When it comes to tax planning, especially if you’re an investor, awareness can make a huge difference between success and failure. “Paying attention to timing, account types and how different decisions interact can make a meaningful difference over time, even if no single move feels dramatic on its own,” said Taylor Kovar, certified financial planner (CFP), CEO of 11 Financial. Here’s a look at five expert-backed tax optimization tricks for investors to consider now that the new year is here. Maximize ...

Core Insights - Social Security can be utilized beyond basic expenses, providing opportunities for investment and charitable giving [1][2] Investment Strategies - Retirees can invest surplus Social Security payments into income-generating assets to enhance portfolio longevity, with recommendations for Treasury securities, real estate, and dividend-paying stocks [3][4] - Diversified funds like exchange-traded funds and real estate investment trusts are suggested as low-cost investment options [4] - High-yield savings accounts and conservative bond funds are recommended for short-term needs, while Roth IRAs can provide tax-free growth for those with covered near-term expenses [5] Charitable Giving - Extra Social Security income can be directed towards charitable contributions, allowing retirees to support causes they care about [6][7] - Strategic charitable giving can offer tax benefits, such as charitable bunching or establishing a Donor Advised Fund [7] Legacy Planning - Surplus Social Security income can be used for legacy planning, enabling retirees to gift money to family members or grow their estates [8]

Core Insights - FAT Brands Foundation raised over $15,000 through its holiday giving campaign to support Feeding America, aiding in the fight against food insecurity [1] - The foundation has awarded over 165 grants since its inception in 2023, totaling over $750,000 in funding to non-profits across 24 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico [1] Company Overview - FAT Brands is a leading global franchising company that owns 18 restaurant brands, including Johnny Rockets, Fatburger, and Round Table Pizza, with over 2,300 units worldwide [3] - The company focuses on acquiring, marketing, and developing various dining concepts, including fast casual and casual dining [3] FAT Brands Foundation - Established in 2022, the FAT Brands Foundation aims to uplift communities where FAT Brands operates by partnering with local non-profits to provide essential programs [4] - The foundation emphasizes charitable initiatives both locally and nationally, seeking to enhance its impact in the community [4] Feeding America - Feeding America is a nationwide network dedicated to addressing food insecurity, supporting millions of people through food banks and meal programs [5] - The organization advocates for legislation to improve food security and invests in solutions to increase access to nutritious food [5]

Core Viewpoint - Aritzia Inc. is conducting a bought deal offering of 1,537,000 subordinate voting shares at an offering price of $130.20 per share, resulting in total gross proceeds of approximately $200.1 million for the selling shareholders, primarily for estate planning, investment diversification, and charitable purposes [2][3][4]. Group 1: Offering Details - The offering will be underwritten by BMO Capital Markets, and the company will not receive any proceeds from this offering [2][3]. - An over-allotment option allows the underwriter to purchase an additional 230,550 shares within 30 days of the offering's closing [2][4]. - The offering is expected to close around January 29, 2026, and a preliminary short form prospectus will be filed by January 19, 2026 [5]. Group 2: Shareholder Information - Following the offering, Brian Hill will remain the largest shareholder with approximately 15.9% equity interest [3][12]. - The total number of subordinate voting shares outstanding will be 97,286,183, and multiple voting shares will be 18,392,244 after the offering [4][12]. - The Hill Entities currently hold no subordinate voting shares but possess 19,679,244 multiple voting shares, representing a voting interest of approximately 67.3% [11]. Group 3: Company Overview - Aritzia is a design house known for its innovative global platform and offers a range of exclusive brands under the concept of "Everyday Luxury" [7][8]. - The company operates over 125 boutiques across North America and emphasizes personalized shopping experiences [8].

Charitable Giving Strategies - Fidelity discusses tax-smart charitable giving strategies, influenced by recent tax legislation [1] - The discussion includes new opportunities in charitable giving due to recent tax law changes [1] - The video addresses the benefits of donating stocks or cryptocurrency [1] - Fidelity explains how to maximize the tax benefits of charitable giving [1] - Charitable giving can assist with required minimum distributions (RMDs) [1] Tax Legislation Impact - New tax legislation affects charitable giving strategies [1] - The video advises on how new tax laws should influence charitable giving this year [1] Resources and Engagement - Viewers can ask questions in the comments section [1] - Additional insights and market perspectives are available on Fidelity's website [1] - Fidelity encourages viewers to subscribe on YouTube and follow them on various social media platforms [1]

Philanthropic Trends - Charitable giving reached an all-time record of $590 billion [1] - Corporate giving is at its highest level in 40 years, driven by its role as a business strategy [1] - Giving Tuesday saw a 13% year-over-year increase, with $4 billion donated by 38 million people [1] - Individual giving is also on the rise, alongside corporate giving [3] - Donor advised funds are growing, with expectations of a 10-20% year-over-year increase [3] Corporate Giving Strategies - 50% of young adults are more likely to buy from brands that give back [2] - Almost 60% of consumers are willing to pay more for products from companies that do good [2] - 70% of employees want to work for companies that give back and offer matching gift programs [6] - Matching gifts are increasing, including those tied to consumer programs [6] New Charitable Vehicles - New government vehicles for charity, such as "Trump accounts," are emerging, potentially impacting traditional charities [8][9][10]

Core Points - Dave Inc. has made a donation of $250,000 to Baby2Baby, a nonprofit organization that provides essential items to children living in poverty, bringing its lifetime contributions to nearly $22 million [1][4] - The donation supported Baby2Baby's annual Gala, which raised a record $18.5 million, aimed at helping one million children across the U.S. during times of crisis and economic uncertainty [2][3] - Baby2Baby has distributed over 500 million essential items to children in need across all 50 states over the past 14 years, responding to over 100 disasters and emergencies [3][7] Company Overview - Dave Inc. is a leading neobank and fintech company serving millions of everyday Americans, utilizing disruptive technologies to offer banking services at lower costs compared to traditional banks [6] - The company emphasizes its commitment to improving the economic well-being of Americans, helping families not only meet basic needs but also work towards long-term financial health [4][6] Nonprofit Overview - Baby2Baby is a nonprofit organization that provides children in need with diapers, formula, clothing, and other basic necessities, serving over one million children across the U.S. [7] - The organization has been recognized for its innovative approach and impact, earning accolades such as being named the 1 nonprofit on Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies List [7]

Group 1 - The article discusses the increasing importance of charitable donations during the year-end season, highlighting that many organizations rely on these contributions to achieve financial stability [1] - The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) has led to a decline in donor participation by nearly doubling the standard deduction and limiting itemized deductions, which has reduced the number of taxpayers who itemize their deductions [2][3] - The Dells' recent pledge of $6.25 billion for "Trump Accounts" represents one of the largest philanthropic commitments in U.S. history, aimed at supporting children's accounts created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) [5][6] Group 2 - The Trump accounts, established under OBBBA, allow contributions of up to $5,000 per year, with additional contributions possible from employers, which do not count towards the annual limit [8][7] - The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) program, designed to assist businesses during the pandemic, has faced significant delays and complexities, with the National Taxpayer Advocate urging the IRS to resolve outstanding claims by the end of 2025 [23][27][28] - The IRS has been criticized for its handling of ERC claims, with many businesses still awaiting refunds, highlighting the need for timely processing and clarity in eligibility [24][26][27]

Retail & Consumer Trends - The Thanksgiving weekend saw a record of nearly 203 million shoppers, up from 197 million last year, indicating strong consumer demand driven by promotional deals [3][4] - 54% of shoppers took advantage of early holiday sales, potentially impacting December sales due to front-loading [8] - Consumers have completed about 40% of their holiday shopping, leaving 53% of shopping for the holiday season [12] - Top purchased items include clothes, toys, and books, while gift cards are the most desired items [14] - American Eagle reported better-than-expected revenue with double-digit comparable sales increase and positive growth, raising its fourth-quarter operating income outlook [55][56] Economic Outlook & Market Analysis - The consumer is seen as sentimentally weak but fundamentally sound, with wages exceeding inflation for 30 straight months and low unemployment [16] - The US Dollar Index is being closely watched around its 50-day moving average, with potential implications for commodities, crypto, and stocks [24][27] - Bitcoin experienced a significant dip followed by a rebound, finding support around $85,000, but further washout is anticipated before a clear bullish trend [32] Charitable Giving & Tax Planning - New tax rules in 2026 will limit deductions for charitable giving to amounts exceeding 05%-1% of adjusted gross income [39] - Donor-advised funds are highlighted as a strategy to frontload giving and maximize tax deductions, especially beneficial for smaller donations [42][49] - Americans are generous, giving more than twice as much as a percentage of GDP compared to other countries [48] Technology & Software - Intel is up almost 85%, NXP up 8%, Texas Instruments up 4%, indicating the AI chip sector is still active [21][22] - GitLab's fourth-quarter sales forecast is weighing on the stock, despite adjusted earnings per share coming in at 25 cents versus estimates of 20 cents, and revenue beating analyst estimates coming in at $2444 million versus $2395 million estimated [57]

How To Maximize The Tax Benefits Of Your Charitable Giving In 2025 https://t.co/vn5YOIiMyU ...