Posts by Jaclyn DeJohn, CFP®
Income
Millennial Earnings Premium: Top Cities for High Earners in 2025
Millennials, now squarely in their prime working years, earn an average premium of 8.8% across large U.S. cities, outpacing the local median earnings of all households. However, supply and demand for labor – generally dictated by the alignment between local industry dynamics and resident qualifications – can have a large impact on the earnings, with… read more…
Income
Bitcoin Adoption Rates by State: Where Cryptocurrency Is Most Popular – 2025 Study
Over 2.78 million Americans reported actively participating in cryptocurrencies according to the latest IRS data, with estimates asserting Bitcoin prevalence for roughly 75% of all users. The ascent in Bitcoin’s value over the years – among other currencies – has undoubtedly made fortunes for many investors. But the IRS did not start tracking general cryptocurrency involvement… read more…
Quality of Life
Medicare Payouts and Plan Preferences by State – 2025 Study
Over 61 million Americans receive Medicare benefits to help pay for their healthcare in retirement, a figure up 30% in less than a decade. A low standard monthly premium affords people 65 and older access to care through Part A and Part B coverage, with the option to opt for semi-privatized Part C coverage, also… read more…
Income
Federal Furloughs by State: 2025 Government Shutdown Report
With Congress unable to agree upon funding legislation for 2026, the federal government shut down October 1st. Federal agencies deferred to funding contingency plans, typically resulting in furloughs for significant chunks of their workforces. These furloughed employees are not receiving paychecks during this time, though backpay is likely once a deal is struck. But the… read more…
Demographics & Migration
U.S. Population Trends by State: Winners and Losers – 2025 Study
Across all 50 states, the population increased by an average of 1.55% over one year. But some states saw a much larger boom in the number of residents, while others lagged behind. And within each state, population growth – or decline – varied from county to county. Birth rates, immigration, and households moving within the… read more…
Cost of Living & Taxes
Cities Where Housing is Most and Least Affordable for Residents – 2025 Study
With this in mind, SmartAsset weighted median housing costs for renters and homeowners and compared it to the median household income in each of 50 of America’s largest cities to determine where housing is most and least affordable for residents. To gauge housing affordability at an individual level, many financial advisors use the rule of… read more…
Income
U.S. Cities With the Highest Income Growth – 2025 Study
Nationwide, the median household income reached $83,730 in 2024, growing just 1.3% year over year. This means many households did not keep pace with the roughly 3% inflation rate during the same time period, but that was not true everywhere. Especially in large cities where residents often pay a premium for convenience, infrastructure and amenities,… read more…
Cost of Living & Taxes
How Much Are OBBBA Provisions Worth to American Households? 2025 Study
Provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) offer Americans additional tax deductions and credits that will take effect for tax year 2025, with many lasting through 2028 and beyond. Many people should expect some tax savings, as the provisions incentivize a wide net of statuses and activities, including young families, seniors, tipped workers,… read more…
Quality of Life
America’s Safest Cities – 2025 Study
City safety – or lack thereof – can lead to great disparity in quality of life and return on dollars invested by residents, businesses and government alike. In August, the Trump administration issued an Executive Order declaring a crime emergency in Washington, D.C. The federal government subsequently leveraged the local police force and deployed over… read more…
Travel, Education & More
Best Community Colleges – 2025 Study
Community college can be the pathway to creating more lifelong income, with associate’s degree holders earning 14% more – or $6,496 more per year – than those with a high school education. But while tuition and fees tend to be less expensive for community colleges than four-year degrees, it still costs a median $5,040 per… read more…
Income
Credit Card Chaos: Where Americans Face the Most Trouble With Their Cards – 2025 Study
The United States depends heavily on credit cards, with the Federal Reserve reporting that credit cards account for 32% of transactions nationwide. Benefits like rewards programs, budgeting tools, credit-building, fraud protection, interest-free promotions and more make them valuable tools for everyday purchases and big-ticket items across most lifestyles. But when credit card holders encounter issues… read more…
Industry Trends
$1 Billion in AUM: Where RIAs Manage the Most Assets – 2025 Study
Less than 3% of Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) nationwide have $1 billion or more in assets under management (AUM). These firms may have found their success through various avenues – whether by leaning into a niche, building scalable systems, or identifying high-ROI marketing approaches – but all have proven their expertise and value to the… read more…
Quality of Life
America’s Safest Suburbs – 2025 Study
While costs are often a major factor for families deciding where to settle, safety is another important factor for quality of life. Many households are willing to pay a premium to be in a neighborhood they feel physically safe in, as valuable qualitative benefits may be at stake in establishing a sense of safety –… read more…
Industry Trends
RIAs in These States Are Taking Advantage of Business Opportunities Overseas – 2025 Study
While local households often serve as an RIA’s main prospect base, some firms opt to open their total addressable market by providing investment and advisory services overseas. At the same time, some foreign-based firms have registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in order to provide business services in the U.S. In both cases,… read more…
Income
How Much Do You Need to Earn to Be in the Top 1% in Your State? 2025 Study
Nearly 1.5 million households across the United States now rank among the top 1% of earners, according to the latest tax return data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). On average, it takes $731,492 in annual income to be a part of this group. But that threshold looks different depending on where you live. Economic… read more…
Cost of Living & Taxes
America’s Most Expensive Housing Markets – 2025 Study
As of May 2025, the median home sale price in the U.S. hit $368,751. But in some metro areas, it’s standard for single-family homes to sell for over $1 million. In these high-cost areas, price swings may carry major consequences, such as putting existing homeowners at risk of losing equity or potentially pricing out hopeful… read more…
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…