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Navigating the College Financial Maze: A Main Street Family's Guide
Empower your college planning with our financial guidance. Make educated decisions for a sound future. Start now with Carlson Planning.

Jim Carlson
Aug 8, 20232 min read


Understanding Your Firefighter Pension Plan: Securing Your Financial Future
Dive into the complexities of firefighter pension plans and learn how to maximize your benefits for a secure retirement.

Jim Carlson
Jul 31, 20232 min read


Meeting People Where They Are.
We 'call you in,' meeting you where you are in your financial journey, and guiding you towards your goals.

Jim Carlson
Jul 25, 20233 min read


Federal Student Loan News: The SAVE Plan
Get the latest on federal student loans with the new SAVE Plan! Learn about changes and enrollment in this income-driven repayment plan.

Jim Carlson
Jul 16, 20233 min read


The Psychology of Money
Explore how mindset impacts finances: from early habits to prosperity. Learn to shift your mindset for better financial health.

Jim Carlson
Jul 10, 20233 min read


The Power of Mortgage Refinancing: A Financial Planner's Gratitude for Homeownership Stability
Discover the impact of mortgage refinancing and long-term homeownership. A financial planner's journey and gratitude shared.

Jim Carlson
May 25, 20234 min read


Harnessing the Power of Employee Benefits: A Practical Financial Guide for Families and Firefighters
Discover how to optimize your employee benefits for financial stability. A must-read for families & firefighters. 🔥💰👪🚒

Jim Carlson
May 16, 20233 min read


Financial Firefighting: Dousing the Flames of Retirement Uncertainty
Secure your retirement, brave firefighters! Dive into the 457b, Roth IRA & Traditional IRA to douse uncertainties and fuel a stable future.

Jim Carlson
May 15, 20233 min read


The Rising Cost of Homeownership: A Cautionary Tale
The landscape of homeownership has drastically shifted over the past four years, making the dream of owning a home more challenging. The...

Jim Carlson
May 1, 20232 min read


Understanding Firefighter Pensions: Key Details and Optimization Strategies
Learn about the key details of firefighter pensions, including pension credits, buybacks, and optimization strategies.

Jim Carlson
Apr 11, 20232 min read


Flaming Hot Financial Tips for Firefighters: How to Put Out the Money Blaze
"Flaming Hot Financial Tips for Firefighters" offers advice on budgeting, emergency funds, retirement planning, debt management, and more.

Jim Carlson
Mar 6, 20233 min read


401(k) Plans Aren’t Just for Retirement, But Starting Early Matters
A recent survey by Betterment found that 79% of Millennials and 84% of Gen Z would leave their current job for one with better benefits.

Jim Carlson
Dec 15, 20224 min read


November Market Commentary: Can Powell Thread the Needle?
Economic data showed some movements in the right directions, both up and down.

Jim Carlson
Nov 7, 20225 min read


Mistakes are Expensive: A New Generation Embraces Financial Planning at the Mid-Stage
Financial planning has evolved beyond investing assets. The old model limited comprehensive planning to a wealthy few with high levels of ma

Jim Carlson
Oct 12, 20224 min read


October Market Commentary - Fed to Economy: Drop Dead. Economy: Wait, No – We’re Slowing
September Recap and October Outlook The Fed raised the key short-term interest rate by another 75 basis points at the September FOMC meeting

Jim Carlson
Oct 12, 20224 min read


Understanding the Fee-Only, Fiduciary Advisor Model
The financial advisor model has changed over the last several decades. From the investor perspective, these changes provide more options, mo

Jim Carlson
Oct 8, 20223 min read


Is Tax-Loss Harvesting Right for Your Portfolio?
Creating a well-diversified portfolio is the foundation of growing wealth. But there’s an aspect that may help increase your overall return

Jim Carlson
Sep 29, 20223 min read


The College Payment Puzzle for High-Earning Families
Those four years when your child is in college can be a rollercoaster ride, but the scariest part for high-earning parents can be...

Jim Carlson
Sep 12, 20225 min read


Is it Time to Hire a Financial Advisor? How Do You Even Do That?
For most people, there’s usually a point where their financial life becomes complicated enough that they realize it’s time to hire a profess

Jim Carlson
Sep 8, 20224 min read
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