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The best places to retire in the U.S. are scattered across the country from coast to coast, and though they vary in climate and geography, they all tend to excel in particular areas. Cities with low tax burdens, easy access to health facilities, a high percentage of senior citizen residents and entertainment opportunities pepper the top of this list. Whether you want to spend retirement on sandy beaches or with the wilderness as your backyard, you can find what fits your lifestyle for your golden years. Below, you can discover which locations are best for retirees, how they’ll affect your finances and how they stack up in terms of the healthcare and recreational offerings. You can also find a financial advisor to help you fund your retirement the right way in these locales. Read More...
Passing money down from generation to generation inevitably involves taxes. There’s the gift tax and the federal estate tax. Many states also charge an estate tax. However, there is a way to gift larger sums of money without as big of a tax burden: a grantor retained annuity trust (GRAT). A GRAT is a type of irrevocable trust that allows you to minimize the tax cost of passing on assets. Read More...
If you run your own business, you need a way to identify it to the government when it comes time to do your taxes. The same is also true if you’re the executor of an estate, the creator of a trust or the founder of a non-profit. The way entities accomplish this is with an Employer Identification Number (EIN). If you don’t yet have an EIN, you can apply to receive one with IRS Form SS-4. Read More...
Since electronic funds transfers (EFTs) have become commonplace, direct deposit has overtaken the mailing of paper checks as the most popular way to receive recurring payments. Before you can get direct deposit payments, though, you’ll need to fill out a form providing the payer with your personal and banking information. If the party sending you direct deposit payments is a government agency, the form you need to fill out is SF-1199a. Read More...
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Editor's Picks
Jun 27, 2018 So you're interested in a Roth IRA? In that case, there are some important rules you should know about as you plan for retirement. One of…
Aug 20, 2018 Portland, Oregon is more than just microbreweries and food trucks. The City of Roses boasts a lively arts and culture scene. Employment…
Dec 12, 2017 Gallup polls from 2014 show that the average American has 2.6 credit cards and it isn't hard to see why. Credit cards lessen the need for…
Aug 02, 2018 The first step towards getting financial help is recognizing that you need it. The second step is figuring out exactly why you need help.…
Jul 09, 2018 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 fight for equal rights for working women remains an uphill battle. That’s one reason why about 3 million people around the world recently participated in women’s marches and thousands took part in demonstrations on International Women’s Day. An analysis from the Center of American Progress estimated that A Day Without a Woman could have cost the U.S. GDP $21 billion if every woman who worked outside the house went on strike. 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, the federal government set up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to help protect consumers. The CFPB government agency helps consumers address complaints they have with banks, credit unions, credit card companies, payday lenders and other financial companies. Read More...
Home is where the heart is, so the saying goes. For homeowners, their home is also where they probably invested a large chunk of their money. In some places homeownership has proved to be a worthwhile investment, as the home values skyrocket. But in other places, depressed home values and high property taxes may have made owning a home less worth it. 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...
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