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32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump's Japan 'investment vehicle' could become trade talk template — even if nobody is sure what it is
A closely watched piece of a trade deal announced with Japan this past week is a plan for a "new Japanese/USA investment vehicle" that Trump and his team said will put $550 billion aside for the president to personally deploy to finance new investments in the US. Observers are watching this unusual provision closely amid a growing expectation it will serve as a template of sorts for remaining trade talks — even as conflicts grow over exactly what was agreed to, especially a disagreement on how profits might be split. It's just one of the questions that cropped up immediately after the president's announcement Tuesday — and appears to have only grown in the days since. Trump and his team have deployed a range of metaphors to describe this part of the deal, from a "signing bonus for the country" (Trump) to a "national security sovereign fund" (Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick) to a "blank check" (trade adviser Peter Navarro). The Japanese are describing things very differently, suggesting that the provision is more akin to a non-legally binding agreement to look for joint investment opportunities for both US and Japanese companies. "There are a lot of details that need to be worked out here," former trade negotiator Wendy Cutler, now at the Asia Society Policy Institute, noted on Yahoo Finance on Friday. She added that the very different accounts from different sides at the very least "does not bode well for smooth implementation." Yet the bumpiness has done little to slow momentum for the idea in Trump's orbit, with a sense that similar provisions could be part of any possible deal with South Korea and perhaps Taiwan. Trump also appeared to suggest Friday that it may be what's needed to close a deal with the European Union. As he left for Scotland, the president described a deal with the EU as far from a sure thing, adding that what might push talks over the line is a pact "where they buy down their tariffs." Trump officials, for their part, stand by their side's version of the deal with Japan and often note they have an easy way to make sure things work out to their liking: the constant threat of re-raising tariffs. A White House spokesperson declined to offer further details Friday on exactly how the investment vehicle would work and what Trump meant with Friday's comments around EU negotiations, which are set to continue this Sunday while the president is in Scotland. Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet 'Hardly the operation of the free market' What is known about the investment portion of the deal has come under growing criticism. Iain Murray, a vice president at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, called the outline "hardly the operation of the free market in action." He added that the government-run process to direct funds could quickly become messy, with "all the usual problems of state-directed, industrial policy." This piece of the deal was one that was clearly hammered out quickly and late in the negotiating process. A social media post by White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino earlier this week showed the president sitting across from Japan's chief negotiator Ryosei Akazawa. Before him was a paper outlining the deal, with $400 billion crossed out and replaced in pen with $500 billion. The final agreement of $550 billion was then subsequently announced. The full text of the trade agreement has not been released, but a White House fact sheet describes the plan as for "a new Japanese/USA investment vehicle" that will be "over $550 billion." "At President Trump's direction, these funds will be targeted toward the revitalization of America's strategic industrial base," the document adds, listing energy, semiconductors, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, and shipbuilding as the five areas of focus. It's a provision Trump has likened to "a $550 billion signing bonus for the country," adding of the money, "We control the whole lot of it and it's really been great." Lutnick has gone further and described this part of the deal as "literally the government of Japan giving Donald Trump and the American people $550 billion to invest, at his direction, on things that are important to America and national security." Mounting disagreements around the deal The Japanese appear to disagree fundamentally. Japan's top trade negotiator told Reuters this week that "some people are saying Japan is simply handing over $550 billion, but such claims are completely off the mark." It all could complicate the overall pact that is set to reduce "reciprocal" and automotive tariffs on Japanese imports to the US from previously threatened levels of 25% to 15%. Murray of the Competitive Enterprise Institute added that the deal, depending on how much power the president ultimately has to direct funds, "has all the sorts of things that the founders were worried about about presidential power: the power of patronage, the capacity for corruption." It all adds up to a potential "end run around constitutional checks and balances," according to Murray. And as financial writer James Surowiecki put it on social media: "Trump and his people are pure, top-down central planners. They're just convinced they can allocate capital better than the market." Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Click here for political news related to business and money policies that will shape tomorrow's stock prices
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
6 Biggest Money Mistakes When Buying a Car, According To ‘The Car Mom' and Rachel Cruze
Buying a car, whether it's a first set of wheels or the latest in a long line of vehicles, can feel like navigating a financial minefield. In a recent YouTube video, personal finance expert Rachel Cruze sat down with Kelly Stumpe, better known as 'The Car Mom,' to discuss some major mistakes people make when they're buying a car. Read More: Learn More: Recognizing these six mistakes upfront can help make car buying smarter and less costly. Test Driving Too Soon One of the first red flags is walking into a dealership before being ready to buy. According to Stumpe, buyers often go in with no intention of purchasing and walk out with a new car because they got swept up in the sales experience. Her advice is don't bring a trade-in, don't bring a partner, and don't test drive until the budget and plan are locked in. People need to have that 'Walk away, I need to think about it' feeling, she explained. Car dealerships can often instill a sense of urgency to try to get people to buy, but thinking about the purchase ahead of time is beneficial. 'Remember that you are the one with the final say, always. If you're feeling steamrolled, don't be afraid to walk away,' Carol Pope, a staff writer and car insurance agent, told LendingTree. Be Aware: Letting Emotions Drive the Decision Cruze and Stumpe also warned against letting emotions override logic. A high monthly payment might feel justifiable at first when the car is new and exciting. But several years down the line, when the car is scratched, stained and no longer fun to drive, that same car payment can start to sting. Failing To Forecast Ownership Needs A car that works today may not work two or three years from now. Stumpe told buyers — especially parents — to think ahead. Family size, lifestyle and cargo space needs often change before the loan is even halfway repaid. Buyers who ignore that risk may end up in a vehicle that no longer fits and a loan they can't easily escape. Letting the Dealership Set the Budget In another YouTube video, Stumpe shared how often buyers let the dealership define what's affordable. She recommended flipping the process: decide on a payment first, then use a calculator to work backward and determine the actual vehicle price. When setting your budget, U.S. News & World Report suggested finding a car where your monthly payment won't be more than 10% of your take-home pay. Skipping Salesperson Research Stumpe also recommended buyers research the salesperson, not just the dealership. Instead of leaving it to chance, finding highly reviewed individuals in advance can make a big difference in avoiding pressure, upsells and financial missteps. For women especially, choosing who to work with can makes a big difference in feeling confident and respected during the process. Not Having an Exit Plan Long-term financing has become the norm, with many buyers opting for 72- or even 84-month loans. But most people want a new car well before that term ends. Stumpe cautioned that without an exit strategy — whether it's passing the car to a partner, selling privately or trading in — buyers often end up owing more on their car than the car is actually worth. More From GOBankingRates 10 Cars That Outlast the Average Vehicle This article originally appeared on 6 Biggest Money Mistakes When Buying a Car, According To 'The Car Mom' and Rachel Cruze
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
50 Money Moves To Make Before the End of 2025
The year will be over before you realize it; and, if you're not careful, critical opportunities to build your wealth will be gone, too. Learn More: See Next: Fortunately, there are plenty of moves to make it through the remaining summer, fall and winter seasons. Doing this now ensures you're hitting your financial goals and kicking 2026 off with a bang when it comes to your money. Keep reading for our full list of 50 money moves to make before the year ends. Also see money moves you should make in every decade of your life. Understand How the 'Big Beautiful Bill' Will Impact Your Finances President Donald Trump's tax and spending megabill, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, will impact the finances of virtually all Americans. It's important to understand which benefits associated with this bill may work in your favor. Mark Gelbman, financial advisor and owner of Strategic Wealth Solutions, outlined a few areas for families and individuals to consider: The 2017 tax cuts have received a permanent extension, providing long-term certainty for households regarding their tax liabilities. The child tax credit has increased from $2,000 to $2,200. 'Trump Accounts' have been introduced with a one-time deposit of $1,000 from the federal government for children born from 2024 to 2028. According to Gelbman, families receive a 'baby bonus' via the savings vehicle for the next four years — which allows for tax-free growth on contributions up to $5,000 annually until the child turns 18. Americans ages 65 and over will be allowed a $6,000 deduction for tax relief purposes. However, Gelbman said qualifying seniors are individuals who earn no more than $75,000 a year or married couples who make $150,000. Additional considerations include, but are not limited to, increased standard deductions, the ability to deduct tip income and the temporarily raised cap on SALT deductions. Set aside time to meet with a financial advisor to see which aspects of this bill you need to know about before the start of the new year. Find Out: View Next: Clearly Define Your Financial Goals What will you do with your money in 2026? Now's the time to set clear financial goals and prioritize them accordingly. Some of these goals may include buying a home or a car, planning a wedding, having a baby, paying off debt, building an emergency fund and more. Janelle Sallenave, chief spending officer at Chime, recommends making money goals as clear as possible. Doing so not only allows you to break each goal down into manageable steps, but it also gives your money direction and keeps you focused on what matters most for your financial future. Try This: Max Out Employer Retirement Contributions The fall season is a good time to see whether you're on track to max out contributions in your employer-sponsored retirement account. In 2025, you can contribute up to $23,500 in a 401(k) — if you're age 50 or older, you can add an additional $7,500 via catch-up contributions. Max Out Your IRA For 2025, the maximum contribution is $7,000 for an IRA. Those ages 50 and older are allowed to make a $1,000 catch-up contribution as well. Fully Fund Your Health Savings Account (HSA) 'An HSA offers triple tax benefits (deductible contributions, tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses),' Gelbman explained. 'Many people contribute to an HSA to offset current healthcare expenses, but the balance carries over each year, which means that money can also be invested for the future.' Contribute To a 529 Savings Plan Another tax-advantaged account worth funding is a 529 plan for education expenses. Qualifying expenses — private school tuition for K-12, college tuition, room and board, books, computers and more — can be paid using these funds at any time. Plan To Use Your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Austin Kilgore, consumer finance expert and analyst with the Achieve Center for Consumer Insights, recommends checking your flexible spending account (FSA) balance. If you have funds in this account, you need to make plans to use them. How soon should you use the funds? Kilgore said to check your plan documents or check in with your HR department for the year-end date associated with your plan. Once you know your given date, use the FSA money on the products or services you need, or you will lose these benefits. That's Interesting: Determine Your Eligibility for Extended Deadlines What if you reside in a federally declared disaster area? Robby J. Graham, CPA and wealth strategist at Waddell & Associates, said you may be eligible to make 2024 contributions to IRAs and HSAs beyond the standard deadlines. He recommended 'consulting a qualified tax professional to confirm your eligibility and the specific postponement date applicable to your state to take advantage of this opportunity.' Build an Emergency Fund Don't already have an emergency fund as a financial safety net? Start building one now that can cover three to six months' worth of expenses (at a minimum). Rebuild Your Emergency Fund Did you dip into your emergency fund this year to pay for an expected medical bill or another critical expense? Use the remaining part of this year to rebuild this fund. See Whether Your Employer Offers an Emergency Savings Account Feeling overwhelmed thinking about how to save three to six months of expenses with five months left in the calendar year? Your workplace may offer an emergency savings account (ESA) to help automate the process. Devin Miller, CEO and co-founder at SecureSave, recommends finding out whether your employer offers an ESA and signing up to have contributions in this emergency fund come directly from your paycheck. Create a Realistic Budget Your financial goals in 2026 might be different than those in 2025 and your budget should be updated to reflect these changes. Gelbman recommends analyzing your 2025 spending and income to create a realistic 2026 budget. Discover More: Identify Important Luxuries in Your Budget If you create an extremely restrictive budget, chances are highly likely you won't stick to it. Ahead of next year, Erica Sandberg, consumer finance expert at said to review your spending and consider purchases or experiences you value most. This can be — as examples — attending a baseball game with your family, getting manicures at a nail salon or going out to dinner with friends. Build these important luxuries into your budget and get rid of things and/or activities you don't need. Plan To Pay Off High-Interest Debt After creating a budget and a fully funded emergency fund, your next priority will be to pay off any high-interest debt you may have accumulated. Consider using the snowball or avalanche repayment methods. The snowball method knocks out debt with lower interest rates and builds up to those with higher rates while the avalanche method starts with highest-interest debt and works down to debt with smaller rates. Put Your Bonus Toward Debt If you're receiving a year-end bonus, Gelbman recommends putting it toward the balance of any debt you're paying off. Put Your Bonus Into Savings Don't have any debt? Put your upcoming year-end bonus into your savings account. Put Your Bonus Into Your Retirement Savings Account Still need to top off your IRA or Roth IRA contributions for 2025? Transfer your upcoming year-end bonus into this account. Check Out: Talk to Your Creditors If You Experienced Hardship This Year If you experienced hardship this year and are trying to pay off your credit cards, Kilgore recommends checking in with your creditors and explaining your situation. According to Kilgore, these creditors might be open to changing credit terms, arranging payment plans, deferring payments or waiving interest. Consider Personal Loans With Lower Interest Rates Can't pay off all your debt this year alone? Kilgore recommends seeing whether you qualify for a personal loan at a favorable rate. Doing so will allow you to pay off debt with higher interest and then just have the one loan leftover with a lower rate. Look Into Credit Counseling 'Sometimes credit counseling can provide a decrease in a credit card interest rate,' said Kilgore. Explore a Debt Settlement This option is ideal for someone who has lost their job or is dealing with major medical expenses and is struggling to make even the minimum payments on what they owe. Debt settlement, Kilgore said, negotiates with creditors to lower principal balances due. Set Up Automatic Savings This money move is as powerful as it is easy. Sandberg said nearly every bank and credit union has a free system that allows customers to have a fixed amount of money seamlessly divert from a checking account into a savings account on a regular basis. 'I recommend smaller increments made twice a month over one big lump sum once a month,' she said. 'For example, you may want to have $50 moved from your checking account on the 1st and then again on the 15th. By the end of the year, you'll have $1,200 saved.' Explore Next: Strive To Save 10% From Every Paycheck You may be financially able to do this as soon as this year or you might need to wait until 2026. In any event, as you set up automated savings, make it a point to save 10% or more from every paycheck. Plan Holiday Budgets From buying Halloween costumes to paying for a Thanksgiving feast and taking a year-end vacation, now's a good time to start assessing your upcoming holiday spending and set aside enough money to cover those expenses. Track Any Tips or Overtime You Earn This ties back in with the new Big Beautiful Bill legislation. Gelbman said taxes on tips and overtime will be deductible for many Americans. Ahead of next year's tax season, Kasey Pittman, CPA and managing director of tax policy at Cherry Bekaert, recommends monitoring upcoming guidance from the IRS and Treasury Department for more information on how new compensation-related provisions will be implemented. This is vitally important for taxpayers who receive a significant portion of their income from tips or overtime. Pittman said it will affect reporting and withholdings. Review and Adjust Your Tax Withholding Before 2025 ends, Gelbman recommends reviewing your income and deductions for the year. This ensures your tax withholding from your paycheck or estimated tax payments are sufficient. 'If you anticipate owing a significant amount come tax time,' he said, 'adjusting your withholding or making an additional payment before year's end can help you avoid underpayment penalties.' Reevaluate Whether You Should Itemize Your Deductions If you typically take the standard deduction when filing taxes, consider revisiting this strategy. 'The new $40,000 cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction — up from the longstanding $10,000 cap — may make itemizing more beneficial for those with significant SALT payments,' Pittman said. 'However, high-income individuals may begin to phase out of this benefit under the new overall itemized deductions limitation, so it's worth running the numbers now.' For You: Seniors: Review Your Social Security Income Pittman said Social Security income has not been excluded from taxation under the new law, despite misinformation to the contrary. Rather, a temporary $6,000 deduction was created for eligible seniors — with benefits starting to phase out for individuals earning more than $75,000 (or $150,000 for joint filers). 'Social Security income remains partially taxable depending on other income levels. Seniors should confirm how these thresholds affect their 2025 return,' Pittman said. Take Any Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) From Qualified Retirement Accounts To do this properly, Richard Craft, CEO of Wealth Advisory Group, said you need to calculate the required minimum distribution (RMD) amount from all qualified sources. The distribution can be taken from any combination of your retirement accounts. However, Craft said it does need to come out of each account specifically. Otherwise, the IRS imposes a 25% excise tax on the amount you were supposed to take out but did not. Explore New Long-Term Savings Options for Children Earlier, we mentioned 'Trump Accounts' as a new savings vehicle for children. If you're expecting a child in 2025, Pittman said it's worth discussing long-term savings strategies now to take advantage of this provision once it goes into effect. Plan Charitable Giving Before Dec. 31, Gelbman said to make charitable donations to claim the tax deductions for 2025. He recommends donating appreciated securities to avoid capital gains taxes while supporting the causes you care about. Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution A qualified charitable distribution is specific to those ages 70 ½ and older. Gelbman said a QCD from an IRA can satisfy your required minimum distributions (RMDs) while also reducing taxable income. Be Aware: Make a Significant Contribution To a Donor-Advised Fund Ideally, this money move should be made by those who regularly find themselves in a high tax bracket or have experienced a liquidity event, like a business sale. Graham said it could provide a current-year tax deduction and flexibility for future charitable giving. Make Gifts of $19,000 Per Recipient Under the Annual Gift Tax Exclusion Craft said gifting money today, without any transfer tax, allows the money to grow outside of your estate for the benefit of the person who receives the gift. Consider making this financial gift to your child, if you're able. 'This allows the money to grow for the child's benefit, which is generally at a lower income tax rate,' Craft said. 'Better yet, give your child money to contribute to an IRA or Roth IRA — which can grow tax deferred or tax free over their lifetime.' Don't Miss Federal Incentives for Clean Energy Vehicles Do you plan to buy a new or used clean energy vehicle? Don't push this purchase out to next year. Make it before the end of September. 'Under the new tax bill, clean vehicle tax credits are only available for purchases made through Sept. 30, 2025,' Pittman said. Explore Home Solar Tax Credits ASAP Another clean energy initiative, which is homeowner specific, are tax credits for residential energy efficiency improvements and home clean energy systems. According to Pittman, these expire after Dec. 31. Small Business Owners: Consider Changing Your Business Structure If you run a small business incorporated as a pass-through entity, like an S Corporation, Pittman recommends assessing the impact of expanded business provisions. A few considerations include changes to depreciation methods, interest expense deductibility and research-related activities. 'The law also raises income thresholds for the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction. Some small business owners may find it beneficial to evaluate whether operating as a Qualified Small Business C Corporation makes sense under the new rules,' said Pittman. Read Next: Consider Making an After-Tax Contribution To an IRA This is known as a backdoor Roth contribution. It can grow tax-free for decades and with no RMDs due. However, Craft recommends carefully understanding this strategy and how it must be done before moving forward with it. Rebalance Your Portfolio Graham said the recent market rally may mean now is a good time to rebalance your portfolio. 'In some cases, aligning your asset allocation with your current risk tolerance can also assist in reducing downside volatility and maintaining long-term investment discipline,' he said. Explore Tax-Loss Harvesting To properly do this, Gelbman said you'll need to review your investment portfolio for underperforming assets and sell those investments at a loss. Doing so can help offset capital gains taxes and up to $3,000 of ordinary income. Gelbman said, 'Make sure you comply with IRS wash-sale rules, which state that you cannot sell a security at a loss for tax benefits, but then turn around and buy the same or a similar security within 30 days.' Consult a Tax Advisor Do you need help optimizing the tax-loss harvesting strategy or have questions about how the Big Beautiful Bill may impact your taxes next year? Reach out to a tax advisor for the answers to get ahead for 2026. Check Your Credit Report Can't remember the last time you checked your credit report? Make a point to do it before the year ends. Kilgore said you can obtain reports from major credit reporting bureaus like Experian and Equifax at no charge. Carefully review these reports and see whether there are any inaccuracies. If there are, you can follow the directions on the agency's website to correct them. Trending Now: Check Your Bank Accounts (Daily) Start getting into the habit of checking your savings and checking accounts every day for the remainder of 2025 and beyond. Doing so allows you to know exactly how much money you have available and stop any potential fraud in its tracks. Take Advantage of Financial Tools Speaking of checking your accounts, now's a good time to download banking apps to better understand what's happening with your money and to stay on top of your finances on a regular basis. Update Financial Account Passwords Can't recall the last time you updated the passwords on your financial accounts? Kilgore recommends updating these passwords for additional strength to make them less vulnerable to hackers. Have the Right Cards When's the last time you did an audit in your wallet? Sandberg recommends examining your plastic portfolio before the year wraps and review where you want to pare down or add as needed. Seek Out Small Ways To Save Money Get in the habit of becoming a smart spender and look for small ways you can save money on bills. A few recommendations include washing clothes in cold water, making meals based on what's in your pantry or freezer and walking instead of driving if your destination is a short distance away. View More: Pay Your Bills on Time Admittedly, a lot of what you're reading can sound overwhelming if you haven't checked it all off your list yet. So, let's toss in an easy money move to make: Paying your bills on time. If you're already doing this, great job. If not, set up a system like getting an alert from an online calendar or writing it down on a whiteboard at home. That allows you to see all your due dates and know exactly when to make payments. Talk About Money The end of the year brings with it more occasions for spending money — and embarrassment or anxiety if you're not comfortable telling family or friends you can't afford it. Sallenave recommends leaning into the habit of talking about finances with your partner, family members and friends. Meet With a Financial Advisor If you made it to the end of this list, you might have questions and thoughts regarding your financial bigger picture. Make time to meet with a financial advisor, ask questions and get answers to better plan for the year ahead. More From GOBankingRates Mark Cuban Warns of 'Red Rural Recession' -- 4 States That Could Get Hit Hard 5 Cities You Need To Consider If You're Retiring in 2025 Mark Cuban Tells Americans To Stock Up on Consumables as Trump's Tariffs Hit -- Here's What To Buy This article originally appeared on 50 Money Moves To Make Before the End of 2025 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
