So what can you do to lower your Social Security tax liability in the future? Here are a few tips.Taxation of Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits will also increase to $50,000 for single filers and $100,000 for joint filers starting in 2026.According to the Social Security Administration , starting this year, there will be a tax on Social Security benefits similar to private pension income. There will be a phase-out of the lower-income thresholds between 2025 and 2044.Provisional i ...

Top Meme Coin Trading Tips for BSC: Narrative, Emotion & Certainty Explained. Photo by BeInCrypto The year 2026 has begun strongly for PEPE, the popular meme coin inspired by Pepe the Frog. On the second day of the new year, PEPE’s price increased by more than 20%. What is driving this rally, and is the momentum strong enough to kick off a meme season in early 2026? James Wynn Predicts PEPE Market Cap Reaching $69 Billion in 2026 James Wynn, a well-known trader on Hyperliquid, recently predicted that PE ...

Every year investors wait to see if Santa Claus will visit Wall Street as the holiday season approaches. Historically, stocks usually see a festive boost called the Santa Claus rally, but its arrival is never guaranteed.The SPY closed higher Monday. See the chart and the price action here. What is the Santa Claus Rally?The term "Santa Claus Rally" specifically refers to the trend of rising stock prices during the last five trading days of December and the first two trading days of January. If a Santa Claus ...

Core Insights - The "Santa Claus Rally" is a market phenomenon where the S&P 500 typically experiences a short rally during the last five trading days of December and the first two of January, averaging a gain of 1.3% since 1950 [1][6] - The rally for this year is expected to start on December 24 and last until January 5, although previous years have shown mixed results, with a notable decline in the S&P 500 last year [2][6] - Factors contributing to the rally include holiday optimism, year-end bonuses leading to stock purchases, the end of tax-loss harvesting, and reduced activity from institutional investors during the holiday season [3][4] Market Behavior - The absence of a Santa Claus Rally often precedes bear markets, indicating a potential risk for investors if the rally does not materialize [5][6] - The current outlook for the Santa Claus Rally is uncertain, influenced by recent mediocre job numbers that suggest a slowdown in job creation within the U.S. economy [7]

Group 1 - Out-of-pocket medical expenses are only deductible if they exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income (AGI), and prepaying medical appointments could help exceed this threshold [1] - Charitable donations can be timed to maximize tax deductions by bunching several years of donations into one year, helping to clear the itemization limit [2] - Prepaying January mortgage payments can allow for interest deductions on the 2025 tax return, similar to property taxes [3] Group 2 - The standard deduction for 2025 has increased to $15,750 for single filers, $31,500 for married filing jointly, and $23,625 for head of household, making it beneficial to itemize if expenses exceed these amounts [4] - The end of the year is a critical time for making tax moves to increase refunds or reduce tax bills, with many credits and deductions having a December 31 deadline [5] - Correcting withholding errors before the final paycheck of the year can help avoid unexpected tax bills [6] Group 3 - Contributions to retirement accounts like traditional IRAs or 401(k)s can lower taxable income, providing immediate tax benefits [7] - The 2025 contribution limit for 401(k)s is $23,500 for those under 50, with catch-up contributions available for those over 50 [8] - Traditional IRA contributions can reduce taxes depending on income, while Roth contributions do not provide immediate tax benefits but allow for tax-free withdrawals in retirement [11] Group 4 - Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) allow tax-free contributions for medical costs, with limits of $4,300 for individuals and $8,550 for families in 2025 [12] - Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) require careful management as unused funds are typically forfeited, necessitating their use by December 31 [13] - Tax-loss harvesting can offset capital gains, but care must be taken to avoid the wash-sale rule [14][15] Group 5 - Adjusting tax withholding and estimated payments is crucial in the final weeks of the year to avoid underpayment penalties [17][18] - Self-employed individuals can manage their tax bills by timing income and expenses, such as deferring income until the next year [26] - Business expenses paid before year-end can reduce taxable income for self-employed individuals, with Section 179 allowing for significant deductions [25] Group 6 - Tax credits, such as those for energy efficiency improvements and electric vehicles, require action before the year ends to maximize benefits [34][36] - The American Opportunity Tax Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit for education expenses can provide significant savings if tuition is paid before year-end [37] - December is a crucial month for tax planning, with opportunities to boost refunds through strategic financial moves [39]

Core Insights - The podcast discusses the importance of financial preparedness for families, particularly in the context of caregiving and managing finances during emergencies [3][6][22] Employment and Economic Indicators - The unemployment rate in the U.S. rose to 4.4% as of November 20, the highest since 2021, with private sector employment declining for five consecutive months, excluding healthcare and leisure sectors [3][4] - In November, private companies laid off 32,000 workers, primarily affecting small businesses, with year-over-year pay increases slightly declining to 4.4% from 4.5% in October [3][4] - Employers announced over 70,000 layoffs in November, adding to 150,000 cuts in October, marking the highest total for that month in 22 years, with total layoffs for 2025 reaching 1.17 million, a 54% increase from the previous year [3][4] Bond Market Performance - Bond prices have increased due to rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, resulting in a total return of over 7% from bonds in 2025, positioning it for one of the best years in two decades [4][5] - The total amount held in money market funds reached $8 trillion, the highest ever, with average yields of 3.8% compared to 0.6% for average savings accounts [4][5] Financial Caregiving Insights - The podcast emphasizes the need for individuals to organize their financial documents and create a "death file" to ease the burden on family members during emergencies [12][22] - A durable power of attorney is highlighted as a crucial document, allowing designated individuals to manage financial affairs if one becomes incapacitated [13][18] - The importance of having clear communication with family members about financial matters is stressed, as many individuals procrastinate on these discussions [24][23]

Core Insights - Michael Burry, known for his contrarian investment strategies, has recently closed his hedge fund, Scion Asset Management, allowing him to share investment advice freely [2] - Burry identifies opportunities in the current market, particularly in companies that have been oversold due to year-end practices like window dressing and tax-loss harvesting [3] - Lululemon Athletica (LULU) is highlighted as a potential investment despite its stock being down over 50% this year, with Burry suggesting it is at least a hold for the next three to five years [3] Company Overview - Lululemon Athletica is a Vancouver-based company specializing in athletic apparel primarily for women and girls, offering a range of products including fitness pants, shorts, tops, and jackets [4] - The company has a current market capitalization of $21.6 billion [4] Stock Performance - Lululemon's stock has decreased by 52% year-to-date, underperforming the S&P 500 Index, which is up 17%, and the consumer discretionary sector, which is up 5% [5] - The stock is trading at a trailing price-earnings ratio of 12.4x, significantly lower than its five-year mean of 46.8x, indicating that it is exceptionally cheap at present [6]

Core Insights - The SALT deduction cap has increased from $10,000 to $40,000 for tax years 2025 through 2029, providing new relief for taxpayers [1] - Charitable contributions are highlighted as an effective method to reduce tax liability, with new limitations on deductions set to take effect in 2026 [2][3] - Financial advisors emphasize the importance of year-end tax management strategies, particularly in light of new tax laws introduced by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act [5][6] Tax Deductions and Contributions - Charitable deductions will be capped at a 35% rate starting next year, prompting many clients to accelerate their charitable contributions into 2025 [3] - The full $40,000 SALT deduction begins phasing out at modified adjusted gross incomes of $500,000 for joint filers, reverting to $10,000 at $600,000 [6] - New tax deductions include up to $12,500 for qualified overtime pay and up to $10,000 for interest on auto loans for qualified vehicles purchased in 2025 [7] Tax-Loss Harvesting and Investment Strategies - Tax-loss harvesting is recommended as a strategy to offset ordinary income, not just capital gains, and should be revisited at year-end [8] - Investors are advised to consider their taxable brokerage accounts to manage taxes on interest, dividends, and capital gains effectively [8] - The crypto market presents unique tax management opportunities, allowing for the capture of losses without the wash-sale rule [10] Roth Conversions - Advisors suggest considering Roth conversions as a strategy to lock in future tax-free growth, especially in light of potential tax-bracket shifts [10][11] - Roth conversions are seen as beneficial for individuals in their 70s to prepay taxes at lower rates and manage required minimum distributions [11]

Core Insights - Personal finance expert Humphrey Yang shared three financial strategies to enhance financial health before the end of 2025, targeting his 3.4 million TikTok followers [1][2] Group 1: Financial Strategies - Maxing out 401(k) match is highlighted as the "easiest and highest ROI move," with an average employer contribution of 4.8% [3][4] - Approximately 34% of individuals do not fully utilize their 401(k) match, which is considered "free money" [4] - For those without a 401(k) match, maxing out contributions to a Roth IRA or other retirement accounts is recommended [4] Group 2: Tax Strategies - Tax-loss harvesting is advised as a method to offset gains from profitable investments by selling stocks at a loss, which must be completed by December 31 [5][6] - This strategy can help reduce federal income tax liabilities and potentially offset ordinary income if capital losses exceed gains [6] Group 3: Cash Management - Individuals are encouraged to assess their liquid cash reserves to prepare for emergencies, aiming for an emergency fund that covers three to six months of expenses [7] - This cash can also be utilized to manage rising costs anticipated in 2026 [7]

Core Insights - The current investment environment is favorable for adding equity income through covered call ETFs, particularly those utilizing a daily options strategy [1][4] - Declining short-term interest rates from Federal Reserve rate cuts are impacting fixed income plans, necessitating alternative income sources for investors [2] - Tax loss harvesting at year-end presents an opportunity for investors to switch from underperforming monthly covered call ETFs to more effective daily options strategies [3] Group 1: Covered Call ETFs - Covered call ETFs are gaining popularity for their potential to deliver high income while allowing for equity market participation [4] - Many covered call ETFs using monthly options have struggled in recent market rallies, often sacrificing market upside for high income [4] - Daily options strategies in covered call ETFs can enhance income generation while capturing more market upside compared to monthly strategies [4] Group 2: Investment Strategies - The ProShares S&P 500 High Income ETF (ISPY) is highlighted as a potential investment, charging a fee of 55 basis points and returning 11.3% year-to-date [4] - Investors are encouraged to consider daily covered call ETFs as a means to enhance portfolio income without compromising on potential market gains [4]