In recent years, the family drama surrounding an aging media mogul — and his unresolved succession plans — have been at the center of a hit television show. For family businesses, succession plans are designed to ensure the orderly transfer of ownership and leadership to the next generation. But relationships among family members are sometimes
In a 2023 survey, nearly nine out of 10 workers said it was extremely or very important to have a job that offers paid time off (PTO) for vacations, doctor appointments, and minor illnesses. Yet almost half said they take less time off than their employers allow. Here are the top reasons they gave for
March is Women’s History Month. What better time to reflect on the contribution women have made to the field of finance? What follows are the stories of just five of the many women who helped blaze the trail for others in investing, banking, finance, and economics. Victoria Claflin Woodhull and Tennessee “Tennie” Claflin Victorian-era sisters
High-income taxpayers are subject to a 3.8% net investment income tax (NIIT) from capital gains, dividends, interest, certain royalties, rents, and passive income if their modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) exceeds $200,000 for single filers or $250,000 for married joint filers. The number of taxpayers paying the NIIT has more than doubled since it took
Individual bonds and bond funds can both provide an income stream, but there are important differences. An individual bond can offer more certainty and stability than a fund, while a fund can offer diversification that might be difficult to obtain with individual bonds. Coupon, maturity, and yield An individual bond has a coupon rate —
This past year, the housing market has experienced a perfect storm, with high interest rates and inflation resulting in reduced purchasing power for homebuyers. In addition, many current homeowners were reluctant to sell — and give up their lower mortgage rates — leading to lower housing inventory and higher home prices. If you have been
Every year, the Internal Revenue Service announces cost-of-living adjustments that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and various tax deduction, exclusion, exemption, and threshold amounts. Here are a few of the key adjustments for 2024. Estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax The annual gift tax exclusion (and annual generation-skipping transfer tax exclusion) for 2024 is
The Federal Reserve’s rapid series of interest rate hikes throughout 2022 and 2023 — initiated in an effort to bring down red-hot inflation — rippled throughout financial markets and the broader economy. People pay attention to the “Fed” to see where interest rates are headed, but also for its economic analysis and forecasting. Members of
With wildfires in Maui, Hurricane Idalia in Florida, and the heat wave that blanketed the South, Midwest, and Great Plains, 2023 was a record-setting year for extreme weather in the United States. In fact, last year the U.S. saw more weather and climate-related disasters that cost over $1 billion than ever before.1 As a result
Energy prices can fluctuate dramatically based on changes in supply or demand. According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), energy prices across the economy fell 2.5% in October and 2.3% in November, following a surge of 7.2% over the previous two months. Gasoline prices fell 5.0% in October and 6.0% in November, providing relief after
