The stakes on tax policy are high as the election nears. Here’s how to prepare

Investors have a close eye on the Nov. 5 presidential election, but Congressional contests deserve attention — as they could shape tax policy and the next steps investors take to prepare. “Whatever happens with the election next week, it’s still going to take time for some significant tax law to come through,” said Stephen Bigge, […]

How to play the market for small nuclear reactors that tech is creating

The next generation of nuclear technology could be moving closer to becoming a reality, driven by the tech sector’s growing demand for electricity to power artificial intelligence. Small modular reactors , or SMRs, promise to reduce capital costs and accelerate construction timelines that typically plague nuclear plants, but the technology has struggled to reach the […]

How to leverage higher income limits for the 0% capital gains bracket

dowell | Moment | Getty Images The earnings limit for the 0% capital gains bracket will rise in 2025, which could offer tax planning opportunities, financial experts say. At sale, profitable assets owned for more than one year qualify for lower taxes — known as long-term capital gains. Those rates are 0%, 15% or 20%, […]

The great wealth transfer is underway. Here’s how to prepare

Andreswd | E+ | Getty Images The great wealth transfer is underway and families need to prepare, according to certified financial planner Stacy Francis, president and CEO of Francis Financial in New York City. An estimated $84 trillion of wealth will change hands by 2045, with the majority going to Gen X and millennial heirs, […]

Here’s how to know if active ETFs are right for your portfolio

Izusek | E+ | Getty Images Exchange-traded funds are generally known for passive strategies. But there has been a surge in actively managed ETFs as investors seek lower costs and more precision, experts say. Active ETFs represented just more than 2% of the U.S. ETF market at the beginning of 2019. But these funds have […]

How to build up your bets – and returns – in dividend-paying stocks

Dividend stocks could be poised to get their moment in the sun as interest rates fall – and investors only need to take a simple step to boost their long-term returns in these positions. The Federal Reserve kicked off its rate-cutting campaign in September with a half-point reduction, and central bank policymakers projected that rates […]

How to invest in bonds amid falling interest rates

Lucy Lambriex | Stone | Getty Images As the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates, investors should review their bond portfolio, which could see a boost from dovish Fed policy. The central bank in September kicked off its first easing campaign in four years with a 50 basis point rate cut, which brought its benchmark rate […]

What ‘No Spend September’ is and how to know if you should participate

Solstock | E+ | Getty Images Victoria Szafarski currently has $10,000 in credit card debt.  The New Yorker’s outstanding balance peaked at $25,000 last year, before she took on a second job as a waitress for a few months. The extra cash Szafarski brought in helped her make headway paying down the debt and increase […]

How to retool your 60/40 portfolio for income generation, per BlackRock

Investors with an eye toward income generation — especially as they look toward retirement — may want to consider fine-tuning their “balanced” portfolios, according to recent research from BlackRock. The S & P 500 has surged 17% in 2024, rising on exuberance around tech and the artificial intelligence trade. Tech darling Nvidia , up more […]