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One of the major pieces of the COVID-19 relief package passed on March 11 by the Biden administration was an expansion of the Child Tax Credit. This included increasing the credit amount from $2,000 to $3,600 and creating monthly direct cash payments to those who qualified. Not everyone benefits from taking those payments, though. Let’s break down why some taxpayers may want to opt out and how to do it. For more help with the Child Tax Credit, or with general financial planning for your family, consider finding a financial advisor with SmartAsset’s free financial advisor matching service. Read More...
More often than not, people want to leave their assets and property behind to people they care about when they pass. But sometimes individuals don’t make a will or die with debts. In such cases (among others), their property has to pass through a probate court. It’s possible that you may have to act as an executor of an estate holding one of these properties. Or, there may be an option for future homeowners who want to buy lower-priced real estate. Either way, you’ll have to understand the process of a probate sale. Here’s a rundown on how it works. Read More...
Long-term care can cover a wide variety of services. The need for it can arise for anyone at any time, regardless of whether they have a disability or are a senior citizen. Long-term care goes beyond normal healthcare to encompass custodial care, which includes help with daily activities like bathing, cooking and getting dressed. In turn, it involves a much more personal level of daily care than other kinds of healthcare a person might receive. There are three categories of long-term care: home care, assisted living and skilled nursing. Read More...
Long-term care encompasses a variety of services that may be necessary for people who have disabilities or debilitating health conditions. The need for it can arise for anyone at any time. Long-term care is different from other kinds of healthcare in that it can involve assistance with aspects of what’s known as custodial care, which includes help with bathing, using the bathroom, eating, getting dressed and more. It involves a much wider and more personal level of daily care than other kinds of healthcare a person might receive from a general or even specialized medical practitioner. There are three basic categories of long-term care: home care, assisted living and skilled nursing. The latter two typically take place in a purpose-built facility. Read More...
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Editor's Picks
Sep 13, 2021 Many people dread tax season. But if you're expecting a tax refund, you've got a couple of things to look forward to. Firstly, the IRS has…
Sep 24, 2021 "Chartered financial analyst" (CFA) and "certified financial planner" (CFP) are common certifications for individuals working in finance,…
May 01, 2020 Wealth management firms are all different. You need to make sure to do the work to pick the right one for you. Wealth managers work with…
Sep 13, 2021 If a financial planner or financial advisor is fee-only, that means they receive compensation solely from the fees clients pay from their…
Jul 23, 2019 If you’re young and you're looking to purchase a new home to live in, maybe you should consider turning your first home into an investment…
Data Articles and Studies
The number of registered investment advisors (RIAs) in the U.S. is growing, as are the number of clients they serve and assets they manage. According to an annual report published jointly by the Investment Advisor Association and National Regulatory Services, there were 13,494 RIAs in 2020 – about 11% more than there were in 2017 (12,172). Last year, those advisors reported a total of 42.1 million clients and $97.2 trillion in regulatory assets under management (AUM) – roughly 18% and 37% more, respectively, than the number of clients and assets reported three years prior. Read More...
Since the onset of COVID-19, remote work has become the norm for many Americans, allowing them to continue to meet some of their expenses while saving where possible. In the late spring of 2020, about half of American workers were working from home, according to two surveys conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Many researchers believe that increased work flexibility and work-from-home opportunities may continue even after the pandemic is over. With that in mind, SmartAsset looked at the best cities to work from home in 2021. Read More...
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that computer and information technology jobs are expected to have grown by 11% from 2019 to 2029, adding 531,200 new jobs in cloud computing, big data storage and collection and information security. The median annual wage for those jobs in May 2019 was $88,240, which is $48,430 higher than the median annual wage for all occupations. Read More...
Videos
Patrice Washington says she is an accidental personal finance blogger. Regardless, it’s a role she seems born to play, and one she’s certainly making the most of! Patrice is now much more than a personal finance blogger, she is a personal finance educator, author and advocate. You can see, hear and read Patrice pretty much everywhere from the Steve Harvey TV and radio show to her own books on personal finance. We caught up with Patrice in New Orleans for this edition of SmartAsset Talks. Read More...
