Carlson Investments

2025 has brought only a couple of notable changes regarding IRA contribution limits, but it’s important to know them nonetheless! Financial Advisor Alan (AJ) Rattee explains that understanding annual retirement contribution limits helps you plan and avoid unnecessary penalties. When it comes to IRAs, Traditional IRAs differ from Roth IRAs regarding when the money contributed is taxed. Traditional IRA contributions are typically tax-deferred until you withdraw the funds in retirement. Roth IRA contributions are made post-tax, meaning you pay the taxes today, so the funds grow tax-free, and you won’t have to pay taxes on withdrawals in retirement. There are also SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, which self-employed individuals and small businesses often use to offer retirement plans for themselves and their employees. Regarding SEP IRA contributions: – Only the employer can make contributions. – These contributions must be equal for all eligible employees. – There are no catch-up contributions. When it comes to SIMPLE IRAs: – Employers must set up accounts for all eligible employees (i.e., those who earned at least $5,000 in any two previous calendar years and are expected to earn at least $5,000 in compensation during the calendar year). – Employees may choose to contribute or not. – Employers must make either a matching contribution of up to 3% of the employee’s compensation or a 2% non-elective contribution. Note the 2025 IRA contribution limits below. Find more information about retirement contribution limits from the IRS website. And if you have questions about your retirement account contributions or you’re ready to set up a new plan, contact us today! https://lnkd.in/gJssiFjz #ira #taxplanning #retirementontributions #contributionlimits #retirementplanning #smallbusinessowner

Active vs. Passive Investing: Is there a correct answer? Greg Partyka explains that both approaches can potentially benefit your portfolio. That’s why understanding the differences, along with their advantages and disadvantages, is vital. Active investment strategies generally involve selecting individual securities with the goal of outperforming a benchmark index. Proponents of this approach highlight its ability to exploit market inefficiencies as market prices deviate from their intrinsic values. On the other hand, passive investing aims to replicate the performance of a specific market index by investing in the same securities in proportion to their index weights. The goal is to match the index performance, not beat it. Keep watching for a breakdown of the potential benefits and drawbacks of active and passive investing. When you’re ready to explore your options, reach out to a Carlson Investments advisor: https://lnkd.in/gJssiFjz #investmentplanning #stockmarket #investmenttips #portfoliomanagement #activeinvesting #passiveinvesting

Are you enrolled in an employer-sponsored retirement plan? If so, have you reviewed the updated 2025 contribution limits? Our own Alan (AJ) Rattee points out that understanding contribution limits, including catch-up contributions, is crucial to your annual retirement planning. When it comes to employer-sponsored plans, employees over 50 can make a catch-up contribution, allowing them to contribute an extra $7,500 to their 401(k). 2025 is the first year a “super catch-up” is offered for employees between 60 and 63, bringing the total limit to $34,750 for those individuals. Find more information about retirement contribution limits from the IRS website. Watch the video below for the full list of 2025 retirement contribution limits for both employer plans and IRAs, or head to our recent article for the full breakdown: https://lnkd.in/dDDZEfTy #financialliteracy #retirementsavings #401kcontributions #employerbenefits #contributionlimits

New Team Member Announcement ?? We are thrilled to welcome Kate Graham to Carlson Investments! Our newest Relationship & Portfolio Manager comes to us with 25 years of experience in retirement and investment planning. With a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm, she is dedicated to working hard in partnership with her clients, and is looking forward to assisting them with portfolio management and retirement planning. We are grateful to have her on our team! A New Hampshire native and parent to two children, Kate enjoys golf, cooking, and time spent outdoors with her family at Lake Sunapee. She's an enthusiastic sports fan as well, and can often be found cheering her kids on at their games! Please join us in welcoming Kate to the Carlson Investments family!

Historically, the preference for active or passive investing has been cyclical—a point that Greg Partyka notes is important to remember when determining what approach to take with your assets. So, what are the investor implications of each, given our current economy? The cyclicality of active and passive management underscores the importance of maintaining perspective and avoiding the pitfalls of chasing returns. Passive investing often thrives in broad bull markets (i.e., periods when rising tides lift all boats), while active management can add value in periods of market turbulence and heightened return dispersion. Following a decade of strong, broad-based performance, the investment landscape will likely present new challenges. Active management can be critical to achieving long-term investment objectives in this environment. Still wondering what’s the best strategy for your portfolio? Start by reading our recent article for the full breakdown of active vs. passive investing: https://lnkd.in/dYH8Mm3W #markettrends #investmentstrategy #wealthmanagement #financialplanning #activestrategies #investing101

“401(k)s and IRAs are tax-advantaged accounts that are the building blocks to retirement,” explains Carlson Investments Advisor Alan (AJ) Rattee. “Once you are no longer working, you will lean on these accounts to fund your lifestyle. It is important to know how much you can contribute to these accounts every year to avoid unnecessary penalties and maximize the benefits.” To AJ’s point, 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! Retirement accounts are tax-advantaged accounts that are either sponsored through an employer or individually funded. These include: – 401(k)s and 403(b)s – Traditional IRAs – Roth IRAs – Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRAs – Savings Incentive Match Plans for Employees (SIMPLE) IRAs The IRS imposes limits on these plans annually that dictate how much can be contributed for that calendar year. Find more information about retirement contribution limits from the IRS website. While there are a few notable increases in the 2025 contribution limits on employer-sponsored accounts, the IRA limits remain largely the same as in 2024. Only SEP IRAs and SIMPLE IRAs saw increases. So, how will the latest contribution limits impact your retirement savings for the year ahead? Check out the 2025 contribution amounts in our latest article: https://lnkd.in/dDDZEfTy #retirementplanning #401k #contributionlimits #retirementcontributions #personalfinance

When it comes to investing in public markets, one of the most debated topics is the choice between active and passive investing. But as Carlson Investments Analyst Greg Partyka says, “There is certainly a place for both approaches in today’s environment!” 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. As we look at history, it’s important to remember that the preference for active or passive investing has been cyclical. There have been stretches when passive strategies have delivered superior performance and others when active management has proven its value. The last decade has been a favorable period for passive, with seven of the last ten years delivering double-digit returns. Explore the advantages and drawbacks of active and passive investing in our new insights: https://lnkd.in/dYH8Mm3W #investingstrategy #etfs #activeinvesting #passiveinvesting #financialmarkets #wealthbuilding

If you’ve been part of the Carlson Investments community for the last several months, you might’ve seen that we’ve been honoring our 35th anniversary by collaborating with five amazing New Hampshire nonprofits! Last summer, we volunteered as a team with these organizations, each of which aligns with our firm’s mission and values. We opted to give back to help our team grow closer to the communities we serve. This sparked our 35 hours of giving initiative, during which we gave 35 hours as a team to these charity partners. Over the first half of 2025, we’ll highlight each nonprofit to help spread their mission and visibility. This month, Easterseals NH is in the spotlight! Their values of inclusivity and community-building tie into our efforts to integrate our team more closely with the community. During their time at the Easterseals facility, team members Steve Larkin and Kyle Fellers organized the library, removing duplicate titles and sorting books. They also toured the classrooms and met the students. “We had a really good time with the kids,” Steve recalls. They were even touched to receive thank-you cards from the kids at the end of their visit! Please visit https://eastersealsnh.org/ to learn how you can volunteer or donate to their cause. And stay tuned for more memories from our volunteer sessions last summer! #carlson35 #carlsonimpact #communityengagement #givingback #buildingrelationships #philanthropy #communitysupport #charitablegiving #nonprofits

Last summer, Carlson Investments celebrated our 35th anniversary by collaborating with five incredible New Hampshire nonprofits! Why did we decide to celebrate this way? Building relationships with and giving back to the communities we serve has always been at the core of our mission and values. So, we honored 35 years with 35 hours of giving! Not only did this allow us to support these organizations with our time, but we’re also able to spotlight them and bring more awareness to their causes. Since January is National Mentoring Month, we are highlighting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Manchester. Carlson Investments believes in investing in future community leaders, so the BGCGM aligns perfectly! Planning Specialist Alan (AJ) Rattee and Equity Analyst Greg Partyka volunteered with the kids’ camp, playing basketball and games and doing arts and crafts with the kids. BGC of Greater Manchester strives to create a welcoming, inclusive culture for kids from every background with their caring mentors and guides. The Club serves over 500 members, empowering local youth to build a great future through 160 programs in academic, creative, and athletic areas. These programs also support early- and late-working parents, with options for kids from K-12. Learn more about the BGC of Greater Manchester and how you can support their vital work today! https://bgcgm.org #communityengagement #givingback #corporateresponsibility #mentorshipmatters #supportlocal #investinyouth #makingadifference

When you consider energy investments, the first strategy that may come to mind is investing in specific energy companies (e.g., ExxonMobil or NextEra Energy). But have you thought about energy exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds? These assets allow investors to diversify their portfolios while mitigating the risks often accompanying the energy sector (e.g., market, commodity price, and geopolitical risks). Carlson Investments Portfolio Manager Jennifer Johnsrud explains that investors have a wide range of options among a few main categories: - Broad Energy ETFs: Funds like the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) offer exposure to various energy stocks, including oil, gas, and renewables. - Clean Energy ETFs: Funds focused on renewable energy, such as the iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN), invest in a variety of clean energy companies. - Sector-Specific Funds: These funds may focus on a specific area, such as solar energy, wind, or natural gas. This allows for more targeted exposure within the energy sector. Head to our recent article for more energy investment options, from simpler, lower-risk to more advanced, high-risk/high-reward assets: https://lnkd.in/dEy8WUTz #etfs #energyinvestments #diversifyyourportfolio #renewableenergy #investmentfunds #smartinvesting #sectorinvestments