SteadyRetire SteadyRetire
Kate Farley

Kate Farley

Editor

Kate Farley edits personal finance and retirement content for SteadyRetire, turning complex financial topics into clear, accessible information. A Northwestern graduate and former SABEW Goldschmidt Fellow, Kate brings a background in reporting and digital content strategy to help readers plan for their financial futures.

About Kate

Kate holds a master’s degree in editorial journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Selected as a Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing (SABEW) Goldschmidt Fellow, Kate was one of seven financial journalists chosen to examine macroeconomic policy and Federal Reserve data alongside experts at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

At SteadyRetire, she brings together her reporting and editing experience to help readers understand retirement topics. She applies that background to the articles she edits, helping turn complex material into clear, readable information. Other works have appeared on MSN, AOL, Newsbreak, The Progressive, SoFi, MediaFeed, MLive, The Saginaw News, WSGW Radio, NPR (Delta College Public Media station,  and more.

Background

  • Journalism and retirement reporting
  • Writing and editing
  • Content management

Education

Master of Science in Editorial Journalism
Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism

Articles edited by Kate Farley

Retirement Tax Estimator: How to Compare States and Income Sources Filing & State Taxes
• 15 min read

Retirement Tax Estimator: How to Compare States and Income Sources

Key takeaways Why do state taxes matter for retirement income? State income tax is not uniform across the country. Two…
Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez
What is tax-loss harvesting and how can a fiduciary advisor help? Withdrawals & Conversions
• 23 min read

What is tax-loss harvesting and how can a fiduciary advisor help?

Key takeaways What is tax-loss harvesting? When an investment loses value, that loss sits unrealized in the portfolio. It doesn’t…
Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez
The hidden costs of retiring abroad Health, Housing & Lifestyle
• 19 min read

The hidden costs of retiring abroad

Key takeaways What costs are missing from international retirement budgets? Most research into retiring abroad focuses on housing costs, restaurant…
Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez
What is a Mega Backdoor Roth? How the 401(k) strategy works Retirement Accounts & Workplace Plans
• 19 min read

What is a Mega Backdoor Roth? How the 401(k) strategy works

Key takeaways What is a Mega Backdoor Roth? The Mega Backdoor Roth and the standard Backdoor Roth IRA are two…
Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez
How to use a fiduciary advisor to define retirement income brackets Retirement Income & Spending
• 17 min read

How to use a fiduciary advisor to define retirement income brackets

Key takeaways How can retirees control taxable income after leaving work? During a working career, taxable income is largely static.…
Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez
What is a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA)? Financial Advisors
• 16 min read

What is a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA)?

Key takeaways The primary disclosure document for any Registered Investment Advisor is Form ADV, which is publicly accessible through the…
Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez
Understanding the different types of advisors: Which is right for you Financial Advisors
• 15 min read

Understanding the different types of advisors: Which is right for you

Key takeaways The financial services industry uses more credential acronyms than most other professions, and they are not self-explanatory. CFP,…
Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez
Wealth management vs. financial planning: What’s the difference? Financial Advisors
• 15 min read

Wealth management vs. financial planning: What’s the difference?

By Ricardo Ramirez Key takeaways The two terms appear on the websites of independent advisors, regional banks, wirehouses, and boutique…
Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez
What is a fiduciary? Why the legal standard matters Financial Advisors
• 16 min read

What is a fiduciary? Why the legal standard matters

Key takeaways What fiduciary actually means The word fiduciary comes from the Latin “fiducia”, which translates roughly as “trust”. In…
Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez
Guide to small business owner-friendly retirement options Retirement Accounts & Workplace Plans
• 21 min read

Guide to small business owner-friendly retirement options

Key takeaways Why small business owners need a dedicated retirement plan Employees at large companies are often automatically enrolled in…
Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez
How to use BrokerCheck to verify financial professionals Financial Advisors
• 17 min read

How to use BrokerCheck to verify financial professionals

Key takeaways Hiring someone to manage a substantial portfolio is a significant act of professional trust. The credentials displayed on…
Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez
Survivor benefits: How Social Security works for spouses Social Security
• 18 min read

Survivor benefits: How Social Security works for spouses

Key takeaways Many people learn how Social Security survivor benefits work in the weeks after a spouse dies, when the…
Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez