- Salary Needed to Live Comfortably in the 25 Largest Metro Areas – 2023 Edition
It’s hard to feel financially stable when the cost of living continues to take a bigger bite out of your budget. While salaries increased 5.1% between December 2021 and December 2022, wage growth couldn’t keep up with inflation, which averaged 8% in 2022. Ultimately, inflation has affected everything from the cost of housing to the… read more…
- Best Cities for Women in Leadership – 2023 Study
More women are running Fortune 500 companies today than ever before. Yet, the number of women helming America’s largest corporations is still surprisingly low – only 10%, according to Fortune. Zooming out further, women face a steeper climb up the hiring ladder than men. Research from McKinsey and Company, a global management consulting firm, indicates… read more…
- Where the Gender Wage Gap Is Closing – 2023 Study
When it comes to the gender wage gap, statistics paint a disappointing picture. Women made 83 cents for every dollar earned by a man in 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition, that figure hasn’t changed much… read more…
- States With the Largest Tax Refunds – 2023 Edition
As we progress through the 2023 tax season, many Americans have their eyes on a potential tax refund. But getting money back from the government can actually be a double-edged sword. Earning a large tax refund may mean that you… read more…
- What’s the Best Way to Invest When Markets Are Shaky? Here’s What History Tells Us
What should you do with your money during a bear market? That’s the question many investors have been asking since the S&P 500 officially entered bear market territory last summer. On one hand, investors may see the current market environment… read more…
- Fastest-Growing STEM Jobs in the U.S. – 2023 Edition
Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) jobs are projected to grow 15% between 2021 and 2031. But this year is a mixed bag for many workers in these occupations. In recent months, tens of thousands of tech workers have been laid off at big firms such as Meta, Amazon and Google. Keeping this in mind, SmartAsset… read more…
- Best Places for Black Entrepreneurs – 2023 Edition
Black Americans are the third-largest racial or ethnic group in the U.S., making up just over 12% of the population. But less than 3% of all businesses are Black-owned. Some places outperform others, however, when it comes to the prevalence, success, and financial health of Black-owned companies and business owners. In celebration and recognition of… read more…
- Places With the Most Layoff Anxiety – 2023 Study
While mass layoffs in the tech sector have dominated news headlines recently, the labor market remains especially strong. The U.S. economy added 517,000 jobs in January 2023 and unemployment dipped to its lowest point in more than a half-century. But fears of recession still linger. A recent Harris Poll and Fast Company survey of 1,000 Americans… read more…
- Safest Cities in America – 2023 Edition
In real estate, it’s all about location, location, location. In fact, the National Association of Realtors’ annual survey of homebuyers from 2022 found that nearly half of all buyers (49%) cited the quality of a neighborhood as the No. 1… read more…
- Best Cities for Budget Dating This Valentine’s Day – 2023 Study
The gas pump and grocery store aren’t the only places where people have felt the effects of inflation recently. The dating scene is no exception, as dating has become increasingly expensive in recent years. In fact, a 2022 Match.com survey… read more…
- Where Black Americans Fare Best Economically – 2023 Edition
Nearly a quarter of the way through the 21st century, Black Americans continue to face significant financial inequality. In 2021, the median income of Black households was almost $23,000 less than the median income of all households nationally, according to Census Bureau data. And the income gap between Black and white households was even greater,… read more…
- Cities Where Residents Have the Worst Commutes – 2023 Edition
While remote work has boomed in the last three years, the majority of working Americans still commute to work. According to the Census, a one-way commute took workers an average of 25.6 minutes in 2021. Using this estimate, workers in 2023 will average almost 222 hours (or a little over nine days) driving to and… read more…
- Down Payment vs. ‘Down the Aisle’: Where a Wedding Costs More Than a Home – 2023 Edition
When planning for a milestone like a wedding or buying a home, many couples find that they have to choose between the two. Paying for a wedding can be a very big expense, but putting a down payment on a… read more…
- These Charts Show Why You Shouldn’t Retire in a Down Market – 2023 Study
When it comes to retirement, timing is everything. And for retirees, good timing doesn’t just have to do with threading the needle on Social Security start dates or savvily initiating required minimum distributions (RMDs). It also has to do with… read more…
- Here’s How Much You Can Earn Without a Bachelor’s Degree – 2023 Edition
Going to a traditional four-year college isn’t the only path to a successful career. In fact, there are many well-paying jobs available for those without a bachelor’s degree, and average earnings for this demographic hover around $49,206. With that said,… read more…
- What It Takes to Be in the Top 1% by State – 2023 Edition
The gap between the top 1% of earners and average Americans is stark. In fact, the average American household earns a median income of under $70,000, but in some places, the top 1% can earn as much as $955,000. Those… read more…
- More Than 60% of Advisors Regularly Attend Conferences. Here Are the Most Popular Events for 2023
In 2023, financial advisors are dusting off their blazers, slapping on fresh name tags and marching back to conferences and professional events. The return to air-conditioned conference rooms and fluorescent-lit exhibitor halls comes three years after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted professional conferences and events across industries. This year, however, advisors plan to attend old standbys… read more…
- Cities Where Minimum Wage Goes Furthest – 2023 Edition
Despite persistent inflation, the federal minimum wage remains $7.25 per hour. More than 13 years have passed since Congress last raised the federal minimum wage in 2009, the longest such stretch in American history. While many cities, counties and states… read more…
- Where Social Security Benefits Are Highest and Lowest Relative to Local Housing Costs – 2023 Edition
Social Security plays a critical role in the retirement plans of millions of Americans each year. Average annual Social Security benefits reached $21,152 in 2021, according to the Census Bureau. While higher Social Security is good news for retirees on the surface, median housing costs also continued to climb, jumping 7.6%. Keeping these figures in… read more…
- Fastest-Growing Jobs for College Grads – 2023 Edition
The U.S. labor market remained strong in 2022, adding another 223,000 jobs in December. But the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the job market may cool off in years to come, projecting that total employment will grow only 0.5%… read more…
- Years of Work Needed to Afford a Down Payment – 2022 Edition
The housing market has been on a rollercoaster over the past year. In early 2022, prices rose at breakneck speed. In fact, the average price for single-family homes with mortgages spiked nearly 20% between February 2021 and February 2022. Now, Americans are seeing prices cool after the Federal Reserve announced a series of interest rate… read more…
- Most Fitness-Friendly Places for 2023
From casual neighborhood runners to fitness fanatics, many Americans prioritize exercise. This is especially true at the start of the new year, when getting into shape tends to become a popular resolution. The World Health Organization suggests that adults aged 18 to 64 should complete 150 to 300 minutes of moderate cardio each week, which… read more…
- Best States for Homeowners – 2022 Edition
The hot housing market has shown signs of cooling. Nationally, home prices have declined by 1.3% since their peak in June 2022. And some experts have predicted that housing could fall as much as 20%. Regionally, the majority of housing markets are expected to see price drops toward the end of this year. For prospective… read more…
- Best Cities for Beer Drinkers – 2022 Edition
If you’re a die-hard beer lover in the U.S., you’re not alone. In 2019, the U.S. beer industry sold around $120 billion worth of beer through retail businesses. That dropped in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the industry… read more…
- Where Americans Are Happiest – 2022 Study
Research shows that in some cases, money does lead to happiness. In fact, a 2021 University of Pennsylvania study found a correlation between happiness and income growth, even past an annual income of $80,000. This is in contrast to previous… read more…