Posts by Ben Geier:
Raising children requires substantial financial preparedness. One’s ability to save enough to house and support a growing family can depend on a variety of factors. Residents in some locations, however, are having more kids than in others. That’s why SmartAsset analyzed the data to uncover the places across the 100 largest U.S. cities where families are having more children. Read more
Safety is often at the top of most people’s list when they’re picking a place to live. Choosing the right city allows them the peace of mind to work and raise a family. Given those considerations, SmartAsset decided to find the safest cities in America. Read more
The median household income in the U.S. was $61,937 in 2018, according to Census Bureau data. But what kind of life that income affords you depends on many factors, including your spending and saving habits as well as the cost of living in the place you call home. With that in mind, SmartAsset decided to find the best cities in the country to live on an income of $60,000. Read more
Whether you’re taking someone out for the first time or enjoying a well-earned night on the town with your partner of a decade, it’s important to be able to enjoy a nice date night. It is even better… Read more
Unions can be effective tools for collective bargaining. They represent workers in negotiations with management to uphold workers’ rights, including fair wages. According to a 2018 report on full… Read more
Giving to charity can be doubly rewarding. It helps other people, and it makes you feel like you’re doing something good. As a bonus, it can get you a deduction on your taxes, something a financial… Read more
As soon as the air turns crisp and the leaves start to change color, trick-or-treaters all over America start to count down to Halloween. They look forward to donning inventive costumes and hitting… Read more
Advancing into old age brings to the forefront a variety of lifestyle and financial considerations, including the possibility of transitioning to a full-time nursing home. Whether you are thinking… Read more
Jobs in STEM fields – related to science, technology, engineering and math – are among the fastest-growing and highest-paying jobs in America. But there remains tremendous inequality in the field… Read more
Estate planning can take a lot of energy, and there are many options to consider when coming up with your directions for what will happen to your money and possessions after you’ve died. One option… Read more
Bills pile up and debt accumulates, causing the pressure of financial concerns to grow. While there are certainly ways to get out ahead of these struggles – saving carefully, using a budget or making… Read more
While Major League Baseball is what you are most likely to see on television, baseball fans in cities across the country flock to the ballpark to watch the stars of tomorrow hone their craft in Minor… Read more
The pay gap remains a very real struggle for women around the U.S. The latest number from the American Association of University Women estimates that, on average, women earn around 80% of what their… Read more
More and more people are getting into the business world through their own startups. Many of the companies you interact with on an everyday basis – Uber, Airbnb, even Apple – began as startups, often… Read more
Whether working through your retirement years is an aspiration or a necessity, it doesn’t hurt to have some help with financial planning when considering that aspect of your future. As you set your… Read more
State capitals aren’t always the biggest cities in their state, but they’re among the most important. Not only are they central hubs for government offices and homes for notable landmarks, but they… Read more
Putting money down for a mortgage on a home is a great investment for many Americans. Sometimes, of course, the daunting up-front costs might deter potential buyers from taking the leap altogether,… Read more
Taxes and rent are unavoidable expenses for those who don’t own their home, and though there are other necessities like food, that category and others allow for more flexibility in how consumers… Read more
Getting your finances under control isn’t easy. Young Americans have a lot of expenses. It isn’t as simple as learning to balance your checkbook, no matter what your parents might tell you. Personal… Read more
If you’re planning on having a wedding to celebrate your union, expenses can add up fast. And, depending on where you live, nuptials can be extremely stressful to plan, since they involve finding… Read more
There comes a time in most people’s lives when they realize it is time to ditch the fifth-floor walkup studio apartment and move into a home big enough to raise a family in. You have to balance… Read more
If you love your grandchildren, you might want to make sure that when you die some of your estate goes past your own children and right to your grandchildren, giving them a nest egg on which to build… Read more
Teachers are some of the most important people in our society, educating young people and molding the leaders of tomorrow. While being a teacher is certainly rewarding, it isn’t always the most… Read more
Investors pay performance fees to investment advisors based on how the investments the advisor chooses perform. If the investments earn you money, you may have to pay a fee based on how much money… Read more
For those who don’t own a house, rent is one of the most important expenses to account for in a household budget. Keeping your rent-to-income ratio at a reasonable level allows you to use your money… Read more
