June Sham

Lead Writer | Personal finance, retirement

June Sham is a lead writer on NerdWallet’s investing and taxes team covering retirement and personal finance. She is a licensed insurance producer, and previously was an insurance writer for Bankrate specializing in home, auto and life insurance. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in creative writing at the University of California, Riverside.

Education: B.A. in creative writing from University of California, Riverside
Organizations: Asian American Journalists Association
Previous experience: Bankrate

June's picks

How Much Should You Save for Retirement?

by Arielle O'Shea

Experts recommend saving 10% to 15% of your income each year, but you can calculate a more personalized goal in four simple steps.

Smart Money Podcast: Data Breaches, and Catching Up on Retirement Savings

by Sean Pyles, Liz Weston, CFP®, Jae Bratton

Investing for Parents: Save for Retirement, Avoid These Mistakes

by Elizabeth Ayoola

Raising a child is expensive, but sacrificing your retirement savings could cost you more.

The latest from June

Texas Sales Tax: Rates, Calculator, Who Pays

In Texas, the state sales tax is 6.25%, but local taxes of up to 2% can also be tacked onto purchases.

How Secure 2.0 Aims to Help People of Color Invest for Retirement

The law, enacted in 2022, requires auto enrollment in 2025, but some question whether it does enough.

California Sales Tax: Rates, Calculator, Who Pays

The statewide sales tax in California is 7.25%, but it can be higher due to district taxes.

My Path to Generational Wealth: Finding the Right Trade-Offs

How Humphrey Yang started small with consistent investing — and later explored different income streams — to grow his net worth.

Florida Sales Tax: Rates, Calculator, Who Pays

In Florida, the general state sales tax is 6%, but there are exceptions and an additional surtax in many counties.

IULs Are a Hot Topic on Social, but Are They Better Than 401(k)s?

Life insurance is typically used to help take care of your loved ones after you die. But can indexed universal life insurance also help pay for your retirement?

What Is OASDI Tax?

The OASDI tax is one of two FICA payroll taxes that go toward Social Security and Medicare.

ETFs vs. Stocks: A Quick-Start Guide for Beginners

A stock is a single share of a company, whereas an ETF is a type of mutual fund with a key difference: you can trade it during the day like a stock.

401(k) Day Is Coming Up. Do You Know Where Your Nest Egg Is?

Lost track of your 401(k) plan? Here's how to reclaim your retirement savings.

Massachusetts State Tax: Rates and Who Pays in 2023-2024

You don't necessarily have to live in Massachusetts to pay Massachusetts state income tax.

M1 Finance Review 2024: Pros, Cons and How It Compares

With a mix of manual investing and automation tools, M1 Finance could be worth exploring for the long-term investor.

Got a Summer Job? Consider Opening a Roth IRA

You don’t have to wait until your first full-time job out of college to start saving for retirement.

6 AAPI Financial Influencers to Follow in 2023

Six financial professionals reflect on the complex relationship between Asian Americans and money, dispelling generational norms, and why there’s no winning in the comparison game.

How to Kick-Start Your Retirement Savings

A NerdWallet study found that a majority of Americans don't have a retirement-specific savings account, but it's easier than you might think to get started.

Ohio State Tax: Rates and Who Pays in 2023-2024

Ohio has four tax rates. If you earn income in the Buckeye State, here’s what you need to know about filing your Ohio income tax return.