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Average U.S. Income: How Much Do Americans Earn?
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The average credit score in America is 714. Find out how yours compares in this full report by Motley Fool Money.

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Discover wasteful spending trends -- and how high-yield savings accounts and budgeting tools can help curb impulse buying and grow your cash.

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Americans shelled out $104.7 billion on lottery tickets in 2024, a record high. But is playing the lottery a good investment?

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Subject Matter Experts

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Jack Caporal

Jack Caporal

Research Director

Jack Caporal is the Research Director for The Motley Fool and Motley Fool Money and has worked full-time for the company since 2021. Jack leads efforts to identify and analyze trends shaping investing and personal financial decisions across the United States. His research has appeared in thousands of media outlets including Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, Bloomberg, and CNBC, and has been cited in congressional testimony. He previously covered business and economic trends as a reporter and policy analyst in Washington, D.C. He serves as Chair of the Trade Policy Committee at the World Trade Center in Denver, Colorado. He holds a B.A. degree in International Relations with a concentration in International Economics from Michigan State University.

Expertise

Data collection, analysis, and visualization; consumer research & insights; financial education

Past Experience

Reporter and Policy Analyst

Joel O'Leary

Joel O'Leary

Full-Time Personal Finance Writer

Joel O’Leary is a full-time Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money, covering credit cards, bank accounts, investing, mortgages, and other personal finance topics. Joel has been writing about personal finance since 2018, previously leading editorial content for the How To Money podcast and serving as a resident writer at Budgets Are Sexy. He bought his first rental property at age 18, funding the down payment with savings from his high school job at McDonald’s -- a testament to his lifelong passion for smart money decisions. His work aims to make personal finance accessible and actionable for everyday readers. When he’s not writing, Joel enjoys surfing and spending time with his family.

Expertise

Credit cards, banking, investing, insurance, personal loans

Past Experience

Writer & Editor, How To Money
Resident Blogger, Budgets Are Sexy

Recent Research

View All Research Learn More Link Arrow
June 3, 2026 | By Jack Caporal

The Average Monthly Mortgage Payment in 2026 by State, City, and More

The median monthly mortgage payment is $2,005 -- read on for mortgage payment statistics by city, state, income, and more.
June 2, 2026 | By Jack Caporal

Nearly 1 in 7 Americans Aren't Paying Their Bills on Time

Explore the latest statistics on Americans missing bill payments, including breakdowns by income, age, race, and housing status.
June 2, 2026 | By Jack Caporal

Banks Made $5.8B on Overdraft Fees -- Here's Who's Paying

Explore the latest statistics on overdraft fees, including how many Americans pay them, the average overdraft fee, and how much banks make from them.
June 2, 2026 | By Jack Caporal

Credit Card Late Fee Statistics: Who Pays Most Often?

Credit card late fees cost Americans $14.5 billion in 2022. Younger, low-income, and subprime borrowers are hit hardest. See who pays and how to avoid fees.
June 2, 2026 | By Jack Caporal

The Average Savings Account Balance In The U.S. – Here’s How Much Americans Have in the Bank

Learn the average savings account balance in the U.S., why medians matter, how your savings compare to national benchmarks, and strategies to boost your savings.