SmartAsset

3 days ago | smartasset.com | Jaclyn DeJohn

People with young children or those planning to start a family often have newfound priorities when it comes to picking a neighborhood to live in. Many families choose to trade the conveniences of the big city for more space and affordability as they grow. Other amenities – including childcare costs, access to parks, the presence of other young families, and healthcare availability – may also play a key role in where new families decide to settle.

1 week ago | smartasset.com | Brandon Renfro

When can a spouse who is older than the primary breadwinner claim spousal benefits? My wife, who was born in 1956, is six years older than me. She claimed her Social Security benefits at 62, three years before her full retirement age (FRA). Her check is under $400 per month, as she hasn’t worked in over 20 years and her salary was very low back in the 1980s–90s. I was born in 1962 and my FRA is 67, which I’ll reach in 2029. Does my wife have to wait until I retire to claim against my benefits?

3 weeks ago | smartasset.com | Rebecca Lake

Marketing is an important part of business planning and development for RIAs, but getting it right can be challenging. Keeping up with evolving trends is enough to make your head spin, and what attracted clients yesterday isn’t always guaranteed to work tomorrow. Working with a coach can help you tighten up your marketing game for maximum impact. The key is knowing how to choose the right marketing coach for your firm. Are you looking to expand the marketing of your financial advisor practice?

3 weeks ago | smartasset.com | Rebecca Lake

Managing client portfolios can take up a significant part of your day when you’re spending time researching investments, running model scenarios and scheduling trades. That may leave you fewer hours each week to spend with clients or dedicate to prospecting and marketing. Streamlining client portfolios and the portfolio management process can help you get some of that time back. Not to mention, you can deliver a better client experience and increase engagement while scaling your business.

3 weeks ago | smartasset.com | Eric Reed

A backdoor Roth can sometimes be a good idea. The government puts income limits on who can contribute to a Roth IRA portfolio. In 2025, these limits are set at $165,000 for single filers, and $246,000 for joint filers. If you’re above this cap, you cannot contribute money to a Roth IRA. However, there is no income limit on converting money to a Roth IRA.