SmartReads
Take control of your financial future.
When deciding how to pass on assets to your heirs, it’s important to consider where minor children fit in. Child inheritance laws generally prohibit children from inheriting land, real property or other assets if they’re under 18. Depending on probate and inheritance laws in your state, it’s even possible to exclude children from inheriting any of your wealth regardless of their age. But if you do want to make sure your children are taken care of financially if something should happen to you, there are some things you can do to provide for them in your estate plan. If you’re fleshing out your own estate plan, you may want some help from a financial advisor. Read More...
Annuities are insurance policies that are popularly used by retirees for retirement income. While many investors purchase annuities with a lump sum of money, others contribute to their annuities over a longer period of time. A fixed deferred annuity accepts contributions all at once, or over a preset period of time to build up the account balance as your budget allows. Fixed deferred annuities also have some downsides, along with some very important characteristics you’ll want to understand thoroughly. Consider working with a financial advisor as you evaluate various options for generating retirement income. Read More...
The main goal of most investors is to garner enough money in the market to fund their retirement years. Yet, many investors are unsure of how to properly pull money out of their accounts once they’re actually in retirement. The retirement bucket strategy is one of the many withdrawal strategies that investors can use. However, really learning how to implement this strategy is incredibly important. Consider working with a financial advisor as you create or modify your plan for retirement. Read More...
Asset protection planning is the process of building barriers around your assets, whether those assets are personal or business, to keep them safe from litigation, creditor claims, seizure and burdensome taxes. It’s a vital and completely legal component of both financial planning and estate planning. There are a number of key tools you can utilize to accomplish the goal of protecting your assets. A financial advisor can help you structure and organize your assets so that they are more likely to achieve your financial goals. Read More...
Most Read
Editor's Picks
Jan 07, 2022 Many people dread tax season. But if you're expecting a tax refund, you may have something to look forward to. If there's extra money…
Sep 28, 2021 Chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certified financial planner (CFP) are common certifications for individuals working in finance,…
Oct 01, 2021 Wealth management firms are all different. As a result, the process for choosing a wealth manager is a very personal one. Wealth managers…
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…
Oct 22, 2021 If you’re young and looking to purchase a new home to live in, you may want to consider turning into an investment property. While most…
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...
