The 2026 midterm elections was a decisive victory for Democrats, who won control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. With Republicans retaining the White House, the election results bring a period of divided government starting in January.
Wall Street's initial reaction has been enthusiastic. As of this writing (Nov. 4), the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI) surged more than 1,500 points during morning trading, while the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) and Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) also rallied.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Beneath the broader market's gains, investors are undoubtedly repositioning their portfolios. Artificial intelligence (AI) hyperscalers like Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms are surging, while many semiconductor stocks and data center operators are plunging.
The contrasting performance reflects uncertainty about how the election could affect AI and adjacent industries. For investors wondering whether to change their portfolios following the election, Warren Buffett's advice about mixing politics and investing is particularly relevant.

#election

Schwab, Fidelity, and Vanguard each have different default beneficiary clauses, so a blank IRA form can send your account to your kids or your estate.
An estate inheriting an IRA triggers a 5-year withdrawal rule instead of 10, costing heirs an extra $2,430 in federal tax per child before state taxes.
Naming primary and contingent beneficiaries on every account, including Roth IRAs, and re-filing after any rollover or divorce takes about ten minutes.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
Picture two widowed parents. Each leaves a $600,000 traditional IRA to two grown kids, and neither one ever filled out a beneficiary form. One family gets a decade to draw the money down on its own schedule. The other gets five years, a probate filing and a faster tax bill.

#form #kids #gets #schwab

Bitcoin rebounded on Thursday as investors weighed the U.S. midterm results.
Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate.
The crypto industry spent about $176 million across more than 100 midterm races this cycle, Reuters reported last month.
Bitcoin (BTC) rebounded above $80,000 on Thursday as investors weighed the results of the U.S. midterm elections, while crypto industry stalwarts Tom Lee and Michael Saylor struck a positive tone for the apex cryptocurrency.
Lee wrote on X, "Bullish for crypto," tagging Bitcoin, Ethereum (ETH), Bitmine Immersion Technologies, Inc. (BMNR), and Bitmine's Series A Preferred Stock (BMNP) shares. Lee serves as the Chairman of the Board for BitMine Immersion.

#Crypto #rebounded

Amazon (AMZN) is teaming up with Uber Eats (UBER), allowing Prime members to order from restaurants through Amazon.com and the Amazon app, as third-party delivery gets more competitive.
Prime members who order via Amazon will get free delivery on orders of $25 or more. Customers will also get $20 off their first two Uber Eats orders of $25 or more through the first 14 days.
"This is what Prime is all about: unlimited free, fast delivery on a wide selection of products, big savings, fantastic entertainment, and now even more value on restaurant delivery with Uber Eats, all in a single membership," Jamil Ghani, worldwide vice president of Amazon Prime, said in a statement.
Uber also offers its Uber One service, which includes no delivery fees on food and groceries, as well as other benefits, for $9.99 a month, or $96 per year. Amazon Prime, which includes access to Prime Video and Amazon Music, as well as free shipping options, costs $140 a year.
Amazon has been taking share in the grocery delivery market, especially on same-day and one-hour deliveries. Earlier this week, Amazon announced that it added more than 6,000 items to its grocery options over the last six months.

#uber #eats

Accepting the $1M gift eliminates nearly 7% interest on a jumbo mortgage, delivering an immediate risk-free return that rivals most market strategies.
The new $15M lifetime gift exemption lets the in-laws transfer the full $1M immediately tax-free, requiring only a Form 709 filing.
An intrafamily loan at the 3.72% IRS minimum rate saves roughly 3 percentage points versus the current 6.9% jumbo mortgage rate.
Building a portfolio and living off one are two completely different skills, and almost **** ody teaches the second. This problem is what The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income helps, and it is free today. Read more here. (Sponsor)
People who pursue a FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) philosophy aggressively save and invest with a goal of retiring young enough to enjoy the freedom that a substantial nest egg affords. A fatFIRE adherent aims to accumulate a seven- or eight-figure retirement portfolio, enabling a lifestyle that ordinary early retirement budgets cannot support. When a couple's in-laws share those fatFIRE values, the relationship tends to run smoothly. But good intentions packaged as sizable financial gifts can shift that balance quickly, and without diplomacy and a shared strategy, even a generous offer can quietly fracture family dynamics.

#free

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have announced their first international trip since moving back to the U.K. The Sussexes are reportedly heading to Brussels. The news comes amid serious allegations surrounding Meghan's estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., and his alleged possession of CSAM, which have recently come to light.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will visit Brussels next week, on November 10, to open the Lost Screen Memorial. For those unversed, the Sussexes previously launched the installation, which paid tribute to child victims who lost their lives due to the harms of social media, in New York City in April last year.
The **** ss of Sussex then travelled to Switzerland in May this year to bring the Lost Screen Memorial to Geneva's Place des Nations (via PEOPLE). The Lost Screen Memorial consists of 50 smartphone screens. Every screen showcases the lock screen photo of a child who lost their life due to the harmful effects of social media.
This is done with the consent of the parents, who are members of the Archewell Foundation Parents' Network. Harry and Meghan are set to give a keynote address in the Belgian capital, advocating for the need for safer online **** es. Additionally, the Duke of Sussex will partake in a panel discussion in Belgium **** led "Beyond Promises: Building a Digital Future That Works for Children."
The update hardly comes as a surprise for fans, as the Sussexes have always spoken about the importance of creating safer online **** es for children. The Brussels trip marks Harry and Meghan's first public appearance following reports that Philippine authorities are investigating allegations that her father possessed CSAM.

#memorial

Investors are worried. CNN's Fear and Greed Index is at "extreme fear." Inflation remains persistently high, with the ongoing Iran war and tariffs not helping matters. Stock market valuations are frothy by most metrics.
In times of uncertainty, many investors look to safe havens. Utility stocks rank high on the list. But if the stock market crashes, will utility stocks really protect your portfolio?
Missed AI's "Act 1"? Act 2 Could Be 16x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn't buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our ***** ysts, we're only at the end of "Act 1"—the R&D phase. "Act 2" is the global rollout. Continue »
Arguments for buying utility stocks as a defensive portfolio move make sense. Consumers don't stop using electricity, natural gas, or water during an economic downturn or stock market sell-off.
There's also historical precedent for utility stocks protecting against a market crash. For example, the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) sank almost 50% from its peak in early 2000 by October 2002 when the dot-com bubble burst. The Nasdaq-100 index plunged more than 80%. Meanwhile, shares of NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) and The Southern Company (NYSE: SO), both large electric utility providers, jumped more than 20% during the same period.

#utility #Stock #fear #high

A married couple over 65 who haven't claimed Social Security can pull about $47,500 from an IRA and owe the IRS nothing.
Collecting the average benefit shrinks the tax-free IRA withdrawal to about $34,000, because half of Social Security counts toward taxable income.
Past the zero-tax line, the Social Security tax torpedo makes each extra IRA dollar count nearly twice, producing an effective marginal rate of about 19%.
The biggest 401k decisions tend to get made once and never revisited: when to roll it over, what to hold inside it, and when to start taking money out. That is exactly what the report: 401k & IRA Tips and Answers was created to address, and it is free today. Read more here. (Sponsor)
A married couple where both spouses are over 65 can take a surprisingly large IRA withdrawal next year and owe the IRS nothing. How large depends mostly on one question: have they started Social Security yet?

#free #collecting #past

Meghan Markle reportedly despises the feeling of "begging for acceptance" from the royal family. The report comes amid the speculation surrounding the ***** ss of Sussex and her husband Prince Harry's relationship with the senior members of the institution, following their return to Britain. Now, according to a new report, a source claimed that Markle has been perceiving that Kate Middleton and Prince William have control over the public conversation. And, it has reportedly been getting quite frustrating for her.
The alleged feeling of inferiority with respect to the royal family has reportedly not been sitting well with Meghan Markle. As reported by Heatworld, a source revealed that Kate Middleton has been "hoping the brothers can somehow work it out. She'll always have a soft spot for Harry and would love him back in the fold." This comes despite the Waleses' dignified silence regarding the Sussexes since their return to the UK.
However, according to the source, the Princess of Wales is aware that she has to handle the situation "tactfully" with her husband, Prince William. Per the source, however, she refuses to give up the hope that the two allegedly estranged brothers can reconcile one day.
Per the news outlet, the insider further claimed that Markle "can't stand the feeling that the royal family has the upper hand – and hates the idea of being portrayed as desperately trying to claw their way back in, only to be repeatedly rejected." According to the insider, "It's like they're begging for acceptance from people who have no intention of giving it."
Furthermore, the source also explained to the publication what Markle has been feeling about the entire situation and what she might do. According to the source, "There's a defiant side to Meghan." The ***** ss of Sussex will "do what she wants and won't allow the royals to determine or stop her happiness or success," the source added.

#according #meghan

The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) stock market index has more than doubled from its 2022 bear market low point, but it faces a number of challenges that could derail its current bull run.
Rising oil prices are stoking inflation, which prompted the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates at its September meeting, and additional hikes might be on the way. This alone has been enough to spark a correction in the broader market in the past, but investors are also wrestling with a potential slowdown in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure spending, which is impacting some of the largest stocks in the S&P 500.
Missed AI's "Act 1"? Act 2 Could Be 16x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn't buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our ***** ysts, we're only at the end of "Act 1"—the R&D phase. "Act 2" is the global rollout. Continue »
To top things off, the S&P is trading at a very expensive valuation, leaving it particularly vulnerable to a sharp sell-off. Fortunately, there is a way investors can capitalize on a downturn based on almost 70 years' worth of history.
The U.S. and Iran have been engaged in a geopolitical conflict since February, resulting in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz waterway, through which 25% of the world's seaborne oil transits each day. Moreover, the ongoing war between Saudi Arabia and Yemen recently knocked even more oil supply offline, while Ukraine and Russia also continue targeting one another's energy infrastructure.

#rising

Over the last four years, the ageless Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES:^DJI), broad-based S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC), and growth-focused Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) have been virtually unstoppable. The artificial intelligence (AI) data center build-out has fueled an investing frenzy similar to what was witnessed in the mid-to-late 1990s with the internet.
But the stock market isn't without headwinds. Arguably, the biggest obstacle to the continuity of this bull market rally is persistently elevated inflation. The bad news for investors is that the Federal Reserve's initial inflation forecast for November shows things are getting downright ugly for Wall Street.
Missed AI's "Act 1"? Act 2 Could Be 16x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn't buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our ****** ysts, we're only at the end of "Act 1"—the R&D phase. "Act 2" is the global rollout. Continue »
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh and his colleagues may need to get more aggressive with rate hikes. Image source: Official Federal Reserve Photo.
Though there's no perfect inflation prediction tool, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland's Inflation Nowcasting tool does an exceptional job of accounting for new economic data and adjusting inflation forecasts in real time.

#inflation #data #market #jones

Bob Dylan has visited Pope Leo XIV in Rome.
The American singer-songwriter and poet visited with the pontiff at the Vatican during a break between concert dates in Italy.
A Vatican spokesperson shared that the encounter was a brief one, with Pope Leo giving Dylan a rosary, and Dylan presenting the pope with a copy of his autobiography, Chronicles: Volume One.
The Pope had previously quoted a1963 unpublished protest song of Dylan's in his own 2026 book, Disarmed and Disarming: Peace Is a Gift.
"I hate you cause yer man-made and man-owned, an' man-handled," he echoed about the recourse to nuclear weapons.
Dylan, who won the ****** el Prize for Literature in 2016, played for Pope John Paul II in 1997 during a concert at a religious congress in Bologna, Italy.

#italy #rome

Prince Harry is reportedly becoming increasingly worried about his financial future as he continues trying to repair ties with the royal family. According to a new report, the Duke of Sussex fears his strained relationship with Prince William could influence future decisions involving King Charles, including any inheritance.
Prince Harry wants to rebuild his relationship with King Charles after his family's return to the U.K. In fact, Harry recently told GQ that he hopes to reconcile with his family and "work it out." However, an insider claims Harry worries about the ongoing royal rift. He also fears the feud could threaten his family's long-term money situation, according to Heat. The source alleged that Harry fears William's growing influence over King Charles could affect future inheritance decisions. As a result, he worries his older brother could affect decisions about the monarch's future estate.
The insider claimed Harry's desire to reconcile is not driven by money. Instead, they said he wants to protect Meghan Markle and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, while also rebuilding his relationship with his father.
According to the report, Harry allegedly feels pressure to maintain the family's lifestyle. The source pointed to the couple's security costs and property expenses as major financial responsibilities. They also claimed Harry finds it difficult watching other senior royals enjoy greater financial stability.
The report further suggested Harry believed returning to Britain would help repair family relationships. However, the insider alleged progress has been slower than expected. The source claimed King Charles had remained cordial but had not been readily available for meetings.

#charles #report #fears

LONDON (AP) — World leaders who have sparred with the "America first" President Donald Trump greeted the rout of his Republican Party in the U.S. midterm elections with a measure of relief Wednesday, allowing themselves to hope for a less combative U.S. foreign policy.
But that hope was seasoned with the expectation that American voters' rebuke would not necessarily end the U.S. conflict with Iran or change Trump's policies on tariffs or his lukewarm-at-best support for Ukraine and America's European allies.
Progressive politicians cast the results as part of a trend of liberal comebacks around the world, following recent defeats for populists on the right in Hungary, Brazil and Serbia.
Spain's social democratic Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on X that Americans had voted "Against hate. Against machismo. Against climate denialism and against the privileges of the elites."
"It happened in Brazil. It just happened in the US. And it will happen soon in Spain," wrote Sánchez, who faces an election Nov. 29.

#nchez #wrote #happened #donald

The president said the defense secretary is "doing a great job."
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would remain on the job, even as he acknowledged that the war with Iran had contributed to Republicans' sweeping midterm losses and as Democrats prepare to use their new congressional majority to potentially investigate the Pentagon chief.
Trump dismissed the possibility of replacing Hegseth, telling reporters he was "doing a great job." When asked about speculation that Hegseth is eyeing Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn's soon-to-be-vacated Tennessee seat, Trump predicted the defense secretary would be "very popular" in the state.
Blackburn, who won Tennessee's gubernatorial race Tuesday, declined to weigh in on who might be picked to fill her Senate seat. Asked about who would be appointed, she said, "It's not a conversation for today."
Trump's remarks come as Republicans grapple with the political fallout from the eight-month war with Iran, which has driven up gas prices and fueled voter frustration over the cost of living. The war and its economic consequences are widely seen as a major factor in Republicans' crushing midterm defeat.

#Trump #defense

Anyone familiar with Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKA) (NYSE: BRKB) probably knows it owns a bunch of individual stocks largely hand-picked by former CEO Warren Buffett, or more recently, with some input from current CEO Greg Abel.
Have you ever thought about how these holdings are taxed though? It's not like a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund, which require a yearly reckoning. As a C corporation, Berkshire's stock holdings are taxed much like an individual investor's are. That is, the capital gains tax bill is incurred for the tax year in which the ****** et is sold.
Missed AI's "Act 1"? Act 2 Could Be 16x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn't buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our ****** ysts, we're only at the end of "Act 1"—the R&D phase. "Act 2" is the global rollout. Continue »
Regardless, there's a pretty big future tax liability sitting on Berkshire's books right now. Just don't worry about it if you're a shareholder. It's unlikely you'll even notice when the time comes to sell any of these positions.
As of the middle of this year, Berkshire Hathaway was sitting on $323.8 billion worth of individual stocks, including Coca-Cola, Apple, and American Express. It only paid a total of $106.5 billion for these picks over the course of the past many years, however, translating into unrealized net gains of $217.3 billion that will eventually become realized, taxable gains. For perspective on that figure, Berkshire's total market cap at the time was $1.1 trillion. All of these numbers have changed somewhat since then, although not by much.

#individual

A tiny blue dress has stolen the spotlight this Halloween. Hailee Steinfeld and Josh Allen's baby daughter stepped into Halloween "Alice in Wonderland" style, complete with a satin skirt and sparkling tulle. Her parents also built a full storybook world around her, from a rabbit-hole tunnel to towering playing cards for her first Halloween celebration.
The photos appeared on Beau Society's Instagram account with the caption "We're all mad here…" The post also thanked the event lead, the venue, and the florists, photographer, photobooth, and design team.
Amid the snapshots covering the party, it was the protagonist who stole the show. Hailee Steinfeld and Josh Allen's seven-month-old daughter, Harper Haize Allen, was dressed as a tiny Alice in her parents' wonderland.
The party's theme was "Allen's in Wonderland," a play on "Alice in Wonderland" by customizing it for the Allen family. Additional photos shared by Raven Moore, wife of Allen's teammate DJ Moore, showed an entrance shaped like a giant clock that led into a long black-and-white tunnel.
Inside, red flowers hung over a signpost pointing to "Wonderland," beside an oversized red-spotted mushroom. Marquee letters spelled out "We're all mad here." They were flanked by giant King and Queen of Hearts cards, resembling Steinfeld and Allen respectively. Checkered floors, oversized chess pieces and standing playing cards completed the scene.

#steinfeld #hailee #josh #we 're

Safe to say, it's been a brutal week for chip stocks.
On Oct. 30 alone, the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) plunged 8.2%, wiping out an estimated $1 trillion in chip stock market value during the session.
Perhaps the biggest headline-maker was Intel (INTC), which suffered its worst one-day stock decline in half a century following its earnings report, as covered by CNBC.
And the company that has come to symbolize the AI boom, Nvidia (NVDA), isn't offering much comfort.
That said, Melius Research ****** yst Ben Reitzes, rated five stars by TipRanks, revamped his Nvidia stock price target just days after Intel plunged nearly 29%, as reported by TheFly.

#NVIDIA #plunged #semiconductor #intc

Bad news for "Star Wars" fans: Adam Driver is squashing any possibility of returning as Kylo Ren to the galaxy.
On a recent episode of "The Rich Eisen Show," Eisen asked Driver if he thought he'd ever play the villain in the franchise again. The "Girls" actor responded: 'Yeah, it's over… No more 'Star Wars.'" We "tried to do one more," said Driver "but they're like, 'No, he's dead,'" referring to Disney studio executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, who rejected a screenplay for a standalone movie centered on Kylo Ren that he'd pitched with Steven Soderbergh.
More from Variety
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Adam Driver Turns Down So Many Marvel Movie Offers That It's 'Become a Tradition' at the Studio to 'Zoom With Him and Then He Passes'

#star #studio #rich

Kellie Pickler and the parents of her late husband have ended a two-year legal battle over his personal property.
The parties have now come to a settlement, the terms of which are confidential.
Pickler and Kyle Jacobs were married for 12 years until his 2023 death.
Kellie Pickler and the parents of her late husband, Kyle Jacobs, have reached a confidential settlement over his property, according to PEOPLE.
Jacobs' parents, Reed and Sharon, and the American Idol alum have now "fully resolved all claims, disputes, and requests for relief by and between them," read the documents obtained by Entertainment Weekly's sister site. Additionally, the parties are "satisfied with the distribution of ***** ets."

#pickler #husband #settlement

Charles F. Porter, actor and producer of the 2025 film Finding Faith, has died after a long battle with cancer. He was 47.
His passing was announced by his wife, Candice Tab-Porter.
"With a very heavy heart I wanted to share the passing of my husband Charles Frederick Porter. I am honoured to have been by his side for the incredible 18 years we had together," she penned on Instagram.
Porter was best known on screen for playing the **** ular NASCAR champion in Wendell Scott: A Race Story.
Born in the UK to an American Air Force father and British mother, he went to college in the States, where he played American football. After a back injury derailed his NFL hopes, he dropped 65 pounds and became an actor.
In the early 2000s, Porter launched a promising TV career, making appearances on The Parkers, Close to Home, Without a Trace, Bones and House.

#porter #candice #frederick #Instagram

Single retirees with provisional income above $34,000 face federal taxes on up to 85% of their Social Security benefits.
Provisional income combines your AGI, tax-exempt interest, and 50% of your annual Social Security benefit to determine your tax exposure.
Roth IRA withdrawals are excluded from AGI, potentially reducing provisional income to zero and shielding Social Security from federal taxes entirely.
Building a portfolio and living off one are two completely different skills, and almost ***** ody teaches the second. This problem is what The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income helps, and it is free today. Read more here. (Sponsor)
There are many older Americans today who live on Social Security alone. The average monthly Social Security retirement benefit is $2,088, which amounts to about $25,000 per year.

#security #federal

Accepting SSA back pay moves your official start date back six months, permanently erasing delayed retirement credits worth 8% per year.
A $12,480 lump sum cuts monthly checks by $80 forever, taking 13 years just to break even.
The lump sum counts as Social Security income, potentially making up to 85% taxable and triggering higher Medicare Part B premiums.
The biggest 401k decisions tend to get made once and never revisited: when to roll it over, what to hold inside it, and when to start taking money out. That is exactly what the report: 401k & IRA Tips and Answers was created to address, and it is free today. Read more here. (Sponsor)
Picture a example retiree, a composite with a full retirement age of 67, who delayed her Social Security claim until age 68. Partway through the application, she gets an offer that sounds like found money: the Social Security Administration can pay her six months of benefits she never collected, all at once.

#start #Retirement

A $900,000 traditional 401(k) left to heirs yields roughly $684,000 after taxes, while a Roth passes the full $900,000 income-tax-free.
Heirs must empty inherited accounts within 10 years, potentially pushing a child earning $150,000 into the 32% or higher tax bracket.
Converting gradually during low-income retirement years keeps taxes in the 22 to 24 percent brackets and avoids Medicare surcharges above $218,000 in joint income.
The biggest 401k decisions tend to get made once and never revisited: when to roll it over, what to hold inside it, and when to start taking money out. That is exactly what the report: 401k & IRA Tips and Answers was created to address, and it is free today. Read more here. (Sponsor)
Picture a 66-year-old with $900,000 in a traditional 401(k) who has already decided the money goes to the adult children. The open question is whether to leave it alone or convert it to Roth first. That choice can change what the kids keep by six figures.

#traditional #free #medicare

Uber (NYSE: UBER) founder Travis Kalanick moved to Austin by December 18, as billionaire departures removed an estimated $1.1 trillion from California's prospective tax base.
Prop. 42, leading with 54.6%, would ban new California taxes on wealth and investment accounts, shielding 401(k)s and IRAs from future wealth tax expansion.
Building a portfolio and living off one are two completely different skills, and almost ***** ody teaches the second. This problem is what The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income helps, and it is free today. Read more here. (Sponsor)
California voters rejected the billionaire tax on Tuesday by a wide margin. Election-night returns counted by The Center Square showed Prop. 40 losing 56.5% to 43.5%, with 68.5% of precincts partially reporting. According to The Center Square, the measure would have imposed a one-time 5% tax on residents with wealth of $1 billion or more. News outlets widely reported its defeat.
If you have a 401(k), an IRA or a brokerage account, the result that matters more to you is a different one. Prop. 42 would ban new state taxes on wealth, investment accounts and personal property. In The Center Square's count, it was leading with 54.6% of the vote.

#wealth #center #uber #billionaire

When a whole life policy lapses with an unpaid loan, the IRS taxes the entire loan-wiped-against-cash-value gain as ordinary income, even if you received no money.
Carol's $110,000 loan against $60,000 in premiums creates $50,000 of phantom taxable income, costing roughly $11,086 in federal taxes plus up to $1,148 more in Medicare premiums.
Keeping the policy in force until death avoids the tax bill entirely, since death benefits pay off the loan without generating a 1099-R.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
Picture a Form 1099-R showing up in January from an insurance company Carol hasn't thought about in years. She's 71. Decades ago she bought a whole life policy, borrowed against it when money got tight, and then put it out of her mind. The form says she took a distribution. She never got a check, but the tax is still hers to pay.

#policy #income #form

Voters in seven states weighed in on property tax relief measures on Tuesday, part of an ongoing property tax revolt that has developed in recent years as home prices and **** sed values soared while incomes have largely failed to keep up. The outcomes were mixed, with voters in Florida and North Carolina overwhelmingly approving amendments designed to cut or cap taxes, while Wyoming and Oklahoma voters rejected tax-limiting measures.
The split results reflect the complicated trade-offs between limiting unpopular and fast-rising taxes and funding public services.
"Property tax bills are rising far faster than inflation and even home valuations," said Nicole Fox, a policy **** yst at the Tax Foundation. "People are noticing."
Read more: Democrats win Congress, eye healthcare, tariffs, and Trump's allies
The most sweeping effort to lower taxes came in Florida, where 62% of voters approved a major property tax cut that will increase the amount of a home's value that can be exempted from non-school homestead property taxes, effectively eliminating those taxes entirely in some parts of the state.

#measures #rising #tuesday

Over the last few years, the stock market has become concentrated among a relatively small cohort of technology companies. These companies have an unusually strong influence over the direction of the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC), making investor sentiment toward artificial intelligence (AI) particularly important to the broader market's performance.
As of Nov. 3, a little more than one-third of the S&P 500 is composed of the "Magnificent Seven" stocks -- Nvidia, Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Tesla. This concentration is important heading into Friday, Nov. 6, when two potentially market-moving events are scheduled.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
The October jobs report is scheduled to publish before the opening bell, while billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk will take the stage at a major investment conference later that afternoon. Here's why I'm predicting Nov. 6 could become a consequential trading day on Wall Street.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will release the October employment report at 8:30 a.m. ET on Nov. 6. This report provides investors with several important economic indicators, including nonfarm payroll growth, the unemployment rate, and changes in average hourly earnings. These figures can offer clues about the health of the American economy and the Federal Reserve's next moves on interest rates.

#NVIDIA #signal #october #market

Interested in Gladstone Commercial Corporation? Here are five stocks we like better.
Q3 FFO and core FFO were $0.35 per share, unchanged year over year. Revenue rose to $42.4 million from $40.8 million, while expenses increased to $32.9 million, partly due to depreciation and an office-property impairment.
Portfolio occupancy improved to 99.3%, and industrial ******* ets made up 69% of annualized straight-line rent, nearing the company's goal of more than 70%. Leasing activity during the quarter added approximately $2.5 million in annual straight-line rent.
Higher interest rates and a gap between buyer and seller pricing are limiting acquisitions; the company is reviewing about 15 opportunities worth more than $200 million but says it will maintain its underwriting standards. It reported $99.9 million of debt maturities in 2027 and $70.2 million available on its credit line.
Gladstone Commercial (NASDAQ:GOOD) reported third-quarter funds from operations and core funds from operations of $0.35 per share, unchanged from the same period a year earlier, as the real estate investment trust increased portfolio occupancy and continued to emphasize industrial properties.

#year #increased

Retirees may see property taxes climb even after the mortgage is gone, but the federal tax treatment is not always intuitive. Whether those payments actually reduce a tax bill can depend on how they fit with the rest of a return — and on several 2026 deduction rules.
Here's how to think through which way to deduct these taxes.
Find Out: Worried about market swings? See why investors are moving to gold and silver IRAs
Grow Rich: FREE 2026 Investor Guide + Up to $25,000 in Silver with Qualifying Purchases
Property taxes on a personal residence are an itemized deduction, not an amount taxpayers can simply add to the standard deduction, according to Jim Swiech, a certified public accountant (CPA) and founder at Go Beyond Tax. Retirees should compare their complete itemized totals with their standard deductions, then take whichever is larger.

#retirees #silver #worried