How we create value
Our Firm
Who we are
Over the past 34 years, we’ve found that most people don’t want products and programs from their financial advisors. They want positive experiences and positive outcomes. At Carlson Investments, we see ourselves as more than financial managers.
We’re peace-of-mind managers.
Carlson Investments is a fully independent, fee-only registered investment advisor. Here’s what that means in plain English:
Fully Independent
We’re not tied to any brand or group of investment products or services. That means we work for you—and only for you.
Fee-Only
Unlike commission-based advisors, we don’t make money based on how much of something we can sell you. You pay us a simple, transparent fee to protect and grow your assets, so we only do well when you do well.
Registered Investment Advisor (RIA)
RIAs have a fiduciary duty that legally requires us to keep the best interests of our clients in mind at all times, and always act accordingly. Is the person you are working with held to that standard?
Investment Insights
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2025 Retirement Contribution Limits: What You Need to Know
A new year brings new contribution limits for your retirement accounts. These limits dictate the maximum amount of money that can be deposited into an account for the year—and as we always say, it’s best to start planning as early as possible!
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3 Essential ETF Investment Considerations
Over the past 20 years, we’ve seen the proliferation of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and their disruptive forces across global financial markets. As of the end 2022, global ETF assets under management (AUM) reached $9.6 trillion, up from $204 billion in 2003. (Statista) ETF AUM has grown at about a 15% CAGR here in the U.S. since 2010. (OliverWyman)
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3 of Our Favorite Engaging (and Not Stuffy) Financial-Related Books & Why
Yes, we believe everyone should have a financial advisor they can turn to as a guide and sounding board. But we also believe that when it comes to your finances, soaking up knowledge and insights from a range of perspectives is vital! Check out three engaging and enlightening financial-related books touching on topics like financial independence, investing, and economics.
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4 Crucial Financial Steps to Take When You Lose Your Job
Losing a job can present many challenges and significantly impact your future retirement goals. We understand that this experience can be uncertain and scary, but remember, you are in control. Start by taking a breath. Then, follow these steps to get a good handle on what you will face and help reduce stress by putting a plan in place.
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4 Mistakes That Can Derail Your Investment Success
Are you sabotaging your financial success, and thus putting your mental health at risk? According to the Financial Health Network, money troubles are a major factor in many Americans’ rising stress levels.
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401(k) Employer Matching: Sometimes There Really is a Free Lunch
A 401(k) contribution match is one of the best benefits an employer can offer—it’s essentially free money for your future (or, as we like to call it, a free lunch)!
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401(k) Rollovers: Not Just for Retirees
401(k)s can streamline retirement savings by taking advantage of the automated payroll deduction and employer match. However, as you get closer to retirement, a 401(k) may not be the most beneficial type of account. That’s why reviewing your options early based on your financial and retirement goals is a good idea.
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7 Ways to Invest in Energy in a Changing Landscape
Investing in energy can be a dynamic way to capitalize on growing and changing global energy demands. And it isn’t just about owning oil company stocks!
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A Breakdown of Bonds & Fixed-Income Market Options
Bonds aren’t necessarily used to build wealth but more to protect it, while providing a designated income flow with the additional potential for capital appreciation. In short, bonds can be a safe harbor in a market storm.
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A Guide to International Investing
According to Charles Schwab, 85% of U.S. investors have “home country” bias in their portfolios, meaning the vast majority of their stocks and bonds are from U.S.-based companies.
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A Practical Estate Planning Checklist for Peace of Mind
Estate planning can feel uncomfortable, but it’s one of the most meaningful ways to care for your loved ones. A thoughtful plan can reduce confusion, avoid delays, and bring clarity at a time when your family will need it most.
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A Primer on Municipal Bonds: Stable Income With Meaningful Tax Advantages
Municipal bonds are often one of the quieter corners of the investment landscape. They rarely make headlines, they are not designed to deliver outsized growth, and they do not offer the eye-catching yields sometimes found in corporate or private credit markets.
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A Strong Dollar Means Summer Vacation Deals
If you’ve followed the market, you’ve watched the U.S. Dollar (USD) gain strength for the last several months. Let’s examine the impact of the strong dollar and what it could mean for your summer travels.
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Active or Passive Investing? Navigating Market Cycles with Confidence
When it comes to investing in public markets, one of the most debated topics is the choice between active and passive investing. In recent years, we’ve seen the rise of passive investing with the advent of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and their consistent outperformance compared to many active peers. By contrast, active management has exhibited persistent outflows, leading some to question its prospects.
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Asset Dispersion and Market Cycles: A Guide to Navigating Change
Over long periods, the market follows the earnings trajectories of its underlying constituents. These earnings are influenced by broad economic forces and, importantly, structural change.
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Asset Location: A Smarter Way to Think About After-Tax Returns
When investors talk about building a portfolio, the conversation usually starts with asset allocation: how much goes into stocks, bonds, and cash. What often gets overlooked is where those investments live.
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Banking Turmoil – White Paper
The asset side (loans specifically) of bank balance sheets are in great shape. Very few loans are in default. We believe regulators are taking a pro-active, market-based solutions approach towards the bank deposit issues.
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Beyond the 401(k): Alternative Paths to Building Wealth
A 401(k) is just one piece of the wealth puzzle. Lasting wealth comes from using additional strategies beyond the 401(k) that add tax flexibility, diversification, and adaptability to meet the needs of every life stage.
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Bonds are Back: Your Primer on the Bond Market
Bonds can be a great tool if you’re looking to balance your portfolio by diversifying your investments and reducing volatility.
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Buying a Mutual Fund? Don’t Overlook Its Tax History
When evaluating a fund investment, most people tend to focus on manager quality, performance, and fees. In taxable accounts, however, there is another important consideration that often goes unnoticed in mutual fund investments: embedded capital gains.
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Carlson Quarterly – Q1 2023
Everyone loves a fresh start and after a nasty 2022, markets got off to a strong start in the first quarter of 2023 in the face of investor concerns around recession and inflation risks.
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Carlson Quarterly – Q1 2024
The equity rally off the October 2023 continued into the first quarter of 2024 as the S&P 500 rallied to new all-time-highs with a gain of 10.16%.
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Carlson Quarterly – Q1 2025
The first quarter of 2025 presented significant headwinds for U.S. equities, driven by aggressive trade policies and escalating geopolitical tensions.
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Carlson Quarterly – Q1 2026
U.S. stocks faced a turbulent start to 2026, with the S&P 500 finishing the first quarter down -4.63% and retracing a significant portion of last year's gains.
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Carlson Quarterly – Q2 2023
The market continues to rally in the face of an endless “Wall of Worry” as the U.S. stock market delivered more gains during the second quarter of the year.
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Carlson Quarterly – Q2 2024
In the second quarter of 2024, the U.S. market demonstrated notable resilience and strength as the S&P 500 experienced substantial gains, driven primarily by the technology and communications sectors, with Mega-cap stocks leading the charge as companies race to be the dominant AI provider.
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Carlson Quarterly – Q2 2025
The second quarter of 2025 delivered a powerful rebound for equity markets, reversing much of the weakness seen in the first quarter.
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Carlson Quarterly – Q2 2026
U.S. and global markets underwent a massive trend reversal in the second quarter of 2026, as a powerful risk-on rally erased a rough 1st quarter to post blockbuster gains.
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Carlson Quarterly – Q3 2023
Following a robust second quarter, the stock market extended its gains into July, driven by strong corporate earnings and an expanding market multiple.
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Carlson Quarterly – Q3 2024
The third quarter of 2024 started with an increase in volatility as the yield curve started to un-invert after being inverted the last two years.
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Carlson Quarterly – Q3 2025
The first nine months of 2025 have been a rollercoaster for US equities, marked by early-year tariff-induced volatility and a sharp spring drawdown. The 3rd quarter saw markets resume the march to numerous all-time-highs with broader participation pushing YTD gains into double digits for major indices, up around 35% since those April lows!
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Carlson Quarterly – Q4 2023
A request for reduced borrowing needs by Yellen’s Treasury quickly followed by a shift in tone regarding additional FOMC rate hikes by Jay Powell led to a massive Q4 rally in stocks to end 2023.
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Carlson Quarterly – Q4 2024
2024 was another stellar year for U.S. equities, with the S&P 500 climbing approximately 25% and the tech-driven, AI-fueled Nasdaq surging over 29.6%. This marked the best two-year stretch for equities since 1997-1998.
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Carlson Quarterly – Q4 2025
U.S. stocks finished the year positively in Q4 bringing the total YTD S&P 500 gains of +17.86%. It was a year of surprises in both directions with the Tariff sell-off and the subsequent rally, but steadfast investors that remained benefitted from a third year in a row of double-digit returns.
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Cash Management Matters – White Paper
Ever since the Federal Reserve first raised the federal funds rate in March 2022, “cash management matters again” for individuals.
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Cash Management Matters — White Paper
Ever since the Federal Reserve first raised the federal funds rate in March 2022, “cash management matters again” for individuals.
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Dividends Matter — White Paper
Total return is an important metric of equity performance that investors often overlook. The total return of an equity investment is a combination of its capital appreciation or depreciation and the dividend received.
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Educating the Next Generation on Investing
Investing basics and financial planning are both important topics to learn—but unfortunately, not always the most glamorous. It may take some creativity to intrigue young people regarding financial literacy. As with so many areas of finance, you can never start too early!
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Elder Fraud: Insights & Prevention Tips for 2025
Fraud is soaring—according to AARP and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, elder fraud increased by more than 11% from 2022 to 2023, totaling a staggering $3.4 billion in losses for seniors alone.
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Grow, Transition, or Sell: How to Ensure Your Family Business Thrives
Family-owned businesses are the heartbeat of the American economy. They employ nearly half of the nation’s workforce and generate over 43% of GDP, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. But despite their importance, many family business owners overlook essential planning that could shape their futures profoundly.
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How Expensive is Your 401(k) Plan?
Whether you are considering enrolling in a new 401(k) plan or you’re assessing your existing plan, researching and understanding fees could make a significant difference in your future retirement. It’s never too late to take control and strengthen your assets.
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How to Help Employees Prepare for Retirement
As a small business owner, offering a retirement plan is an important employee benefit. Helping employees understand and use it is what makes that benefit truly valuable.
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How to Start a Budget: Because Budgeting = Awareness!
While budgeting seems very constraining, knowing where your cash goes can also be viewed as an awareness practice. Consider that even the super-wealthy take the time to generally understand their cash flows.
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HSA vs. FSA: Which Medical Spending Account is Right for Me?
The end of the year is approaching, which means it’s time to start making many important financial decisions for 2024. This will likely include evaluating benefits you receive from your employer, and there’s one perk that many individuals overlook: tax-advantaged medical spending accounts.
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Identity Theft: What It Looks Like + 8 Ways to Protect Yourself
Unfortunately, identity theft is up 584% over the last 20 years, according to Consumer Affairs. With so much business and banking done online, bad actors have numerous opportunities to steal sensitive information such as social security numbers (SSNs), data from social media profiles, credit cards, and bank accounts.
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Identity Theft: What It Looks Like and How to Reduce Your Risk
Identity theft has become one of the fastest-growing financial threats facing consumers today. Over the last 20 years, reported identity theft has risen 584%, according to ConsumerAffairs.
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Investing 101: A Winter Read Worth Your Time
The winter season is a season of giving, making it the perfect opportunity to share a thoughtful gift that can spark meaningful conversations about money and financial independence. If you’re looking for a gift (for a loved one or yourself) that will both engage and enrich your perspective on money, The Psychology of Money, by Morgan Housel, is a worthwhile choice.
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Keeping Your Financial Team Aligned and Your Plan on Track
At Carlson Investments, we often describe our role as your financial quarterback—the person responsible for seeing the full field, anticipating the plays ahead, and ensuring every member of your financial team is aligned. When each advisor understands your goals, strategy, and life changes, it helps keep your financial plan moving smoothly toward your long-term objectives.
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Lending Money to Adult Children: The Dos and Don’ts
In some circumstances, a loan to an adult child might be a good solution for both the parent and their child. Check out the benefits and mistakes to avoid, along with some tips for navigating this sensitive situation.
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Life Stage Investing: Aligning Your Strategy With What Matters Most
Financial planning is not static. It evolves as your life evolves.
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Main Street vs. Wall Street: Understanding the Disconnect
“U.S. stocks end 2025 near record highs” was a common headline at last year’s end, yet many households and small businesses experienced something very different.
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Mid-Year Tax Planning: Why Review Your Taxes & Finances in June?
Very few people enjoy the “puzzle” that is taxes. While the tax code may be a puzzle, it can be profitable if you understand the rules and maximize your tax savings. Plus, the more you plan, the more you can avoid the stress of tax preparation after the year is over.
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Planning for Retirement: You’re Never Too Young
When it comes to retirement planning, there is no better time to start than today! We push off many things until tomorrow, like laundry or grocery shopping. After all, we’ll get to it later, right? And that may be fine regarding simple errands. However, financial planning for your retirement should NOT be one of those things you put off.
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Putting Debt on Ice: Debt Payment Strategies
The average person's debt takes many forms. It can include credit cards, auto loans, mortgages, school loans, and personal loans. According to Business Insider, the average debt in America was $104,215 across mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and credit cards in Q1 2024.
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Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD): What is It + How Does it Work?
Part of planning for retirement is considering your IRA distributions and management. One tool that can offer significant savings and tax benefits while allowing you to do good is a qualified charitable distribution (QCD), a direct transfer from an IRA account made payable to a qualified 501(c)(3) charity.
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Quick Guide to Inflation + How to Protect Your Assets
Inflation is the increase in prices of goods and services across the board. Although it often has a negative connotation, a little inflation is integral to a healthy economy. Rising prices can mean higher revenue and earnings for businesses—if they can raise prices to keep up with their costs.
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Reading the Markets: Why Expectations, Trends, and Contrarian Thinking Matter
At any given moment, markets are reacting—not just to the headlines, but to how investors interpret them.
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Saving for a Child’s Future: Choosing the Right Account for the Goal
Saving and investing for a child or grandchild can open doors for years to come. But with more options available than ever, one of the first questions families often ask is, “Which account should I open?”
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SECURE 2.0 Act: What Savers Should Know Now
When the SECURE 2.0 Act became law in 2022, it introduced dozens of changes designed to help Americans save more effectively for retirement. Several of those provisions are just now taking effect, making this a good time to revisit what the updates mean for your financial planning.
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Separating Signal From Noise: A Smarter Way to Invest
In an age of endless headlines, market alerts, and social media chatter, investors are flooded with information. The challenge isn’t access to data —it’s knowing what actually matters.
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Smart Giving: How Strategic Philanthropy Builds Legacy and Reduces Taxes
Philanthropy has always been about more than generosity. When approached thoughtfully, charitable giving can reflect your values, strengthen your community, and play a meaningful role in your broader financial picture.
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Solo 401(k): A Breakdown of the Self-Employed Retirement Plan
From enjoying total autonomy to doing what you love most to working with your favorite kind of people, being self-employed offers many liberating perks. However, it also means you don’t have the luxury of an employer-sponsored retirement plan unless you take action.
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Stock Investing for Novices
Are you just starting to explore the opportunities and intricacies of the stock market? Investing in stocks can be daunting for beginners, but with the right approach, it can be a rewarding journey toward financial security and knowledge.
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Summer Financial Bucket List
Summer is here, meaning we’re more than halfway through the year! Now is the perfect time to review your financial situation and adjust as needed.
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Tax Law Changes in 2025: What the OBBBA Means for You
On July 4, 2025, after months of negotiations and compromises, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) became law. While the bill covers a wide range of provisions, we’ve highlighted some of the most notable changes for individuals, families, and businesses.
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Tax-Wise Investing in Your Regular Taxable Brokerage Account
We all know there are two guarantees in life: death and taxes. The government inevitably receives some form of tax revenue from your investments. There are two types of taxes levied upon the sale of a security (i.e., stock, bond, mutual fund, or ETF), known as long-term and short-term capital gain taxes.
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The 10-Year Rule Explained: What IRA Beneficiaries Should Know
When Congress passed the SECURE Act in 2019, it changed one of the most important estate planning tools available to retirement account beneficiaries.
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The Age-Old Question: Do I Have Enough to Retire?
Whether you’re planning ahead or approaching retirement soon, you likely have one major question: Do I have enough to retire?
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The Evolving Landscape of Active ETFs
One of the core themes in public markets over the past decade has been the emergence of active exchange-traded funds, or ETFs. From less than $50 billion of assets under management in 2015, active ETFs have grown to roughly $2 trillion by year-end 2025.
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The Good, the Bad & the Ugly of Annuities
You’ll likely come across annuities as you evaluate your retirement savings options. An annuity is a contract between an investor and their insurance company. The investor pays the insurance company in either a lump sum or fixed monthly premiums.
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The Human Side of Investing: Understanding Investor Bias
Are your investment decisions primarily rooted in logic and facts, or are emotions and flawed reasoning influencing your choices?
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The Importance of the TOD and JTWROS Designations
Many people have heard about the nightmares in dealing with probate after coping with the loss of a loved one. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid these headaches and speed up the process. Learn about Transfer on Death (TOD) and Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship (JTWROS) designations.
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The Retirement Spending Smile: What It Is & How It Affects Your Future
When it comes to retirement spending, many people—including advisors—start with an assumed retirement income goal and project that amount plus inflation over the lifetime of the retiree. When you look at the statistics and gauge actual future retirement expenses, however, it’s clear this cookie-cutter approach isn’t accurate.
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The Role of Your Financial Quarterback: How an Investment Advisor Helps Coordinate Your Wealth Strategy
Managing your finances can sometimes feel like trying to keep a dozen spinning plates in the air. You have living expenses to pay daily, weekly, and monthly, investments to oversee, taxes to plan for, retirement goals to track, and a legacy to build. Each piece matters, but none of them work in isolation. That’s where a financial quarterback comes in.
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There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Investing & Financial Plan. That’s the Point!
At Carlson Investments, we have always believed that investment and financial planning is deeply personal. Every individual, family, and institution we work with brings a different set of goals, concerns, and life experiences to the table.
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Time in the Market: Not “Timing” the Market
As an investor, you must understand how long you should stay in the stock market based on your long-term goals. Unfortunately, many make the mistake of focusing on short-term rewards, jumping in and out of the market quickly based on the performance of near term events.
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Total Return: Measuring What Matters
When investors look at the performance of their portfolio, the first instinct is often to focus on price. While price changes matter, they only tell part of the story.
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Traditional vs. Roth IRAs: Determining Your Ideal Retirement Account
When evaluating your retirement account options, one of the first things you’ll need to do is decide between a Traditional and a Roth IRA. Each offers its own benefits and has specific requirements. So, which type of IRA is right for you?
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Understanding Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
Marriage is not just a personal commitment; it can also be a significant financial partnership. For many, entering into marriage brings questions about how best to manage assets, liabilities, income, and responsibilities.
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Understanding Roth Conversions: When and Why They May Make Sense
A Roth conversion is the process of moving assets from a pre-tax retirement account, such as a Traditional IRA, 401(k), SEP, or SIMPLE IRA, into a Roth IRA. While the converted funds are treated as taxable income in the year of conversion, the long-term advantage lies in the Roth IRA’s ability to grow tax-free and allow for tax-free withdrawals in the future.
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Understanding the U.S. Treasury Yield Curve and Why It Matters to Investors
Every few months, the U.S. Treasury yield curve seems to make headlines. Financial commentators debate whether it’s flattening, steepening, or inverting, often suggesting these movements signal something important about the economy. If you’ve ever wondered what all of that actually means, you’re not alone.
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Understanding Your 401(k) Choices: Traditional vs. Roth
You already know that when it comes to employee benefits, you have a choice in your healthcare plan. And now, more employers are giving employees options regarding 401(k)s!
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Using Your Time & Resources for Good: 11 Ways to Donate to Charity
If you’re like our team at Carlson Investments, you have causes close to your heart—and you’re likely seeking regular ways to support these nonprofits with your time, money, and resources. There are many ways to donate to charity depending on your preferences, resources, and the organizations you care about. And there may even be some you haven’t considered!
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What Is a Fiduciary & Why Should You Choose One?
A fiduciary is an individual who is ethically bound to act in another person’s best interest. So, knowing that, why would you ever work with someone who is not a fiduciary?
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What is Asset Allocation? The First Step to Protecting Your Portfolio
You’ve heard of it and have a general idea that it’s something you should be doing. But what is asset allocation, exactly?
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What Is Capital Gains Tax & Why Do You Have to Pay It?
As one of our most famous Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, once said, “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”
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What to Look for When Selecting a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA)
“How are you compensated?” If you’re in the market for a new registered investment advisor (RIA), this is one of the most important questions you can ask prospects.
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What You Can Learn from Estate Planning Book “In Case You Get Hit by a Bus”
In Case You Get Hit by a Bus: How to Organize Your Life Now for When You're Not Around Later is one of our favorite financial books. In fact, we found it so valuable that our team decided to showcase it.
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Where the Jobs Are: Why the Trades Deserve a Fresh Look From Young Adults
Willie Sutton, the infamous bank robber, was once asked why he robbed banks. His answer was simple: “Because that’s where the money is.” If you’re wondering where the opportunities are for today’s young adults, the answer might be just as clear: The trades are where the jobs are.
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Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way: Leaving an Estate
It’s time to talk about a difficult subject. The day will come when you are no longer living. During this time of grief, the last thing your loved ones will want to worry about is money and executing your will. The goal is to have the transfer process be as frictionless as possible—and that’s where effective estate planning comes in.
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Why All Cap Equity? — White Paper
An All Cap Equity Strategy provides core equity exposure in a simple and straightforward portfolio.
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Why Consolidate Your Retirement Plans? 7 Key Questions, Answered
Everyone needs a plan—whether you’re a football coach before the big game, a college student trying to get through finals, or someone striving for a comfortable retirement. And it’s much easier to stay organized and execute a plan when your retirement accounts are consolidated!
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Why Endowments Win With a Long-Term Strategy
Many organizations describe themselves as long-term investors. Yet when markets become volatile or spending needs increase, even well-intentioned institutions can find themselves reacting to short-term events.
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Why Gold Can Be a Wise Investment in Today’s Uncertain Times
For thousands of years, gold has captured the hearts and minds of humans. It is a tangible asset that offers a hedge against inflation and the weakening purchasing power of fiat currencies.
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Why International Investing Still Matters
For many investors, international stocks have become easy to overlook.
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Why We Consider the Russell 3000 Index the Best Domestic Benchmark
At Carlson Investments, we believe the Russell 3000 index is the best domestic benchmark.
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Why Young Investors Should Be Less Conservative
Thanks to factors like economic uncertainty, market volatility, and political affiliation, young investors tend to be more conservative than they should be.
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