The Investment Scientist

Archive for August 2025

Can I Save on Taxes by Gifting? - YouTube

Many successful individuals, often those who’ve risen from humble beginnings, find themselves in a high tax bracket while their parents remain in lower income brackets. They feel a strong desire to provide financial assistance to their parents. This article outlines a strategic approach to help family members financially while simultaneously optimizing tax outcomes.

Understanding the Tax Advantage

For high-income earners, long-term capital gains are typically taxed at 20%, with an additional 3.8% net investment income tax (NIIT) on those gains. However, a significant tax advantage exists for individuals with lower taxable incomes. If your parents’ taxable income is below $98,000 annually (in 2025), their long-term capital gains tax rate is 0%. Furthermore, if their Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) is less than $250,000—a threshold easily met if they qualify for the 0% capital gains rate—they are also exempt from the net investment income tax.

The Strategy: Gifting Appreciated Stocks

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Imagine giving your child a head start that could turn them into a millionaire by retirement—without relying on an inheritance or a lucky lottery ticket. Thanks to the new Trump Account, a federal savings initiative launched for children born between 2025 and 2028, this dream can become a reality for proactive parents.

What Is the Trump Account?

The Trump Account is a government-backed investment plan that automatically provides every eligible newborn a $1,000 seed deposit from the U.S. Treasury. Parents, relatives, and employers can then contribute up to $5,000 each year until the child turns 18. All contributions are invested in a low-cost, diversified U.S. stock index fund. 

How Does It Work?

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Author

Michael Zhuang is principal of MZ Capital, a fee-only independent advisory firm based in Washington, DC.

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