What You Need to Do in the Year Before You Retire
Your retirement is the culmination of years of careful planning, and you don’t want to fumble the ball when the end zone is in sight. Download our checklist of key tasks to complete in the year leading up to your retirement to make sure you’re prepared for this major life milest …
Ready or Not: Why Planning Now Beats Planning Procrastination
This article explains why it’s important for business owners to begin planning now for a future without the business rather than later. It also provides starting points for such planning. Click here to read more!
Tax Planning Strategies for Executive Compensation
By Mike Valenti, CPA, CFP®, Director, Tax Planning Corporate executives often receive the brunt of the U.S. tax system. Typically, most or all of their income is W-2 income and subject to the higher ordinary tax rates as well as FICA taxes. W-2 employees currently are unable to deduct home …
Your Money
MoreTax Planning Strategies for Executive Compensation
By Mike Valenti, CPA, CFP®, Director, Tax Planning Corporate executives often receive the brunt of the U.S. tax system. Typically, most or all of their income is W-2 income and subject to the higher ordinary tax rates as well as FICA taxes. W-2 employees currently are unable to deduct home …
Tax Planning for Executive Compensation
Tax planning for executive compensation doesn’t have to be confusing. Watch our webinar: Tax Planning for Executive Compensation with Carson’s Director, Tax Planning Mike Valenti and Wealth Planner Michael Gruidel, now available on-demand.
Executive Compensation Plans: Common Elements
Executive compensation plans can be used to attract, retain and reward high value employees. We’ve put together helpful information to know if you’re ever offered one of these plans through your employer. Download the checklist today to get started.
2023 Calendar: Key Tasks & Financial Dates
Tackle 2023 with this month-by-month financial task list. We’ve also included important dates so you won’t miss key deadlines.
Your Business
MoreReady or Not: Why Planning Now Beats Planning Procrastination
This article explains why it’s important for business owners to begin planning now for a future without the business rather than later. It also provides starting points for such planning. Click here to read more!
You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide
This article provides a process to help business owners avoid withholding important information from their advisors regarding their business future. Click here to read more!
How Much Is Success Worth to You?
This article presents the differences between the costs of planning and not planning for a successful business future. Click here to read more!
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
MoreWhat You Need to Do in the Year Before You Retire
Your retirement is the culmination of years of careful planning, and you don’t want to fumble the ball when the end zone is in sight. Download our checklist of key tasks to complete in the year leading up to your retirement to make sure you’re prepared for this major life milest …
How to Remove “I Can’t Retire” From Your Planning Mindset
This article provides three ways for business owners to more successfully plan for retirement, along with the consequences of taking these actions. Read More
Don’t Eat the Bear in One Bite: Planning Your Future in Steps
This article provides business owners five steps they can take to plan for a successful future and shows that they don’t need to have a complete plan from the start. Read More
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
MoreFinancial Literacy Guide
The basics of financial literacy – such as budgeting, borrowing and saving – can be difficult to teach to kids, but the rewards of a child heading into adulthood with a solid understanding of financial literacy are numerous. Download the checklist today to get started.
Teaching Your Kids About Money
Teaching your kids about money early will serve them long into adulthood. Watch our webinar: Teaching Your Kids About Money with Carson’s Senior Vice President, Financial Planning and Advanced Solutions Erin Wood and Vice President, NextGen & Advisor Development Programs Julie Ragatz, …
Charitable Giving Strategies in a High-Income Year
Tom Fridrich, JD, CLUⓇ, ChFCⓇ, Senior Wealth Planner The end of the year offers an ideal opportunity to look both forward and back — reflecting on recent achievements, while setting goals for the upcoming months. For many of my clients, it’s also a time to review their finances and i …
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
MoreInvesting in Your Child’s Financial Future: Helping Kids Develop Strong Money Management Skills
Gaining financial literacy at a young age is a vital key to finding financial freedom later in life. Give your kids the lessons they need now to make better decisions about money in the future.
You’re Never Too Old to Succeed
Occasionally, successful business owners will say to themselves and their advisors, “I’m too old to start a multi-year plan for my future.” In many respects, this mindset is similar to saying, “I’m too old to succeed,” which is preposterous! Read More
Financial Resolutions to Take Into the New Year
Tom Fridrich, JD, CLU, ChFC®, Senior Wealth Planner Thinking about making some New Year’s resolutions? Add financial wellbeing to your list. It’s a terrific time to identify goals and opportunities that may put you in a better financial position — not only in the upcoming year, …
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
MoreMarket Commentary: Stocks Have Strong Momentum
The Dow Jones Industrial Average celebrated a birthday last week. The Dow began trading on May 26, 1896, and what a ride it has been. The Dow has weathered depressions, recessions, two 100-year pandemics, wars, famines, inflation, deflation, and many more challenges. However, through good t …
11 Things to Know About the Debt Ceiling
One of the top questions we’re receiving lately has to do with the impending debt ceiling drama and what it could all mean. Here are some common questions and answers regarding this excitement out of Washington.
Market Commentary: Stocks Keep Chugging Along
Surprisingly, stocks continue to trend higher in the face of a constant barrage of negative news in the media. As we explain more below, the economy is presenting many positive signs that suggest a recession is unlikely, and stocks likely are sniffing this out. In fact, last Thursday the S& …
2023 Market Outlook Report
Just because 2022 was a poor year for stocks and bonds doesn’t mean the same will be true for 2023. See why the Carson Research team believes there are reasons to be optimistic in 2023.
In the News
MoreCOVID’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.