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☆ This asset can provide investors hefty yields at a favorable tax rate. Here’s what you should know
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Preferred stocks can offer investors plenty of attractive income – and do so at a favorable tax rate – but they should proceed with caution before adding them to their portfolio. Preferred stocks are hybrid assets, combining attributes of bonds and equities, and their issuers include banks and utilities . He said these securities make up no more than 15% of his clients' fixed income allocation. Preferred investors would be paid before the stockholders, but they are well behind the bondholders in terms of priority. There is also the iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFF) , which has a 30-day SEC yield of 6.33%.

Persons: preferreds, Ken Waltzer, Frank Sileo, Collin Martin, Tapping, Wells Organizations: Wealth, UBS Financial Services, Americas, UBS, Poor's, Schwab Center, Financial Research, Trust Preferred Securities, SEC, Holdings, Barclays, Securities ETF, Citigroup, NextEra Locations: Los Angeles, Wells Fargo, Albemarle

☆ Trump and Biden's first presidential debate: Here's what to expect on taxes
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will face off Thursday in the first presidential debate of the 2024 general election — and the presumptive nominees could show voters where they stand on tax policy, experts say. One key issue is the Republicans' expiring tax breaks enacted via the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, or TCJA. Without action from Congress, several provisions will sunset after 2025, including lower federal income tax brackets, a boosted child tax credit and higher estate and gift tax exemptions, among others. More than 60% of tax filers could face increased taxes in 2026 if TCJA provisions expire, according to the Tax Foundation. Fully extending TCJA provisions could add an estimated $4.6 trillion to the deficit over the next decade, the Congressional Budget Office reported in May.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, —, Andrew Lautz, Trump, expirations Organizations: Tax Foundation, Biden, Finance, IRS, Congressional

☆ IRS watchdog pushes for transparency on pandemic-era small business tax credit backlog
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Erin Collins, national taxpayer advocate at the Taxpayer Advocate Service, speaks at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C., on May 19, 2021. Many taxpayers are experiencing "long delays and uncertainty" amid a backlog of roughly 1.4 million pandemic-era small business tax credit claims, according to the National Taxpayer Advocate. "It’s time for the IRS to be transparent on how and when it plans to move forward addressing these ERC claims," she wrote. Some 85% of pending ERC claims are more than 120 days old. "The IRS is between the proverbial rock and a hard place when it comes to ERC claims," Collins said in a statement.

Persons: Erin Collins, Collins Organizations: Taxpayer Advocate Service, Washington , D.C, National Taxpayer, ERC, IRS, Finance Locations: Washington ,, U.S

☆ Great savers could face a 'tax time bomb' in retirement, advisor says — here's how to avoid it
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

If you're nearing retirement with a large pre-tax 401(k) plan or individual retirement account balance, you need a plan for managing future levies, financial experts say. Great savers could face a "tax time bomb" in retirement when required withdrawals kick in, said certified financial planner Scott Bishop, partner and managing director of Presidio Wealth Partners in Houston. RMDs are typically tied to pre-tax retirement accounts, which incur regular income taxes for withdrawals. Those RMDs could push some retirees into a higher tax bracket, according to Bishop, who is also a certified public accountant. Those lower rates are scheduled to sunset after 2025 without an extension from Congress.

Persons: Scott Bishop, Joe Biden Organizations: Presidio Wealth Partners, Finance Locations: Houston

☆ These companies are likely to reward investors with special dividends and outperformance, Morgan Stanley says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A select group of stocks might be primed to offer investors an appealing combination of unexpected income and price appreciation, according to Morgan Stanley. Special dividends — one-time payments companies make to shareholders outside of their regular dividend cycle — tend to result in higher share prices, according to Todd Castagno, a strategist at Morgan Stanley. Indeed, companies that have distributed these special dividends have seen their share price beat the market by 4.1% in the six months following the announcement, Morgan Stanley found. That outperformance grows to 7.8% in the 12 months after the special dividend news. To that effect, Castagno's team highlighted a group of "special dividend hopefuls" — companies that seem to have the ability to offer these one-time payments.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Todd Castagno, Castagno, Morgan, Brian Nowak, Paychex, Kalei Organizations: Six Flags, Cedar Fair, Google, Wall, Bank of America Locations: Wall, EOG

☆ 401(k) plan savings rates are at record-high levels — here's where your target should be
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The average 401(k) savings rate — including employee deferrals and company contributions — has maintained historic levels as plan designs make it easier for workers to set money aside. In 2023, the average combined savings rate was an estimated 11.7%, which matched a record high from 2022, according to Vanguard's yearly analysis of more than 1,500 qualified plans and nearly 5 million participants. A separate Fidelity report also found record savings with a combined rate of 14.2% for the first quarter of 2024. And 43% of employees increased their savings rate that year, Vanguard reported. In 2023, an estimated 14% of participants hit the 401(k) deferral limit, which was $22,500 for savers under age 50, Vanguard found.

Persons: deferrals, —, Dave Stinnett Organizations: Vanguard, Finance

☆ A rainbow logo isn't enough: How to find financial institutions that actually care about LGBTQ+ people
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( Ryan Ermey | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Rather, look to work with institutions and individuals that are aware of the community's unique financial needs . Some 3 in 10 LGBTQ+ adults (30.8%) say they experienced discrimination when accessing financial services, according to a recent survey from the Human Rights Campaign . In many cases, parade sponsors and participants include financial institutions, from banks to real estate agencies to investment brokerages. Making that process easier is a career goal for Charles Chaffin, a financial psychologist who founded Affirming Advisor — a program designed to help financial firms better serve LGBTQ+ clientele. Vet the firmIf a financial institution is publicly supportive of the LGBTQ+ community, that's certainly a good start, says Jay.

Persons: We've, Chris Jay, you've, Charles Chaffin, —, Chaffin, you'll, that's, Jay Organizations: Merrill, Human, CFP, LGBT Chamber, Commerce, Realtors, CNBC Locations: Seattle

☆ How to pay 0% tax on capital gains pulled from a brokerage account on up to $123,250 of qualified income
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-22 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But, in some cases, you could withdraw from the account and incur zero capital gains tax if you remain within the IRS's specified income brackets, he noted. This means that if you're filing jointly, your income can be as much as $123,250 in 2024 — $29,200 income in tax-free income thanks to the standard deduction plus $94,050 in qualified investment income — and still pay 0% capital gains tax if you have no other income source, Hook noted. If your brokerage account allows you to sell by lots, you can select which shares to sell based on the capital gains they have accumulated, he added. This would allow you to withdraw more while keeping your capital gains low. State income tax rates aren't impacted and will vary depending on where you live.

Persons: Jeremy Schneider, wouldn't, Schneider hasn't, Schneider, Howard Hook, Hook, LIFO, that's Organizations: Service, CFP, CPA, IRS, Social Security

☆ Supreme Court rejects challenge to tax on foreign investments — but avoids wealth tax debate
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

An exterior view of the Supreme Court on June 20, 2024 in Washington, DC. In a closely watched case, the Supreme Court on Thursday denied a challenge to a federal tax on certain foreign investments — but left questions about whether a wealth tax is constitutional. The provision was enacted via the Republicans' 2017 tax overhaul to help pay for the legislation's other tax breaks. While the Supreme Court upheld the tax on the Moores, the justices steered clear of the broader debate on whether a wealth tax is constitutional. He emphasized the limited scope of the opinion and how it only addressed the "precise and narrow question" of the Moore's case.

Persons: Moore, Moores, Xers, haven't, Brett Kavanaugh Organizations: Republicans, Finance, Trump, Moores Locations: Washington , DC, United States, Washington, India

☆ IRS to reject billions of dollars in ‘improper’ pandemic-era small business tax credit claims
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Danny Werfel, IRS commissioner, speaks after being ceremonially sworn in at the IRS headquarters in Washington on April 4, 2023. The IRS will deny billions of dollars' worth of claims for a pandemic-era tax break while working to process lower-risk filings, the agency said on Thursday afternoon. Enacted to support small businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic, the employee retention credit, or ERC, is worth thousands of dollars per eligible employee. However, the agency stopped processing new filings in September amid a surge of "questionable claims," the IRS said in a news release. Overall, compliance efforts for erroneous ERC claims have topped more than $2 billion since last fall, the IRS said.

Persons: Danny Werfel, Xers, Werfel Organizations: IRS, ERC, Finance, Social Security Locations: Washington

☆ If you’re grabbing tax-free income from this asset, you may be sacrificing yield
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Though municipal bonds generally offer income that's free of federal income taxes – and state taxes if the investor resides in the issuing state – they also come with lower yields compared to other bonds. When it comes to muni bonds, the higher your tax bracket, the more valuable the tax-free income is. A tax-conscious approach to fixed income You don't have to bulk up on municipal bonds to get the best yield for your tax scenario. Municipal bonds are good contenders in taxable brokerage accounts, where investors can benefit from their tax-free income. Some fund families offer "tax-aware strategies" either in mutual funds or ETFs, which can include some exposure to municipal bonds, as well as equities.

Persons: Wells Fargo, aren't, Nisha Patel, That's, Collin Martin, Michael Carbone, it's, Beth Foos Organizations: Wells, Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Federal Reserve, SEC, Bond, Corporate Bond, York Life Investments, Schwab Center, Financial Research, Morningstar Locations: Wells Fargo, Chelmsford , Massachusetts

☆ As retirement looms, many Gen Xers are still playing catch-up
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Genna Contino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

About half, or 48%, of Gen Xers say they won't have enough money to enjoy their retirement, a 2024 report from global asset management company Natixis Investment Managers found. Gen X is typically defined as those born between 1965 and 1980. "I think where it's very stressful for [Gen X] is being sandwiched in that tug of war, saving for their retirement as well as helping aging parents," said Marguerita Cheng, a certified financial planner and Gen X mother. Gen X is the first generation of U.S. workers to come of age with 401(k) plans as their primary retirement vehicle after employers largely shifted away from traditional pensions in the 1980s. As retirement approaches, Gen X is feeling the financial squeeze — but financial planners say there are still ways to maximize your savings.

Persons: Gen Xers, they'll, Gen, Marguerita Cheng, Cherry, Cheng Organizations: Natixis Investment, Preston D, Blue, Wealth, CNBC, CoreData Research

☆ Trump tax breaks are set to expire after 2025. Here's what advisors are telling their clients
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

With trillions of dollars in tax breaks scheduled to expire after 2025, financial advisors are working with clients to prepare for the looming tax cliff. Enacted by former President Donald Trump, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, or TCJA, included lower federal income tax brackets, bigger standard deductions and higher gift and estate tax exemptions, among other provisions. If Congress doesn't take action, those tax breaks will sunset after 2025. And if the TCJA provisions expire, more than 60% of tax filers could face increased taxes, according to the Tax Foundation. Here are some tax strategies advisors are discussing with their clients.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jim Guarino, Baker Newman Noyes, Mary, Guarino Organizations: Tax, Finance Locations: Woburn , Massachusetts

☆ Treasury, IRS unveil plan to close ‘major tax loophole’ used by large partnerships
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel testifies before the House Appropriations Committee in Washington, D.C., on May 7, 2024. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS on Monday unveiled a plan to "close a major tax loophole" used by large, complex partnerships, which could raise more than an estimated $50 billion in tax revenue over the next 10 years. "These tax shelters allow wealthy taxpayers to avoid paying what they owe," IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel told reporters on a press call Friday. They also released a revenue ruling on related-party partnership transactions involving basis shifting without "economic substance" for the parties or "substantial business purpose." The plan builds on ongoing IRS efforts to increase audits on the wealthiest taxpayers, large corporations and complex partnerships.

Persons: Danny Werfel, Biden, Janet Yellen Organizations: Washington , D.C, U.S . Department of, Treasury, Finance, Taxpayers, Democrats, Wall, IRS Locations: Washington ,

☆ Jeffrey Gundlach likes this corner of fixed income as the Fed keeps rates high. It's yielding 8%
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The timing of cuts from the Federal Reserve is looking uncertain, but fixed income investor Jeffrey Gundlach has a way to play the theme: BB-rated bank loans. Playing the bank loans space The actual bank loans themselves are made by lending institutions to companies. Rather, large institutional investors snap them up and add them to their fixed income portfolios. The Fed's rate policy presents another wrinkle for bank loans: These loans have a floating coupon rate component. Accessibility through ETFs A fixed income sleeve should include exposure to high-quality bonds.

Persons: Jeffrey Gundlach, We've, Gundlach, FFRHX, Collin Martin Organizations: Federal, SEC, Schwab Center, Financial Research, Exchange, Blackstone Senior Loan Locations: BlackRock

☆ IRS: Taxpayers may avoid a penalty by making a second-quarter estimated payment by June 17
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The second-quarter estimated tax deadline for 2024 is June 17, and you could owe a penalty if you don't send a payment, according to the IRS. You typically owe estimated tax payments for income without withholdings, such as from contract jobs, freelancing or gig economy work, or if you run a small business. But quarterly estimated tax payments are not just for the self-employed or small business owners, experts say. You must make quarterly estimated tax payments if you expect to have at least $1,000 in tax liability or more on your 2024 return. For the 2024 tax year, the estimated tax deadlines are April 15, June 17, Sept. 16 and Jan. 15, 2025.

Persons: Kelly Renner Organizations: Finance, Biden, Partners Locations: Augusta , Georgia

☆ High interest rates could pressure companies to cut dividends. These names may be at risk, Wolfe Research says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Dividend-paying companies might feel compelled to cut their dividends if they're grappling with a lot of debt, as higher rates raise the cost of leverage for companies. He added dividend cuts can also serve as a "clearing event" for a stock, ironically spurring a period of outperformance. See below for a few of the potential contenders for dividend cuts. The stock is down more than 15% in 2024, and it offers a dividend yield of nearly 5%. Shares are up about 17% in 2024, and the stock has a dividend yield of 3.5%.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Chris Senyek, Wolfe, Matthew Boss, Vail, Goldman Sachs, Christine Cho, Nordstrom Organizations: Wolfe Research, Federal, Vail Resorts, JPMorgan, Vail, Nordstrom, Whirlpool, Owl Locations: Wednesday's

☆ Biden economic advisor unveils 'key principles' for tax policy plan ahead of expiring Trump tax cuts
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Director of the National Economic Council Lael Brainard speaks at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 11, 2024. President Joe Biden's top economic advisor on Thursday unveiled plans to address trillions of dollars in expiring tax breaks enacted by former President Donald Trump. Some expiring individual provisions include lower federal income tax brackets, a higher standard deduction, a more generous child tax credit and doubled estate and gift tax exemption, among others. Expiring TCJA provisions could affect all Americans, but Brainard reaffirmed Biden's pledge to extend tax breaks only for those making less than $400,000. By comparison, former President Donald Trump has said he plans to extend all expiring TCJA provisions.

Persons: Lael Brainard, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, Biden, Brainard, Biden's Organizations: National Economic, White, Washington , D.C, Tax, Finance, Fed Locations: Washington ,

☆ Senate Democrats call for higher taxes on Wall Street profits to address federal budget deficit
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa and ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, during a hearing in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. As Congress wrestles with a looming decision over trillions in expiring tax breaks, lawmakers and experts in a Senate Budget Committee hearing debated several Democratic proposals for higher taxes on corporations and wealthy Americans. Proponents said the plans aim to address income inequality and the federal budget deficit. However, many of these proposals, such as reforms to carried interest, have failed to gain broad support even among Democrats, said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. While carried interest reform was originally included in the Inflation Reduction Act, those changes were removed before the bill passed in the Senate.

Persons: Chuck Grassley, Joseph Stiglitz, Sen, Mitt Romney Organizations: Republican, Finance, Biden, Trump, Columbia University, Senate Locations: Iowa, Washington ,, R, Utah

☆ Biden and Trump both want to extend tax cuts for most Americans — but paying for it could be tricky
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Presumptive nominees President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have both pledged to extend expiring tax breaks for most Americans — but questions remain on how to pay for it. Trillions in tax breaks enacted by Trump via the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, or TCJA, will expire after 2025 without action from Congress. Expiring individual provisions include lower federal income brackets, higher standard deductions, a more generous child tax credit and more. But the federal budget deficit will be a "huge sticking point" as the 2025 tax cliff approaches, said Erica York, senior economist and research manager with the Tax Foundation's Center for Federal Tax Policy. The cost of extending major parts of the TCJA has grown about 50% since initial estimates in 2018, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Erica York Organizations: Trump, Tax, Center, Federal Tax, Finance, Congressional, Budget

☆ Nvidia’s wild ride in 2024 is boosting insiders’ wealth. What it could mean for employees holding the stock
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The stock's rise has been a boon to employees and insiders at the chip company who own shares. So-called RSUs provide workers with shares at a future date following a vesting period of typically three to five years. Employers can also offer incentive stock options, which allow employees to buy a specified number of shares at a stated – or strike – price. Workers who exercise their ISOs are also subject to capital gains taxes when they sell the stock they've purchased. Nonqualified stock options are another form of equity compensation.

Persons: Tench Coxe, Blair duQuesnay, they're, Albert J, Campo, – Organizations: Nvidia, Securities and Exchange Commission, Ritholtz Wealth Management, CNBC's, Employees, Workers, CPA, Campo Financial Locations: New Orleans, Freehold , New Jersey

☆ The tax deadline for American expats is June 17 — here are some key things to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

If you're living and working abroad and still need to file 2023 taxes, the deadline is only one week away. While the regular tax deadline was April 15 for most taxpayers, there's an automatic two-month extension to June 17 for those U.S. citizens and resident aliens, including dual citizens, who live outside the country. There are two ways to qualify for the June 17 deadline, according to the IRS. You must live outside of the U.S. and Puerto Rico or serve in the military outside the country during the regular tax deadline. The "fastest and easiest" ways to make payments are via an IRS Online Account, Direct Pay and the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, according to the IRS.

Persons: John Lennon, Mike Wallace Organizations: Finance, Biden, Trump, IRS, Tax Services, Electronic Locations: Puerto Rico

☆ Home equity is near a record high. Tapping it may be tricky due to high interest rates
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

But tapping it may be tough due to high interest rates, according to financial advisors. Reverse mortgageA reverse mortgage is a way for older Americans to tap their home equity. A reverse mortgage is likely best for people who have much of their wealth tied up in their home, advisors said. A home equity conversion mortgage (HECM) is the most common type of reverse mortgage, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. watch nowA reverse mortgage is available as a lump sum, line of credit or monthly installment.

Persons: Selma Hepp, Hepp, Lee Baker, Atlanta . Baker, Kamila Elliott, Grace Cary, Elliott, Baker, Alexander Spatari, Cash Organizations: Getty, Apex Financial Services, Collective Wealth Partners, Consumer Financial, Bureau Locations: Cultura, Atlanta .

☆ Biden vs. Trump: Here's what the next president means for your taxes
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-08 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Howard Gleckman Senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy CenterOf course, future legislative updates, if any, will depend on which party controls Congress. More generous child tax creditAnother expiring TCJA provision is the bigger child tax credit, which some lawmakers have fought to expand in 2024. The TCJA doubled the maximum child tax credit to $2,000, boosted the refundable portion to $1,400 and expanded eligibility. Biden has called for an expansion, but there have been debates in Congress over the child tax credit design, including the amount, eligibility and refundability, said Gleckman. Fully extending the TCJA tax breaks could add an estimated $4.6 trillion to the deficit over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Chip Somodevilla, Alex Wong, Howard Gleckman, Garrett Watson, Biden, Trump, Gleckman, Watson, Lael Brainard Organizations: Urban, Brookings Tax, Tax, Center, Congressional Locations: Lower, China

☆ The utilities sector is up 10% in 2024. These four names still have room to run, Morningstar says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-07 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"We think the market was ignoring and underappreciating what utilities can accomplish," Travis Miller, energy and utilities strategist for Morningstar, told CNBC. Eric Holcomb announced that Microsoft will be constructing a $1 billion data center in La Porte, Indiana. Another name that is due to see a boost from AI data center growth is WEC Energy. The tech giant already has a data center that is under construction in the area, which is expected to open in 2026. "Microsoft's first data center represents 1,000 [megawatts] of electricity load, or over 10% of WEC's current load in the state," wrote Morningstar analyst Andrew Bischof in May.

Persons: Travis Miller, Morningstar, Entergy, Eric Holcomb, Miller, NiSource, Andrew Bischof Organizations: Morningstar . Utilities, CNBC, WEC Energy, Duke Energy, Indiana Gov, Microsoft, NiSource, WEC Locations: Morningstar, Thursday's, La Porte , Indiana, NiSource, Virginia, Mount Pleasant , Wisconsin

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