A smart card inlay and method for assembling the same are provided. The method includes attaching a first trace to a substrate, attaching a second trace to the substrate, attaching an antenna wire to the substrate, coupling a first end of the antenna wire to a first area of the first trace, and coupling a second end of the antenna wire to a first area of the second trace. A second area of the first trace and a second area of the second trace are configured to be coupled to an integrated circuit (IC) or IC module, and the first area of the first trace is located away from the second area of the first trace and the first area of the second trace is located away from the second area of the second trace.