Becca Stanek
Retirement and Investing Expert
Becca Stanek is a graduate of DePauw University. Becca is an experienced writer/editor who serves as a retirement expert for SmartAsset. She's passionate about helping people understand the sometimes daunting ins and outs of personal finance. Becca is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance® (CEPF®) and a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. Her work has also appeared at Time, The Week, Mic and The Washington Monthly. Becca grew up in the Midwest and now lives in New York City.
Posts by Becca Stanek:
The U.S. is the 19th-happiest country in the world, according to the 2019 World Happiness Report that the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the UN released. Though this is a one-spot drop since last year, there are still plenty of places to find happiness in America. We looked within the U.S. to determine which counties are the happiest. Money, of course, doesn’t buy happiness, so those places gracing the top 10 don’t necessarily have the residents with the largest savings accounts. Rather, these places stand out due to a number of factors related to physical and financial health as well as family stability. Read more
Moving to a new home can be a difficult undertaking, even though it might bring your life a much-needed change, especially when you have significant financial costs to consider. As you look to make intelligent decision that can help boost the balance in your savings account, it’s important to do your research before you eliminate any possible locales. After all, trends might indicate that certain places are more popular for your demographic than you might think and thus conducive to your lifestyle. For instance, the rich and the retired aren’t the only groups moving to Florida. From 2015 to 2016, the Sunshine State actually saw a significant net inflow of 10,266 upper-middle-class people as well, which makes it the top destination for individuals with incomes between $75,000 and $100,000. Read more
By definition, a fiduciary is an individual organization who manages assets on behalf of another person or entity. Fiduciary financial advisors hold a relationship of trust with their clients and abide by fiduciary duty. Fiduciary duty is the ethical obligation to act solely in someone else’s best interest. In theory, this should minimize conflicts of interest and make a financial advisor more trustworthy. We go over what fiduciary duty entails, why it’s important to work with a fiduciary advisor and how you can find a financial planner in your area.and is ethically bound to act in that person’s best interest. Read more
Ken Fisher, an investment analyst and self-made billionaire, is perhaps best known for founding Fisher Investments. The financial advisor firm based in Camas, Washington manages more than $96 billion… Read more
If you’re starting to think about getting ready for retirement or you’re approaching a major life transition, it might be the right time to hire a financial advisor. A financial advisor can help you… Read more
As you strive to reach your financial goals and prepare for retirement, you may consider turning to a financial advisor. But you may be wondering: How much does a financial advisor cost? Generally,… Read more
For anyone trying to choose a financial advisor, Form ADV is an essential point of reference. Form ADV is paperwork that all financial advisor firms that manage more than $25 million must file with… Read more
A wealth manager is a subset of financial advisor that primarily serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals – in other words, people with wealth that needs managing. A wealth manager… Read more
Estate planning is the process of making a plan for how your assets will be distributed upon your death or incapacitation. Through estate planning, you can ensure your assets are given to the people… Read more
Are your retirement savings on track? It can be hard to know exactly how much you should have tucked away and by what age. And how do you stack up compared to others? Taking a look at the average 401… Read more
Warren Buffett said it best: “Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it.”… Read more
Figuring out how to buy bonds is a deceptively complicated process. Before you make your purchase, it’s important to understand what types of bonds there are, and how much risk and reward each bond… Read more
In short, yes, your inheritance is taxable. However, the full story is more complicated than a simple yes or no answer. Whether you’ll pay inheritance tax and how much you’ll pay depends on a variety… Read more
If you’re the victim of identity theft or you think you might be, you may want to consider a credit freeze. A credit freeze blocks new creditors from viewing your credit report. That makes it tougher… Read more
When it comes to choosing a financial advisor, you want to pick carefully. A financial advisor can be key to helping you determine and achieve your financial goals and get ready for retirement. But… Read more
Private wealth management is an investment advisory practice focused on serving the unique needs of wealthy individuals. The practice incorporates a wide range of services, including financial… Read more
Self-directed 401(k) plans let savers decide how to invest their pre-tax retirement contributions. Rather than being limited to the pre-approved funds typically offered by traditional 401(k) plans,… Read more
