Posts by Ben Geier:
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 the streets, and the experience is all the more exciting when the houses they’re visiting are prepared to reward them with candy. Factors like safety and weather make some places more trick-or-treater friendly than others. That’s why SmartAsset crunched the numbers to find the best places in the U.S. to go trick-or-treating. 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 about nursing home care for yourself or for a parent or loved one, there are many factors to weigh and expenses to navigate. You want to make sure, after all, that the facility you choose will be comfortable, clean, well-run and affordable. 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 along racial and gender lines, which can affect where potential employees can choose to relocate. 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
When buying a home, there are a lot of considerations to weigh. One of them is how the value of your home is likely to change in the years you own it. This involves two major factors – growth and… Read more
The millennial generation has come of age. This cohort is working in a variety of jobs and relocating to different cities. Some cities and states, though, are more popular spots for millennials to… Read more
There are lots of jobs available in America right now. Unemployment is low, and many companies are looking to hire good people. Where, though, are the sectors that are growing and looking for more… Read more
Besides the responsibilities of securing and maintaining a functioning property, homeowners need to be aware of another tremendous burden of homeownership: costs. Whether it’s tackling mortgage… Read more
Driving gives many Americans expanded access and mobility where they might otherwise have had limited options. But along with the freedom to roam around comes the responsibility of being a prudent… Read more
Airbnb has not only changed the way a lot of people travel, but also the way that many investors take advantage of their real estate properties. Rather than picking from hotel chains and relatively… Read more
