Posts by Jaclyn DeJohn, CFP®
Income
Salary Needed to Live Comfortably in U.S. Cities – 2025 Study
Most households aim to maintain a cushion between the necessary spending for day-to-day necessities – like housing, food, utilities and childcare – while also enjoying life in the moment and saving for the future. This means keeping room in the budget for the occasional vacation or splurge, as well as savings for long-term goals like… read more…
Cost of Living & Taxes
Where Cost of Living Increased and Decreased Most – 2025 Study
While inflation metrics may show broad trends across the U.S., costs of individual necessities like housing, groceries, utilities, transportation and medical expenses may see wider price volatility from city to city. Many dynamics may help influence price differentials across the country, such as geographical location – which may impact the availability and import cost of… read more…
Quality of Life
Where Americans Have the Most Retirement Savings – 2025 Study
Retirement savings can serve as a key indicator of financial stability, reflecting not only a household’s ability to set aside money but also shaping retirement timelines and broader workforce and economic dynamics. Across the United States, the average retirement savings per household is estimated to be $114,435 – but this figure varies significantly by state,… read more…
Cost of Living & Taxes
Americans Have the Most Student Loan Debt in These States – 2025 Study
While taxes and a high cost of living eat into a household’s earnings, past debt obligations like student loans may take another significant chunk out of the budget before allocating disposable income on nice-to-haves like retirement savings and vacations. While student loans may help a household increase its lifetime earnings, the principal and interest on… read more…
Income
Which States Have the Most (and Best-Paid) Federal Employees? 2025 Study
As of September 2024, over 1.8 million people were employed by the federal government of the United States. However, the federal government is far from limited just to Washington D.C. Federal workers are dispersed throughout the nation, albeit unevenly. In turn, large layoffs – whether voluntary or involuntary – may have different consequences for different… read more…
Cost of Living & Taxes
Where Americans Write Off the Most in Taxes – 2025 Study
With a bit of savvy planning, Americans can lighten their tax load through deductions and credits. Taxpayers can choose to itemize deductions or stick with the standard option. For the 2024 tax year, the standard deduction stands at $14,600 for individuals and $29,200 for joint filers — yet many still opt to itemize when the… read more…
Financial Advisors
Life Insurance Industry Size and Local Investments by State – 2025 Study
Life insurers collect premiums from policyholders and, because their payouts — like death benefits or annuities — often happen years down the line, they have a big pool of cash to invest in the meantime. With trillions in assets under management, insurers invest heavily in state-level projects, from municipal bonds funding schools and highways to… read more…
Cost of Living & Taxes
What It Takes to Be Middle Class in America – 2025 Study
For middle-class Americans, the dream has long been a life of reasonable comfort — a stable home, the ability to save enough money to retire, and enough left over for periodic splurges like family vacations, updated cars, or home improvements. But with living costs surging over the past few years, that dream is getting pricier.… read more…
Income
What $100k Is Worth in the Largest U.S. Cities – 2025 Study
A $100,000 salary may sound like a comfortable income but how far it goes varies largely depending on where you live. Earning $100,000 places an individual tax filer at the upper limit of the 22% federal tax bracket. On top of that, FICA taxes for Social Security and Medicare apply, and depending on where you… read more…
Income
Life Insurance Payouts and Coverage Are Highest in These States – 2025 Study
Life insurance policies play a significant role in providing financial security for beneficiaries. Over $202 billion dollars is paid out over the course of a year in the United States, according to estimates from the American Council of Life Insurers. But the extent of these payouts and the prevalence of policies vary greatly depending on… read more…
Income
Debt Disparities in the US: Regional and Generational Trends
Newly adjusted figures reveal the average total household debt stands at approximately $147,919 nationwide. However, debt levels vary significantly across the United States, with notable disparities at both the geographical and generational level. These differences can highlight how certain areas grapple with higher debts, while others may have higher flows of disposable income. Additionally, the… read more…
Income
Cities Where Income Inequality Increased Most – 2025 Study
Most current estimates put the U.S. median household income at around $75,000 to $80,000. But these figures do not account for the degree of the spread between the highest and lowest earners, a metric that can demonstrate the diversity in financial realities within a community. Across the U.S., the top 20% of earners bring in… read more…
Income
Household Net Worth is Highest in These States – 2025 Study
Across the United States, the median household net worth is estimated to be $187,690. Net worth includes the assets a household has – minus debts – and gives a general estimate of a home’s relative wealth and financial profile. It includes the value of home equity, balance of deposit accounts such as checking and savings,… read more…
Industry Trends
Tesla, Tariffs and Taxes: Consumers Are Looking for Answers to These Financial Questions Right Now
Before a consumer turns to a financial advisor to answer their personal finance questions, they often turn to the internet first. Thus, advisors can use recent search trends to inform their content and marketing – heading off prospect and client questions proactively to add value and build trust. Trending searches can help inform newsletter content,… read more…
Demographics & Migration
Where Most People Are About to Retire – 2025 Study
As more people retire in a community, they change the dynamics within those local economies. This can mean that spending shifts: What was once spent on gasoline for the commute, or lunch out near the office may now be spent on more personal interests and expenses. Similarly, retirement trends can open up local jobs for… read more…
Income
Cities Adding the Most High-Income Households – 2025 Study
High-income households can generally afford to spend more within their communities, both via local business and the tax base. The business mix of a city may be greatly influenced by the relative population of high-income earners. Similarly, the prevalence of high-income households also can help describe the relative quality of life of a population, or… read more…
Industry Trends
Where CFP® Certification Is Booming: States Adding the Most Financial Experts – 2025 Study
Over 6,500 Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®) were added nationwide in 2024, bringing the current total up to 103,093. Meanwhile, the number of CFPs® in some states can also shift when certificants move from one state to another. The number of financial advisors in an area can affect the quality and availability of service that clients… read more…
Quality of Life
Where Most People Are Single or Married – 2025 Study
Marital and singlehood trends vary dramatically across U.S. cities. Nationally, married and never-married adults are almost evenly split at around 41% each, but that balance shifts substantially depending on where you are. In some cities, just 22.4% of the population is married, while in others, it’s as high as 55.9%. The singles landscape varies just… read more…
Income
Where Households Have the Most and Least Disposable Income – 2025 Study
Stretching a paycheck beyond the basics is becoming harder for many Americans. After covering taxes and essential expenses, the disposable income that is left impacts a household’s ability to save, invest or stay afloat. But high prices of housing, food, childcare and more can keep households struggling, leaving many families with little or nothing to… read more…
Cost of Living & Taxes
Gas Prices Increase Up to 9.3%: U.S. States See Wide Range in Price Shifts in January 2025
While the latest inflation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the annual price change nationwide on gas at +4.4%, some states have seen gas prices increases by more than double that, while prices have fallen significantly in others. Americans may be sensitive to such significant fluctuations in gas prices: The average commute to… read more…
Demographics & Migration
Cities Attracting the Most Millennials – 2025 Study
In just one year, 5.49 million millennials moved to large U.S. cities. While about 73% of these transplants moved to a big city within their current state of residence, another 19% traversed states to start new – and nearly 8% came to these cities from abroad. Millennials are often in their prime earning years, and… read more…
Quality of Life
Cities With the Most People Working From Home – 2025 Study
Across hundreds of large U.S. cities, a median of 12.5% of workers work from home. But some cities see as many as 3 in 10 workers working remotely, while others maintain a nearly entirely in-person workforce. Factors affecting this wide spread may include the local industries and infrastructure, as well as local demographics. Similarly, the… read more…
Industry Trends
Data Reveals Abrupt Shift in Consumer Sentiment Toward Personal Finance After Trump Win
Data points to an abrupt shift in the sentiment and priorities of Americans when it comes to their personal finances since the outcome of the 2024 presidential election became clear. Demand for professional financial advice has increased, signaling a wave of financial repositioning. Both the quantity and quality of consumers seeking to adjust their financial… read more…
Quality of Life
Places With the Most and Least Health Insurance Coverage – 2025 Study
While health insurance can prevent emergencies and catastrophic conditions from decimating your financial plans, the premiums and out-of-pocket expenses can also take a toll on your wallet. In 2024, the average annual premium for a single individual was nearly $9,000 – and an estimated $25,500 for a family of four. While many workplaces subsidize these… read more…
Demographics & Migration
Where Baby Boomers Are Moving – 2024 Study
As baby boomers continue to retire in droves, they are likely to consider downsizing their living arrangements to accommodate their new lifestyles. While they have the highest portion of wealth among all generations, they may no longer need to pay to be close to work in a busy and expensive city center, or may no… read more…