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Looking back, 2024 clearly echoed many of the themes from 2023. By and large, the economy continued to defy expectations and surprised once again. Stocks continued their strong performance, driven by powerful trends in artificial intelligence and technology. On the other hand, the bond market experienced another lackluster year amid policy ambiguity and uneasiness over

Nearly $400,000 a year for a landscaper to maintain a home he didn’t live in. Unknowingly paying for 16 cars and 23 cellphones. Those are just some of the frivolous expenses that actor Al Pacino details in his new memoir, Sonny Boy, expenditures that eventually whittled his fortune down from $50 million to nothing. Thankfully, Pacino appears

As we move forward from an emotional election and gain clarity, we recognize that political divisiveness may not disappear now that the election is over, we hope this allows us to make more progress in bridging our divides. For many investors, achieving an outcome and removing the cloud of uncertainty is, in and of itself,

The Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal held a panel discussion recently on estate planning. Panelists included Sharon Olson, president, Olson Wealth Group; Nicholas Hulwi, attorney, Hellmuth & Johnson; Erika Toftness, attorney, Larkin Hoffman; and Jennifer Lammers, attorney, Best & Flanagan. Dyanne Ross-Hanson, president, exit planning strategies, served as moderator. Dyanne Ross-Hanson: Estate planning is such a

It’s understandable that some ultrahigh-net-worth individuals believe Roth IRAs are “not for them.” After all, in my experience, many UHNW people are not fixated on saving for retirement. However, by dismissing Roth IRAs, they are inadvertently missing out on a powerful estate planning and wealth transfer tool. With federal income tax rates scheduled to increase

“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” When it comes to preparing for family meetings, these words, attributed to Alexander Graham Bell, ring especially true. For multigenerational families of wealth, family meetings can be the linchpins in aligning the family around a shared vision for the family’s wealth and what they want that

LPL Research recently unveiled Midyear Outlook 2024: Still Waiting for the Turn, the semi-annual report that recaps where the markets and the economy have been over the first half of 2024. As we reach the halfway point of 2024, a sense of persistence defines the economic and market landscape. Trends from late 2023 have continued,

Recently, my clients announced that their son and daughter-in-law were having twins. They were incredibly proud and highly motivated to start saving for their education. I told them about the 529 college savings plan which also allows tax-free distributions for private elementary and high school. The 529 plan provides an excellent tool where approved educational

Sharon Olson, CFP®, CEPA, President and Founder of Olson Wealth Group and Inspired Life Family Office®, has been recognized as a Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) by STEP, the global professional body for trust and estate advisors. STEP has over 21,000 members globally, including lawyers, accountants, trustees, and other practitioners that help families plan for

Olson Wealth Group President and Founder, Sharon Olson, CFP®, CEPA, recently participated in the Mergers and Acquisitions Table of Experts panel discussion hosted by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (MSPBJ). The discussion featured insights and perspectives from distinguished professionals, including representatives from Olson Wealth Group, Highland Bank, RSM, EisnerAmper, and Hellmuth & Johnson. As the President and Founder of Olson Wealth Group and