Monthly Archives: February 2020

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Squarehttps://www.thecentersquare.com/

A panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld a lower court's decision Friday blocking the Trump administration's work requirements for Medicaid recipients.

The three-judge panel said Arkansas' work requirements for Medicaid recipients is arbitrary and capricious.

In short, we agree with the district court that the alternative objectives of better health outcomes and beneficiary independence are not consistent with Medicaid, the opinion said. The text of the statute includes one primary purpose, which is providing health care coverage without any restriction geared to healthy outcomes, financial independence or transition to commercial coverage.

Arkansas Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he hopes the U.S. Supreme Court will review the case.

Arkansas implemented a work requirement in order to help recipients get worker training and job opportunities while receiving benefits," Hutchinson said. It is difficult to understand how this purpose is inconsistent with federal law. The courts ruling undermines broad public support for expanded health care coverage for those struggling financially.

The National Health Law Program, which opposes state and federal agencies enforcing the work requirement rule, supported the courts decision. The Ohio-based Buckeye Institute did not.

"The ruling is a disappointment and, in the long run, will harm the very people Medicaid is designed to help, Rea S. Hederman Jr., executive director of the Economic Research Center at the Buckeye Institute, told The Center Square. Under Medicaid expansion, healthy, single adults have left the workforce or reduced their work hours to become or remain eligible for Medicaid.

The Buckeye Institute's research found that not enforcing work requirements risks reducing workers' lifetime earnings by nearly $1 million for individuals who transition off of Medicaid, by more than $212,000 for women who remain on Medicaid for their entire working life, and by more than $323,000 for men who remain on Medicaid.

This research confirms that work and community engagement requirements can lead to better job opportunities with better quality private insurance, higher earnings, and can increase economic prosperity," Hederman said.

According to a study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), more than 500,000 people enrolled in Medicaid through expansion in nine states even though their income made them ineligible for the program.

Co-authored by professors at the University of Kentucky and Georgia State University, the analysis clarifies the nine states evaluated represent only 25 percent of the 37 states that expanded their Medicaid programs. The total number of ineligible enrollees, then, is potentially three times higher.

In 2015, when Medicare and Medicaid turned 50, Investors Business Daily pointed out that one was going bankrupt (Medicare); the other was bankrupting states (Medicaid).

In 2015, improper Medicaid payments totaled more than $29 billion, according to the Government Accountability Office.

In 2015, Medicaid accounted for 20 percent of state budget spending. According to research published by the Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA), Medicaid spending accounted for 30 percent of state budgets, or $603 billion, in 2018.

Overall, 47 states spending on Medicaid has grown as a share of their budgets since 2000, with 32 states spending 25 percent or more of their budgets solely on Medicaid.

Over the next decade, Medicaid spending is projected to outpace economic growth, exceeding more than $1 trillion per year, the FGA states.

State governments can do a better job at reducing fraud, the FGA argues, by also ensuring applicant eligibility includes verifying income, identity, wages and other records.

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highlandcountypress.com - The Highland County Press

In May of 2018, "Glamour" launched its first edition under newly appointed editor in chief, Samantha Barry. Barry's inaugural edition centered on the complex relationship between women and their money.

A year later thousands of women responded to Glamour's Money Survey. Fifty-one percent of respondents said they had a bank account balance of zero and/or were overdrawn.

In an interview with CNBC's Sharon Epperson, Barry explained how financial anxiety can cause stress: "If you are stuck financially, it can take over your life; it can be super-stressful, and it can affect your mental health."

The survey asked respondents to reveal their biggest barrier to financial independence. An overwhelming 71% said they've stayed in a job because they couldn't afford to leave; 31% said they've been financially trapped in a relationship.

The first step to financial freedom is creating a fallback, or emergency, fund, also known as a f*ck-off fund. Whatever you call it, the benefits are all the same: Three to six months of living expenses saved in a separate account for when life throws you a curveball.

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To create a fallback fund, you'll first need to figure out how much you are spending each month. With your total expenses listed, then calculate how much money you are bringing in. Include side hustles and any other sources of income. Barry says the next step is to list the essentials, "What would a month tightened up look like?" Once you have tallied your essentials (these are usually fixed costs), it's time to start contributing to your fallback fund.

Look for ways to increase your income. The income earned from a side hustle or a raise can be used to start your fund. Be careful not to spend the extra cash. It is wise to have a separate account for you to stash your savings in.

Another option is to find ways to cut back. Look for expenses to cut down on, like dining out and entertainment. Once you've determined where you can cut back, set up automated transfers. Experts recommend automating transfers from your checking account into your savings account.

Savings of three to six months can be daunting, but it's important not to stress over your fallback fund. The most important thing is not to lose sight of your savings goal.

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The fastest way to build up your emergency fund and gain financial freedom - CNBC

Accomplishing the financial cushion to retire early is a fantasy for most. Bringing the fantasy to reality is not as difficult as it sounds. The key is straightforward: Save significantly more every month. Sounds simple, correct? One moment.

Usually, advisors advise 15% to 20% of total income saved every month as an objective - yet in the event that you want to retire earlier, you likely need to tighten that number up to 40% or half of your pay. Not a discipline easily practiced when you review or consider that a substantial segment of your paycheck goes to basic, non- negotiable lifestyle needs. But if you are willing to make some serious lifestyle adjustments and trade-offs, it's achievable.

A generally new development called Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) has been created around this "sacrifice and over-save now to retire early" idea. FIRE supporters create exacting savings plans (up to 75% of income) and make related compromises like living in small homes, walking to work every day, prohibitive weight control plans, etc. This way might be unreasonably prohibitive for many, yet the mentality offers a few takeaways that may merit consideration.

First, stick with the fundamentals of long-term growth investing: Choose a diversified portfolio of stocks with exposure to different styles, sizes, sectors, and regions.

You may be able to accelerate your potential retirement earnings by consciously seeking higher returns (and also accepting more risk) in your investment portfolio. But whatever your risk tolerance, your portfolio must be diversified to protect against extreme market movements that could jeopardize your early retirement objective. You can choose from a number of ways to allocate investments to diversify your portfolio, and these should be informed by your individual goals, growth and income needs, appetite for risk, and age.

Once you have accelerated your savings and put an ongoing plan in place, invest your savings into your portfolio as soon as possible. Don't try to time the market. Leave your portfolio alone, and let the compounding nature of the markets do its magic to help grow your retirement nest egg exponentially over time.

Astute investors pick retirement growth stocks with low beta, strong earnings estimates, positive sales growth, and expected future growth.

The Zacks Rank routinely recognizes lower risk growth retirement portfolio picks, and here are a few that may be worth considering: Summit Financial (SMMF), Brinker International (EAT) and First Financial Corp. (THFF). These growth stocks have strong Zacks Ranks and a beta of 1 or lower, with earnings and sales growth of at least 5% over the past 5 years.

Do You Know the Top 9 Retirement Investing Mistakes?

Whether you're planning to retire early or not, don't let investing mistakes derail your plans.

If you have $500,000 or more to invest and want to learn more, click the link to download our free report, 9 Retirement Mistakes that will Ruin Your Retirement.

This report will help you steer clear of the most common mistakes, like trying to time the market, lack of diversification in your portfolio, and many more. Get Your FREE Guide NowFirst Financial Corporation Indiana (THFF) : Free Stock Analysis ReportBrinker International, Inc. (EAT) : Free Stock Analysis ReportSummit Financial Group, Inc. (SMMF) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research

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Powerful Proof Anyone Can Invest for an Early Retirement - February 14, 2020 - Yahoo Finance

I had just received the job offer of my dreams. I could hardly believe it. An up-and-coming company offered me a position teaching workshops to their staff of more than 1,200 teachers, social workers, and daycare providers. The job paid close to six figures, had great benefits and lots of VIP perks. As a single mom, it represented my key to independence; Id no longer have to rely on my ex-husband to help make ends meet each month. I would be able to move my sons into a beautiful home in the suburbs and send them to a better school. My car at the time was so old and beat up that I had to carry oil and water in the trunk at all times. My two boys knew that whenever smoke began to seep out from under the hood they were to alert me so that I could refill whatever fluid was running low. I couldnt wait to buy a new car and I was already picturing the vacations that wed finally be able to afford.

This job was absolutely ideal for me and the companys values were very much in alignment with my own. Idbe teaching motivational and inspirational workshopsto teachers, helping executives become better leaders, and instructing daycare providers on important childcare concepts. The owners were passionate about impacting low- income families and innovative in their policies for integrating children with disabilities into all classrooms. The position required three weeks of travel each month thats three weeks a month making a difference by doing something worthwhile that I loved while earning a great paycheck. There was only one problem and it was an important one: it meant that roughly 75 percent of my time would be away from my boys. At this point, they were six and seven years old. When I realized that the job required this much travel I knew instantly that it was not possible for me to accept it.

My priorities were clear but that doesnt mean I didnt struggle with the decision. I yearned for financial independence. I desperately wanted to give my sons a better education and pay for the expensive sports lessons that their friends enjoyed. So I tried to think of a way to make this new job position fit around my lifestyle. Hiring a full-time nanny could be an option, which I would be able to afford with this salary. Still, I knew in my heart that this arrangement would never work, not for me.

You see, I absolutely loved being a mom. Of all the different roles Ive had over the years, being with my boys when they were young was my most favorite. I truly enjoyed them and was most happy when I was doing things with them. I had an excellent part-time job that offered me a lot of flexibility. We were very active at our church, their school and in our community; other than not being in a more comfortable financial position, I was very happy with my life just as it was.

Still, I imagined how our lives would be changed with the financial security that this position offered, and I felt torn. Would I be any happier if my bank account had a few extra zeroes? Part of me believed that filling that missing piece would complete my life, yet I knew it would not be the right decision for us as a family. After a week of obsessing about this choice, I called the owners of the company and let them know my decision. I earnestly asked them to reconsider me for any position that did not include as much travel. They couldnt understand how anyone could walk away from such a great opportunity. They were shocked and perplexed.

I felt confident in my decision. I knew I made the right choice but was also very disappointed and upset about it for several weeks. I remember thinking that I would never, ever get another opportunity to work in a job that I loved so much and paid so well. I felt extremely guilty for walking away from an opportunity to give my sons a better life. Even though weeks had passed since Id declined the position, I still thought about it every day. One afternoon as I was at my kitchen table writing out checks to pay bills, I looked at my bank balance and thought, If you had taken that job, you could have it all. Immediately, my inner voice replied, Beth, You DO have it all. You have a nice home and healthy, happy children. You work flexible hours, have enough money to cover your expenses and you get to spend all the time you want with your children. You already have it all. Lots of women would give up their paychecks to enjoy what you have. This isnt the last job youll ever be offered. In 10 years youll be able to travel and something even better will happen for you. Yes, you CAN have it all; you just cant have it all at the same time.

This message was powerful. I felt that God had spoken directly to me. From that moment on, I stopped feeling guilty about declining the job offer. Instead, I began to acknowledge the many blessings in my life. I didnt have financial independence yet but I was independent. Just six months later, that company went bankrupt; 1,200 employees in three states went to work one morning and found the doors locked with a sign: Out of Business. When I heard this news, my heart broke for everyone who had lost their job. In the same breath, a wave of peace washed over me. I had listened to my inner voice and it didnt steer me wrong.

Over the next several years, I continued to do what I loved best: being a mom. I worked part-time and pursued my passion for writing and speaking to motivate women in whatever spare time I could find. Occasionally, Id feel a twinge of guilt that my boys werent in the best schools or werent playing on exclusive traveling sports teams. We spent our summers at the public pool while our friends traveled to the beach or Walt Disney World. At times, I felt envious but then Id remember that powerful message: You can have it all, just not all at the same time. This brought me peace and kept me feeling content with my present life and curious about my future.

Over the years, Ive built my own empire and developed creative ways to earn money while keeping my priorities in order. Even though my boys are grown now, I still want to be available when they call, visit or need to talk. Owning my own business gives me control over my schedule and allows me to spend time with the people who are most important to me. I can work odd hours if I want (my clients are very familiar with my late-night emails!) and I get to take advantage ofmy creativity whenever the muse strikes. I have developed a large network of women who support one another. Ive written several books and created dozens of workshops and programs that help other women succeed in life and business. My work takes me around the world, where I meet and interact with women in all stages of life. I wonder where I would be today if I had ignored that little voice in my head many years ago.

Today, when I talk with women, they often share their frustrations about work and family. They feel guilty, worried and even resentful about the demands on their time. They feel like they are part of a big rat race, and overwhelmed with the expectations they place on themselves. Many struggle financially while trying to keep up with their neighbors. Trying to accomplish everything at once is a disservice to the entire family, especially when everyone is frustrated, struggling and upset. Remember, rat races are for rats, not human beings.

Sometimes we get so busy doing everything that we think were supposed to do that we forget why were doing it in the first place. I know for sure that were not supposed to live our lives feeling upset, guilty, overwhelmed and worried all the time.

If this describes you, please stop. Take some time right now and think about what is really important at this point in your life. Listen to your inner voice; it wont lie to you. If its your career, put your focus there and dont feel guilty. If right now is the time that should be dedicated to your family, go fully into it and dont spend a moment wondering what others might think. The only opinions that really matter are the ones of those closest and most important to you and only if they truly have your best interest at heart. Remember that life changes. Things will never again be as they are today. Whats important today will be different in 10 years or so. Do what is best for you and your loved ones right now. Youll never get this time back.

Recently, I had an impressive job offer from a prestigious company, much like the one I stressed over all those years ago: a six-figure salary, expense account and other perks, a full support team. Along with all of that came weeks of travel, long hours and the corporate grind. This time, I took a matter of minutes to make my decision. Ill think about it . . . in about 10 years, I told them.

This content is excerpted from chapter one of the book INSPIRE: Womens Stories of Accomplishment, Encouragement, and Influence, originally published in 2014.

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You Absolutely CAN Do It All - Thrive Global

This story is part of CNBC Make It's Millennial Mortgage series. If you're interested in being featured, email reporter Alicia Adamczyk at alicia.adamczyk@nbcuni.com.

Watching extended family members and friends lose their homes during the Great Recession had a profound impact on Jack Washington. Though his own family made it through the financial crisis mostly unscathed, Washington began to realize from a young age how important it was to put money away and never owe anything to anyone.

So he started saving. His ultimate goal: Put away as much as he could, so his home couldn't be taken from him.

This savings mentality has manifested from the time Washington was in high school, when he began considering what he wanted for his future. The now-33-year-old received his bachelor's and master's degrees without taking on any student loan debt, thanks to a combination of scholarships and working as a residential advisor.

He pursued degrees in business and forged a career in human resources to ensure he would make good money right out of school, and have ample career opportunities.

In the first five years after he graduated, he saved over $300,000. His next step: buying a house. He closed on his 1,600-square-foot home in Richardson, Texas just outside of Dallas at the beginning of June 2019, and paid off the mortgage by the end of August.

Washington and his wife, LaTaya.

Courtesy of Jack Washington

For the human resources manager, owning a home outright was more important than any potential stock market gains his savings could have accrued. So important, in fact, that he paid off his $300,000 home in around three months, cashing out around $225,000 from a brokerage account rather than keeping the funds invested for retirement. He took the rest from more conservative investments, like CDs and liquid savings accounts.

Washington's decision to pay off his home decades early comes from a deeply-held conviction that it's better to be completely debt-free than owe money to anyone, regardless of if it's "good" debt or not.

His family and friends "loved the idea," he says. But the bank and his financial advisors were less than thrilled, warning that he'd potentially lose out on some serious stock market returns.

"I wanted financial stability and security. I wanted somewhere we could set down roots," Washington tells CNBC Make It. "I look at it as a utility, not an investment."

With no mortgage payment, here's how his home costs break down each month:

Washington's current salary is $120,000 per year, but he managed to save over $300,000 while earning between $85,000 at his first job out of business school and around $100,000. Though he lives with his wife, LaTaya, Washington paid off the full amount of the mortgage with his own investments and savings.

Washington was able to save so much by living a "generally frugal lifestyle" on an above-average salary: He's driven the same car since college, significantly scaled back his and LaTaya's wedding and cuts his own hair. Each year since he started working full time at 27, he's set "mini goals" for himself to slowly scale up his savings.

He acknowledges that not having student loans gave him a "leg up," though he intentionally went to schools that would give him scholarships and worked as a RA so that he wouldn't have to take any on (LaTaya graduated with around six figures in student loan debt, but has been aggressively paying it off with her own salary).

With his business degree, Washington knew he'd get ample job opportunities with higher-than-average salaries, and having a partner with a similar, though not identical, money mentality has made saving and working toward his financial goals easier.

It was this combination of strategies that worked for Washington. "That's my approach to building up wealth and money," he says. "It's not one big thing that helps you get to a good place, it's a million little things and the choices that you make every day that add up."

He credits his money mentality to his parents: His dad worked at a transit company in Chicago and his mom was a secretary. "They never made a ton of money, but they had good sense," he says. "They paid their home off in about 15 years. I make more now individually than they do collectively."

Peace of mind isn't the only benefit to paying off his mortgage so quickly. It also gives him the freedom to pursue a secondary long-term financial goal: Leaving the workplace at 40.

By having one less bill to worry about each month, Washington reasons, taking a break from the corporate world relatively early in life will be more manageable. He intends to work and his wife has no plans to leave her full-time job but just not continue the "grind." He's dreamed of that kind of independence since high school.

Washington in his kitchen.

Courtesy of Jack Washington

"I felt like my family and friends and older people that I knew were always talking about how hard they were working," he says. "They didn't have work life balance, and I knew that I did not want that to be me."

While he liquidated almost all of his savings to pay off his home, he's rebuilt it over the past year (not having a housing payment every month helps) and says he now has around $140,000 socked away in various accounts. That's his focus going forward.

Washington's goal is a different take on the financial independence movement, which typically evangelizes saving and investing as much money as possible in order to retire early.

Obviously, having a partner who will continue to work full-time makes taking a break from the workforce easier to manage; he will likely join her health insurance plan, and her salary will, hopefully, cover any surprise expenses that crop up. But Washington plans to save aggressively in the years to come to cover as many expenses as he can on his own. Not having a housing bill which is the typical American's top monthly cost gives him more freedom.

Despite the other goals Washington is now able to pursue without a mortgage payment, pulling his money out of the market was a big sacrifice. He acknowledges that most financial advisors would say he should have kept the $240,000 beyond the down payment invested in the stock market, but he's okay with what might not be considered the most prudent financial move. Paying off the balance gives him the stability he's craved, and, mentally, that is worth more than any potential investment gains.

"If you look at it from a purely financial point of view, okay, they might be able to convince me to keep it in the market," he says. "But peace of mind was the main motivation to pay the house off."

But is it advice others should take? There's no easy answer, Danielle Schultz, an Illinois-based certified financial planner, tells CNBC Make It. A major downside is that he has "completely lost the value of compound return," she says.

Traditionally, financial advisors say it does not make sense to pay off loans with interest rates lower than what you could earn in the market. That varies, of course, but a good rule of thumb is to focus on investing, rather than loan repayment, if your loan has an interest rate below 5%, says Schultz.

Another reason you're typically advised not to pay off your mortgage early: The mortgage interest deduction lets couples filing jointly deduct the interest paid on a mortgage up to $750,000, with some restrictions. Washington doesn't qualify for that tax break now.

Washington also had to pay capital gains tax on his withdrawal from the brokerage account. Had he taken the money from a retirement account, he also would have been hit with an early withdrawal penalty.

In his spare time, Washington pilots planes.

Courtesy of Jack Washington

That said, there is a significant emotional benefit to having a house completely paid off, particularly for those nearing retirement, Schultz says. "If it makes you feel better, I say go for it, but only if the value of the house is no more than one-third of your total net worth," she says. "You need most of your investments to be generating income in retirement."

It's the emotional weight that Washington is happy to have lifted.

"I can't beat the feeling and security of not owing anyone anything, regardless of market performance," he says. "I always wanted to have that stability ... As long as we can scrape up $6,000 per year for property taxes, we're fine."

It makes sense for him. "It's mine," he says. "You can't take it away."

Don't miss: How a 25-year-old used $40,000 in down-payment assistance to buy her first house in Atlanta

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This 33-year-old paid off his $300,000 house in 3 monthshere's why he didn't invest the money - CNBC

By John Harrington, Thomas C. Frohlich and Hristina ByrnesFebruary 14, 2020 12:23 pm

Tying the knot is for many people one of the most prominent milestones of adult life but not for all. While marriage provides many advantages such as tax breaks fewer Americans are choosing to get married. Those who do choose to stay single, remain single longer compared with previous generations. Many other Americans are single for other reasons.

There are more than 160 million single Americans divorced, widowed, separated, or those who have never married or approximately 51.0% of the U.S. population. Most of this group consists of people who have never been married.

To find the best city for singles in every state, 24/7 Tempo reviewed for all U.S. metro areas the percentage of the adult population that is single, the concentration of businesses such as restaurants and bars, and income levels. The best cities for singles are home to a relatively large number of unattached people, have plenty of amenities supporting social interaction, as well as a local economy that is conducive to financial independence.

Specifically, single people in these cities tend to be the majority of the adult population. The cities where this is not the case, but are still considered best for singles, are either especially affordable, or have high concentrations of social venues such as bars and restaurants. Of the 50 best cities for singles, 37 have a cost of living that is lower than the average nationwide.

Since the 1950s, the age at which people have taken their marriage vows in the United States has steadily risen. Census Bureau statistics note that the median age of first-time brides and bridegrooms hovered around 20 in the 1950s. Now, that benchmark is nearly 30 and it seems to be gradually going up. Here are the states where people marry older.

Click here to see the best city for singles in every stateClick here to see our detailed methodology

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The Best City to Be Single in Every State - 24/7 Wall St.

A college degree doesnt guarantee a secure future. Susmita Bardhan, who hails from South 24 Parganas, a small district in West Bengal, faced this brutal realisation after completing her masters course. A student of political science, Susmita was the sole care giver for her mother, who had been suffering from arthritis, and was unable to take up a job after college.

They say, when reality hits, it hits hard.

Susmita Bardhan at Mission Rise Women Entrepreneurship Summit.

The truth is that an astonishing number of women in India, who are unemployed or not financially independent due to one or the other circumstances, have to face the same reality as Susmitas.

Despite meeting the required qualification standards, a combination of social and cultural factors has crippled the ability of women in Tier II and beyond to contribute to the growing workforce in India. But what if the tables could be turned, and instead of women having to reach out, the opportunities could literally walk home, by way of the internet and smartphone penetration.

Over the last few years, the Jio effect has brought hundreds of thousands of Indians especially women online. With WhatsApp becoming their initiation into the digital world and other social media platforms acting as their means to both personal and business exchanges, there has been an unmistakable rise of social commerce.

Meesho, the Facebook-backed social commerce enabler, says it has empowered more than 2,000,000 Indians to become entrepreneurs with zero capital over the years. Of these, 70 percent are women entrepreneurs. These are homemakers and mothers who dropped out of the workforce after childbirth and students who wanted to start a business but were held back by lack of capital.

Vidit Aatrey, Founder and CEO of Meesho

Bengaluru-based Meesho which literally means Meri Shop (my shop) provides potential entrepreneurs with a virtual shop. The social commerce platform has created an alternate distribution channel by helping housewives, young mothers, aspiring entrepreneurs, students, and teachers to launch, build, and promote their online business.

In the process, it creates a platform where this breed of first-generation entrepreneurs can share and connect while contributing towards the end goal: empowerment of the community at large.

And the other reason, which a lot of people dont talk about, is that these women get a professional identity, he adds.

In Susmita Bardhans case, Meesho came to rescue by providing her with a backup plan suitable for her financial situation.

With her earnings from the social commerce platform, the West Bengal native has managed to pay 80 percent of the down payment for her dream home. She is paying the remaining instalments with her monthly profits.

This is just one such instance. Meesho has been integral to the success of many more entrepreneurial journeys, some of which were recognised and honoured at the recently held Meesho Mission Rise Women Entrepreneurship Summit.

Organised in Bengaluru, Meeshos home city and also the 24th stop of the event, the multi-city roadshow saw the participation of more than 250 first-time women entrepreneurs, who came together to share their inspiring journey on the social-selling platform.

In attendance were Meeshos Founder and CEO Vidit Aatrey and CTO Sanjeev Barnwal, along with 100 other team members.

Going forward, the plan is to take this roadshow to many more cities, and connect with as many inspiring entrepreneurial minds as possible. Meesho wants to grow its community of women entrepreneurs and social commerce leaders beyond metros and Tier I cities.

(Edited by Teja Lele Desai)

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Financial independence and an identity of their own: How Meesho is empowering women in Tier II and beyond - YourStory

Divorce rates have been gradually declining in America over the last decade or so. Some experts attribute this downturn to Millinials and Generation Z holding off on marriage until theyve achieved financial independence while others suspect the decline has more to do with a western emphasis on female autonomy.

Only time will reveal any additional factors but as it stands, U.S divorce rates have decreased by nearly 20% between the years 2009 and 2018.

This new data comes from researchers over at QuoteWizard.com, who recently commissioned a survey in order to determine which states enjoy the largest dips in divorce rates.

Around the country marriage is on the decline. Marriage rates are also outpaced by the divorce rate. Less people are getting married over the last 10 years and therefore less people are getting divorced. However, with a decline in the divorce rate outpacing the marriage rate you could assume more married couples are sticking together. Chivalry isnt dead after all.

The new exhaustive report gives us some interesting things to chew on just ahead of Valentines day weekend.

According to The National Centers for Health Statistics marriage rates have declined by just about 8% in the window of Quotewizards new study. Interestingly enough, states with low marriage rates consistently boasted lower divorce rates as well. People are getting married less and less across the country, but the ones who do tend to stay married.

Andrew Cherlin, a sociology professor at Johns Hopkins University, believes college provides the most substantive explanation as to why younger generations are getting divorced drastically less than Baby Boomers. On mass, the former favors career goals and financial independence over traditional milestones.

These two conditions often buttress other features important to a healthy marriage. The longer one waits to tie the knot the more mature, financially responsible, and confident they are when they do so, which means theyll be less likely to have second thoughts about major life decisions and even less prone to erupting during spousal disagreements.

The regions observed in the report played a massive role in the levels of education obtained, financial literacy and divorce rates. Mississippi, New Mexico, and Massachusetts expressed the largest increase in marriage rates on average and Illinois, Kansas, and West Virginia saw the largest decrease in divorce rates. To the authors point, there was virtually no overlap in populations that get hitched young and more frequently and populations that put off doing so until theyve got their life in order.

Moreover, young people residing in urban areas prefer to live with their significant others before they even think about courtship compared to those occupying residential regions.

When looking at the marriage rates over the last 10 years in each state we found polarizing results. The majority of states are seeing a decline in marriage rates, but there are a number of states with positive trends. The good news there, nearly all states with a higher marriage rate over the last 10 years also saw a decline in divorce rates, the authors write.

Illinois: 1.5%

Louisiana: 1.7%

Massachusetts: 2.1%

Iowa: 2.2%

Kansas: 2.3%

Maryland: 2.4%

Georgia: 2.5%

South Carolina: 2.5%

North Dakota: 2.6%

Pennsylvania: 2.6%

South Dakota: 2.6%

Texas: 2.6%

Kentucky: 3.5%

Tennessee: 3.5%

Florida: 3.6%

Alabama: 3.7%

Alaska: 3.7%

Idaho: 3.8%

Oklahoma: 3.8%

Utah: 3.8%

Wyoming: 3.8%

Arkansas: 4.1%

Nevada: 4.4%

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These 11 states have the highest divorce rates - Ladders