We Retired at 63. Tapping Our 401(k) Before Social Security Changed Everything.
Retiring at 63 can create an income gap if you delay Social Security. One option is to use 401(k) withdrawals as a temporary bridge, which could allow you to claim a higher monthly benefit later. To determine whether this strategy might work for your retirement, you will need to figure out if the increase is… read more…
Where Wages are Growing — and Falling — in Texas
Everything’s bigger in Texas, but when it comes to income, some parts of the Lone Star State are more synonymous with Texas-sized paychecks than others. Economic opportunity can vary sharply by county, shaping how far earnings go and where workers see the strongest gains. SmartAsset compared average weekly wages for private-sector workers across 252 of… read more…
Cash Gift Tax: Rules and Exemptions
Giving someone a large cash gift can sound like it comes with a large tax bill. Usually, it doesn’t. Federal rules first apply an annual exclusion, then a much larger lifetime exemption, meaning many gifts create a reporting requirement long before they create gift tax. However, what you give, and how you give it, can… read more…
Mega Backdoor Roth 401(k): How to Max Tax Benefits
A mega backdoor Roth 401(k) can give high earners a way to save even more for retirement. This strategy allows them to put substantially more money into Roth savings than standard contribution limits normally allow. The strategy uses after-tax 401(k) contributions that are later converted to Roth, potentially creating years or decades of tax-free growth.… read more…
Editor's Picks
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…
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…
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…
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
Where Wages are Growing — and Falling — in Texas
Everything’s bigger in Texas, but when it comes to income, some parts of the Lone Star State are more synonymous with Texas-sized paychecks than others. Economic opportunity can vary sharply by county, shaping how far earnings go and where workers see the strongest gains. SmartAsset compared average weekly wages for private-sector workers across 252 of… read more…
How Much Do You Need to Earn to Be in the Top 1% in Your State in 2026?
Fewer than two million American households rank among the top 1% of earners. When examined by state, the income needed to join this group varies dramatically. In some places, households can enter the top 1% at income levels that fall well below the threshold elsewhere, reflecting an uneven landscape of wages and wealth. SmartAsset analyzed… read more…
Where AI Could Reshape the Most Jobs — 2026 Study
SmartAsset used the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data to calculate the percent of each state’s workforce employed in 26 positions classified at the highest risk of potential AI disruption according to June 2026 research by the Virginia Economic Information and Analytics Division. The results show where potential AI-related job disruption is most concentrated across the United States.
Staying Home to Raise the Family? Here’s What the Working Spouse Needs to Earn – 2026 Study
Raising a child now costs more than $40,000 per year in some U.S. cities, forcing many families to look for ways to manage the rising costs of parenthood. One major decision is whether both parents will remain in the workforce or one will step away to provide care at home. Because that choice reshapes both… read more…
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