Summit Investment Advisors

Summit Investment Advisors Summit Investment Advisors is a full service financial and investment advisory firm. Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC.

Our financial consultants provide strategic investment management and professional advice for individuals, families, and businesses. www.finra.org and www.sipc.org Investment Advice offered through Summit Investment Advisory Services, a registered investment advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial. Third party posts found on this profile do not reflect the views of LPL Financial and have no

t been reviewed by LPL Financial as to accuracy or completeness. For a list of states in which I am/we are registered to do business, please visit www.summitinvest.com.

06/05/2026

The question I hear most often from people in the years before they retire has nothing to do with portfolio allocation or withdrawal rates. They want to know if they're going to be okay. When we start talking Social Security, they're focused almost entirely on when to file.

In this Summit Talks episode, Brian Carlson walks through how Social Security income is taxed in retirement and why filing decisions interact with every other dollar of income you have. A case study shows how a retired couple at 65 saved roughly $6,000 in combined federal and state taxes by adjusting which Social Security benefit they turned on and when, without changing their total income target.

If you're self-employed or own a business and use your car for work, a portion of those vehicle expenses may be deductib...
06/04/2026

If you're self-employed or own a business and use your car for work, a portion of those vehicle expenses may be deductible. The IRS allows business owners to deduct costs tied to the business use of a vehicle, but only the portion attributable to business miles, not personal driving.

There are two methods for calculating the deduction. The first is the actual expense method, which adds up the real costs of operating the vehicle: gas, oil, insurance, repairs, registration fees, lease payments, and depreciation. The second is the standard mileage rate, a per-mile rate set by the IRS each year that's designed to reflect fuel and operating costs in a simplified way. If you own the vehicle and want to use the standard mileage rate, the IRS requires that you use it in the first year the vehicle is placed in service for business.

The standard mileage rate is set by the IRS and updated annually, so the current figure should always be confirmed before filing. A tax professional can pull the current rate and help you determine which method produces the better deduction for your situation.

If you mix business and personal use of a vehicle, keeping a mileage log throughout the year is the most reliable way to support the deduction at filing time.
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This information is not a substitute for individualized tax advice. Please consult a qualified tax professional to discuss your specific situation. Tip adapted from IRS.gov.

Nine consecutive weeks of gains, the Dow crossing 51,000 for the first time, and all three domestic averages closing the...
06/03/2026

Nine consecutive weeks of gains, the Dow crossing 51,000 for the first time, and all three domestic averages closing the week and the month at record highs.

Underneath all of that, a GDP revision downward, softer home sales, and a Fed inflation report that came in better than expected but still showed prices rising 3.8% year over year.

Markets and economic data don't move in lockstep, and last week was a clear example of that. Investors looked past the mixed data and focused on momentum, technology, and some progress on a Middle East peace deal. The result was a strong close to May.

A long-term plan is built to participate in stretches like this without requiring you to sort through each data release and decide what it means. That's what the plan is for.

We're always happy to talk through your positioning.
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Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Tax season may be over, but the decisions that affect next year's return are happening right now. A few basics on credit...
05/29/2026

Tax season may be over, but the decisions that affect next year's return are happening right now. A few basics on credits and deductions are useful to keep in mind through the rest of the year.

Taxable income is calculated by subtracting eligible deductions from adjusted gross income. Taxpayers can take either the standard deduction or itemize, and since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changed the landscape on itemized deductions, many people who used to itemize now find the standard deduction more favorable. Generally, if your itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction, itemizing makes sense. But, running that comparison with a tax professional each year is a good habit.

Tax credits work differently from deductions. Rather than reducing the income that gets taxed, credits reduce the actual tax owed dollar for dollar, which makes them particularly valuable. Common credits include the child tax credit, the child and dependent care credit, education credits like the American Opportunity Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit, and the earned income tax credit. Keeping records that document eligibility throughout the year makes claiming them much smoother at filing time.

If you haven't had a conversation about how your tax picture fits into your broader financial plan, that's often a productive place to start.

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This information is not a substitute for individualized tax advice. Please consult a qualified tax professional to discuss your specific situation. Tip adapted from IRS.gov.

Stocks finished higher last week across all four major indexes. The S&P 500 advanced 0.88%, the Dow climbed 2.13%, the N...
05/28/2026

Stocks finished higher last week across all four major indexes. The S&P 500 advanced 0.88%, the Dow climbed 2.13%, the Nasdaq edged ahead 0.45%, and international developed markets tracked by the MSCI EAFE rose 2.16%. The S&P closed the week in the green for the eighth consecutive week, its longest winning streak since 2023.

The week started under pressure as a capacity issue in the memory chip space weighed on AI and tech stocks broadly. Midweek, investor optimism around a potential Middle East peace deal returned, oil prices and Treasury yields fell, and the Dow hit a fresh record close. Friday extended the rally as peace deal optimism held, Kevin Warsh was sworn in as the new Fed Chair, and continued enthusiasm around the AI trade added to the momentum. The Dow closed at another record high.

The Fed also released minutes from its April FOMC meeting, Jerome Powell's last as Chair. The minutes indicated that if rates were to move at all later this year, the committee may be more inclined toward a hike than a cut.

Eight consecutive weeks of gains doesn't mean every week looked easy. Several of them started under pressure and finished higher. That's a pattern that keeps showing up, and it's one of the clearest arguments for staying invested through the stretches that feel uncertain.

We're always happy to talk through your positioning.
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Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

If your summer includes selling or buying a home, refinancing, or donating items you've been meaning to clear out, a few...
05/21/2026

If your summer includes selling or buying a home, refinancing, or donating items you've been meaning to clear out, a few of those activities may qualify for itemized tax deductions. It's useful to understand what applies before the season moves on.

Refinancing your home this summer may allow you to deduct a portion of your mortgage interest. The deduction applies to interest paid on a loan secured by your primary or secondary residence, and the loan proceeds need to be used to purchase, build, or substantially improve that residence.

Buying a new home this summer may allow you to deduct mortgage insurance if the qualifying debt on a first and second home is $750,000 or less, or $375,000 if you're married and filing separately.

Donating household goods, clothing, or furniture is another option with potential tax implications. If you itemize deductions and keep documentation of the donations, those contributions may qualify. Mileage driven while performing services for a qualifying charity can also be deductible.

None of these are automatic and each situation has its own limits and requirements. A tax professional can help you determine what applies to yours.
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This information is not a substitute for individualized tax advice. Please consult a qualified tax professional to discuss your specific situation. Tip adapted from IRS.gov.

Stocks were mixed last week as a hotter-than-expected inflation report offset momentum that had built up through most of...
05/20/2026

Stocks were mixed last week as a hotter-than-expected inflation report offset momentum that had built up through most of the week. The S&P 500 edged up 0.13%, the Nasdaq slipped 0.08%, the Dow lost 0.17%, and international developed markets tracked by the MSCI EAFE declined 1.77%.

The week had momentum early on. Chipmaker stocks continued leading the tech sector and pushed the S&P above 7,400 and the Nasdaq to a new closing high on Monday. A strong Q1 report from a megacap tech company extended the rally through Thursday, with the S&P briefly crossing 7,500 and the Dow reclaiming 50,000.

Friday shifted the picture. The Consumer Price Index came in at 3.8% year over year in April, up from 3.3% in March, with energy driving over 40% of the monthly gain. Fuel oil was up 54% year over year and gasoline up 28%. Wholesale prices told a similar story, with the Producer Price Index rising 6% over the prior 12 months. Treasury yields rose and stocks pulled back, giving up a portion of what had been a strong week.

A long-term plan is built to absorb this kind of variability rather than react to it. The same week that touched new all-time highs closed mixed because of a single data release. Both outcomes are part of how markets function, and neither one changes the underlying structure of a well-built plan.

We're always happy to talk through what the current environment means for your positioning.
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Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

The IRS has expanded its electronic signature options, and it's a practical change for anyone who works with a tax profe...
05/14/2026

The IRS has expanded its electronic signature options, and it's a practical change for anyone who works with a tax professional. Tax forms now include electronic signature capabilities, which means tax professionals can conduct certain transactions and filings remotely without requiring an in-person signature.

To authorize your tax professional to use this option, you'll need to complete and submit Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative. This form appoints your tax professional to represent you before the IRS and authorizes them to perform certain acts on your behalf, including providing an electronic signature.

For clients who coordinate their tax filing with their broader financial plan, this makes the process a bit more flexible. Less scheduling friction, fewer in-person requirements, and the same level of authorization and representation.
If you work with a tax professional and haven't set up a Form 2848, it may be worth asking whether it makes sense for your situation.
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This information is not a substitute for individualized tax advice. Please consult a qualified tax professional to discuss your specific situation. Tip adapted from IRS.gov.

05/13/2026

The April jobs report came in at more than double what economists expected. 115k jobs added vs. a forecast of 55k. Unemployment held steady at 4.3%, and new home sales for both February and March beat expectations.

For anyone watching for signs of labor market softening, last week's data pointed the other way. In this short clip, I walk through what the numbers showed and why employment data connects more directly to retirement planning than most people realize.

If you have questions about what the current economic picture means for your plan, we're always happy to talk.
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Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Stocks finished higher for the sixth consecutive week. The S&P 500 rose 2.33% and closed above 7,300 for the first time....
05/12/2026

Stocks finished higher for the sixth consecutive week. The S&P 500 rose 2.33% and closed above 7,300 for the first time. The Nasdaq gained 4.51%. The Dow edged up 0.22%, and international developed markets tracked by the MSCI EAFE added 1.24%.

The week didn't start that way. Monday opened under pressure from escalating tensions in the Middle East. By Tuesday, solid earnings and falling oil prices changed the tone. Strong results from chipmakers extended the rally Wednesday, pushing the S&P and Nasdaq to record highs. Friday's jobs report, which came in more than double the expected number, added to the momentum, and a major chipmaker deal announcement sent both indexes to new highs to close the week.

Six straight weeks of gains after a stretch of real uncertainty is worth noting, not because it changes how a long-term plan is built, but because it's a clear illustration of why staying invested matters. The recovery happened fast, and it happened while a lot of people were still focused on what was going wrong.

A portfolio built for the long run doesn't require predicting weeks like this. It just needs to be in place when they happen.

We're always happy to talk through your positioning.
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Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Address

3065 Centre Pointe Drive, Ste 2
Roseville, MN
55113

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

(651) 490-2939

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