Posts by Jaclyn DeJohn, CFP®
Demographics & Migration
Where Millennials Are Buying Homes – 2025 Study
Millennials – all squarely within their primary working years – are buying homes more or less quickly depending on the metro area. In some places, 1 in every 25 residents between the ages of 25 and 44 purchased a home with a conventional mortgage just in 2024 alone. In other major metros, less than 1… read more…
Quality of Life
Most Livable Small Cities – 2025 Study
The density, noise and expense of large cities may not always be optimal for each American household. Still, trading in the convenience of a large city often means a multi-person household may be split on what factors go into making a location a best-fit. In some cases, but not others, families may be willing to… read more…
Industry Trends
These States Have the Most Potential AUM per Advisor – 2025 Study
Opportunity comes in many forms. Some advisors may try their luck in the places that currently boast the highest average incomes for the profession, while others seek to unearth niches that may offer returns at scale. While consumer demand for advisors may vary from place to place, it doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story of… read more…
Income
Best Job Markets – 2025 Study
The demand for different career paths and qualifications varies widely from place to place, often depending on local economic features, including geography, infrastructure, politics, culture and resources. Similarly, what makes one job market more appealing than others can depend on a job-hunter’s financial and familial circumstances. Not only does the presence of jobs and a… read more…
Quality of Life
Best Places for New Families – 2025 Study
People with young children or those planning to start a family often have newfound priorities when it comes to picking a neighborhood to live in. Many families choose to trade the conveniences of the big city for more space and affordability as they grow. Other amenities – including childcare costs, access to parks, the presence… read more…
Demographics & Migration
Where Retirees Are Moving – 2025 Study
Nearly one million people aged 60 and over in the U.S. crossed state lines to make a new home in 2023, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. With a lower risk tolerance for market fluctuations, retirees may seek other ways to maximize their income and make the most out of life,… read more…
Cost of Living & Taxes
Cost of Raising a Child in Major U.S. Metros – 2025 Study
Common costs associated with raising a child – such as childcare, additional food, medical costs, housing and more – can add up to tens of thousands of dollars per year. This makes raising a child a relatively expensive line-item anywhere, but in some metro areas these costs can be double those in others, sometimes reaching… read more…
Income
Here’s the Salary It Takes to Live Comfortably in Each U.S. State – 2025 Study
As cost of living increases seem to permanently make their way to important budget items, individuals and families increasingly need more income to support a comfortable lifestyle over the long-term. This means being able to afford hobbies, vacations, retirement savings, education funds, and the occasional emergency – in addition to necessities like housing, groceries, transportation… read more…
Travel, Education & More
Best Housing Markets for First-Time Homebuyers – 2025 Study
Affordability is just one component of buying a new home. Hopeful first-time homebuyers would be prudent to consider the competitive landscape, lifestyle, social and future growth potential of their home. Taking on such a large investment, particularly when the costs of homeownership may outpace the costs of renting in some places, requires planning ahead in… read more…
Income
Social Security and Retirement Income Are Highest in These Cities – 2025 Study
According to the Social Security Administration, the average annual retirement benefit nationwide is just shy of $24,000. Meanwhile, supplemental income from designated retirement accounts, such as a pension, 401(k), 403(b), or Roth or traditional IRA, averages just over an additional $30,000 annually for retirees across U.S. cities. A combined average of about $54,000 puts many… read more…
Travel, Education & More
Where Homeownership Is Most and Least Prevalent in the U.S. – 2025 Study
While current rent prices and recent home transaction data can offer insights into the trajectory of a community’s housing market, these snapshots don’t necessarily capture the financial realities of residents who already exist in the market. A household’s experience can vary widely depending on when they entered the housing market, how their ongoing costs compare… read more…
Cost of Living & Taxes
Renting vs. Buying: How Housing Costs Compare Across America – 2025 Study
The cost of housing isn’t just limited to the price tag of your monthly rent or the cost of financing the purchase price of your home. On the rental side, the cost of utilities can add a consistent, considerable amount to your costs. For homeowners, mortgage costs are padded not only by utilities but homeowners’… read more…
Cost of Living & Taxes
Where Home Values Increased and Decreased Most – 2025 Study
Sharp changes in home values can have many ripple effects throughout the local economy. In the short term, both potential homesellers and homebuyers may be impacted by changes in local competitive forces and affordability. Over time, these changes can affect the city’s tax base, current homeowners’ refinancing options, demand in the local job markets, and… read more…
Income
Where Americans Earn the Most From Investments – 2025 Study
Net capital gains, the profits from selling assets like stocks, real estate, or businesses, are a key measure of investment success and regional wealth. These gains are realized only upon sale and are taxable at preferential rates when held for a year or longer: 0%, 15% or 20%. Other investment incomes, such as ordinary dividends… read more…
Cost of Living & Taxes
Where Rent Increased Most – 2025 Study
Most experts agree that the United States is millions of housing units short of meeting the needs of Americans at an affordable price. This can put a lot of pressure on prices, but supply and demand dynamics may not look the same in each city – or each snapshot in time, for that matter. Regardless,… read more…
Cost of Living & Taxes
Grocery Prices Increased Most in These Major Metro Areas – 2025 Study
Cost of living increases affect most people when they apply to the basics – specifically shelter and food. So while general inflation metrics include a wide range of items, the Bureau of Labor Statistics also tracks price changes on specific goods, including grocery categories. The latest numbers tell a divergent tale of food accessibility in… read more…
Industry Trends
Where Financial Advisor Income Grew Most – 2025 Study
Financial advisors’ income is generally dependent on many factors beyond personal experience and aptitudes, including the wealth and income of their clients, target clients, their fee structure, quantity of clients, market conditions and even location. The vast differences among local economies in the United States mean some metro areas and states offer more and better… read more…
Cost of Living & Taxes
What a Roommate Can Save You in 100 U.S. Cities – 2025 Study
Rent prices can shift dramatically depending on local housing demand, sometimes pricing renters out entirely. With the price tag of a one-bedroom rental in many large U.S. cities topping over $2,000 per month, those looking to sign a lease may be hesitant to potentially overextend an already-tight budget. Financial advisors often follow a general rule… read more…
Income
Best-Paying U.S. Cities for Engineers, Lawyers, Doctors, Teachers & More – 2025 Study
Various dynamics can impact the cost of filling specific roles in the labor market. When demand for certain goods and services outpaces the local supply of resources, the wages for skilled professionals in those fields may be higher – and vice versa. Similarly, the labor supply can shape pay trends for certain. For example, a… read more…
Quality of Life
Where Americans Are Happiest – 2025 Study
While measuring individual happiness is challenging due to its subjectivity, broader trends may be able to provide insight into whether a local community is more or less happy than its peers. For instance, research ties higher incomes and lower poverty rates to higher levels of happiness. Similarly, life expectancy and marriage rates can be revealing… read more…
Income
Salary Needed to Live Comfortably in U.S. Cities – 2025 Study
Most households aim to maintain a cushion between the necessary spending for day-to-day necessities – like housing, food, utilities and childcare – while also enjoying life in the moment and saving for the future. This means keeping room in the budget for the occasional vacation or splurge, as well as savings for long-term goals like… read more…
Cost of Living & Taxes
Where Cost of Living Increased and Decreased Most – 2025 Study
While inflation metrics may show broad trends across the U.S., costs of individual necessities like housing, groceries, utilities, transportation and medical expenses may see wider price volatility from city to city. Many dynamics may help influence price differentials across the country, such as geographical location – which may impact the availability and import cost of… read more…
Quality of Life
Where Americans Have the Most Retirement Savings – 2025 Study
Retirement savings can serve as a key indicator of financial stability, reflecting not only a household’s ability to set aside money but also shaping retirement timelines and broader workforce and economic dynamics. Across the United States, the average retirement savings per household is estimated to be $114,435 – but this figure varies significantly by state,… read more…
Cost of Living & Taxes
Americans Have the Most Student Loan Debt in These States – 2025 Study
While taxes and a high cost of living eat into a household’s earnings, past debt obligations like student loans may take another significant chunk out of the budget before allocating disposable income on nice-to-haves like retirement savings and vacations. While student loans may help a household increase its lifetime earnings, the principal and interest on… read more…
Income
Which States Have the Most (and Best-Paid) Federal Employees? 2025 Study
As of September 2024, over 1.8 million people were employed by the federal government of the United States. However, the federal government is far from limited just to Washington D.C. Federal workers are dispersed throughout the nation, albeit unevenly. In turn, large layoffs – whether voluntary or involuntary – may have different consequences for different… read more…