Investing

Former President Donald Trump proposed a new tax deduction on auto-loan interest last week during a speech in Detroit.
The tax break would likely be structured as an itemized deduction, according to tax and policy experts.
If so, it would likely benefit relatively few people. Those who claim the deduction would likely skew toward wealthier households that buy expensive cars, experts said.

Former President Donald Trump departs following an address to the Detroit Economic Club on Oct. 10, 2024.
Sarah Rice/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump proposed a new tax deduction last week for car owners who pay interest on an auto loan, one of many tax breaks he has floated on the presidential campaign trail in recent months.
Trump’s proposed tax break would make interest on car loans fully tax deductible. It’s an idea that he compared to the mortgage interest deduction, which allows some homeowners to reduce their taxable income by writing off a portion of their mortgage interest payments each year.

So, which American households would benefit, and how large would the benefit be?
More than 100 million Americans had auto loans in the second quarter of 2024, worth $1.63 trillion, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The average person had a car loan of roughly $24,000 in 2023, according to Experian.
Someone buying a new vehicle this year would pay, on average, about $1,332 a year in interest charges, according to AAA.

While Trump didn’t offer specific details on how the tax break plan would be implemented, some experts say it would likely provide the most benefits to wealthy Americans.
Such a tax break “mostly would benefit wealthier individuals buying more expensive cars as one has to itemize their taxes to get the tax break,” Jaret Seiberg, financial services and housing policy analyst for TD Cowen Washington Research Group, wrote in a note Thursday.

It’d be “unlikely to benefit entry-level” car sales because such buyers generally have “more modest incomes” and claim a standard deduction on their tax returns, Seiberg wrote.
Either way, the proposal is unlikely to have support among many Democrats or Republicans in Congress, which must pass legislation to adopt the measure, Seiberg said.
A Trump campaign spokesperson didn’t return a request from CNBC for comment or additional detail on the proposal.

It would cost about $5 billion a year

During a speech in Detroit on Thursday, Trump compared the policy proposal to an existing federal tax deduction on home mortgage interest.
That tax break lets homeowners deduct annual mortgage interest payments from their taxable income, thereby reducing their tax bill. It’s only available to taxpayers who itemize deductions on their federal tax returns.
More from Personal Finance:Social Security payroll tax limit increases for 2025Trump’s tax cuts could expire after 2025Taxpayers in 25 states get extra time to file 2023 federal taxes
An auto interest deduction would also come at a large cost to the federal government, experts say. To that point, Trump’s proposal on car loan interest would cost about $5 billion a year in income tax reductions, if structured as an itemized deduction, estimates Erica York, senior economist and research director at the Tax Foundation’s Center for Federal Tax Policy.
It would cost about $61 billion over 10 years, from 2025 through 2034, York estimates.

Few taxpayers claim itemized tax deductions

To get the deduction, car owners would need to itemize their tax return to include their borrowing costs. 
However, most taxpayers — about 9 in 10 — don’t itemize their deductions, experts said. Instead, they claim a standard deduction.
A taxpayer’s total itemized deductions would generally have to exceed the standard deduction — $14,600 for single filers and $29,200 for married couples filing a joint tax return for 2024 — for them to get a financial benefit.
About 14.8 million federal tax returns, or about 9%, claimed an itemized deduction on their 2021 federal tax returns, according to the most recent IRS data.
A 2017 tax law signed by then-President Trump reduced the number of taxpayers who itemize their deductions.

An itemized tax break on car loan interest “would help only a fraction of taxpayers,” said Leonard Burman, an institute fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.
“This percentage might go up a bit if auto loan interest were deductible, but it’d still be true that the vast majority of household would not be able to benefit, and the ones that did would be disproportionately high-income filers,” Burman explained in an email.
About 62% of people who claimed an itemized deduction in 2021 had an adjusted gross income of $100,000 or more, according to IRS data. Such taxpayers claimed about 77% of the total $660 billion of itemized deductions that year, the data shows.
Wealthier individuals generally get more of a financial benefit from tax deductions, York said.
That’s because the value of the deduction depends on a household’s marginal income tax rate, she said.
Here’s a simple example, using AAA’s aforementioned figure of $1,332 in annual interest charges on new cars. A $1,332 tax deduction for someone in the 10% federal tax bracket would be worth about $133, while it’d be worth $493 to someone in the top 37% bracket, according to Burman.

Precedent for an itemized deduction

There’s precedent for treating a tax break on car loan interest as an itemized deduction, said York of the Tax Foundation.
The federal tax code allowed taxpayers to claim a deduction for “personal interest” until the mid-1980s. That deduction was for all types of consumer borrowing, including interest on auto loans and credit cards, York said.
However, Congress got rid of those deductions in 1986.
Today, just a few categories of interest payments are tax deductible, such as interest on home loans, student loans, money borrowed to buy investment property and interest as a business expense, according to TurboTax.

Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO More

Most workers don’t spend much time considering their benefit offerings during open enrollment.
This year could be different, with costs noticeably higher.
Here are some key tips and strategies to make the most of your employer-sponsored plan.

About 165 million Americans get their health insurance through work, and yet most don’t spend much time considering what their employer is offering in the way of benefits and what it will cost.
In fact, employees only spent about 45 minutes a year, on average, deciding which benefit options suit them best, a report from Aon found.

Open enrollment season, which typically runs through early December, is an opportunity to take a closer look at what’s at stake.
And, for starters, costs are going way up.

Costs are rising

The cost of health care has been rising steadily for years. More recently, there’s been a noticeable jump.
For employers, those cost increases are reaching a post-pandemic high, according to WTW, a consulting firm formerly known as Willis Towers Watson. U.S. employers project their health-care costs will increase by 7.7% in 2025, compared with 6.9% in 2024 and 6.5% in 2023, the firm said.
Because of higher costs, employers are considering new ways to adjust their plan offerings, WTW found.

To that point, 52% of companies said they plan to implement programs that will reduce total costs, and just as many intend to steer to lower-cost providers and sites of care, which may mean a narrower network of doctors from which to choose.
Currently, employers subsidize about 81% of health-care plan costs, on average, while employees pay the remainder, according to professional services firm Aon.
However, some of the higher costs will also inevitably get passed on to employees.
More from Personal Finance:Ozempic is driving up the cost of your health care2.5% adjustment to Social Security benefits coming in 2025’Fantastic time’ to revisit bonds as interest rates fall
Roughly one-third, or 34%, of employers expect to shift some of the expense to employees through higher premiums or by raising co-pays on high-deductible health plans in the year ahead, the WTW report found.
The cost per employee is expected to jump 5.8% on average in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of health benefit cost increases above 5%, after a decade of averaging only around 3%, according to a separate report by consulting firm Mercer. 
“These are changes employees will feel,” said Beth Umland, Mercer’s research director of health and benefits.
For workers, health-care expenses are already high: Family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose 7% this year to an average of $25,572, KFF’s 2024 benchmark employer health survey found. Workers are responsible for more than $6,200 of that amount, while employers pick up the rest.
“With cost increases reaching a post-pandemic high, companies are concerned about the burden it’s putting on their workforces, especially since it affects decisions about insurance coverage and care,” Tim Stawicki, WTW’s chief actuary of health and benefits, said in a statement.

Consider your health-care expenses

Often employees are presented with options for medical insurance plan selections: one with a higher monthly cost, known as your premium, and a lower deductible, which is the amount you’ll have to shell out before your employer’s plan kicks in, and another option with higher out-of-pocket costs but lower premiums.
“Most of the time when you go through open enrollment, the first thing you see is the deductible and out-of-pocket costs,” said Regina Ihrke, WTW’s health, equity and wellbeing leader for North America.
When weighing options, use previous years as a guide, advised Gary Kushner, chair and president of Kushner & Company, a benefits design and management company.
He said you should consider: “Am I a low-, medium- or high-claims family? Did I have an incident that required acute care or basically lots of preventative care?”
If you usually only go to the doctor, say, once a year for a check-up, you might want to opt for the so-called high-deductible plan with the lower monthly cost. 

Health savings accounts

Along with a high-deductible health insurance plan, more than 50% of employers also offer a health savings account, or HSA, which can help with additional health-care costs.
To be able to use an HSA, you must have an eligible high-deductible health plan. The IRS defines “high-deductible” as at least $1,650 for self-only plans or $3,300 for family coverage for 2025.
The IRS also determines the maximum allowed contribution each year: The new HSA contribution limit for 2025 will be $4,300 for individuals, up from $4,150 in 2024, and $8,550 for families, up from $8,300 in 2024. Employees 55 or older can make an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution over the IRS annual limits.
HSA contributions then grow on a tax-free basis, and the funds can cover out-of-pocket expenses, including doctor visits and prescription drugs, including expensive weight-loss medications.
As costs continue to go up, HSAs are a key safety net for managing these out-of-pocket expenses, WTW’s Ihrke said. Any money you don’t use can be rolled over year to year.
“Make sure you are considering how to put some money into that savings account so you can use it to pay for a doctor’s bill or save it for future years,” Ihrke explained.

Life and disability insurance

During open enrollment, employees may also be presented with different disability and life insurance options, which are often included in a standard benefits package.
Employer-issued life insurance policies typically amount to a year’s salary. You can buy additional life insurance through your employer. This is called supplemental life insurance, or voluntary life insurance, and it’s optional coverage that you can add to your employer’s basic group policy.
With disability insurance, there are two basic kinds: Short-term disability generally replaces 60% to 70% of your base salary and premiums are often paid by your employer. Long-term disability, which ordinarily kicks in after three months to six months, typically replaces 40% to 60% of your income.
Even if you have these policies through work, it could be a fraction of what you need to protect young children or other dependents.
Consider what’s the right amount for you and your family, then weigh whether you want to buy additional coverage, or supplemental insurance, through your workplace group plan or shop for your own policy, a move many advisors recommend.

Take advantage of voluntary benefits

Additional benefits may be optional but equally important these days, particularly when it comes to well-being. Going into open enrollment, nearly 1 in 5 employees cite deteriorating mental health, according to a recent report by Gallagher.
“More so than ever we are seeing employers looking to address the broadening needs in their workforce,” said Tom Kelly, principal in the Gallagher health and benefits practice, and “today’s employees are looking for more holistic wellbeing support.” More

Once you’ve decided to open a Roth individual retirement account for your child, it’s time to convince them to save their hard-earned money.
Use this opportunity to explain how compound interest works, showing them how even small amounts can grow over time.
Offering a “parental match” program may be a useful incentive.

Momo Productions | Stone | Getty Images

Once you’ve decided that opening a Roth individual retirement account for your child is a great idea, now comes the hard part: convincing the child to save for a far-off retirement instead of spending that hard-earned money. 
I have some ideas for making the case to your child. 

While you’re doing so, it’s also important to consider what counts as “earned income” for a child’s Roth IRA.

How to get your child to start saving for retirement

Getting your kids to save can set them up for long-term financial success. Here are some ways to do it: 

Initiate a “parental match” program in which you chip in some additional money, say another $5 for every $10 of earnings they put into the Roth IRA. Offer tangible rewards for every savings goal they meet; charts and apps can help them keep track. Set up a “savings challenge” in which everyone tries to save a specific amount each month; the one who saves the most or meets their goal gets a reward.

More from CNBC’s Advisor Council

Encourage them to round up all purchases to the nearest dollar and save the difference. For example, if something costs $4.50, they save the remaining 50 cents. Offer to pay your child interest on the money they save. You could set a small percentage, like 5%, to be added to their savings monthly or quarterly. This teaches them about earning money on savings through compound interest.

Motivate your child to take on extra chores or small jobs like babysitting, helping out in the neighborhood, or tutoring. Then, encourage them to save a portion of their earnings by offering a bonus if they save a certain percentage. If they start a small business, such as selling crafts on Facebook Marketplace or Etsy, suggest they save a portion of their profits and offer to match those savings.

Celebrate major savings milestones, such as saving the first $100, with a small reward, whether it’s a favorite treat, a day out or a new book or game. Recognize their savings achievements in front of family or friends to reinforce positive behavior.

Making the case for saving and investing

Use this opportunity to explain how compound interest works, showing them how even small amounts can grow over time. If your child wants to spend money on a particular item, require them to save an equal amount before you allow them to make the purchase. 
For example, if they want to buy a $30 toy, they must first save $60, half for savings and half for the toy. This strategy encourages them to think about balancing saving with spending. Instead of monetary rewards, offer privileges for saving —such as extra screen time, a later bedtime, or a special outing. 
This can make the idea of saving more appealing, especially for younger children. Offer more independence, such as managing a small part of the household budget, as a reward for consistent saving.

Teach financial literacy and lead by example. Let your kids help choose their Roth IRA investments. Seeing how their money can grow through smart investing can be a powerful incentive. Create a family investment club where everyone picks stocks or other investments. Offer a small prize to the person whose investment performs best over a set period. 
Regularly discuss your own savings goals and achievements with your child. When they see you prioritizing savings, they’re more likely to do the same. 
Work together on a family savings goal, such as a vacation, and let them see how their contributions help reach the goal faster. 
Incentivizing your child to save is about making saving rewarding and fun. These strategies can help your child develop strong financial habits that will benefit them throughout their life.

Ways to earn money for Roth IRA contributions

To contribute to a Roth IRA for kids, the child must have earned income. This income could come from traditional employment, such as a part-time job, or from self-employment activities, such as babysitting or lawn mowing. 
The maximum annual contribution for 2024 is $7,000 or the total of the child’s earned income for the year — whichever is less. If a generous parent or other benefactor is willing, they can allow the child to keep part or all of their earned income and fund the Roth, so long as their contribution doesn’t exceed what the child earned.

What counts as earned income for a Roth IRA? Earned income is money received from work or services rendered, and it’s crucial to understand what qualifies to ensure your child’s contributions are compliant with IRS rules:
Wages and salaries:

Paid internships: Most college campuses today have internship offices onsite that can help you with your search for a paid internship. This provides an opportunity to earn income while developing skills and building networking relationships for your future career aspirations. 
Part-time jobs: Earnings from a part-time job, such as working at a grocery store, fast food restaurant, or retail shop, count as earned income. For instance, if a 16-year-old works at a coffee shop and earns $4,000 over the summer, that $4,000 qualifies as earned income.
Formal employment: Income from formal employment, where the child receives a W-2 form, is the most straightforward type of qualifying income. This includes hourly wages, salaries, and tips.

Self-employment income:

Babysitting: Money earned from babysitting jobs is considered self-employment income. For example, if your teen earns $1,500 from babysitting throughout the year, this amount can be used for Roth IRA contributions. The same goes for lawn or yard work around the neighborhood.
Tutoring: My son has done quite a bit of this. Tutoring other students, whether in person or online, also qualifies.
Art and crafts sales: If your child sells homemade crafts or art at local fairs or online and earns income from these sales, it qualifies as earned income.
Gig economy jobs: Earnings from online platforms where a minor might provide services — such as graphic design, writing or coding — count as earned income.
Delivery jobs: Earnings from food delivery jobs, where allowed by age restrictions, through services such as DoorDash or Uber Eats also count as income.

What does not qualify as earned income: Money received from parents for chores or as an allowance does not count, nor do cash gifts or investment earnings, nor scholarships and grants. This last category is considered non-taxable income and therefore cannot be used for Roth IRA contributions.
— By Winnie Sun, co-founder and managing director of Irvine, California-based Sun Group Wealth Partners. She is also a member of the CNBC Financial Advisor Council. More

A McDonalds located on Santa Monica Blvd in Los Angeles, California, April 1, 2024.
Robert Gauthier | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images

Investors looking for steady income amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and economic uncertainty can consider adding dividend-paying stocks to their portfolios.
Choosing the right stocks from the vast universe of dividend-paying companies can be challenging. Recommendations from top Wall Street analysts could help investors pick stocks with attractive dividends that are backed by strong financials.

Here are three dividend-paying stocks, highlighted by Wall Street’s top pros on TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance.

AT&T

Our first dividend pick is AT&T (T), one of the world’s leading telecommunications companies. Last month, the company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.2775 per share on its common stock, payable on Nov. 1. AT&T offers a dividend yield of 5.2%.
Recently, Tigress Financial analyst Ivan Feinseth slightly raised his price target for AT&T stock to $30 from $29 and reiterated a buy rating, saying that “gains in wireless and wireline subscription growth continue to position it as a leading provider of converged 5G and fiber wireline services.”
The analyst highlighted that AT&T reported 419,000 postpaid phone net additions in the second quarter, with an industry-leading postpaid phone churn of 0.70%. Moreover, it witnessed 239,000 AT&T Fiber net additions, marking the 18th consecutive quarter with over 200,000 net additions.
Feinseth added that the company is on track to pass more than 30 million consumer and business locations with its fiber network by the end of next year. The analyst is optimistic about AT&T’s future growth, backed by the continued rollout of 5G and fiber network as well as broadband. He also expects the company to gain from the iPhone upgrade cycle.

Additionally, Feinseth noted the company’s efforts to reduce its costs and debt levels. Overall, the analyst thinks that AT&T offers an attractive investment opportunity, given its compelling dividend yield and a portfolio of resilient businesses.
Feinseth ranks No. 202 among more than 9,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 61% of the time, delivering an average return of 13.2%. (See AT&T Stock Buybacks on TipRanks) 

Realty Income

This week’s second dividend stock is Realty Income (O), a real estate investment trust that invests in diversified commercial real estate and has a portfolio of over 15,400 properties in the U.S., the United Kingdom and six other countries in Europe.
Realty Income is known for its monthly dividends. On Oct. 8, the company declared a monthly dividend of $0.2635 per share, payable on Nov. 15. The stock offers an attractive dividend yield of 5.1%.
Recently, RBC Capital analyst Brad Heffern updated his estimates and price targets for net lease REITs to reflect the impact of a lower interest rate environment. In particular, the analyst raised the price target for Realty Income to $67 from $64 and reaffirmed a buy rating on the stock. The higher price target represents a much lower cost of debt/equity capital that the company and its peers in the net lease REITs group are benefiting from.
Heffern cited several reasons for his bullish stance on Realty Income, including the company having one of the highest-quality net lease portfolios and a high proportion of tenants with public reporting requirements. The analyst also expects the company to benefit from solid acquisition volumes.
“O’s cost of capital is one of the lowest in the peer group, and in our view a low cost of capital is critical to operating in net lease,” he added.
Heffern ranks No. 542 among more than 9,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 48% of the time, delivering an average return of 12.1%. (See Realty Income Stock Charts on TipRanks) 

McDonald’s

Finally, let’s look at the fast-food chain McDonald’s (MCD). Last month, the company announced a 6% hike in its quarterly dividend to $1.77 per share, payable on Dec. 16. This increase marked the 48th consecutive year of dividend increases for MCD. The stock has a dividend yield of 2.3%.
Baird analyst David Tarantino reaffirmed a buy rating on MCD stock and boosted the price target to $320 from $280, citing signs of improved comparable sales growth in the U.S. The analyst increased his third-quarter U.S. comps estimate to 0.5% compared to the previous estimate of a 2% decline.
Tarantino increased his EPS estimate as well, fueled by indications of improved trends in August and September following softness exiting Q2 and in early Q3. The analyst thinks that improvement in U.S. comps might have been driven by growing traction for the $5 Meal Deal, the Collector’s Meal promotion that was launched on Aug. 13 and reportedly sold out within one to two days, and easier comparison with the prior-year period.
While visibility outside the domestic market continues to be low due to macro challenges, Tarantino remains bullish on the stock, as he thinks that “MCD’s durable business model is positioned to produce relatively good results in a range of economic scenarios.”
Tarantino ranks No. 162 among more than 9,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been successful 66% of the time, delivering an average return of 13.7%. (See McDonald’s Hedge Fund Activity on TipRanks)  More

South Fork Wind, 35 miles East of Montauk, New York, is the first commercial-scale offshore wind project in the U.S.
Orsted built the wind farm, which has 12 turbines that can power 70,000 homes annually.
The Biden administration has a target of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030, but rising interest rates and supply chain hurdles have hit the industry.

Pippa Stevens | CNBC

GREENPORT, N.Y. – Roughly 35 miles off the east coast of Montauk, New York, 12 turbines gently spin in the wind at Orsted’s newly developed South Fork Wind farm. The project, which connected to the grid earlier this year, is the first commercial-scale offshore wind farm in the U.S., providing enough power for 70,000 homes annually.
It’s a needed bright spot for the U.S. offshore wind industry, which has faced a number of challenges getting off the ground. Rising interest rates and supply chain snags have changed project economics, forcing some developers to return to the market in search of higher contracted prices. Other projects have been canceled entirely.

Soren Lassen, head of offshore wind research at Wood Mackenzie, said the U.S. offshore wind industry is going through a needed readjustment, and that while the long-term outlook remains intact, progress has been pushed out. South Fork Wind offers tangible evidence that wind projects can work.

A long-term investment

Traveling by way of a high-speed ferry from Greenport, New York, it takes about two hours to get to South Fork Wind. It’s hard to get a sense of just how large these turbines are until you’re right under one: they tower 460 feet above the water, with blades that are each longer than a football field. And that’s just what the eye can see. Underwater, each tower sits atop a custom foundation drilled into the seabed. Apart from the gentle “swoosh” of the blades – only audible when right next to the turbine – the wind farm is otherwise quiet in the middle of the ocean.

South Fork Wind’s substation, which is connected to the power grid in East Hampton via a subsea and then underground cable.
Pippa Stevens | CNBC

Each turbine is connected to an offshore substation – the first of its kind built in the U.S. – which is connected to the local power grid in East Hampton, New York, via a 65-mile subsea and underground cable.
South Fork Wind was not without opposition. The waters off the Long Island coast have long been a place for recreational and commercial fisherman alike, some of whom opposed the project. Residents in Wainscott – the summer community where the cable comes ashore – also fought it. This led to Orsted adding extra space between each turbine so that the area remains open both to transit by pleasure and fishing boats, and the company buried the onshore cable beneath the beach and local roads.
Denmark-based Orsted is not new to the area. The company developed the five-turbine Block Island Wind Farm, which is northwest of South Fork Wind, in 2016. And northeast of South Fork Wind sits Revolution Wind – a 65-turbine project that Orsted broke ground on in 2023. In July, Orsted began construction on Sunrise Wind, which is also in federal waters off the New York coast.

Offshore wind projects are long-term investments, with work starting years before a single foundation is even drilled into the seabed. Securing the necessary permits is a lengthy process.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management first awarded the leases for South Fork Wind in 2013, which where acquired by Deepwater Wind. Orsted acquired the company in 2018 and partnered with Eversource Energy to start building the project. Onshore construction began in February 2022, with offshore construction following in 2023. In September, Skyborn Renewables, a Global Infrastructure Partners portfolio company, acquired Eversource’s 50% stake in both South Fork Wind and Revolution Wind.  

South Fork Wind, which is 35 miles East of Montauk, New York.
Pippa Stevens | CNBC

Offshore wind developers typically use power purchase agreements, which are signed ahead of construction. Put simply, it’s a long-term agreement between the owner and a third party who agrees to pay a specific price for the power – oftentimes for 20 years or more. At South Fork Wind, the power is being sold to Long Island Power Authority.
While this model provides long-term certainty, it can also be a huge obstacle if project costs balloon. Orsted is developing Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind, but last year it walked away from Ocean Wind 1 and 2, which were slated to be built off the coast of Atlantic City, New Jersey.
“Macroeconomic factors have changed dramatically over a short period of time, with high inflation, rising interest rates, and supply chain bottlenecks impacting our long-term capital investments,” David Hardy, CEO Americas at Ørsted, said in October 2023. “As a result, we have no choice but to cease development of Ocean Wind 1 and Ocean Wind 2.”
In May, Orsted agreed to pay New Jersey a $125 million settlement.
The financial problems are not unique to Orsted. Equinor and BP ended a joint venture to develop a project in waters off the coast of New York in January. Equinor took sole ownership of the project and re-entered the market in search of better prices – securing a deal for Empire Wind 1, but not for Empire Wind 2, which remains on pause.

High rates, supply chain struggles

The two main obstacles around building offshore wind farms are interest rates and the supply chain. Offshore wind is capital intensive: it takes a lot of money to build one of these projects in the middle of the sea, and as interest rates rose companies’ cost of capital surged. At the same time, raw material and labor costs accelerated out of the pandemic. It’s hard to begin construction without a PPA locked in, but if costs rise significantly above initial estimates, the PPA might not be high enough for the project to be feasible.

Arrows pointing outwards

Each turbine at South Fork Wind rises 460 feet above the water.
Pippa Stevens | CNBC

Much of the supply chain is also highly specialized. There are only a few vessels in the world, for example, that can lay the underwater cables. Turbine installation vessels are also industry-specific. The offshore wind industry is not new globally, but it is in the U.S., meaning just a few years ago a domestic supply chain was virtually nonexistent.
But some of those supply chain constraints are beginning to ease as more and more projects get off the ground. Dominion Energy is building the first Jones Act-compliant turbine installation ship in Brownsville, Texas, which will be used to transport supplies to its Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. Once the project is completed, the ship will be contracted out to other companies.

‘Not disappearing’

Offshore wind port hubs are also popping up, including the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, the Port of Virginia and Connecticut’s Port of New London. Orsted’s domestic supply chain now spans more than 40 states, and work for South Fork Wind took place in New York, South Carolina, Texas, Rhode Island and Connecticut, among other states.
The U.S. Department of the Interior recently approved its tenth offshore wind project – this one in Maryland – in what it called a “major milestone.” But the Biden administration’s goal of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power by the end of this decade remains far off.

Arrows pointing outwards

South Fork Wind’s offshore substation is the first-of-its-kind built in the U.S.
Pippa Stevens | CNBC

Vineyard Wind, off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, Massachusetts, is the only other commercial-scale offshore wind project currently powering homes. Developer Avangrid had to pause construction over the summer after a blade broke off and fell into the ocean, with parts ultimately washing ashore on Nantucket beaches. GE Vernova, which made the blade, called it a “manufacturing deviation” related to “insufficient bonding” in the blade.
Two other projects – Block Island Wind Farm and Dominion’s two-turbine Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Pilot Project – are operational, although they are much smaller, powering 17,000 and 3,000 homes, respectively.
The U.S. does have 58 gigawatts of capacity under development, according to American Clean Power, but some of those projects won’t come online for years, and there is no guarantee all of them will be built. The industry group estimates that $65 billion will be invested in offshore wind by 2030, supporting 56,000 jobs – up from 1,000 today.
“There are cycles in everything, and now we’re going through a negative cycle,” said Wood Mackenzie’s Lassen, in an interview. “That means that what is now driving the adjustments to price are, instead of success, failures.”
But Lassen is encouraged projects are pushing forward.
“The positive thing is that then there is some readjustment,” he said. “That means the sector is not disappearing. It’s bouncing back, but it is different.”

Arrows pointing outwards

Orsted’s Block Island Wind Farm. The turbines are supported by jacket foundations, rather than the monopiles used at South Fork Wind.
Pippa Stevens | CNBC

Don’t miss these energy insights from CNBC PRO: More

As 2025 approaches, top-ranked advisors are bracing for a looming tax cliff when trillions of dollars in tax breaks enacted by former President Donald Trump are scheduled to expire.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act included several key individual tax law changes that could sunset after 2025, including lower tax brackets, higher standard deductions and a bigger estate and gift tax exemption.
Meanwhile, advisors are focused on estate planning strategies and tax moves such as accelerating income and deferring deductions.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump attends a rally at the site of the July assassination attempt against him, in Butler, Pennsylvania, Oct. 5, 2024.
Brian Snyder | Reuters

More from FA 100:

Here’s a look at more coverage of CNBC’s FA 100 list of top financial advisory firms for 2024:

It’s unclear which TCJA provisions, if any, could be extended by Congress, particularly with uncertain control of the Senate, House and the White House. 
In the meantime, some financial advisors have started tax planning for clients who could be affected. Here are some of their key strategies.

Estate planning is a ‘large focus’

Currently, there’s a significantly higher estate and gift tax exemption under the TCJA, which allows tax-free transfers from wealthy Americans to the next generation.
In 2024, the lifetime estate and gift tax exemption is $13.61 million for individuals or $27.22 million for married couples. Next year, that limit will adjust for inflation before dropping by roughly one-half after 2025 if Congress does not extend the provision.

Transfers above those thresholds could be subject to a maximum tax rate of 40%.
“That’s really been a large focus for us,” said certified financial planner Peter Traphagen Jr., managing director of Traphagen Financial Group in Oradell, New Jersey, which ranked No. 9 on CNBC’s 2024 FA 100 list.

Estate planning strategies leverage the exemptions to remove assets from the estate during life. However, techniques vary by family depending on their level of wealth, goals, life expectancy and other factors. 
Plans can involve trusts, gifts to beneficiaries, direct payments to education institutions or medical providers, funding a 529 college savings plan and other tactics, said Shea Abernethy, an investment advisor representative based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
“Once it’s out of your estate, it’s not gaining interest or compounding,” said Abernethy, who is also chief compliance officer for Salem Investment Counselors, which earned the No. 8 spot on the FA 100 list.  

‘Accelerate income’ before tax hikes

Some advisors are also planning for higher federal income tax brackets after 2025.
Without changes from Congress, the brackets will revert to 2017 levels, shifting to 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 35% and 39.6%.
“We are looking at strategies to accelerate income into the lower brackets now,” said Samantha Pahlow, wealth management chair of Ferguson Wellman Capital Management in Portland, Oregon. The firm ranked No. 10 on the FA 100 list. 
For example, that could include making Roth individual retirement account conversions or recognizing business income sooner, she said.

Pass-through businesses such as sole proprietors, partnerships or S corporations may also want to accelerate income to leverage the 20% qualified business income deduction, which could also sunset after 2025, Traphagen said.

Consider ‘deferring deductions’

At tax time, filers claim the standard deduction or their total itemized deductions, whichever is greater. After 2025, they’re more likely to itemize, if the standard deduction is cut in half.
For 2024, the standard deduction is $14,600 for single taxpayers and $29,200 for married couples filing jointly. That means most filers won’t claim itemized tax breaks such as the deduction for charitable gifts, medical expenses, and state and local taxes, experts say.
But with a lower standard deduction scheduled for 2026, you may consider “deferring deductions,” such as a donation to charity, Pahlow said. More

Hispanic- and Latino-identifying consumers accounted for 32.5% of Constellation Brands’ sales in 2023, data from Numerator and Jefferies shows.
Continued loyalty from these shoppers is partly responsible for Modelo hanging onto its spot as the most-bought U.S. beer by dollar share.
“Hispanic consumers are the single most important consumer group for our beer business,” said Mallika Monteiro, executive vice president at Constellation Brands.

Packages of Modelo Especial beer are displayed for sale in a grocery store on June 14, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. 
Mario Tama | Getty Images

Modelo cans have become part of the fabric of events for Rio Riojas’ family and community in Lansing, Michigan.
The 35-year-old often finds himself opting for the brand at grocery stores or bars. The beer has become, in his words, “synonymous” with gatherings, ranging from small hangouts to birthday parties.

“It’s definitely the choice of the people,” said Riojas, a stand-up comedian. “When you’re at a quinceañera and you see everybody you know enjoying a couple beers at the table, it’s usually going to be a Modelo.” 
Riojas is part of a base of Hispanic consumers that has become a focal point for Constellation Brands’ beer business, which also includes products such as Corona and Pacífico. What the company describes as an authentic relationship with this cohort of shoppers has boosted demand — and is part of why Modelo has become the best-selling beer brand in the U.S.
Recent data illustrates how Constellation has pulled ahead in the broader market by homing in on Latinos.
Hispanic- and Latino-identifying customers accounted for 32.5% of Constellation Brands’ sales in 2023, according to data from consumer research firm Numerator and investment bank Jefferies. This is despite the group comprising just 19.5% of the American population that year, as government statistics show.

Continued loyalty from these shoppers is partly responsible for Modelo hanging onto its spot as the most-bought U.S. beer by dollar share, the company said. Modelo was first able to eclipse Bud Light last year as the Anheuser-Busch-owned brand faced backlash following its marketing campaign that featured a transgender influencer.

“Hispanic consumers are the single most important consumer group for our beer business,” said Mallika Monteiro, executive vice president and managing director for Constellation’s beer brands. “It has been the foundation of how we’ve been able to drive growth over the last 14 years.”

The ‘fighting spirit’

Constellation’s connection to these brands started with importing them to the U.S. from Mexico. The company officially acquired the U.S. beer business of Groupo Modelo, which included Modelo and Corona, from Anheuser-Busch in 2013.
These brands have a natural pull among Hispanics given their roots in America’s southern neighbor, said Alexandra Aguirre-Rodriguez, an associate professor at Florida International University’s business school. But Constellation’s marketing and social responsibility efforts have helped the New York-based company maintain this relationship over time, she said.
Constellation’s Monteiro said the emphasis on the Hispanic community has taken root in the company’s focus on building a diverse workforce. The company also touts a multiyear donor relationship with UnidosUS, which is billed as the largest civil rights organization focused on Hispanics in America.
With the rights to market in the U.S., Monteiro said Constellation has focused on an “authentic” reflection of these brands as Mexican imports. After several years of advertising in Spanish-language programming, she said the company in more recent years brought its Modelo marketing campaigns to English-speaking media.
One popular spot focused on the role of “abuelas,” or grandmothers, in caring for and feeding their families. An ad released this year highlighted the work of California women who build low-rider cars.

Modelo’s “fighting spirit” tagline offers positive representation in media for Hispanics specifically, said FIU’s Aguirre-Rodriguez, whose research centers on the intersection of identity and branding. It can also resonate more broadly with immigrants coming to America in search of a better life, or their descendants — regardless of their origin country, she said.
“Time and time again, you see that there’s that strong bond that consumers form emotionally with brands,” Aguirre-Rodriguez said. “The self is a very important part of consumers’ decision-making.”

‘A good mark of the culture’

This connection can help Constellation weather a tough economic backdrop that’s been defined by a “choosy” consumer, according to Jefferies analyst Kaumil Gajrawala.
Gajrawala said one might expect Constellation to face trouble as consumers face economic challenges such as inflation and high interest rates. But he said the company is in a better spot than others in a similar position.
That’s because the Hispanic base is likely to reduce spending elsewhere in order to keep picking up boxes of Modelo or Corona, given their loyalty, he said.
“The business is more resilient than it may appear,” he told clients in June.

Read more CNBC analysis on culture and the economy

Constellation hasn’t been completely immune from economic headwinds. CEO William Newlands said on the company’s earnings call earlier this month that an uptick in Hispanic unemployment can help explain softness seen during the second quarter.
Potential tariffs on imports are another overhang for the company heading into the presidential election. But Tom Fullerton, a professor at the University of Texas at El Paso focused on trade in the Americas, said consumers should continue to shell out under these circumstances, though they would likely see price increases as a result.
Constellation is one of multiple companies vying for the attention of Hispanics as their financial power becomes more apparent. A study released last month found that if U.S. Latinos were an independent country, they would have the fifth-largest gross domestic product and the second-fastest-growing economy.
Looking ahead, Constellation is expecting a rebound in Hispanic employment that should bode well for spending. On the business end, Monteiro said the company is expanding into flavors that particularly resonate with this group, such as the Modelo Agua Fresca line she said is inspired by drinks at Mexican street markets.
At a recent gathering of Riojas’ family, a decked-out tray included cans of Modelo adorned with finger foods and shrimp. Attendees could use those items to make a “Michelada,” a cocktail that typically mixes the Mexican beer with juice and toppings.

A Michelada tray.
Courtesy: Rio Riojas

For Riojas, a box of Modelo has also become a staple gift when going to events. He said the company’s commitment to uplifting Hispanic heritage has struck a chord within his community. 
“It was awesome to see us represented,” he said. “It’s definitely a good mark of the culture and a good representation of our ‘fighting spirit.'” More

The Social Security Administration on Oct. 10 announced a higher threshold for earnings subject to Social Security payroll taxes.
For 2025, the “taxable maximum” will be $176,100, up about 4.4% from $168,600 in 2024.
The Social Security tax rate is 12.4%, with workers paying 6.2% and employers paying the other 6.2%. The government also collects 2.9% in Medicare taxes, which doesn’t have a cap on earnings.

Hispanolistic | E+ | Getty Images

How the Social Security tax calculation works

The Social Security payroll tax rate is 12.4%, with workers paying 6.2% through paycheck deductions. Employers pay the other 6.2%.

For 2025, workers will pay 6.2% on earnings up to $176,100, for a maximum of $10,918.20, according to the Social Security Administration. Once workers reach that max, they don’t pay into the program for the rest of the year.
The 2025 adjustment has a bigger impact on self-employed workers because “they’re paying both sides of it,” meaning they owe the full 12.4%, according to Lovison, who is also a certified public accountant.

The government also collects 2.9% in Medicare payroll taxes, with workers and employers each paying 1.45%. But there is no cap on taxable earnings for Medicare.
Self-employed workers are also responsible for both sides of the Medicare tax, for a combined 15.3% between Social Security and Medicare. However, they can deduct 50% of self-employment taxes on their individual return, even if they don’t itemize.

Concerns over Social Security solvency 

The latest Social Security adjustments come amid growing concerns about the program’s solvency. The trust funds used to pay benefits are expected to run out in 2035, the trustees’ report showed in May.
In the meantime, some advocates have pushed to increase the Social Security wage base to provide more funding.
The Social Security Administration’s 2024 trustees’ report details more than 150 options to close the funding gap, including ways to cut benefits and boost revenue.
“Clearly, the biggest financial gain comes from eliminating the taxable maximum,” Alicia Munnell, director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College wrote about the report in August.
However, future changes are unclear with control over Congress and the White House uncertain. More