- Top 10 Cities for Working Parents – 2020 Edition
Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that there are about 33.6 million families in the U.S. with children under the age of 18. In 2018, at least one parent was employed in almost 91% of those family households. Among the smaller subset of married-couple families with children, about 97% had at least one working parent… read more…
- College Towns That Are Most Economically Vulnerable During COVID-19 – 2020 Study
Though efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus across the U.S. have squeezed many local economies and the bank accounts of their residents, college towns are among the most vulnerable. They are confronting potentially major losses in population and revenue if students do not return to campus. Even in towns where schools have decided to… read more…
- The Fastest-Disappearing Job in Each State – 2020 Edition
The job market is constantly changing. Jobs in a certain field and geographic area may be abundant one decade only to experience a sharp decline the next. This can be because of many factors, including migration patterns and technological advances, that eliminate positions and industries from parts of the country. That can make it more… read more…
- Cities With the Most Female Six-Figure Earners – 2020 Edition
According to Census Bureau data from 2018, there are approximately 5.43 million full-time working women in the U.S. earning at least $100,000. The opportunity to attain higher salaries affects not only their ability to spend and budget in the short term, but also achieve other financial goals like investing in property and saving for retirement.… read more…
- Best Cities for an Affordable Wedding – 2020 Edition
According to wedding-focused website The Knot, the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is $33,900. There are some cities, though, where you still can have the wedding of your dreams for much less, which might free up funds towards other financial goals, like a new home or retirement savings. To find the best… read more…
- How Is COVID-19 Affecting Americans’ Retirement Planning? – 2020 Study
Only 55% of non-retired American adults have money in a defined contribution plan such as an IRA or 401(k), according to 2019 data collected by the Federal Reserve. With the coronavirus pandemic upending many aspects of Americans’ lives, saving for retirement may have taken a backseat, even for those individuals who were previously saving. Job… read more…
- States With the Worst Drivers – 2020 Edition
Many states and localities that enacted shelter-in-place orders with the onset of the coronavirus crisis are now carefully implementing phased plans to reopen. With air travel not as available or carefree an option as before the pandemic, Americans are looking for safety on the road as their summer plans take shape. But staying safe while… read more…
- Cities Where Women Are Most Successful – 2020 Edition
While women in the U.S. seeking financial and social equality still face many challenges, certain conditions have improved in recent years. That’s why SmartAsset wanted to take a look at where U.S. women are the most successful, considering factors including education, earnings and business ownership. We analyzed 200 cities across the following metrics: percentage of… read more…
- How Economic Downturns Have Affected the Gender Unemployment Gap in the U.S. – 2020 Study
The gender unemployment gap is defined as the difference between female and male unemployment rates. A “positive” gap indicates that female unemployment is higher than male unemployment while a “negative” gap indicates the opposite. Though the gender unemployment gap was positive for much of the 20th century, the gap closed as employment opportunities for women… read more…
- Where Seniors Are Most and Least Financially Secure – 2020 Edition
Coronavirus has hit America’s senior population especially hard in terms of health, but the pandemic has also highlighted issues that some people 65-and-older already face with regard to their finances. Balancing medical bills on top of basic expenses for food and shelter – in addition to making sure one has enough retirement savings – can… read more…
- Most Livable Small Cities in the U.S. – 2020 Edition
According to a 2018 Gallup report, approximately four in 10 Americans would choose to live in a town, a small city or a suburb of a small city as opposed to big cities and rural areas. As Americans look for places that fit their lifestyle while allowing them to sock away savings, some small cities… read more…
- Places Where Unemployment Has Increased the Most During COVID-19 – 2020 Study
The U.S. unemployment rate rose nationally by 11.2 percentage points between February 2020 and April 2020, from 3.5% to 14.7%. While unemployment has risen throughout the country, compromising job security and savings for so many, some places have seen much larger spikes over that two-months period. SmartAsset looked at the metro areas where unemployment has… read more…
- Best Places to Work in Tech – 2020 Edition
The tech industry is one of the most lucrative in the U.S. Though the COVID-19 crisis has cost the industry jobs just like virtually every industry, going into tech remains the goal of many young people, especially those with degrees in hard sciences. Though many people associate tech work with Silicon Valley, there are actually… read more…
- Stimulus Payments to Arrive by Prepaid Debit Card
May 21, 2020 – The Treasury Department and the IRS announced that this week they would begin sending roughly 4 million Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) – otherwise known as stimulus checks – via a prepaid debit card instead of a paper check. This money is part of the Coronavirus Relief, Aid and Economic Security (CARES… read more…
- States With the Largest Rainy Day Funds – 2020 Study
The coronavirus pandemic has drastically impacted the budgets of not only individuals, but also states. State revenues have declined due to delays in income tax collections along with decreases in revenue brought in from sales tax. Meanwhile, state expenses are rising as unemployment claims have spiked. Because of these changes and the growing mismatch between… read more…
- Where People Have Responded to the Census the Most – May 2020 Study
April 1, 2020 marked the original self-response deadline of the 24th Census in the U.S. As mandated by the constitution, the decennial count determines how many congressional seats each state gets, and this year will help inform the distribution of $1.50 trillion in federal funding. Beyond this, data collected by the Census is used regularly… read more…
- Industries That Have Shed the Most and Fewest Jobs During COVID-19 – 2020 Study
Last Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published its anxiously awaited April 2020 Employment Report, perhaps the first comprehensive look beyond jobless claims on how coronavirus and the attendant economic shutdowns have affected unemployment in America. The report paints an alarming picture. Between February 2020 and April 2020, nonfarm private employment fell by more… read more…
- What a Roommate Saves You in 50 U.S. Cities – 2020 Edition
Finding a roommate to split your rent is a surefire way to save money, which is welcome consolation for the dirty dishes that pile up in your sink. Of course, the real estate market landscape is currently in flux due to the spread of COVID-19, but as people reshuffle their lives and housing arrangements, they… read more…
- Health Insurers Offering Discounts During the COVID-19 Pandemic
May 7, 2020 – Many of the country’s largest for-profit insurance companies are now offering discounts to customers affected by the coronavirus. UnitedHealth Group, the largest U.S. health insurer by membership, joined Cigna and Humana as the latest company to follow this trend. UnitedHealth Group said in a statement today that it will be providing… read more…
- How People Plan to Use Their Stimulus Checks – 2020 Study
Passed on March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided Americans with one-time economic impact payments, commonly referred to as stimulus checks. Under the bill, individuals and families are eligible for either a full or reduced benefit based on their adjusted gross income (AGI). There have been many questions surrounding… read more…
- Places Where People Spend the Most on Food – 2020 Edition
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual amount spent on food in 2018 per household was $7,923, with almost $4,500 allocated for food at home and almost $3,500 for food away from home. Furthermore, spending on food increased 2.50% from the year prior. Because food makes up such a large and… read more…
- How Coronavirus Has Affected Tax Season – 2020 Study
On March 20 of this year, the IRS announced that as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 tax deadline would be moved from the typical filing date of April 15 to July 15. Following the federal government’s lead, many states also extended their tax deadlines, meaning that the majority of Americans could… read more…
- How the COVID-19 Crisis Is Affecting New Business Applications in America – 2020 Study
During the 2008 Great Recession, well-known startups like WhatsApp, Venmo and Slack were founded. In the face of an impending COVID-19 recession, some optimists have looked to these successful startups as hope that a third 21st century economic downturn may spur entrepreneurial innovation and resourcefulness. However, for many, a recession can be a daunting time… read more…
- Most and Least Severely Housing Cost-Burdened Cities – 2020 Edition
Housing is one of the biggest stressors for many Americans across the country, since it often constitutes the majority of a household’s expenses. Housing costs have become increasingly burdensome due to the coronavirus crisis, which has impaired so many people’s ability to cover mortgage payments, let alone sock away money into their savings. In light… read more…
- Are States With Fewer Coronavirus Cases Getting More in PPP Loans Than Hard-Hit Ones?
Has government coronavirus relief money ended up in the hands of those who need it least? The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which provided forgivable loans to small businesses to cover their payroll costs if they didn’t layoff workers or cut salaries, served as a central component of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act… read more…