Carter Michaelson - Financial Planner

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Carter Michaelson - Financial Planner Illuminating Your Path to Financial Independence. Information provided should not be solely relied upon for decision making.

Advisory services are offered through illumiFI Wealth, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser with the state of Minnesota. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where illumiFI Wealth, LLC and its representatives are properly registered or exempt from registration. The information on this site is not intended as tax, accounting or legal advice, nor is it an offer or solicitation to buy or sell, or as an endorsement of any company, security, fund, or other offering. Please consult your legal, tax, or accounting professional regarding your specific situation. Investments involve risk and have the potential for complete loss. It should not be assumed that any recommendations made will necessarily be profitable. The information on this site is provided “AS IS” and without warranties either express or implied and the information may not be free from error. Your use of the information provided is at your sole risk. The information linked to on third-party sites is being provided strictly as a courtesy and convenience. When you link to any of the web sites provided here, you are leaving this website. We make no representation as to the completeness or accuracy of information provided at these websites. When you access these websites, you are leaving our website and assume any and all responsibility and risk for use of the web sites you are visiting. The opinions expressed in any commentary posted on this site are solely those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of illumiFI Wealth, LLC. These opinions are based on information available at the time of posting and are subject to change without notice. illumiFI Wealth, LLC does not commit to updating any posted positions or commentary to reflect subsequent developments. While the information and reasoning used to form these opinions are believed to be from reliable sources, illumiFI Wealth, LLC does not verify this information, and no guarantee is provided regarding its accuracy, completeness, or validity. illumiFI Wealth disclaims any and all liability for actions taken or not taken based on the content of this site. No warranty, express or implied, is given in connection with the content provided. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the CFP® certification mark, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification mark, and the CFP® certification mark (with plaque design) logo in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

10/16/2026

I LOVE WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING!

I often tell my wife that I feel like I need to pinch myself because I genuinely love the work I get to do every day. Most days, it hardly feels like work.

Today was one of those days that reminded me exactly why.

I started my day meeting with a business owner client. We covered plenty of the technical aspects of financial planning: investment strategies, tax planning, insurance needs, and more.

But that wasn’t what made the meeting so meaningful.

It was talking about what those strategies actually make possible.

The peace of mind that comes from knowing there’s a plan to purchase a commercial property, move into their forever home, protect his family if he’s no longer able to work, and give generously to their church.

Later, I met with a prospective client who wants to build a plan that would allow her to stay home with her kids for a year before they start school.

Of course, we talked about cash reserves, tax-efficient investing, college savings, and other financial planning strategies.

But the bigger conversation was about creating the financial flexibility to spend more time with her kids during a season of life she’ll never get back.

And that’s what I love most about financial planning.

I genuinely enjoy the technical side of what I do. I love digging into the numbers, evaluating strategies, and finding ways to optimize someone’s financial plan.

But the numbers and strategies aren’t the end goal.

They’re simply the tools that help people live the lives they want to live.

More confidence. More freedom. More generosity. More peace of mind.

Getting to play a small part in helping people experience those things is something I’ll never take for granted.

I love what I do!

10/01/2026

When I was younger, I remember hearing that the #1 trait of millionaires was that they made their bed every morning.

Now, I don’t know if that was actually backed by any research… or if it was just my mom trying to give me a little extra incentive to do my chores.

Either way, I’m glad she told me.

Because today, I believe in the lesson behind it more than ever.

Building wealth isn’t usually about one big decision. It’s about discipline. It’s about doing the small things consistently, even when they don’t feel significant in the moment.

- Saving every month
- Paying off debt
- Living below your means
- Avoiding unnecessary lifestyle inflation
- Investing consistently
- Sticking with a plan when markets get uncomfortable

None of those things will make you wealthy overnight.

But do them over and over again for 10, 20, or 30 years, and they can add up to something pretty incredible.

Maybe making your bed doesn’t make you a millionaire.

But learning to consistently do the little things well?

That certainly doesn’t hurt.

07/30/2026

A few of my clients have crossed the elusive $1,000,000 net worth mark over the past couple of months.

Each time, I ask the same question:

“Do you feel like a millionaire?”

The answer is almost always the same:

“Nope.”

It’s a good reminder that wealth often doesn’t feel the way we imagine it will.

None of these milestones came from picking the perfect stock, selling a business, or finding some secret investment strategy.

They came from years of consistently saving, investing, and letting time do the heavy lifting.

If you’re still early in your journey, let this encourage you to keep showing up. The small, consistent decisions you make today really do compound.

And if you’ve recently reached—or passed—that $1 million milestone, congratulations! Celebrate it!

Remember, net worth is a milestone, not the mission. Money is simply a tool, not the goal.

07/16/2026

One of the most rewarding parts of financial planning is helping clients realize they don’t always have to choose between today’s priorities and tomorrow’s goals.

Recently, I’ve met with several clients who are already on track for retirement. The challenge wasn’t retirement—it was finding room in the budget for things like:

• College expenses
• A new vehicle
• Replacing furnace & A/C
• Other important life priorities

In some cases, the right answer wasn’t to save more. It was to temporarily adjust retirement contributions or investment savings to create the cash flow needed for what matters most right now—without losing sight of their long-term plan.

Financial planning isn’t about following the same rules as everyone else. It’s about making intentional decisions based on your goals, timeline, and values.

Personal finance is PERSONAL. Having someone in your corner to help you evaluate the tradeoffs can provide the clarity and confidence to move forward.

06/01/2026

Many people think financial planning starts with investments.

In reality, some of the most impactful planning conversations have nothing to do with picking funds or trying to beat the market.

They’re about questions like:

• Should we pay off debt or invest?
• Are we saving enough for retirement?
• Should we prioritize pre-tax or Roth?
• How do we handle equity compensation?
• What’s the most tax-efficient way to give to charity?
• Can we afford to buy a home without sacrificing other goals?
• Can we afford to have my spouse stay at home with the kids?

Investment management is important.

But often the biggest opportunities come from decisions made before a dollar is invested.

That’s why I enjoy working with clients who want to look beyond the basics and build a financial plan that connects all the moving pieces together.

Financial planning isn’t about having all the answers.

It’s about asking the right questions.

04/27/2026

A lot of the clients I serve aren’t starting from scratch.

They:

• Save well
• Invest consistently
• Make good money

They want to make sure they’re not missing anything.

They want a financial partnership focused on optimizing their plan so it is aligned to their unique goals and situation.

If that sounds like you, I’d be happy to have a conversation.

04/09/2026

Trust your gut.

I was reviewing a client’s tax return recently and something about their Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction felt off.

It wasn’t obvious, but it didn’t sit right.

So we reached out to their CPA.

Turns out, a single missed digit was the issue.

That small oversight resulted in five-figure tax savings for my client.

A good reminder:

Even great professionals can miss things and collaboration matters.

04/07/2026

Roth accounts are great… but they’re not always the best answer.

If you’re in the 24–32% marginal tax bracket, pre-tax savings can be incredibly valuable.

For every $1 you contribute pre-tax, you could be saving $0.30–$0.40 in taxes depending on your federal and state tax rates.

That’s a meaningful upfront tax benefit!

In general:

• Lower tax bracket → Roth tends to make more sense
• Higher tax bracket → Pre-tax often becomes more attractive

And one of the most overlooked opportunities?

Many people can shift money to Roth later through strategic conversions during lower-income years in retirement.

It’s less about Roth vs. pre-tax…
and more about using both intentionally over time.

04/06/2026

Reminder: You have until April 15, 2026 to fund a Roth IRA for your 2025 contribution.

• Under age 50 → up to $7,000
• Age 50+ → up to $8,000

If you just received a tax refund, this can be a great way to put those dollars to work for your future.

04/01/2026

I’m not the best financial advisor for everyone, and that’s by design.

The people I serve best are usually beyond the basics:

• They spend less than they earn
• They’re consistently saving for retirement
• They’re doing the “right things”… but wondering what comes next

That’s where deeper planning matters.

It’s not about hitting a certain income or net worth threshold.

Some of the best clients I get to serve are those who have built strong habits and are ready to be more intentional.

I work best with:

• Medical professionals navigating student loans, forgiveness strategies, and the transition from residency to attending-level income

• Individuals and families who prioritize charitable giving and want to do it in a more intentional, tax-efficient way

• Individuals or couples within about 5 years of retirement who want to minimize lifetime taxes while still enjoying their lifestyle

Not every advisor is the right fit for every person.

But for those who are beyond the basics and want to optimize what they’ve built or are building, that’s where the real value shows up.

Address

1109 112th Lane NE
Blaine, MN
55434

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 3pm

Telephone

(651)2373725

Website

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