Insights

Knowing When to Update Your Estate Plan

From the family tea set to the most complex estate, transferring wealth – of whatever size and definition – couldn’t be more common. What’s less common but just as important is outlining a specific plan and updating it as circumstances change.

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Market Commentary: Higher-Than-Expected Inflation Rates Cause Consumer Spending to Slow; Fed Adjusts Forecasts For Future Hikes

The Federal Reserve raised its inflation forecast 1.0% for this year to 3.4% and indicated inflation will stay near its target of 2.0% in coming years. Based on a more rapid recovery and higher-than-expected inflation in recent months, Fed officials estimate the Fed will raise interest rates twice in 2023. The moves also suggest the Fed will start reducing its bond-buying program this year rather than in 2022.

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How Financial Scams Work, and How to Keep Yourself Safe No Matter Your Level of Wealth

Editor’s Note: This article was updated in June 2021. In the late 1920s, an enterprising Bostonian started selling subdivisions in the sunny ‘burbs of Florida. Promising orange trees in the backyard and rolling waves out the front door, he sold plots – sometimes 23 an acre! – near bustling towns like Nettie. Unfortunately, the entrepreneur’s name was Charles Ponzi, and Nettie, like his other locales, was a work of lucrative fiction.

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Market Commentary: One-year Inflation Rate Accelerates and Job Openings Hit All-Time High

U.S. consumer prices continued to go up faster than normal. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) jumped 0.6% last month and has now increased 5.0% over last year (Figure 1). Used car and truck prices rose 7.3% last month and are 29.7% higher over the last year. New car prices increased 1.6%, and airline fares surged 7.0%.

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Why You Might Need to Update Your Estate Plan

Watch this webinar hosted by Carson’s Vice President of Trust Services, Sarah Duey, to learn more about why you might need to update your estate plan.. Click Here to Watch the Webinar

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Market Commentary: Amid Hiring Challenges, Hourly Earnings Rise, Some Unemployment Benefits Cut

U.S. nonfarm payrolls rose 559,000 last month (Figure 1). This is much better than last month’s 278,000, but much lower than March’s 785,000 gain. Workers are returning to the labor force more slowly than expected. Businesses are reporting challenges in finding workers. Leisure and hospitality employment accounted for more than 50% of the job gains. Auto industry employment dropped 27,000 last month as semiconductor shortages forced plant shutdowns.

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How to Use an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust in Your Estate Plan

Savvy investors keep one eye on Wall Street and one eye on Washington. One of the main topics of Capitol Hill conversations is estate taxes, specifically annual and lifetime exemption amounts. Estate taxes often take aim specifically at the high net worth crowd, who have more to pass on.

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Estate Planning Checklist

No matter how few your assets or how extensive your properties, an estate plan will help you preserve your legacy and provide clarity to your surviving family. Our estate planning checklist can help you start the process and tick those important boxes on your way to confidence about the future.

Fill in the form below to download the checklist:

Download the checklist today to get started.

Market Commentary: Home Prices Surge Over Previous Year; Disposable Income Dips

U.S. home prices continued to march higher. As Figure 1 shows, they have surged 13.2%. The 20-city index has increased slightly more as cities just out of the top 10, such as Phoenix, San Diego, and Seattle have experienced very rapid price appreciation. The annualized gains are in line with the 2013 peak as housing prices recovered after the financial crisis. During that rally, the 10- and 20-city indexes experienced more rapid gains than the overall index, indicating smaller cities and towns didn’t participate at the same rate. In this rally, the move toward smaller towns has boosted the national...read the full article

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Upcoming Legislation and How It Impacts Your Financial Plan

Watch this webinar hosted by Carson’s Director of Retirement Research Jamie Hopkins to learn more about upcoming legislation could impact your financial plan. Click Here to Watch the Webinar

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