Smith 
Deciding how to handle your retirement payout can be overwhelming. Finding a trustworthy financial advisor adds to the stress since nobody wants to risk their life savings. Financial literacy is a common issue, but SmartAsset aims to help. Here’s how their product works.
SmartAsset is a fintech company with software that offers personalized financial advice. Their website is full of tools and guides to assist in financial decision-making. They connect users with financial advisors, either locally or online, to meet specific needs.
When you have a financial question, you might find yourself on SmartAsset’s site through a Google search. Whether you need detailed information on mortgage payments, federal taxes, or retirement savings, SmartAsset has calculators that provide clear answers based on your personal information.
SmartAsset’s offerings go beyond basic calculations. They have tools for various personal finance needs:
Financial Advisor Search
Their platform assists in finding vetted financial planners based on a short questionnaire. The process is quick, with instant results displayed on your screen.
Home Buying
They offer tools to determine which homes you can afford, calculate mortgages, understand closing costs, and decide between buying and renting. The website also includes guides and comparisons of current mortgage rates and reviews of mortgage providers.
Taxes
Their tax calculators cover income tax, property tax, tax returns, paycheck, and retirement tax. They also provide in-depth guides and software reviews to ensure you’re up-to-date with tax obligations.
Retirement
Tools for retirement planning include calculators for social security, 401(k), and other retirement options. Guides on planning, advisor selection, and estate planning are also available.
Banking
They offer calculators and guides to evaluate savings, checking, money market, and CD accounts. Reviews help you choose the best bank for your needs.
Credit Cards
Though there are no calculators, SmartAsset reviews and compares various credit card options, including travel, balance transfer, cashback, and rewards cards.
Investing
They provide guides on mutual funds, stocks, bonds, and comparisons of brokerage accounts. Investment return, capital gains tax, and asset allocation calculators are also available.
Life Insurance
A calculator helps determine your life insurance needs, and guides aid in choosing providers and understanding benefits.
Refinance
Their refinance calculator and comparison tool help you decide if refinancing your loan is beneficial.
Personal Loans
A loan calculator assists in evaluating affordability, coupled with guides and rate comparisons.
Student Loans
They offer a student loan calculator and resources for selecting providers and exploring refinancing options.
SmartAsset monetizes its traffic in two primary ways:
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Advertisers – Articles with advertising are clearly marked, ensuring unbiased recommendations.
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Financial Planners – They receive compensation from leads sent to vetted advisors.
Using SmartAsset is free, with no financial obligations. The platform is rich with resources on all personal finance topics, making it worth a try.
While some employees on Glassdoor share minor complaints, the company is growing and improving. The software functions well, and SmartAsset comes highly recommended.
In essence, SmartAsset simplifies complex financial decisions with easy-to-use tools and expert connections, maintaining a strong commitment to user-centric services despite its monetization methods. Challenges exist, but SmartAsset stands out as a helpful platform for financial planning.
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5
- Pros: Wide range of tools, advisor connect feature, user-friendly, transparent monetization.
- Cons: Growing pains, some employee feedback, not all-inclusive for every user, dependence on external advisors.
