Email FacebookTwitterMenu burgerClose thin

SmartReads

Take control of your financial future.

Follow
Money in an envelope.
Income

Where Wage Inequality Is Increasing and Decreasing – 2026 Study

Wage equality helps define how workers share in economic growth. When top earners pull far ahead of median workers, rising high-end pay concentrates gains among a relatively small group. According to the Economic Policy Institute, earnings inequality has “redistributed wages away from most workers” and stifled “broader-based wage growth.” However, wider wage gaps may also… read more…

If you recently inherited a house, you may assume its tax value was fixed on the day your loved one died. While that's true for most people, estates that owe federal estate tax may be able to use the home's value six months later.
Inheritance

I Just Inherited a House. Could Waiting Past 6 Months Cost Me a Valuable Tax Break?

If you recently inherited a house, you may assume its tax value was fixed on the day your loved one died. For most people, that’s true. Estates that owe federal estate tax, however, may be able to use the home’s value six months later instead. If the property declined in value during that time, that… read more…

The IRS may determine your Social Security taxability using a combined income calculation that includes half your benefits and other earnings.
Retirement Taxes

I’m on Social Security. Do I Even Have to File a Tax Return Anymore?

If you’ve retired and receive Social Security as your main source of income, you may be unsure whether you still need to file a federal tax return. Many retirees assume they can stop once they reach a certain age, but the IRS bases that requirement on how much you earn and where it comes from.… read more…

How to Invest

If You Invested $10,000 in Tesla 5 Years Ago, How Much Could You Have Now?

A $10,000 investment in Tesla five years ago would have experienced periods of significant gains and sharp declines. Investors who held their shares through those swings would have ended up with a different result than those who sold during the downturns. Here’s how much that investment could be worth today, and what the past five… read more…

Editor's Picks

A couple determining whether they need a CFA vs. CFP®.
Certifications & Licenses

CFA vs. CFP®: Which Do You Need?

Chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certified financial planner (CFP) are common certifications for individuals working in finance, namely financial advisors. These are designed to tell a client (or employer) that the holder has received education in certain types of financial… read more…

Clients meeting with an advisor from a wealth management firm.
Brokerage

6 Tips for Choosing a Wealth Management Firm

Wealth management firms are all different, with their own specializations and services. As a result, the process for choosing a wealth manager is a very personal one. Wealth managers work closely together with their clients to identify financial goals and… read more…

A fee-only financial planner doesn't earn commissions for recommending certain products.
Advisor Fees & Costs

What Is a Fee-Only Financial Planner?

If a financial planner, financial advisor or another type of financial professional is fee-only, that means they receive compensation solely from the fees clients pay for their services. They do not earn commissions for recommending certain products. A fee-only structure… read more…

Investment Property
Real Estate Investing

Why First Homes Could Be Investment Properties

If you’re young and looking to purchase a new home to live in, you may want to consider turning it into an investment property. While most people wait until after they’ve bought their first or second home to begin investing in… read more…

Data Articles and Studies

Money in an envelope.
Income

Where Wage Inequality Is Increasing and Decreasing – 2026 Study

Wage equality helps define how workers share in economic growth. When top earners pull far ahead of median workers, rising high-end pay concentrates gains among a relatively small group. According to the Economic Policy Institute, earnings inequality has “redistributed wages away from most workers” and stifled “broader-based wage growth.” However, wider wage gaps may also… read more…

Traffic jam in New York City including NYPD SUVs.
Quality of Life

America’s Safest Big Cities – 2026 Study

Choosing where to live can involve balancing opportunity and security. Big cities offer diverse job markets, extensive amenities and greater access to public services. But they also sometimes come with more acute safety concerns. While no major population center is entirely free from danger, some are more successful than others at creating environments where people… read more…

A professional pilot sitting in an airplane cabin, ready for takeoff.
Income

Where Dedication Pays: Jobs With the Biggest Earning Upside

Some occupations offer substantial earning potential for workers who perform at an exceptional level and prioritize career advancement. In these fields, top earners may make several times more than the median worker, creating wide differences in compensation within the same occupation. For ambitious workers willing to build experience, sustain high performance and remain geographically mobile,… read more…

Sign text Closeup of a "Help Wanted" sign.
Other

Where Job Scams Happen Most – 2026 Study  

For job seekers, the search for a new role now comes with an added source of stress: determining whether an opportunity is real or an attempt to exploit their need for work. Employment scams rank among the most common types of consumer fraud, and they’re on the rise, according to the Better Business Bureau. Scammers… read more…

You Might Like