Carlson Capital Management

Integrated Wealth Management

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Financial Planning

Articles and resources related to Financial Planning.

Secure Act 2.0 Signed Into Law

Kevin Koski – Carlson Capital Management
Kevin Koski, CPA

Principal Tax Advisor
651.319.8067
Email Kevin

Professional Biography
Kevin Koski serves as Principal Tax Advisor at Carlson Capital Management and with CCM Tax & Trust Administration, a commonly-held affiliate of Carlson Capital Management. Kevin works closely with the advisory team to deliver clients fully integrated wealth management services, lending his experience to proactive tax-related planning. As a senior member of the Tax Team, Kevin plays a lead role and helps to oversee the preparation, review, and completion of individual and trust tax returns and tax projections. Kevin participates in client meetings and serves as a tax resource for clients, both individually and collaboratively with other advisors, to develop customized recommendations.

Kevin came to CCM with strong expertise having worked with clients at a St. Paul CPA firm for 15 years. In his role there, Kevin provided leadership and direction for the firm’s tax services practice, and advised clients on income and estate tax matters. Kevin was also an advisor on general financial planning topics such as stock option analysis, charitable planning, and gifting strategies for high-net-worth individuals and families. Kevin is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Minnesota Society of CPAs.

Kevin grew up in Virginia, Minnesota and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting. Shortly following graduation, Kevin earned his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) status. Outside of work, Kevin has three children and enjoys volunteering as a coach and assistant with their athletic teams. Kevin and his family reside in South Minneapolis.

Kevin and other members of the CCM Tax Team regularly post articles of interest on tax planning topics which you can find here.

Kevin Koski
Kevin Koski, CPA
Principal Tax Advisor

On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 into law, which included the much-anticipated SECURE Act 2.0 to supplement the original SECURE Act passed in 2019. Below are some key highlights of the newly passed legislation,1  which we feel may be most beneficial to our clients and spur additional conversation about your financial planning strategies. Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Changes Catch-up Contribution Enhancements and Changes ... [Continue Reading]

Published January 20, 2023 Topics: Financial Planning, Tax Planning

Financial Conversations With the Next Generation

Jason Kley – Carlson Capital Management
Jason Kley, CFP®, AIF®, MBA

Senior Integrated Wealth Advisor, Director of Operational Excellence
952.230.6705
Email Jason

  We are privileged to walk alongside our clients to help them achieve their financial goals and objectives.  

Professional Biography
Jason Kley is a Senior Integrated Wealth Advisor and the Director of Operational Excellence at Carlson Capital Management. As a Senior Advisor, Jason partners with clients and their families providing the firm's fully integrated wealth management experience including investment management, retirement modeling, estate, philanthropic and educational planning and all other aspects of general financial planning and client care. In this role, Jason also connects clients with the firm's specialists for overall portfolio management as well as direct access to expertise in areas such as tax planning and insurance analysis. In addition, Jason is a member of the firm's investment committee, helping to advise on investment practices and strategies. Jason also serves as the Director of Operational Excellence, driving operational consistency in and across advice teams to help ensure proper application of fiduciary standards and risk controls and a high standard for the client experience within the firm.

Jason holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Math and Computer Science from the University of St. Thomas where he graduated magna cum laude in 1998. He went on to earn an MBA with an emphasis in Finance and Strategy from Washington University in St. Louis. As a graduate student Jason was recognized for his strong leadership in being named a Leadership Fellow and Dean’s Special Service award recipient. Jason holds the Certified Financial Planner™ designation granted through the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, as well as an Accredited Investment Fiduciary professional designation, awarded by the Center for Fiduciary Studies.  The AIF designation affirms the highest in fiduciary standards of care for CCM clients.

Before joining the CCM team, Jason worked for a Minneapolis wealth management firm where he served as a financial advisor, investment committee member, and 401k plan specialist. Prior to that, Jason worked for Thrivent Financial and Union Pacific, serving in business analyst and strategic operational roles.

Jason serves on the Minnesota Jump$tart Board, which is an organization focused on advancing financial literacy for youth. He is also a member of the Children's Minnesota Foundation Legacy Advisors. In addition, Jason volunteers his time through the Financial Matters program of BestPrep, speaking to high school and college students about financial principles, Angel Foundation, and Urban Ventures. Jason previously served on the Financial Planning Association of Minnesota Board and was President of the organization in 2018. He is a past member of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce DRIVE Emerging Leaders Board, BestPrep’s Minnesota Business Venture Advisory Committee, and the City of St. Louis Park Police Advisory Commission. Jason was awarded the BestPrep Volunteer of the Year in 2016 and named the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce Emerging Leader of the Year in 2009. He has been featured in various publications including Minnesota Business, the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal, and the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Outside of work, Jason enjoys spending time with family, outdoor activities, and traveling. Jason, his wife Sheila, and their two sons reside in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

Personal Thoughts
With each passing year, I find that I am placing an increased emphasis on being focused. On the surface, having focus seems to run counter to the priority our society places on multi-tasking. In reality, the more focus one has—the more efficient they really are. When I’m able to focus on a conversation, I can understand more clearly and develop relationships through more attentive listening. When I am truly engaged with someone, it means putting down my mobile device, listening, and asking questions. If I’m focused on a project, I’m more effective, I’m learning more and am producing better outcomes. As I am playing with my children, I’m focused on inspiring their creativity and teaching them life lessons. Nothing else matters at that moment in time. Focus allows me to prioritize the things that are important in life, and allows me to drown out the noise that I cannot control. Focusing on things that are important forces me to move beyond the things that are not.

I enjoy working with our clients at CCM and I appreciate the opportunity to focus on what I can do to help them meet their goals, and allow them to focus on what matters most to them.

Jason and other members of the CCM Advisory Team regularly post articles of interest on financial planning which you can find here.

Jason Kley
Jason Kley, CFP®, AIF®, MBA
Senior Integrated Wealth Advisor, Director of Operational Excellence

One of the first questions I ask people who are seeking financial advice is, “What are your first money memories?” I ask this because the childhood years are formative when it comes to making money decisions as an adult. In my experience, I have found that people either approach money decisions very similarly or, in contrast, very differently from that of their upbringing; there usually is not a middle ground. As we enter a new year, I encourage you to make a goal of delving further into ... [Continue Reading]

Published January 20, 2023 Topics: Financial Planning

Money and Independence

Callie Geist – Carlson Capital Management
Callie Geist, CFP®, J.D., MBA

Senior Integrated Wealth Advisor
952.230.6706
Email Callie

  Working with our clients' finances is very personal, and for them to allow us into that space is a real privilege.  

Professional Biography
Callie Geist is a Senior Integrated Wealth Advisor at Carlson Capital Management. In this role, Callie partners with clients and their families, providing the firm's fully integrated wealth management experience including investment management, retirement modeling, estate and educational planning and all other aspects of general financial planning and client care. Callie also connects clients with the firm's specialists for overall portfolio management as well as direct access to expertise in areas such as tax planning and insurance analysis.

Callie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Communication from Creighton University where she graduated cum laude. She went on to earn a Juris Doctor from the Creighton University School of Law, and is a member of Phi Delta Phi, an international legal fraternity. In addition, Callie holds an MBA from Kaplan University, and the Certified Financial Planner™ designation granted through the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.

Callie joined CCM after serving as a Tax Staff Accountant at a South Dakota company. As a law student and undergraduate, Callie clerked with the Kellogg & Palzer firm in Omaha, Nebraska, and worked in human capital with the SilverStone Company. Callie grew up in Northwest Iowa, and now telecommutes from Sioux Falls where she resides with her husband, Aaron. She is a fan of Minnesota sports teams, enjoys cooking and spending time with her family, friends and her faithful dogs, Brin and Charlotte.

Personal Thoughts
My interest in financial planning began when I was sixteen years old and working at one of my very first jobs. This job was in a wonderful gift shop with a small café in my hometown of Storm Lake, Iowa. I enjoyed every aspect of this job: unpacking merchandise, wrapping gifts, prepping food in the kitchen, waiting on tables, etc. However, my favorite part of the job was getting to know the customers and helping them find exactly what they were looking for. One such customer was Don, a businessperson in his 60s who was a regular patron of the café. He would come in almost daily at the end of every lunch service. I loved sitting at the table with him and chatting.

During one of our conversations, he shared with me his number one financial recommendation: open a Roth IRA and save 10% of your income into that account. Don’t worry about the dollar amount you’re contributing, he said, but focus on creating the habit. We talked about the impact that this could have on my finances long-term. So I went to the local bank where an incredibly kind woman, Julie, took the time to walk me through opening this account and answer all of my questions. Every two weeks when I was paid, I would go the bank to cash my check and contribute 10% into my Roth IRA. While the dollar amount was small, I felt empowered about making smart financial decisions. I knew that I was doing the best I could with what I had at the time.

In my role as an advisor, I love building strong relationships with my clients and learning about the people and things that matter most to them, the goals and dreams they have, and the things that keep them up at night. Just as Don and Julie helped educate and encourage me many years ago, my goal as an advisor is to walk alongside my clients as they navigate the financial obstacles and opportunities in life, so that they can feel empowered and energized in knowing they are doing the best they can with what they have.

Callie and other members of the CCM Advisory Team regularly post articles of interest on financial planning which you can find here.

Callie Geist
Callie Geist, CFP®, J.D., MBA
Senior Integrated Wealth Advisor

I hope you’ve had the opportunity to view our virtual conversation with author and behavioral finance expert Morgan Housel. If you haven’t, I invite you to experience it here. In his book, The Psychology of Money, Housel explores financial lessons in a collection of 18 short stories to highlight the many ways people think about money. The variety of topics addressed nearly guarantees there will be at least one lesson that resonates with or provokes additional thought with each reader. For me, ... [Continue Reading]

Published December 8, 2022 Topics: CCM Women's Initiative, Financial Planning

The Newlywed Financial Planning Checklist

Benjamin Carlson – Carlson Capital Management
Ben Carlson, CFP®

Associate Integrated Wealth Advisor and Paraplanner Team Lead
952.230.6702
Email Ben

  I enjoy helping clients experience the joy of seeing their money in action.  

Professional Biography
Ben Carlson is an Associate Integrated Wealth Advisor and Paraplanner Team Lead at Carlson Capital Management. As part of the Advisory Team, Ben collaborates with clients and advisors across the firm on all aspects of planning and portfolio management. He is responsible for facilitating client meetings, preparing presentation materials and assisting with portfolio management. In addition, Ben engages with newly hired Paraplanners to mentor them in CCM's approach to integrated wealth management and culture of care, and is responsible for a strong working knowledge of and leveraging of firm technology to best serve clients.

Ben graduated magna cum laude from St. Olaf College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and History with a concentration in Finance. While at St. Olaf, Ben participated in four years of varsity tennis, served as team captain and was selected to the all-MIAC team for three years. In his junior and senior years, he participated as a peer tutor in principles of Accounting. Pursuing an entrepreneurial spirit, and after winning a start-up grant, Ben founded and operated Jolly Fly Fishing, LLC for three years, guiding summer fly fishing expeditions in western Wisconsin. Prior to joining CCM, Ben worked as an account representative for a large Twin Cities reinsurance brokerage company. Ben holds the Certified Financial Planner™ certification granted through the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.

When not at work, Ben continues to enjoy fly fishing, playing tennis, and going to the cabin. He also enjoys being involved in the community and serves as a volunteer coach for an inner-city tennis program for their “Super Saturday” programs and is a member of the Rotary Club of Prior Lake. Ben grew up in Hastings, Minnesota and now lives in Prior Lake.

Personal Thoughts
At CCM, we take a great deal of care in learning about the personal background and financial goals of the clients we work with. As a part of this process, a question we often ask is, “Tell us about your first memory of money.” My first memory of money goes back to the lemonade stand I had when I was five years old. The house where I spent my childhood was situated in an oddity of city planning, the double cul-du-sac. One day, I decided to have a lemonade stand at the end of my parents' driveway. Needless to say, it was not very successful being tucked away in the back of a cul-du-sac. Somewhere along the line, I decided to put the lemonade stand on my red wagon and move it to the nearby street corner and out of the cul-du-sac. With the increased car and foot traffic on an actual road coupled with the generosity of passersby and an overly enthusiastic five-year-old attitude, my revenues increased substantially. I tucked every dollar bill away into an old leather wallet my grandfather passed down to me. The wallet was so old all the dollar bills stored inside the folds came out smelling like an antique store. At the end of the summer, I had had put $144 into that wallet, a number I still remember. One day, I asked my parents to bring me to Hastings Family Service (the local food shelf), where I plopped on the counter the entire sum I had made that summer.

When I think about this first money memory, for me it's reflecting on what I decided to do with it, and also about seeing money in action and experiencing the joy of hard work coming to fruition. With busy lives, we can all fall into thinking of money as strictly a financial, quantitative asset that we have worked hard to accumulate. While quantitative elements are of course, very important, part of the delight of working at CCM for me is experiencing the qualitative aspects of our approach to integrated wealth management. In looking at financial assets not only relative to their quantitative value, but as a tool to accomplish our goals in life, it helps our clients to experience the joy of seeing their money in action. And while I have grown and aged since my lemonade stand days, my enthusiastic attitude and passion in my approach to work has not.

Ben Carlson
Ben Carlson, CFP®
Associate Integrated Wealth Advisor and Paraplanner Team Lead

If you have been keeping up with the CCM newsletter lately, you may have noticed a record number of our colleagues have gotten married in the past 18 months, myself included. And if you or a recently married friend or family member are anything like me, you made a financial planning checklist immediately upon returning from the honeymoon. All joking aside, there are many aspects around one’s financial life that can change after marriage, some of which are time sensitive. Below is a checklist ... [Continue Reading]

Published October 17, 2022 Topics: Financial Advisors, Financial Planning, Financial Planning for Women, Financial Planning for Young Adults

How You Could Benefit From the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

Kevin Koski – Carlson Capital Management
Kevin Koski, CPA

Principal Tax Advisor
651.319.8067
Email Kevin

Professional Biography
Kevin Koski serves as Principal Tax Advisor at Carlson Capital Management and with CCM Tax & Trust Administration, a commonly-held affiliate of Carlson Capital Management. Kevin works closely with the advisory team to deliver clients fully integrated wealth management services, lending his experience to proactive tax-related planning. As a senior member of the Tax Team, Kevin plays a lead role and helps to oversee the preparation, review, and completion of individual and trust tax returns and tax projections. Kevin participates in client meetings and serves as a tax resource for clients, both individually and collaboratively with other advisors, to develop customized recommendations.

Kevin came to CCM with strong expertise having worked with clients at a St. Paul CPA firm for 15 years. In his role there, Kevin provided leadership and direction for the firm’s tax services practice, and advised clients on income and estate tax matters. Kevin was also an advisor on general financial planning topics such as stock option analysis, charitable planning, and gifting strategies for high-net-worth individuals and families. Kevin is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Minnesota Society of CPAs.

Kevin grew up in Virginia, Minnesota and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting. Shortly following graduation, Kevin earned his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) status. Outside of work, Kevin has three children and enjoys volunteering as a coach and assistant with their athletic teams. Kevin and his family reside in South Minneapolis.

Kevin and other members of the CCM Tax Team regularly post articles of interest on tax planning topics which you can find here.

Kevin Koski
Kevin Koski, CPA
Principal Tax Advisor

It’s difficult to ignore inflation: the prices of everyday goods have soared in recent months and many investors are pausing to question large, discretionary purchases. To support individual taxpayers and bolster the U.S. economy, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.1  Here are some important highlights from which you could benefit. Enhanced Premium Tax Credits First enacted under the American Rescue Plan of 2021, an extension and enhancement of the ... [Continue Reading]

Published October 17, 2022 Topics: Financial Planning, Inflation, Tax Planning

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