Facts Vs Feelings Take 5 – Inflation: Is it All Good?

New inflation data came out this week. Is everything all good with inflation? Carson Group’s Chief Market Strategist Ryan Detrick and VP, Global Macro Strategist Sonu Varghese share their thoughts. Highlights include:   New inflation metrics came out for April  Most inflation is trending in …

Revocable Living Trusts as part of an Estate Plan

Our latest webinar, Revocable Living Trusts as part of an Estate Plan with Carson Group’s Director, Trust Services Scott Berryman and Manager & Sr. Wealth Planner Tom Fridrich is now available for viewing on-demand. 

Market Commentary: 7 Reasons the Bull Market Is Alive and Well

“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” — Dr. Seuss 2024 came out swinging. The S&P 500 rose more than 10% in the first quarter after adding more than 11% in the fourth quarter of 2023. Back-to-back double-digit quarters are rare, but they tend to happen in …

Your Money

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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 …

4 Pitfalls of Not Having a Financial Plan

There are some things in life you just can’t plan for: an unexpected illness, job loss, death of spouse, disability. And while experiencing one of these major events can drastically impact your life, having an effective financial plan can help ensure that it doesn’t ruin your financial well-being.

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 key deadlines.

Your Business

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The Corporate Transparency Act: What You Need to Know

By Mike Valenti, CPA, CFP®, Director,Tax Planning LLCs can provide legal protections and a level of anonymity, either or both of which can be beneficial for business owners, investors, and others with valid intentions. But those features also attract criminal activity, and layers of shell c …

Life Insurance for Business and Estate Planning

By Matt Lewis, CLTC, Vice President, Insurance Life insurance is designed to provide for your loved ones after your death, giving you peace of mind that their financial needs will be met without your income. But life insurance can benefit your financial planning in many other ways.

Building Your Ideal Business Succession Plan

By Odaro Aisueni, CFP®, Wealth Planning Administrator As a small business owner, you’re likely so immersed in the routine functions of your business that you haven’t yet put much thought into the day you leave it behind. In fact, most small business owners have so much purpose t …

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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Retirement Savings Tips for Different Stages of Life

Fifty six percent of Americans in the workforce don’t feel they’re where they should be with their retirement savings, according to a study performed by Bankrate.1Being prepared for retirement is important, and financial experts recommend saving as early as possible to ensure you’re prepare …

Choosing the Right Retirement Accounts: IRA vs. 401(k)

There are many things to consider when thinking about retirement. First and foremost, it’s important to choose the right kind of retirement accounts and plan how best to fund your lifestyle after you stop working. Typically, investors have three common types of retirement accounts to choose …

6 Signs It’s Time to Ditch DIY Retirement Planning

Retirement planning is a journey that generally takes decades to complete and most of us start out along the do-it-yourself path. More than likely, your first step was to enroll in an employer-provided plan such as a 401(k) or setting up an individual retirement account, also known as an IRA.

7 Important Retirement Savings Topics for 2023

7 Important Retirement Savings Topics for 2023

See the topics that are important to keep in mind as you navigate the various individual and employer-sponsored plans that may be available to you.

Your Legacy

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Revocable Living Trusts as part of an Estate Plan

Our latest webinar, Revocable Living Trusts as part of an Estate Plan with Carson Group’s Director, Trust Services Scott Berryman and Manager & Sr. Wealth Planner Tom Fridrich is now available for viewing on-demand. 

Estate Planning

Often, people believe that estate planning only benefits the very wealthy, but nothing could be further from the truth. It’s something everyone needs to engage in regardless of age, estate size or marital status. If you have a bank account, investments, a car, home or other property—you hav …

Helping Aging Parents Manage and Protect Their Finances

Your parents taught you everything you know about money. From opening your first checking account to taking out your first car loan, they were always there to guide you. But as your parents get older, they may begin turning to you for help with their finances. How do you begin to navigate t …

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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Facts Vs Feelings Take 5 – Inflation: Is it All Good?

New inflation data came out this week. Is everything all good with inflation? Carson Group’s Chief Market Strategist Ryan Detrick and VP, Global Macro Strategist Sonu Varghese share their thoughts. Highlights include:   New inflation metrics came out for April  Most inflation is trending in …

Market Commentary: 7 Reasons the Bull Market Is Alive and Well

“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” — Dr. Seuss 2024 came out swinging. The S&P 500 rose more than 10% in the first quarter after adding more than 11% in the fourth quarter of 2023. Back-to-back double-digit quarters are rare, but they tend to happen in …

Facts Vs Feelings Take 5 – Are We Slowing Down?

Is this economy slowing down and are we heading for a recession? Carson Group’s Chief Market Strategist Ryan Detrick and VP, Global Macro Strategist Sonu Varghese share their insights about the recent buzz around the economy and stock market.   Highlights include:   Q1 GDP only rose 1. …

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.