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Many Americans would rather talk politics than money. It could cost you

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Voters cast their ballots on the second day of early voting in the 2024 presidential election at the Board of Elections Loop Super Site in Chicago, Illinois, on October 4, 2024. 

Kamil Krzaczynski | AFP | Getty Images

There are few topics Americans would rather not talk about more than money.

They would even rather reveal who they’re voting for in the November presidential election than talk about their finances, according to new research from U.S. Bank based on a survey of 3,500 individuals.

That’s on top of separate research that found personal finances are almost as difficult to talk about as sex, a recent Wells Fargo national survey including 3,403 adults found.

Most people are reluctant to talk about money, according to Wells Fargo’s research, and revealing how much they have saved or how much they have earned are two topics they’d prefer to avoid.

Still, for most people to be willing to talk about the U.S. election over their personal finances is a “big surprise,” said Scott Ford, president of wealth management at U.S. Bank.

50% of Americans believe election outcome will directly impact their personal finances, survey finds

People are likely more hesitant to talk about money because it is wrapped up with their anxieties, worries and aspirations, said Preston Cherry, a certified financial planner, founder and president of Concurrent Financial Planning in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Moreover, while money is a “deeply personal,” everyday relationship, presidential elections are just once every four years, said Cherry, who is also a member of the CNBC FA Council.

Despite their reluctance, the research from U.S. Bank shows families are increasingly breaking the ice on financial topics, particularly with regard to conversations parents are having with their kids.

“The good news is people are talking more [about money], but it’s still at the surface,” Ford said.

U.S. Bank’s survey included 1,000 respondents from the general population, 1,000 mass affluent respondents with at least $250,000 in investable assets excluding their primary homes and retirement accounts, and 500 high-net-worth individuals with at least $1 million in assets excluding their primary homes and retirement accounts.

‘Missed opportunities’ of not talking about money

For both couples and families, not having those crucial financial conversations can cost them, financial advisors say.

“When you don’t have the knowledge, or you don’t feel like you have the ability to talk to your loved ones and people around you about money, then you also can’t build wealth effectively,” said Winnie Sun, co-founder and managing director of Irvine, California-based Sun Group Wealth Partners. She is a member of the CNBC FA Council.

“Avoiding money conversations will lead to misunderstandings, financial misalignment and, overall, just missed opportunities to plan effectively for the future,” said Douglas Boneparth, president and founder of Bone Fide Wealth, a wealth management firm based in New York City. He is also a member of the CNBC FA Council.

Have talks ‘before an emergency situation arises’

On a positive note, some money conversations are happening more regularly, U.S. Bank’s research found.

Today’s parents are almost twice as likely to discuss financial concepts with their children — such as investing in stocks and bonds — than their parents did with them, according to the firm.

Still, 45% of respondents say they are unaware of their parents’ financial situation, U.S. Bank found. Many believe they will have to provide financial help to their parents or in-laws in the future, according to the research.

A lack of family financial discussions can become an issue if aging relatives have a health scare, said Ford, who recalled having to scramble to pay the property taxes for a loved one who fell ill, without even knowing where the checkbook was.

“What I tell everyone is you want to have those conversations before an emergency situation arises,” Ford said.

To start to better understand older family members’ financial situations, it may help to begin with everyday items, like the cost of prescription medications, and build from there, Ford said.

“Our advice is just to start to have the conversation, start small,” Ford said.

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If those conversations are avoided, it can prevent important estate planning, health-care decisions and intergenerational wealth transfer, according to Boneparth.

“When these things aren’t accounted for, there could be costly legal mistakes or tax inefficiencies, either presently or down the road,” Boneparth said.

Ultimately, families want to have a full emergency plan in place, complete with knowledge of bank account information, long-term health-care plans, a will and a durable power of attorney, which is a legal document that gives someone else the authority to make financial or medical decisions on someone else’s behalf.

It may take some prodding for older family members to open up about their finances, said Ted Jenkin, a certified financial planner and the CEO and founder of oXYGen Financial, a financial advisory and wealth management firm based in Atlanta. He is also a member of the CNBC FA Council.

“It’s always best to approach parents and say, ‘Listen, we could care less how much money you have. We just want to make sure the proper things are in place to make sure that we’re not dealing with tons of legal hassles down the road,'” Jenkin said.

Couples often don’t agree on money

A lack of communication among couples can also lead to financial problems.

More than one-third of Americans don’t agree with their partners when it comes to how to best manage their money, both when planning for their current circumstances and retirement, according to U.S. Bank.

At the same time, 30% say they have lied to their partner about money, the firm found. Other research has shown that dishonesty — often referred to as financial infidelity — can be common when couples aren’t on the same page financially.

“Couples sometimes struggle,” Cherry said. “They struggle with sharing each other’s perspective without judgment in order to reach a common goal.”

To work past financial standoffs, it helps for couples to create a more welcoming environment to engage their partners in money conversations, Cherry said.

Financial advisors can often serve as mediators and objective third parties in those conversations, Ford said.

More than half — 53% — of investors surveyed who have at least $250,000 in assets said their financial advisor has helped them work through uncomfortable family money conversations, U.S. Bank found.

Many people may be hesitant to consult a financial professional if they don’t feel they have enough money or know the questions they should ask.

But taking that first step — whether it’s talking to an advisor or doing the research to educate yourself about personal finance — can help shift your mindset and reduce financial stress, according to Sun.

“Most financial advisors, especially the good, experienced ones, will give you a free first initial consultation,” Sun said. “That is super powerful, and you should take us up on it.”

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House Republican bill boosts maximum child tax credit to $2,500

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House Republicans on Thursday advanced President Donald Trump‘s “big, beautiful” tax and spending bill, which includes a bigger child tax credit for some families.

If enacted, the House bill would make permanent the maximum $2,000 credit passed via the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or TCJA, of 2017. Without action from Congress, that tax break will revert to $1,000 after 2025.

The House bill would make the highest child tax credit $2,500 from 2025 through 2028. After that, the credit’s top value would revert to $2,000 and be indexed for inflation.

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However, the House-approved child tax credit hike wouldn’t provide relief to the lowest-earning families, according to some policy experts.

The provision could still change in the Senate.

House Republicans child tax credit changes

Typically, very-low-income families with kids don’t owe federal taxes, which means they can’t claim the full child tax credit. 

Plus, under the House proposal, both parents must have a Social Security number if filing jointly and claiming the tax break for an eligible child.

“This bill is taking the child tax credit away from 4.5 million children who are U.S. citizens or lawfully present,” Cox told CNBC.

How to calculate the child tax credit

For 2025, the child tax credit is currently worth up to $2,000 per qualifying child under age 17 with a valid Social Security number. Up to $1,700 is “refundable” for 2025, which delivers a maximum of $1,700 once the credit exceeds taxes owed.  

After your first $2,500 of earnings, the child tax credit value is 15% of adjusted gross income, or AGI, until the tax break reaches that peak of $2,000 per child. The tax break starts to phase out once AGI exceeds $400,000 for married couples filing together or $200,000 for all other taxpayers.   

“Almost everyone gets it,” but middle-income families currently see the biggest benefit, said Elaine Maag, senior fellow in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. 

Rep. Mike Lawler: President Trump fully supports lifting the cap on SALT Tax

A bipartisan House bill passed in February 2024 aimed to expand access to the child tax credit and retroactively boosted the refundable portion for 2023, which would have impacted families during the 2024 filing season. 

The bill failed in the Senate in August, but Republicans expressed interest in revisiting the issue.

At the time of the vote, Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, described it as a “blatant attempt to score political points.” Crapo, who is now chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said in August that Senate Republicans have concerns about the policy, but are willing to negotiate a “child tax credit solution that a majority of Republicans can support.”

Although House Republicans previously supported the expansion for lower-earners, the current plan “shifts directions and focuses the benefits on middle and high-income families,” Maag said. 

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What House Republican ‘big beautiful’ budget bill means for your money

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Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) speaks during a House Committee on Ways and Means in the Longworth House Office Building on April 30, 2024 in Washington, D.C.

Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images News | Getty Images

House Republicans on Thursday advanced a multi-trillion-dollar tax and spending package that could have sweeping impacts on household finances.

If enacted, the legislation — called the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” — could make permanent President Donald Trump‘s 2017 tax cuts, while adding new provisions that could significantly overhaul student borrowing, health savings accounts and car ownership, among other changes.

With control of Congress, Republicans can use “budget reconciliation” to pass the package, which only needs a simple majority in the Senate. But the bill, which is more than 1,000 pages long, is likely to see changes in the upper chamber before Trump signs it into law.

Here are some of the provisions that may affect your wallet.

Higher ‘SALT’ deduction limit

Enacted via the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or TCJA, of 2017, there’s currently a $10,000 limit on the deduction for state and local taxes, known as SALT. Filers must itemize deductions to claim it.

The bill would raise the SALT cap to $40,000 in 2025 and phase out the tax break for incomes over $500,000. The SALT limit and income phaseout would increase annually by 1% from 2026 through 2033.

Before TCJA, the SALT deduction was unlimited, but the so-called alternative minimum tax curbed the benefit for some wealthier Americans.

The bill would also reduce itemized deductions for certain taxpayers in the 37% income tax bracket, which could limit the benefit of the higher SALT cap.

“Any changes to lift the cap would primarily benefit higher earners,” Garrett Watson, director of policy analysis at the Tax Foundation, wrote in an analysis on Tuesday.

Bigger child tax credit

Trump’s 2017 tax cuts temporarily boosted the maximum child tax credit to $2,000 from $1,000, an increase that will expire after 2025 without action from Congress.

The House bill would make the $2,000 credit permanent and raise the cap to $2,500 from 2025 through 2028. After 2028, the credit’s highest value would revert to $2,000, and be indexed for inflation.

House advances President Trump's tax & spending bill

Medicaid, SNAP cuts

To help pay for the tax relief in the bill, House Republicans have included roughly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid health coverage and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, that are the largest in the programs’ histories.

As a result of the changes in the bill, which include stricter work requirements to qualify for the programs, 14 million individuals may lose health coverage, while 3 million households may go without food assistance, according to Accountable.US, a nonpartisan watchdog group.

While Medicaid work requirements had been slated to go into effect in 2029 per earlier versions of the proposal, House lawmakers moved that date up to December 2026 in last-minute negotiations.

‘Bonus’ deduction for older adults

Catherine Delahaye | Digitalvision | Getty Images

Low- to middle-income seniors will be able to deduct an additional $4,000 on their tax returns, based on the terms of the House bill. The full deduction, dubbed a “bonus” in the legislation, would apply to individual tax filers with up to $75,000 in modified adjusted gross income and married couples with up to $150,000.

The tax deduction reduces the amount of seniors’ income subject to taxes, and therefore may also bring down the taxes that they owe.

The deduction is in lieu of the elimination of taxes on Social Security benefits, a proposal touted by Trump on the campaign trail. Changes to Social Security are prohibited in reconciliation legislation.

Health savings account expansions

There are many provisions in the GOP bill tied to HSAs, tax-advantaged accounts used to pay for health care. They carry powerful financial benefits for those with access. 

The legislation aims to both expand households’ ability to contribute to HSAs and to use those funds without financial penalty, said William McBride, chief economist at the Tax Foundation. The HSA measures would kick in starting in 2026. 

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One tweak allows households to use HSAs to pay for expenses tied to sports and fitness, like gym memberships or instruction. Eligible expenses are capped at $500 a year for individuals and $1,000 for couples.

The bill also doubles the annual contribution limits for low and middle earners, to $8,600 for individuals and $17,100 for married couples in 2025. (This applies to individuals who make less than $75,000 per year and $150,000 for married couples.)

New ‘Trump Accounts’ for child savings

MoMo Productions | Stone | Getty Images

Trump’s tax package also includes a new savings account for children with a one-time deposit of $1,000 from the federal government.

Funded by the Department of the Treasury, “Trump Accounts” — previously known as “Money Accounts for Growth and Advancement” or “MAGA Accounts” — can later be used for education expenses or credentials, the down payment on a first home or as capital to start a small business.

If the bill passes as drafted, parents will be able to contribute up to $5,000 a year and the balance will be invested in a diversified fund that tracks a U.S.-stock index. Earnings grow tax-deferred, and qualified withdrawals are taxed at the long-term capital-gains rate.

Reduced student loan benefits

The bill would eliminate subsidized federal student loans, meaning that the government would no longer cover the interest on the debt while borrowers are in school or during other key periods. The change could increase a student’s loan balance at graduation by about 15%, said higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz.

While the U.S. Department of Education’s current income-driven repayment plans for student loan borrowers typically conclude in debt forgiveness after 20 or 25 years, the new GOP plan wouldn’t lead to debt cancellation for 30 years in some cases.

“A 30-year repayment term means indentured servitude,” Kantrowitz said.

The legislation would also nix the unemployment deferment and economic hardship deferment, both of which student loan borrowers use to pause their payments during periods of financial difficulty.

Car loan interest deduction

Andresr | E+ | Getty Images

The bill creates a tax deduction for car owners who pay interest on an auto loan, for tax years 2025 through 2028. 

The tax break is worth up to $10,000 for annual loan interest on passenger vehicles, such as a car, minivan, van, sport utility vehicle, pickup truck, motorcycle, all-terrain or recreational vehicle. It’s an above-the-line decoration, meaning taxpayers can get it even if they don’t itemize their tax deductions.

There are some restrictions: The deduction’s value starts to decrease when a taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds $100,000, or $200,000 for married couples filing a joint tax return. Also, the car must be assembled in the U.S. to qualify for the tax break. 

Tax break on tip income

The bond market is concerned about the tax bill increasing the deficit, says Neuberger's Holly Kroft

EV, clean energy tax credits 

The House bill would mean an early termination of tax breaks for consumers who buy or lease electric vehicles, and others for households that make their homes more energy-efficient.

Many of these credits have been available in some form for decades. The Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act extended or enhanced them. 

The House legislation would end the tax breaks after 2025, with few exceptions, about seven years earlier than under current law.

Those on the chopping block include a $7,500 tax credit for new EVs and leases, and a $4,000 credit for used EVs. 

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Personal Finance

Education Department employees must be reinstated by Trump: Judge

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Sarah Jo Marcotte, an educator from Vermont, holds a sign that reads “Here for my students!! Cuts Hurt.” outside of the U.S. Department of Education on March 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration on Thursday to reinstate more than 1,300 U.S. Department of Education employees.

“The Department must be able to carry out its functions and its obligations,” as well as “other relevant statutes as mandated by Congress,” U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Boston wrote in the injunction.

The U.S. Department of Education announced a reduction in force on March 11 that would have gutted the agency’s staff by a half.

This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.

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