- Cities With the Most Financial Stress – 2022 Edition
Stubborn inflation, a sliding stock market and ongoing layoffs in recent months have many Americans on edge. However, financial stress was at a record high even before the market made headlines. Data from an American Psychological Association survey shows that in February… read more…
- Best State Capitals to Live In – 2022 Edition
The number of people moving across state lines is increasing. From 2019 to 2020, a total of roughly 4.2 million individuals moved to a different state while from 2020 to 2021, that figure grew to 4.4 million. As Americans increasingly… read more…
- 4 in 5 Financial Advisors See Signs of a Recession – 2022 Study
When it comes to the question of whether Americans are in a recession – or headed for one in the near future – financial advisors are pessimistic. In a survey of close to 300 financial advisors who participate on SmartAsset’s SmartAdvisor matching… read more…
- Best Cities for Young Financial Advisors to Start Their Careers – 2022 Edition
The tight labor market has made it more difficult for some companies to secure top talent. Even financial advisor firms are struggling to find new advisors as their workforce ages. Data from the J.D. Power U.S. Financial Advisor Satisfaction Study… read more…
- Best Cities for Conferences – 2022 Edition
While the number of virtual events has increased exponentially over the past two years, they are not without pitfalls. A recent survey by video conferencing service BlueJeans and Forrester Consulting shows that 71% of respondents find it difficult to mimic… read more…
- How Are Financial Advisors and Investors Responding to the Bear Market? – 2022 Study
In June 2022, U.S. stocks officially entered a bear market as popular market indexes – such as the S&P 500 – fell more than 20% below previous record closes. Those losses have since been met by recent upticks over the… read more…
- Airports With the Largest Price Increases – 2022 Study
The price of jet fuel has increased by roughly 110% between the first quarters of 2021 and 2022 and as passengers return to the skies, some of those costs are passed on to consumers. In fact, airline fares spiked by… read more…
- States With the Strongest Unions – 2022 Edition
Union members tend to earn more than their non-union peers. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that non-union workers have median weekly earnings that are only 83% of the earnings for union workers. And while union membership is… read more…
- This Chart Shows You How Many Years an Extra $100K Buys You in Retirement
Will I outlive my retirement savings? This question dogs many retirement savers who view their accounts, often far shy of $1 million, with dread and fear. After all, aspiring retirees have to plan for longer lifespans, potentially steep medical costs… read more…
- Most Dog-Friendly Cities in America – 2022 Edition
In 2021, over $100 billion was spent on the pet industry in the U.S. alone. While that figure includes pets of all kinds, dogs make up the majority of pet ownership in the U.S. with 48 million households caring for… read more…
- Best Places to Be a Teacher – 2022 Edition
Teachers play an important role in enriching the minds of the next generation. And though the work itself may be rewarding, the pay often isn’t. Education jobs consistently fail to keep pace with inflation and are among the least financially-rewarding… read more…
- Where High-Earning Households Are Moving – 2022 Study
Households that make over $200,000 annually comprise just a sliver of all tax returns that are filed in a given year, but their movement between states can have a significant financial impact. When a state loses more high-earning tax filers… read more…
- This Chart Shows How Contributing to an HSA Can Pay Off Big
Contributing to a 401(k) or individual retirement account (IRA) isn’t the only way to save for retirement. While most people think of health savings accounts (HSAs) as tools for covering annual medical expenses, they can also be valuable retirement savings… read more…
- Best States for Women’s Healthcare – 2022 Study
According to the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey for June 1 to June 13, 2022, a little over one in seven women report being in poorer health, and more challenges are afoot. Recent legal changes concerning abortion have restricted access to… read more…
- Where Residents Are Most Severely Housing Cost-Burdened – 2022 Edition
With higher home prices, rising interest rates and a bear market upon us, Americans are struggling to find affordable housing. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guidelines, residents in cities across the nation are considered severely cost-burdened when their household spends more than 50% of their combined income on housing costs.… read more…
- Best Places for Career Opportunities – 2022 Edition
Despite rising inflation and recent stock market instability, it’s still a job seeker’s market. There are roughly 11 million job openings available nationwide as of May 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For the same month, there were 6.5 million hires. Data from June 2022 shows a 4% increase in the percentage… read more…
- Top 50 Fastest-Growing Financial Advisor Firms – 2022 Edition
The independent wealth management industry has grown significantly over the past decade and many financial advisors think it will continue to grow looking forward. According to a 2022 Schwab Advisor Services’ Independent Advisor Outlook Study, about 93% of firms expect… read more…
- Income Thresholds to Be a Top Earner in America’s Largest Cities – 2022 Edition
The median household income is about $65,000, according to the most recent Census Bureau data. And while this can give a sense for what a typical American family is earning, income quintiles can shed light on the disparity between the top and bottom earners. In fact, the minimum threshold to be among the top 20%… read more…
- Cities With the Most Resilient Economies – 2022 Study
Despite nationwide lockdowns and sudden economic instability unleashed early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. economy showed resiliency, roaring back in the months that followed. But inflation and a bear market are now presenting new challenges that are reshaping the… read more…
- These Charts Show Why You Should Continue Investing During a Bear Market
The June 13 news that equities had officially entered bear market territory sent some investors reeling. The S&P 500, an index that tracks a broad spectrum of stocks, closed 21% below its January 2022 highs. The last time stocks tumbled so precipitously was during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when markets fell amid mass… read more…
- Best Cities for Young Professionals – 2022 Edition
If you’re a young professional, chances are that you haven’t hit your peak earning years yet. According to recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median weekly earnings for people ages 25 to 34 is just $975. Median weekly earnings rise from there, climbing to $1,155 for people 35 to 44 years old,… read more…
- Best States to Own an Electric Vehicle – 2022 Study
Between 2014 and 2019, electric car sales increased by 174.8%. Among the commonly cited reasons for considering an electric vehicle purchase, 30% of respondents in a 2021 Forbes survey cited the reduced cost of fuel. With the national average for… read more…
- Salary Needed to Afford Home Payments in the 15 Largest U.S. Cities – 2022 Edition
Housing costs for new homeowners are at an all-time high with double digit home price increases over a one-year period since 2021. However, median household income has not kept pace, decreasing by 2.9% over a similar one-year period. Affording monthly home payments is challenging in today’s economy, especially when considering the non-mortgage debt that many… read more…
- Fastest-Growing Jobs for Young Professionals – 2022 Edition
It should come as no surprise that a computer-related profession is the fastest-growing occupation among people ages 25 to 34. However, other jobs that have seen the significant growth among young workers in recent years aren’t limited to computers and technology. Instead, they run the gamut from health care workers to pilots and aviation engineers,… read more…
- Most Livable Mid-Sized Cities – 2022 Edition
With skyrocketing inflation rippling through the economy, some large cities once thought of as affordable are quickly losing that title among Americans. Additionally, since the start of the pandemic, an estimated five million people have relocated, encouraged by the flexibility of remote work. While small towns have their charm, mid-sized cities offer a balance between… read more…