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☆ Get the most out of these tax-favored accounts in 2025
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Benefits enrollment season is here, and with it comes an opportunity for workers to tune up their workplace savings plans and sock away more money on a tax-favored basis. Traditional tax-deferred accounts, like 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts, are just the beginning for savers. As tempting as it may be for savers to plow money into HSAs and other tax-favored accounts, they'll need to draw up a strategy before they do so. They can also earmark additional funds toward 529 college savings plans and taxable brokerage accounts. In a tax-deferred account, investors won't be on the hook for the tax bill until they begin drawing down from it.

Persons: Marguerita Cheng, Cheng Organizations: Devenir, Blue, Global Wealth, UBS, Chief Investment Locations: Gaithersburg , Maryland

☆ Here's what a new Trump administration could mean for your money, financial advisors say
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Leah Millis | ReutersNow that Donald Trump has been elected president, many individual investors are wondering what that means for their money. Yet, when it comes to long-term performance of the markets and policies that Trump proposed on the campaign trail, financial advisors say it's best to take a wait-and-see approach before making any big money decisions. Lee Baker, a CFP and owner of Claris Financial Advisors in Atlanta, said he's also told clients not to make wholesale financial changes now. Many investors expect Trump to lead with faster economic growth and more market-friendly policies, said Francis during a Friday webcast on what Trump's presidency could mean for investors' money. While those policies would put more money in Americans' pockets, Francis noted, other experts say it's too soon to count on those changes.

Persons: Donald Trump, Leah Millis, Trump, Jude Boudreaux, Boudreaux, Lee Baker, he's, Baker, I've, Stacy Francis, Francis Financial, Francis, it's, Marguerita Cheng, Cheng, Trump's, David Haas, CNBC.com Organizations: Trump, U.S . Capitol, Reuters, Dow Jones, CNBC FA, Claris Financial, Francis, Blue, Global Wealth, Social Security, Cereus Financial, Security Locations: U.S, Washington , U.S, New Orleans, Atlanta, New York City, Gaithersburg , Maryland, Franklin Lakes , New Jersey

☆ As nervous investors worry about the presidential election, public debt is a top concern financial advisors say
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

- | Afp | Getty ImagesMany investors worry about how the outcome of the presidential election will impact their investments. But there's another risk financial advisors are focused on — public debt, according to a new survey from Natixis Investment Managers. The term public debt is used interchangeably by the U.S. Treasury with national debt and federal debt. Experts say there are certain moves individual investors can make to limit the financial exposure they have to those broader risks. For investors who worry the country's debt may lead to slow growth, it can help to add international exposure to a portfolio, Cheng said.

Persons: —, they're, Dave Goodsell, Marguerita Cheng, Cheng, Goodsell, Bonds, Barry Glassman, Glassman, Roth, Pare Organizations: Elena Bozeman Government, Afp, Getty, Natixis Investment, Natixis Center, Investor Insight, U.S, Treasury, Social Security, Blue, Global Wealth, CNBC FA Council, Wealth Services, CNBC FA Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, Gaithersburg , Maryland

☆ I went to the latest version of Amazon Fresh and can't see what sets it apart from other grocery stores
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-28 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Amazon Fresh appears to be opening new stores again. I visited a recently opened Fresh store to see whether shopping there is better than a year ago. AdvertisementAmazon's push to build its own chain of grocery stores seems to be gaining some new momentum lately. In August, for instance, Amazon opened Fresh stores in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Roseville, California. Do you work at Amazon Fresh or another part of Amazon's grocery business and have a story idea to share?

Persons: —, Andy Jassy Organizations: Service, Amazon, Bloomberg Locations: Gaithersburg , Maryland, Roseville , California

☆ How investors can prepare for lower interest rates: It's 'like getting a haircut,' advisor says
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Lower interest rates are "generally positive for stocks," said Marguerita Cheng, a CFP and chief executive of Blue Ocean Global Wealth, based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Considerations for cash, bonds and stocksFalling interest rates generally means investors can expect lower returns on their "safer" money, advisors said. High interest rates have meant investors enjoyed fairly lofty returns on these lower-risk holdings. Winnie Sun co-founder and managing director of Sun Group Wealth PartnersHowever, such returns are expected to fall alongside declining interest rates, advisors said. "They'll be crying in six months when interest rates are a lot lower," she said.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Andrew Harnik, Winnie Sun, Lee Baker, Powell, Stephen Brown, Marguerita Cheng, Sun, Powell didn't, Ted Jenkin, Carolyn McClanahan Organizations: Getty, Sun Group Wealth Partners, Financial Advisors, Finance, North, Capital Economics, Blue, Sun Group Wealth, Planning Partners Locations: Irvine , California, Atlanta, Jackson Hole , Wyoming, U.S, North America, Gaithersburg , Maryland, Jacksonville , Florida

☆ 30-year-old was laid off from her hotel job, now earns $125,000 without a bachelor's degree thanks to this one skill
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-21 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ayana Dunlap changed careers and increased her earning potential over the course of a summer — and she did it without a bachelor's degree, or spending a dime. Suddenly, the hospitality career Dunlap had dreamed of having since she was a teenager seemed "impossible" to return to. Dunlap says she was worried her job opportunities would be limited without a bachelor's degree. She has an associate's degree in business administration and had exclusively worked in hospitality up to that point. The most important skill that helped Dunlap land a six-figure tech job without a bachelor's degree, she says, is cybersecurity.

Persons: Ayana Dunlap, Dunlap, She's Organizations: Google, Bank Policy Institute, CNBC Locations: Virginia, Scholas, New York, Gaithersburg , Maryland, Washington ,, Dunlap

☆ If you’re investing in the AI theme for the long haul, here’s how to pick the winners
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Artificial intelligence has shaken up the investing landscape since the groundbreaking launch of ChatGPT in November 2022. Since then, investors have poured money into all things related to AI as they hunt for the next big winners. AI is poised to be a central theme as the technology transitions from early-stage winners to second-stage adopters. When it comes to chip stocks, Schleif also recommends taking a look at government grants. She highlighted the Global X Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (BOTZ) , the First Trust Nasdaq AI and Robotics ETF (ROBT) and the Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (AIQ).

Persons: Tesla, Nvidia —, Jay Woods, Carol Schleif, Schleif, Joe Biden, Nancy Tengler, Marguerita Cheng, BMO's Organizations: ChatGPT, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Big Tech, Nasdaq, Freedom Capital, BMO Family Office, Samsung Electronics, Intel, Investors, Tengler, IBM, Blue, Global Wealth, Robotics, Intelligence, Technology Locations: Texas, Gaithersburg , Maryland

☆ This move could help protect your portfolio from volatility as stocks trade near their highs
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

There's a party happening in stocks in 2024, and though investors may be reluctant, it could be time to think of taking a few chips off the table. My portfolio has recovered [from 2022],'" said Marguerita Cheng, certified financial planner and CEO of Blue Ocean Global Wealth in Gaithersburg, Maryland. "I tell people we're not selling everything, but we need to give the portfolio the TLC it deserves – this is the fine-tuning of your portfolio," she added. Be tax aware: Investors may be wary of selling highly appreciated holdings within their taxable accounts, which can incur levies on capital gains. Cheng of Blue Ocean has been turning toward dividend payers, as well as small and midcap stocks.

Persons: There's, they're, Marguerita Cheng, it's, Morningstar, Carla Adams, –, Sean Lovison, Cheng, Russell, Matson, – that's, It's, Jon Ulin Organizations: Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Netflix, Blue, Global Wealth, CNBC's, CFP, Ametrine, Investors, redeploy, Pfizer, Micron Technology, Holdings, Federal Reserve, Ulin, Wealth Management Locations: Gaithersburg , Maryland, Lake Orion , Michigan, Moorestown , New Jersey, SDVY, Boise, Boca Raton , Florida

☆ 29-year-old was laid off from her hotel job in 2020—now she makes $125,000 working in tech, without a bachelor’s degree
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Ayana Dunlap has been working in tech since 2020. Even though she doesn't have the job she wanted as a kid, Dunlap found a different vocation she loves: technology. Dunlap didn't consider turning her knack for computers into her career until she was laid off from her sales job in June 2020. While working there, Dunlap was tasked with helping organizations prepare to return to the office, by setting up their desktops, routers and printers on-site. Some of the skills that helped Dunlap transition into tech without a bachelor's degree included oft skills she learned while working in hotels, namely, communication and customer service.

Persons: Ayana Dunlap, Dunlap, lockdowns, doesn't, she's, Weeks, Dyanne Organizations: Bank Policy Institute, CNBC, Montgomery County Community College, Washington , D.C, Widewaters Hotel, Magna Hospitality Group, Google Locations: Washington, AskMakeIt@cnbc.com, Cheltenham , Pennsylvania, Montgomery, Blue Bell , Pennsylvania, Washington ,, D.C, Scholas, New York, Gaithersburg , Maryland, Dunlap

☆ This tax-smart charitable donation strategy is like 'hitting two birds with one stone,' advisor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The strategy, known as qualified charitable distributions, or QCDs, allows retirees to transfer money from an individual retirement account to an eligible nonprofit organization. "It's like hitting two birds with one stone," said certified financial planner Sean Lovison, founder of Philadelphia-area Purpose Built Financial Services. If you're age 70½ or older, you can use a QCD to donate up to $100,000 for 2023. How QCDs provide a tax breakSince 2018, there's been a higher standard deduction, which makes it tougher to claim a tax break for charitable gifts. If you're age 73 or older, QCDs can also cover your required minimum distributions, which otherwise would have boosted income, experts say.

Persons: there's, Sean Lovison, Marguerita Cheng, Kevin Brady, aren't, Ольга Носова Organizations: Blue, Global Wealth, CNBC's, Social Security, Wealthspire Advisors Locations: Philadelphia, Gaithersburg , Maryland, New York

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

☆ The 15 U.S. cities with the highest cost of living—San Francisco isn't No. 1
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A composite score of 100 is the national average, and any score higher than 100 is above average. In Honolulu and San Francisco, other cities known for extreme housing costs, they're about three times the national average. Many of these affluent families reside in Manhattan and are able to afford opulent homes, pushing up average housing costs. In addition to housing, Manhattan has the highest miscellaneous living costs, including expenses like entertainment, alcohol and apparel. Data for the Cost of Living Index was collected from Jan. 1 through March 31, 2023.

Persons: Francisco's, Queens —, Warren Buffett Organizations: Council for Community, New, Honolulu :, Angeles, Diego :, Queens Locations: Manhattan, U.S, York, New York, Honolulu, Francisco, Brooklyn, Orange County , California, Long, Washington, Boston, Seattle, Diego, Arlington , Virginia, Oakland , California, Queens, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Frederick , Maryland, Nassau County , New York, San Francisco, — Brooklyn, Harlingen , Texas

☆ What to know when your child starts school during a deadly heat wave
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Millions of children are heading to school in August during the worst heat wave in recorded human history. Despite excessive heat, school is a necessity for a child’s emotional, mental, social and educational achievement, a lesson well learned during the pandemic, experts say. Worried families can best prepare their children to attend school in a heat wave by being aware of their school’s facilities and needs. Parents and caregivers should investigate the cooling conditions at their child’s school and advocate for change if needed, Patel said. Teach your child the warning signsEven if your child’s school is cool, many youngsters attend recess or participate in after-school activities that may be outdoors.

Persons: ”, Lisa Patel, Patel, Mike Pickens, ” Pickens, Prabu, ” Patel, Selvam, ” Selvam, premoistened, “ Organizations: CNN, Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, Medical Society, Health, Our, National Council, School, HealthCare, San Francisco Unified, ” Locations: Atlanta, San Bernardino , California, California, Phoenix, Maricopa County , Arizona, New Orleans, Baton Rouge , Louisiana, United States, Gaithersburg , Maryland, San Francisco, Texas

☆ The G.O.P. Backed Him on Hunter Biden Claims. Now He Has Been Indicted.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Glenn Thrush | More About Glenn Thrush | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Luft has denied any wrongdoing, and claims he only became a subject of Justice Department scrutiny after discussing the Hunter Biden investigation with prosecutors who met with him in Belgium in 2019. But prosecutors painted a portrait of Mr. Luft, who split his time between Israel and Washington, as an unscrupulous political fixer working for China who made much of his cash as a back-channel arms and oil broker. He told an associate that the unwillingness of U.S. officials to sell weapons to Kenya provided them with an “opportunity” for profit, prosecutors said. In one instance, Mr. Luft received a letter telling him explicitly that a shipment of the oil was Iranian but that it should be “be presented as U.A.E. origin without Iranian papers,” according to the filing.

Persons: Luft, Hunter Biden, Mr Organizations: United Arab Emirates, Institute, Global Security, Justice Department Locations: Belgium, Israel, Washington, China, Libya, Kenya, Iran, Gaithersburg, Md, Beijing

☆ Term life insurance is often best, financial advisors say — but most people buy another kind
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Supersizer | E+ | Getty ImagesHow term and permanent life insurance differLife insurance is a form of financial protection that pays money to beneficiaries, such as kids or a spouse, if a policyholder dies. Term insurance only pays out a death benefit during a specified term, perhaps 10, 20 or 30 years. By contrast, permanent insurance policies — such as whole life and universal life — offer continuous coverage until the policyholder dies. Most people just need term insurance. Carolyn McClanahan founder of Life Planning PartnersSome shoppers buy permanent life insurance for the cash value, thinking they can borrow against that cash value or use it as a retirement savings account.

Persons: They're, Marguerita Cheng, McClanahan, Carolyn McClanahan Organizations: Planning Locations: Gaithersburg , Maryland

☆ Novavax surges more than 25% after company unveils job cuts, positive vaccine data
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A health worker prepares a dose of the Novavax vaccine as the Dutch Health Service Organization starts with the Novavax vaccination program on March 21, 2022 in The Hague, Netherlands. The company's Covid vaccine is its lone marketed product after 35 years in business. The company reported R&D expenses of $258 million and SG&A expenses of $162 million last year. The company raced against Pfizer and Moderna to develop the first Covid vaccine early in the pandemic. Novavax's shot is the first Covid vaccine to use protein technology, a decades-old method for fighting viruses used in routine vaccinations against hepatitis B and shingles.

☆ Her dad was diagnosed with cancer. This teen has donated thousands of books to kids in hospitals
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Faith Karimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

At the age of 17, Emily launched a neighborhood book drive in honor of her dad, Mike Bhatnagar. Her initial goal was to collect books for children undergoing cancer treatment, but she’s expanded it to all patients under 18. The neighborhood book drive that began with a lone teen in a cloud of despair over her dad’s illness has grown into a nationwide initiative. “We are grateful to have been chosen by Emily … Hospitals are a scary place for kids, and the books will help enhance the healing environment.”Whenever possible, Emily specifies the books go to hospitals with pediatric cancer units. Her not-so-little book drive is teaching her how to run a nonprofit and build relationships with community leaders.

☆ After SVB and Signature failures, what small businesses should look for when choosing a bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Sarah O'Brien | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Employees stand outside of the shuttered Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) headquarters on March 10, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. The same holds true for customers of Signature Bank, which was shut down by regulators Sunday. Yet they now need to find another place to keep their money — and they and other small firms may fear a similar calamity elsewhere. For starters, the message is that when a bank fails, customer deposits will be covered for an unlimited amount, Boneparth said. FDIC coverage may be enough for some firmsAdditionally, for some small businesses, the FDIC coverage at their bank should be sufficient.

☆ Employers can use this retirement perk as a ‘stepping stone’ to a 401(k), says advisor
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Visualspace | E+ | Getty ImagesSmall business owners today may feel they're getting pulled in two directions: stuck between wanting to offer a retirement benefit to their workers but feeling unable to afford costs associated with a 401(k) plan. But entrepreneurs scared by the affordability of maintaining a 401(k) plan can instead consider an alternative workplace retirement plan known as a SIMPLE IRA, said Marguerita Cheng, a certified financial planner based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The plans — formally known as a Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees — don't carry the startup and operating costs of a "conventional" retirement plan, according to the IRS. watch nowEmployers are more pressured these days to offer a retirement benefit to stay competitive in a hot labor market, Cheng said. SIMPLE IRAs are also "a great stepping stone" to a 401(k) in the future, if an employer wants to make their offering more "robust," she said.

☆ Covid vaccine maker Novavax says it may not survive
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Paul R. La Monica | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Novavax, which makes the Nuvaxovid vaccine used to treat Covid-19, posted huge sales gains for the past three years during the height of the pandemic. But the company is now facing serious financial challenges — and has even warned it may not be able to survive. Shares of Novavax (NVAX) plunged more than 25% in early morning trading to a new multi-year low of under $7. Novavax hit a 52-week high of about $91 last year and was trading above $330 in February 2021. Novavax isn’t the only Covid-vaccine maker to disappoint Wall Street, though.

☆ Macy's is closing another batch of stores in 2023 — here's the full list
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Avery Hartmans | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Macy's will close four additional stores across the country in the first quarter of 2023. Macy's has been experimenting with opening smaller concept stores outside of suburban malls. A Macy's spokesperson told Insider that employees at the affected stores would be offered roles at nearby stores or severance packages. Macy's closed stores in 2020, 2021, and 2022, including seven locations in January of last year. The department store chain has been experimenting with opening smaller, trendier concept stores known as Market by Macy's, which are located outside of suburban shopping malls.

☆ It's time to boost 401(k) contributions for 2023: 'You're smart to jump on this,' says advisor
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

If you're eager to boost your retirement savings, there's good news for 2023: higher 401(k) contribution limits. And now is the time to adjust your deferrals, financial experts say. You can funnel $22,500 into your 401(k), 403(b) and other such plans for 2023, up from the $20,500 limit in 2022. "Most people set [401(k) contributions] once and never look back." If you aim to max out 401(k) contributions for 2023, it may pay off to start early, as spreading it out may be easier than contributing more later in the year.

☆ Pilot's 911 call reveals moments after small plane crashed into Maryland power tower
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Chantal Da Silva | Chantal Da Silva Is A Breaking News Editor For Nbc News Digital Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

It’s one of the electrical towers," the pilot told dispatchers in a 911 call made public by the Montgomery County Police, according to NBC Washington. “Totally a visibility issue," he said, according to NBC Washington. "That was the ultimate goal, and I hope you guys are doing good," Manion said in a message addressed to the pilot and passenger. The Mooney M20J single-engine plane was initially reported down about 4 miles northwest of Montgomery County Airpark at about 5:40 p.m. Sunday, according to troopers and the Federal Aviation Administration. Both were rushed to trauma care following their rescue, Montgomery County Fire Department officials previously said at a news conference.

A small airplane with two people on board was dangling an estimated 100 feet above ground Sunday night after the aircraft struck a tower supporting high-voltage power lines. The two were not injured and were communicating with first responders as they awaited rescue, Maryland State Police said in a statement. A small plane with two people aboard sits lodged in a power line pole Sunday evening in Montgomery County, Maryland. "Arriving troopers found the plane suspended in the air, entangled in a power line tower," state police said in the statement. What caused the small plane to go down was under investigation by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.

☆ 3 lesser-known ways to trim your 2022 tax bill or boost your refund before year-end
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"It's always exciting to reap the rewards of hard work by getting a year-end bonus," said Lisa Greene-Lewis, a CPA and tax expert with TurboTax. However, by receiving the money in January, you may reduce 2022 income without waiting too long for the funds, assuming your company allows it, she said. Prepay future medical expenses for a deductionIt's not easy to claim the medical expense deduction. For 2022, there's a tax break for unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Of course, you'll need to project your adjusted gross income, total itemized deductions and tally your previous 2022 medical expenses first.

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