Ashlyn Brooks

President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) reached a tentative agreement to raise the U.S. debt ceiling over the weekend, allowing a ray of hope to peek through the fiscal cloud that had been hanging over D.C. This… read more…

Are you prepared for retirement? With longer life expectancy, rising healthcare costs, and the possibility of Social Security insolvency the pressure to prepare is mounting. To help you navigate the process, here’s an overview of the key factors you should… read more…

Portfolio shifts are a common occurrence for investors, especially active ones. Over time, assets shift out of balance from their original assigned portions and could take you out of your comfort zone. Rebalancing your portfolio realigns your assets to meet… read more…

Warren Buffett is one of the most successful investors of all time, with a net worth of over $100 billion. Known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” Buffett has made his fortune by investing in businesses with strong competitive advantages and… read more…

As you approach retirement age, you may be wondering what to do with the money in your retirement plan. In particular, you want to make sure you’re not losing money due to pesky fees and don’t want your asset allocation… read more…

As tax season continues, many individuals are anticipating receiving a tax refund — and figuring out what fun item or experience they’ll splurge on. As much fun as a new ATV would be, though, it might be smarter to invest… read more…

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…

Investing can be a complex and stressful endeavor. The idea of constant monitoring, rebalancing and stock picking can be overwhelming (not to mention costly, if done incorrectly), especially for those new to investing. But what if there were a way… read more…

The recession, inflation and COVID-19 have made a bad situation worse. Financial dependency now has aging parents living with their adult children and their adult children footing the bill for their parent’s ill-planned retirement. All while also trying to raise… read more…

Did you start side hustle last year? You’re self-employed. Even if you only made $0.01 and didn’t get a 1099. Financial advisors and tax professionals alike are here to help but there is growing confusion about who counts as self-employed… read more…

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…

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…

America’s debt ceiling was reached — again — on January 19, 2023 as the country exceeded its $31.4 trillion spending cap. The cap was raised to that amount in December 2021. As much terms like “ceiling” and “cap” are used… read more…

There are 1.9 million individual tax returns that remain unprocessed for various reasons — from 2022 alone. This has always been a problem from an efficiency standpoint, especially since tax season has found its way back around and that number… read more…

Around 21% of Americans who quit their jobs either cash out their 401(k) or leave it to be transferred into cash by the employer. Both result in billions of dollars in lost retirement savings. Cashing out was a problem before… read more…

Survivorship bias isn’t a term you likely hear often, but you know exactly what it is. Ever listened to a sales pitch that opened with the most optimistic information, yet neglected to include the less-than-flattering details? This is a type… read more…

IRS guidelines for retirement catch-up contributions are currently established for people ages 50 and older. This allows individuals within this age category to make 401(k) contributions of up to $7,500 starting in 2023 (a slight bump from the $6,500 you… read more…

The SECURE 2.0 Act has opened a new door for burdened student loan borrowers by offering a side door to achieving loan payoff and making crucial retirement contributions as soon as possible. But many are still left confused about this… read more…

Congress passed the long-awaited SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 that promises to restructure most Americans’ 401(k) plans and change retirement contribution and withdrawal rules to help Americans grow and preserve their nest eggs. The SECURE 2.0 Act came as part… read more…

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…

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…

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…

The battle between passive and actively managed funds continues to rage on. Some of the top investing minds legends have consistently promoted the reliance on passive index investing to grow your wealth and the avoidance of actively managed funds. Between… read more…

Ensuring you have enough money socked away for retirement is a difficult task. Calculating exactly how much you’ll need in the future — with the moving target of unexpected healthcare costs and the uncertainty of your life expectancy — can… read more…

Women struggle to make their retirement funds last, according to a recent study from Alliance for Lifetime Income (ALI), an insurance and investment group, that produced a “State of Women 2022” report with HerMoney.com. That’s because their earnings are hamstrung… read more…