presented with different disability and life insurance options. Short-term disability coverage is very limited, she said: "Everyone needs long-term disability coverage unless they have enough savings that they could basically retire if they can't work anymore."

Persons: Caitlin Donovan, Gruber, Jean Abraham, Warby Parker, Pat Greenhouse, Abraham, Donovan, you'll, Jonathan Gruber, Louise Norris, Norris, Carolyn McClanahan, McClanahan, Ryan Viktorin, Viktorin Organizations: Istock, Getty, Savings, Patient Advocate, University of Minnesota, Harvard, Boston Globe, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, IRS, Healthinsurance.org, Planning Partners, CNBC's, Pew Research Center, Partners, Fidelity Investments Locations: Cambridge , Massachusetts, Jacksonville , Florida

Your debt-to-income ratio is the percentage of your monthly income that goes toward debt payments. Besides looking at your credit score, payment history, assets, and cash flow, they also consider your debt-to-income ratio. Debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is the percentage of your monthly gross income that goes toward paying existing debts. You can have a DTI ratio as high as 43% and still get approved for a mortgage, though Rose says lenders would ideally like to see a total DTI ratio of 36% or less with 28% going toward housing expenses (front-end DTI). Debt-to-income ratio frequently asked questionsIs 50% a good debt-to-income ratio?

Persons: Scott Bridges, Rose, Jeff Rose

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