Posts by Ben Geier:
According to wedding-focused website The Knot, the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is $33,900. There are some cities, though, where you still can have the wedding of your dreams for much less, which might free up funds towards other financial goals, like a new home or retirement savings. Read more
Many states and localities that enacted shelter-in-place orders with the onset of the coronavirus crisis are now carefully implementing phased plans to reopen. With air travel not as available or carefree an option as before the pandemic, Americans are looking for safety on the road as their summer plans take shape. But staying safe while roadtripping, which can prevent significant dents in your savings, also depends on where you’re driving. That’s why SmartAsset decided to analyze the data to find the states with the worst drivers. Read more
While women in the U.S. seeking financial and social equality still face many challenges, certain conditions have improved in recent years. That’s why SmartAsset wanted to take a look at where U.S. women are the most successful, considering factors including education, earnings and business ownership. Read more
According to a 2018 Gallup report, approximately four in 10 Americans would choose to live in a town, a small city or a suburb of a small city as opposed to big cities and rural areas. As Americans… Read more
Homeownership often represents a foundation to build on as well as long-term stability. This applies not only to the lifestyle a homeowner envisions when making a purchase, but also to the value of… Read more
The tech industry is one of the most lucrative in the U.S. Though the COVID-19 crisis has cost the industry jobs just like virtually every industry, going into tech remains the goal of many young… Read more
Though it may not always be apparent to the average citizen, the federal government is responsible for many of the everyday conveniences that help the country operate. Even some state programs are… Read more
Having sufficient savings is imperative as a person enters retirement and leaves the workforce behind. But several factors – including a delayed start to saving, the increasing cost of living, a… Read more
With the cost of living generally high in major U.S. cities, the ability to keep larger expenses like housing costs to a minimum can sometimes make all the difference. In some cities, though,… Read more
In the face of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, which has left many Americans out of work and struggling to meet basic needs, President Donald Trump is considering proposing a plan to allow workers to… Read more
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual amount spent on food in 2018 per household was $7,923, with almost $4,500 allocated for food at home and almost $3,500 for food… Read more
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying economic crisis has impacted life throughout the world, hurting both individuals and small businesses as our normal way of living has profoundly changed… Read more
The COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying economic crisis has impacted life everywhere, from major cities to small towns in the middle of the United States. The state of Wyoming has not been hit as hard… Read more
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused problems all around the world, and Alaska, despite its relative remoteness, has not been spared. The lives of both individuals and businesses in the Last Frontier… Read more
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted nearly every aspect of life throughout the world, including in Alabama. By the middle of May 2020 there were 10,700 people with COVID-19 and 450 deaths.… Read more
The COVID-19 crisis has impacted life for people around the world. Businesses have had to shut, people have lost jobs, and many have found themselves in increasingly precarious positions financially.… Read more
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has left many Americans confused and anxious about their financial future, including many who’ve seen their income sources impacted by the social distancing and stay-at… Read more
Housing is one of the biggest stressors for many Americans across the country, since it often constitutes the majority of a household’s expenses. Housing costs have become increasingly burdensome due… Read more
Has government coronavirus relief money ended up in the hands of those who need it least? The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which provided forgivable loans to small businesses to cover their… Read more
A central question for most Americans when choosing where to live is whether to rent or buy. Each comes with its pros and cons. Renting a place can offer more flexibility without the burden of… Read more
Since the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act – a $2 trillion package designed to help individuals and small businesses – most Americans have focused on one… Read more
Though the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides a bevy of recovery measures on the federal level, including stimulus checks for individuals and small business relief… Read more
Almost 97% of all businesses in the U.S. have fewer than 500 employees. These small businesses are particularly imperiled by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis. To combat the… Read more
The COVID-19 crisis has impacted daily life for nearly every American, and Washington State is one of the locations that has been dealing with the crisis the longest, as Seattle was one of the early… Read more
As the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying economic crisis continue, people and small businesses are going to be looking for more and more ways to keep themselves afloat during this difficult period.… Read more
