Market Commentary: Stocks Pause After Post-Election Surge

Stocks Can Go Down After the S&P 500 soared more than four percent the week of the election (the best week of the year), there was some late week selling last week on worries over inflation potentially coming back, the Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) possibly not cutting as much as expected, …

Facts Vs Feelings Take 5 – 3 Bits of Good News

In this episode of Take 5, Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist at Carson Group, and Sonu Varghese, VP, Global Macro Strategist at Carson Group, navigate three positive economic developments: First, the election results are finalized, ending uncertainty for markets Second, inflation appear …

Understanding Long-Term Care Planning: What You Need to Know

As we age, the prospect of needing assistance with daily activities becomes more likely. Planning for long-term care (LTC) ensures that you or your loved ones will have access to the support needed, while avoiding financial strain. Below, we’ll explore some common questions about long-term …

Your Money

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3 Methods to Not Run Out of Money

What’s the #1 fear in retirement? Running out of money. Get our step-by-step guide to help ensure your assets last a lifetime.   Download Guide

Creating a Family Financial Plan

Having a sound financial plan is an important part of life, especially when you have a family to provide for. Starting out in creating your financial plan can be difficult. Continue reading below for some tips in kicking off your family’s financial plan.

Caring for Aging Parents on a Budget: Tips for Family Caregivers

Getting old can be scary and can have a lot of implications for our financial wellbeing. Watching your parents age is no small task, either, and preparing for that transition into their Golden Years is important. Is it possible to set them up for care on a budget? Continue reading below for …

2024 Calendar: Key Tasks & Financial Dates

2024 Calendar: Key Tasks & Financial Dates

Tackle 2024 with this month-by-month financial task list. We’ve also included important dates so you won’t miss any key deadlines.

Your Business

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Life Insurance Strategies for Business Owners

Owning a business can be like parenting. You’ve likely experienced many sleepless nights and spent a countless amount of energy on your “baby.” Like parenting, being a business owner can be an enriching journey and make life worth the trip.

From Tax Efficiency to Retirement: Financial Planning for Small Business Owners

Financial planning for a small business gets more complicated every day. Business owners must navigate tax efficiency (and life under the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act), retirement preparations for yourself and your employees, and succession planning. Get your financial plan in place today and …

5 Essential Financial Planning Steps for Small Business Success

Financial planning is important in all aspects of life, in the realms of both personal and business. But for small business owners, financial planning may look a little different from the traditional plans your financial advisor will draw up for your personal matters. Continue reading below …

Business Succession Planning Checklist

Business Succession Planning Checklist

You remember your first day of business. But what about your last day? Succession planning is more complex than it may seem. Our guide walks you through the details.

Your Retirement

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Understanding Long-Term Care Planning: What You Need to Know

As we age, the prospect of needing assistance with daily activities becomes more likely. Planning for long-term care (LTC) ensures that you or your loved ones will have access to the support needed, while avoiding financial strain. Below, we’ll explore some common questions about long-term …

The Emotional Journey of Retirement: Coping with Change and Finding Purpose

It’s finally time for retirement, and the feelings you’re experiencing as you prepare for the transition can certainly be bittersweet. All your years of hard work have finally paid off and you’re able to relax – but what now? What do you do all day? How do you fill your time? Will your life …

Long-Term Care

Our goal is to make your life easier. Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia can be highly stressful for caregivers and family members. Providing answers on how to financially prepare for these conditions is one way we can help. Read this guide for tips on how to prepare for th …

Medicare and Managing Health Care Costs in Retirement

Medicare and Managing Health Care Costs in Retirement

Health care costs in retirement aren't going anywhere. Naturally, as our bodies get older, it costs more to keep them running. Let's look at the parts of this vital program and how it plays a part in your financial plan.

Your Legacy

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The Basics of Estate Planning: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Having an estate plan established when you pass is of monumental importance, especially to your loved ones. The added insult to injury of watching your assets get tied up in probate after your passing is something nobody wants to deal with.

Common Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid

As we get older and start growing a collection of assets like real estate and financial accounts, our estate grows. As our estate grows, it’s crucial to begin building our estate plan to ensure that our assets will be passed on to our loved ones when we pass away.

Choosing the Right Trustee for Your Estate Plan

One of the most important decisions you’ll make when designing your estate plan is who to name in the various fiduciary roles: trustee, personal representative, executor and agent. While a critical decision, it’s often given significantly less thought than the distribution of your assets. B …

A Guide to Gifting to Your Heirs

A Guide to Gifting to Your Heirs

Gifting to your loved ones now or posthumously each carries their own positives and negatives as they relate to your estate plan, taxes, your goals and your legacy.

Your Freedom

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8 Financial Goals and Milestones to Work Towards Achieving in Your Life

Having milestones and goals to work towards are important for everyone to have. They give us a sense of drive and satisfaction when we finally achieve that goal. Financially, people oftentimes strive for financial independence or security. We’ve listed below eight common financial goals to …

7 Economic Myths Busted

By Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist We’ve been hearing many of the same myths over and over, yet we don’t think they are the big worry that the media and many make them out to be. These are legitimate concerns and have many investors worried, but we think the chances of them becoming l …

Flying in Style: Modern Airline Rewards

We recently passed the 40th anniversary of frequent flyer programs as we know them. These programs started really simply, but forever changed the way we travel. Essentially, the more you flew, the more points you earned, the more free flights you received.

When Shifting Goals Mean Shifting Plans

When Shifting Goals Mean Shifting Plans

Your financial plan shouldn't look the same at 55 as it did when you were 35, right? So how do you know when it's time to adjust your plan?

Market & Investments

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Market Commentary: Stocks Pause After Post-Election Surge

Stocks Can Go Down After the S&P 500 soared more than four percent the week of the election (the best week of the year), there was some late week selling last week on worries over inflation potentially coming back, the Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) possibly not cutting as much as expected, …

Facts Vs Feelings Take 5 – 3 Bits of Good News

In this episode of Take 5, Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist at Carson Group, and Sonu Varghese, VP, Global Macro Strategist at Carson Group, navigate three positive economic developments: First, the election results are finalized, ending uncertainty for markets Second, inflation appear …

Market Commentary: Swift Election Results Boost Investors’ Confidence

First things first, we’d like to thank all the veterans out there that have helped or currently help to keep our great nation free and safe. Thank you! This week, we will focus on the election and potential impacts of a second term for President Trump .

2023 Market Outlook Report

2023 Market Outlook Report

Will the bull market continue in 2024? What about a recession? What will the Fed do? We take a deep dive into our outlook for 2024 in Carson Investment Research’s Outlook ‘24: Seeing Eye to Eye.

Valorem Insights

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3 Major Financial Challenges of High Net Worth Individuals

3 Benefits to Powering Up Your 401 (k)

Keeping Your Financial Accounts Cyber Secure

Cybercrime is on the rise everywhere. In fact, global losses due to cybercrime climbed from $600 billion in 2018 to $1 trillion in 2020. That’s enough to make anyone concerned about the security of their financial accounts. But you don’t have to feel helpless against the threat of hackers. …

In the News

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COVID’s Financial Toll Isn’t What You Think

By Erin Wood, Senior Vice President, Financial Planning and Advanced Solutions Just a few years ago, Rose retired with a decent-sized 401(k). With some careful budgeting and a part-time job, her retirement finances were on track. Rose was looking forward to traveling, reigniting her passion …

Emerging Financially Healthy After a Gray Divorce

By: Erin Wood, CFP®, CRPC®, FBS®, Senior Vice President, Financial Planning, Carson Group   Laura and Caroline are in their late 50s. Friends since meeting at a playgroup for their toddlers, both were in long-term, seemingly happy marriages.

3 Roth Conversion Traps To Avoid After The SECURE Act

Roth conversions can be a powerful tax and retirement planning technique. The idea behind most Roth conversions is to take money from an IRA and convert it to a Roth IRA. Essentially, you’re paying taxes today instead of paying taxes in the future.