Core Insights - Homeowners in many U.S. states are facing challenges with rising housing costs, leading to increased foreclosure activity, which rose by 21% year-over-year in November, although it was 3% lower than October levels [1][8] - Foreclosure activity has been increasing for nine consecutive months, indicating a trend of normalization in the housing market as homeowners deal with higher costs and economic pressures [4] Foreclosure Activity by State - Delaware experienced a significant increase in foreclosure activity, rising nearly 159% year-over-year in November, while Nevada saw an increase of almost 26%, New Jersey over 48%, and Florida about 21% [3][8] - Philadelphia reported the highest foreclosure activity in the U.S., with one in every 1,511 housing units in foreclosure, although this spike is attributed to backlogged data [4] Market Conditions - Elevated housing costs and high mortgage rates, currently at 6.18%, have contributed to a frozen market, keeping housing sales at historically low levels, with the median price of existing-home sales in November at $433,175 [7] - The geographic spread of foreclosure activity suggests that it is influenced by nationwide affordability challenges and localized market pressures rather than a single regional factor [5]

KEY TAKEAWAYS If you did not withhold enough federal income taxes from your paychecks throughout the year, come April 2026, you may have a significant tax bill. However, I would say, if they're just now looking at that, they're about eight months late. Tax planning should be something you're doing all along. For our clients, one of the things we recommend is…to get their withholdings right. The idea behind it is to have enough withheld from each pay period so that when you get to the end, you're at a nomina ...

Core Insights - The Social Security Administration distributes benefits to nearly 74 million individuals each month, with payment schedules primarily based on beneficiaries' birth dates [1][6] - For those who began receiving retirement, spousal, or survivor benefits before May 1997, payments are typically issued on the 3rd of each month [1][6] Payment Schedule - Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for January will be made on December 31, 2025, due to the New Year's Day holiday [3][7] - Payments for January will be distributed as follows: - January 2: Benefits for those collecting since before May 1997 [7] - January 14: Benefits for individuals born between the 1st and 10th of any month [7] - January 21: Benefits for individuals with birthdays between the 11th and 20th of any month [7] - January 28: Benefits for individuals with birthdays between the 21st and 31st of any month [7] - January 30: SSI payments for February will be issued [7] Importance of Payment Timing - Knowing the payment schedule is crucial for Social Security beneficiaries, as they rely on fixed incomes to manage their budgets and financial obligations [2]

Core Insights - A prominent strategist argues that the real poverty line for a family of four is $140,000, significantly higher than the official federal threshold of $32,150, indicating a disconnect between traditional measures and modern economic realities [1][8]. Economic Context - The analysis highlights that families earning six figures often face financial struggles, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with the economy, even among those with above-average incomes [4]. - Rising costs in housing, health care, and child care have increasingly consumed family budgets, overshadowing food expenses, which accounted for only 12.9% of a typical household's expenditures in 2023 [4]. Methodology and Findings - The original poverty line formula, established in the 1960s, is based on food costs, but the strategist recalibrated it to reflect current living expenses, suggesting that the real poverty line is 16 times the amount needed for food, estimating it between $130,000 and $150,000 [5]. - A family of four's average annual spending on essential living expenses, including child care, housing, food, transportation, health care, and taxes, totals approximately $136,500 [5]. Alternative Measures - The Census Bureau has developed the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), which considers a broader range of necessities, with the SPM poverty line for renters in 2023 set at $37,482, which is significantly lower than the strategist's estimate [7].

The U.S. dollar could see a bit more weakness in 2026, analysts say, continuing its decline after President Donald Trump's tariff plans in April surprised markets. Key Takeaways The dollar weakened as much as 10% this year against a basket of foreign currencies, though it's retraced some of those losses recently and is now down 7% year-to-date. The drop was far from the doomsday "de-dollarization†scenarios that some floated after April—global trade and markets still rely on the U.S. dollar. It did, however, ...

Economic Indicators - The minutes from the December Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting will provide insights into the Fed's economic outlook ahead of its next meeting in late January [4] - Weekly jobless claims report is expected to highlight the labor market, with the U.S. economy likely losing an average of 20,000 jobs per month between April and September [4] - Pending home sales data for November will indicate future sales levels in a housing market facing affordability challenges [5] Market Trends - The first trading session of 2026 is anticipated to follow a year where major stock indexes closed higher by double digits after a recovery from an April downturn [2] - Analysts predict another volatile year for stocks, with strong trading in December and January potentially setting the tone for investors [2] Upcoming Events - Key economic reports scheduled for the week include pending home sales on Monday, the S&P Case-Shiller home price index on Tuesday, and initial jobless claims on Wednesday [5][9] - Bond markets will close early at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, while stock markets will operate normally on New Year's Eve [1]

Core Insights - The decision on when to collect Social Security benefits is crucial for retirement planning, with early collection at age 62 providing a longer payment duration, while waiting until full retirement age (67 for those born in 1960 or later) can significantly increase monthly benefits [1] Group 1: Timing of Benefits - Individuals should not assume that age 62 or age 70 is the optimal time to take benefits, as only about 5% to 7% of people wait until age 70, while 20% to 25% take benefits at age 62 [2] - The decision should consider individual circumstances, including health status, work situation, and the financial needs of both spouses in a married couple [3] Group 2: Survivor Benefits and Break-Even Analysis - For couples, the age difference can influence the decision; for example, if the younger spouse is significantly younger, collecting at age 62 may be beneficial to secure survivor benefits before reaching the break-even point [4] Group 3: Changes in Social Security for 2026 - Starting in 2026, the earnings limit before benefits are affected will increase from $23,400 to $24,480, with a penalty of $1 withheld for every $2 earned if under full retirement age [5] - The earnings limit in the year one reaches full retirement age will rise from $62,160 to $65,160, with $1 withheld for every $3 earned [6] - A 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be effective, although it will not reflect in checks until the following month [6] Group 4: Senior Tax Deductions - A new senior tax deduction of $6,000 will be available for individuals aged 65 or older starting in 2025, applicable regardless of whether they receive Social Security benefits [8] - For joint tax returns, couples can deduct $12,000 from their adjusted gross income (AGI), with a phase-out beginning at $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for couples [9]

Core Insights - Target's shares experienced a rise of over 2% following reports of Toms Capital Investment Management taking a stake in the company, making it one of the top gainers in the S&P 500 on that day [1][5] Company Performance - Target has faced significant challenges in 2025, with shares losing more than 25% of their value [4] - The company is expecting a year-over-year decline in sales for the fourth quarter after already experiencing a drop in the third quarter [4] Investor Sentiment - Activist investors typically target companies with declining shares, aiming to influence changes that could improve performance, making Target a fitting candidate given its recent struggles [2] - The size of Toms Capital's stake in Target has not been disclosed, and the company has not provided further comments on the matter [2][5] Company Strategy - Target has stated its commitment to returning to growth through three strategic priorities: enhancing merchandising authority, improving the shopping experience, and leveraging technology [3]

Core Insights - Nvidia has entered a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Groq, which allows Groq to remain independent while key executives join Nvidia to enhance the licensed technology [1][5] - The deal is seen as a positive indicator for Nvidia's business, which has been experiencing significant growth, and includes a multibillion-dollar investment [1] Financial Impact - Nvidia's shares rose by more than 1.5% following the announcement, contributing to a 40% increase in stock value for 2025 [2] - Reports suggest Nvidia is acquiring Groq's assets for approximately $20 billion, marking it as Nvidia's largest acquisition to date [2] Market Outlook - Analysts maintain a bullish outlook on Nvidia's stock, with a mean price target of $254, significantly higher than the recent trading price of around $191 [4] - Nvidia's market capitalization remains above $4.6 billion, solidifying its position as the world's most valuable company [4]

Core Insights - Coupang's stock rose approximately 9% following an update on a recent cyberattack, which indicated that customer payment information was not compromised [1][2] - The cyberattack exposed personal data of around 33 million customers, but the company confirmed that only limited user data from 3,000 accounts was retained and subsequently deleted [3][4] - The hacker was identified as a former employee who confessed, and the only data taken were 2,609 building entrance codes, with no payment data or login information being collected [4][5] Investor Relevance - The market reacted positively to the news that the cyberattack's impact was less severe than initially feared, leading to a recovery in Coupang's stock price [2] - Following the breach announcement on December 1, the company's shares had fallen to their lowest levels since April, but have since increased by about 13% year-to-date [3]