Posts by Derek Miller:
Your credit score is important. It can help determine whether you get a credit card with a 0% intro APR or a 23% APR. It can also help determine if your mortgage interest rate is going to be 3.5% or 5.5% – or if you qualify for a mortgage at all. People in some cities seem to be doing a better job improving their credit scores as compared to people in other cities. Read on as SmartAsset looks at credit scores across the country to find the places where credit scores are rising the fastest. Read more
Living in a big city can be fun. But almost everything in a big city tends to be more expensive, from meals out to groceries to morning coffee. And housing is often the most expensive part of living in a city. Below we look at data on rents in 15 major U.S. cities and estimate how much you would need to earn in order to afford a two-bedroom apartment. Read more
When SmartAsset analyzed the best places for working women in the United States, Minnesota stood out as one of the best states. Many places in Minnesota had a high percentage of women in the workforce and those women were earning high incomes. For that reason, we decided to dive deeper into Minnesota data to see which cities are great for working women in the North Star State. Read more
Interest rates in the U.S. are at historic lows. By refinancing, and taking advantage of these low interest rates, you could potentially save yourself quite a bit of cash. In many communities across… Read more
Identity theft is a major problem in the U.S. Over 15 million people were victims of identity theft in 2016, a 15% increase from the year before. While everyone is at risk of having their identity… Read more
Many American cities are facing a housing supply crunch. Housing costs, especially in urban centers, are on the rise, and in cities like New York and Los Angeles large swaths of the population find… Read more
Relying too much on credit cards to make ends meet is a bad habit to get into. Credit cards typically come with high interest rates and harsh penalties for late payment fees, meaning even small… Read more
Most golfers have a course in mind when they think of their favorite place to hit the links. But what about certain cities? With plenty of warm sunny days, affordable housing and a wide range of golf… Read more
Texas is a large state with diverse regions. Whether you appreciate the beaches on the Gulf Coast, the rolling plains in the Panhandle or vibrant cities like Austin or Dallas, Texas has something for… Read more
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has given nearly $12 billion back to consumers since 2011. In recent weeks however, President Trump has talked about firing CFPB Director Richard… Read more
In Ohio, there are more women between the ages of 20 and 64 participating in the workforce than there are men doing so. And recently, SmartAsset found that Ohio’s capital, Columbus, is one of the… Read more
Florida has some of the most volatile housing markets in the country. The Sunshine State was one of the worst affected during the subprime mortgage loan crisis, with mortgage delinquency rates… Read more
The average American household earned $55,775 in 2015. That figure is up $2,000 from 2014 and $5,000 from 2011. With that number in mind, SmartAsset set out to answer the question of where are the… Read more
So you want to raise your kids in the Golden State. The question is where? Are you a NorCal person, with its plethora of tech jobs and high costs of living? Or would you rather settle down in sunny… Read more
The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.5% as of March 2017, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But in many states the jobs that are currently available and growing are not necessarily… Read more
Marching. Donating to your favorite causes. Calling your congressman. You may be wondering what else you can do to make a difference in the current political climate. What about moving? Some 2016… Read more
If you’re feeling frustrated with your financial company, you’re not alone. Many consumers have bank complaints or credit card complaints. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was set up… Read more
Foreclosed houses can offer homebuyers a chance to invest in the housing market for far less money than they would normally be able to. But those steep discounts often come with some risk. There are… Read more
All debt is not created equal. If you take on a mortgage to buy a house, that can be a smart move as long as you can afford it. Likewise, student loan debt is often considered to be “good debt” by… Read more
Tax season is a time of high stress for many Americans. It’s also the time when some Americans receive an unexpected windfall in the form of a tax refund. According to the IRS, the average tax refund… Read more
Running is more than a way to stay in shape. Sure, it’s great exercise, but runners also run as a way to explore new places, to test their limits and even participate in races to raise money for… Read more
Cities like San Francisco and New York tend to dominate the headlines when it comes to exploding housing markets. But there are plenty of smaller housing markets with tons of potential that don’t get… Read more
Credit card complaints can be difficult to address. Sometimes credit card companies are hard to reach or it’s not clear who you should be complaining to. In the wake of the financial crisis of 2008,… Read more
Most retirement advisors will tell you saving early and leveraging the power of compound interest makes for a smoother road to retirement. But what if you’re unable to save in your younger years,… Read more
In 2015, 73% of Americans had credit card debt, according the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Credit card debt can sneak up on you. One month you’re on top of it, making regular payments, and the… Read more
