Tom Merton | Getty Images Owners of large estates have reason to celebrate. For the second year in a row, the estate-tax exemption has increased to keep up with inflation, offering families with substantial assets the ability to shield a bigger portion of their estates from estate tax. For 2020 the Internal Revenue Service raised
Wealth
How much are you willing to pay for a ticket to the local zoo? Say $25, maybe $35? A one-day pass to the San Diego Zoo, the most expensive — and largely considered the best zoo in the U.S. — charges $58 (before discounts). So how does Canberra, Australia’s National Zoo & Aquarium get visitors
Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and Block Island are classic New England islands. Framed by white sand beaches, these photogenic locations are dotted with Victorian architecture and Federal-style brick mansions built by sea captains and industrialists who profited from the once-thriving whaling trade. Lighthouses, dramatic bluffs and windswept dunes complete the alluring picture that keeps tourists coming
Britain’s Prince Harry speaks at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, Britain May 6, 2019. Steve Parsons | Pool | Reuters Goldman Sachs is in discussions to feature Prince Harry as a guest speaker for its interview series “Talks at GS,” according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The Duke of Sussex will likely want
Exhausted road warriors look to airport hotels for convenience. But increasingly, those hotels want travelers to visit for reasons that go beyond ease of access. Essential needs remain constant, but a growing number of amenities, such as lavish spas and farm-to-table dining, tell of an evolving trend. Airport hotels, like Grant Hyatt at SFO, are
Donald Trump Carlo Allegri | Reuters Whether you love or hate the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, President Donald Trump wants to keep the tax overhaul going. The president released his proposed budget for 2021 on Monday. In the spending plan, the President is calling for an extension of the individual tax cuts set to
Kathrin Ziegler | Getty Images There is a lot you can get done in a half-hour. Binge your favorite sitcom, take a nap or finish a chapter of a book. You can also take the first step to financial independence in under 30 minutes. Do you know your net worth? You don’t have to be
Much has been written about black truffle hunting in the French countryside, where Perigord truffles, or tuber melanosporum, thrive below oak and hazelnut trees. But little is discussed about how these “black diamonds” are traded before they reach the hands of fine dining chefs around the world. The interior of a black truffle is lined
Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks about the Apple Watch during Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, California, June 3, 2019. REUTERS/Mason Trinca Mason Trinca | Reuters The Apple Watch outsold the entire Swiss watch industry in 2019, according to a new report. Market research firm Strategy Analytics estimates that Apple shipped 30.7 million
Billionaire investor Ron Baron told CNBC on Tuesday he’s ardently against implementing a wealth tax. “I hate the wealth-tax idea,” the founder of Baron Capital and lifelong Democrat said in a “Squawk Box” interview. “If you want to start taxes on people with high incomes, that’s OK,” he added. “But the wealth tax I think
Tesla CEO Elon Musk reacts during a conversation at the E3 gaming convention in Los Angeles, June 13, 2019. Mike Blake | Reuters Elon Musk got $4.5 billion richer overnight, as Tesla’s share price continues to surge. Musk, who owns about 19% of the company’s stock, or 34.1 million shares, saw the value of his
Getty Images Thank the strong economy and the low unemployment rate. At 703, the average FICO score reached an all-time high at the end of 2019, a two-point increase from the year before, according to Experian’s 2019 Consumer Credit Review. That score would land the average consumers within the “good” range of credit scores. “Credit
As the Kansas City Chiefs play the San Francisco 49ers in Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, the price tag for a 30-second TV commercial during Super Bowl LIV on Fox is a reported $5.6 million. That’s up from $5.2 million last year. For just under that amount, you can own a castle located in
What do the Mona Lisa, the Great Wall of China and Trolltunga have in common? It sounds like a bad travel joke, but the answer is — they are popular bucket list destinations for travelers around the world. The pop culture vernacular for “a checklist of things to do before one dies” has become a
With the Powerball jackpot close to $400 million for Wednesday night’s drawing, you may be daydreaming about what you would do if you win. Among past recipients of huge jackpots — whether Powerball or Mega Millions — some common themes emerge when it comes to how they intended to handle their sudden windfall, based on
The image of Phuket as a cut-price destination for backpackers and budget-conscious retirees is long out of date. Phuket has now become a favorite vacation destination for the world’s wealthiest individuals, many of them arriving on super-yachts. Yachts are becoming a common sight in Phuket. Asiandelight It started when the Amanpuri resort opened and spearheaded
Kanazawa is known as Japan’s “Little Kyoto” for a reason. Up until the late 19th Century, the castle town of Kanazawa flourished under the powerful Maeda clan, who ruled over an ancient province then known as Kaga. Cherry blossom petals fall in Nagamachi samurai district. DavidCallan Today, Kanazawa is a lively modern city with a
The Hudson River Valley has long attracted city dwellers trying to escape New York. The beautiful region — an 150-mile stretch from the northern tip of Manhattan to Albany — features abundant forests, fertile farmlands and dramatic views of the pristine Hudson River. Hudson Valley is popular in the autumn, but the winter — shown
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School finds that Sen. Bernie Sanders’ proposed wealth tax on the richest Americans will generate $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion less than what the campaign claims. The results, if accurate, could undercut the critical funding needed to support his plans to develop public health care, education
If you happen to hit the next Powerball jackpot, brace yourself for the life-changing decisions ahead of you. With no one matching all six numbers drawn on Wednesday, the top prize has jumped to $373 million for Saturday night’s drawing. And while winning such a huge amount could open a world of possibility, formulating a
“We have contact,” revealed the ranger to the seven wildlife enthusiasts standing at the foot of Mount Sabyinyo, an extinct volcano in the Rwandan Virunga Mountains. An excited murmur spread through the group as they stood waiting in the morning sun. “Let’s go,” said a porter, as he climbed over the stone fence. The tourists
A security guard show the way to a man outside of the Davos Congress Centre under snow ahead of the opening of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, in Davos, eastern Switzerland. FABRICE COFFRINI | AFP | Getty Images It’s that time of the year again: Policymakers, politicians, bankers, activists, journalists and a swathe
From the moment they decided to open a distillery in Australia’s Yarra Valley, the co-founders of Four Pillars Gin — Stu Gregor, Cam MacKenzie and Matt Jones — knew it was serious business. “When we started, we didn’t want to make the best gin in Melbourne,” said Gregor, “but one that would be considered a
Thomas Trutschel | Photothek | Getty Images The world’s 2,153 billionaires have more wealth between them than a combined 4.6 billion people, new research has claimed. In a study published Monday, international charity Oxfam called on governments to implement policies that may help to reduce wealth inequality. The report comes as delegates gather in Davos,
Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembele of FC Barcelona during a match against Sevilla on February 23, 2019 Eric Verhoeven | Soccrates | Getty Images Spanish soccer giant FC Barcelona generated a record revenue of $959.3 million between 2018 and 2019, making it the sport’s biggest cash-generating club for the first time ever, according to a
“Jeopardy” contestant Ken Jennings visits the Build Series to discuss the television event “JEOPARDY! The Greatest of All Time” at Build Studio on January 06, 2020 in New York City. Gary Gershoff | Getty Images It’s official, Ken Jennings is the greatest “Jeopardy!” contestant of all time. He won the third match in the “Greatest
The Royal Mint A rare British coin featuring the profile of abdicated King Edward VIII has sold for a record £1 million ($1.3 million). The coin was created following Edward VIII’s ascension to the throne in January 1936, but was never released to the public after he gave up the throne to marry American divorcee
John Fedele This year, the IRS will let you slide on a penalty if you didn’t have health insurance in 2019. Your home state, on the other hand, may not be so forgiving. The 2019 tax year marks the first time that filers won’t be required to carry qualifying health-care coverage under the Affordable Care
Peter Griffith You might have the know-how to strengthen your finances, yet odds are you’re still making bad decisions with your money. Three out of 4 people consider themselves to be financially savvy, although more than half have admitted to making poor money choices in the past year, according to a survey from KeyBank. The
If you hit the $296 million Powerball jackpot in Wednesday night’s drawing, remember that good ol’ Uncle Sam will be celebrating alongside you. The top prize has been climbing for more than two months through twice-weekly drawings with no one matching all six numbers. And while the odds are stacked against snagging the jackpot —