Craig Larson started in the financial services business after graduating from St. Olaf College in 1989 with a B.A. degree in Economics. From 1989 to 1996 he worked at Mass Mutual in Minneapolis as an insurance agent, then as investment specialist and investment sales manager for the branch. Craig established Larson Financial Advisors in 1996 as an independent firm to better meet the needs of clients. In 2011 this process was enhanced as Larson Financial Advisors became a Registered Investment Advisory firm and an early adopter of the Fiduciary fee-only practice model to provide the best and most unbiased advice possible.
Craig previously worked on the board of directors of the Minneapolis Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. Craig acquired his professional designations of Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) and Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF) and has served as an LUTCF class instructor.
From 2004 through 2009 Craig was the Minneapolis chapter president of S.O.F.A. (Society for Financial Awareness) and has given seminars and workshops at a number of local organizations including Donaldson, Cray, Courage Center, Medica, Digital River and the F.B.I.
Craig relocated his family from the Minneapolis, MN area to the Austin, TX area in 2016 and now operates an office in both locations.
Craig lives in Georgetown, TX with his wife, Maria Estella Larson, and their three children. Craig enjoys playing guitar, inline skating, hiking and drag racing (at the track, not on the street!).
We are a fee-only investment advisor and use an 'advance and protect' strategy to minimize market losses during negative markets and rank and compare sectors and options to find the best trending holdings in positive markets. We are registered with the state - rather than with a firm - so that our one loyalty and commitment is to you - our client - and not to 'wall street' or special interests. Typical accounts we can manage: IRA, Roth, 401(k), individual, joint, trusts.
General Information |
| Firm Start Year: | 1996 | |
| No. of Employees: | 2-4 | |
| Insurance License#: | 38337 |
| Name of Broker/Dealer: | N/A |
| Name of Custodial Firm: | Charles Schwab / TD Ameritrade |
| States Licensed in: | TX, MN |
| Number of Years with Current Firm: | 28 |
| Work Experience: | Worked in the financial services industry since 1989. I've worked for big firms and small firms and come to the conclusion that the only way to properly serve clients is as a fiduciary, fee-based independent investment advisor. We work for YOU, and not some firm. |
| Work with the following types of clients: | Non-Profit Organizations, Businesses, Individual Investors |
| Advisory Services Provided: | Education Funding and Planning, Risk Management, Money Management, Wealth Management, 401K Rollovers, Retirement Planning, Portfolio Management, Financial Planning, Insurance Products & Annuities, Investment Advice & Management, Financial Advice & Consulting |
Services |
| Investment Types: | Commodities, Insurance, Annuities, Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Alternative Investments, Socially Responsible Investments (SRI) |
| Can meet clients in the following ways: | Email, Phone, Our Office, Video Conference |
Qualifications & Memberships |
| Insurance and Annuity Licenses: | Annuity, Long Term Care, Life |
Firm Information |
| Firm's Number of Managed Clients: | 140 |
| Assets Managed by Firm: | $60 million |
| Advisor's Number of Clients: | 160 |
| Advisor's Number of Managed Clients: | 160 |
| Advisor's Number of Planning Clients: | 100 |
| Assets Managed by Advisor: | $82 million |
Compensation and Fees |
| Fee Structure: | Fee-Only |
| Minimum Portfolio Size for New Managed Accounts: | $250,000 |
| Compensation Methods: | Based on Assets |
| Additional Details on Charges: | Once we understand a client's situation and the scope of services and management we'll be happy to provide a proposal with specifics on fees and service model. |
Education |
| B.A. - Economics | St. Olaf College - Northfield, MN 09/02/1985-05/25/1989 |
Financial Services |
| Portfolio Management
We are a fee-only Fiduciary investment advisor. Our methodology is primarily 'quantitative', meaning that we rely heavily on mathematics to make portfolio decisions and not wall street analysts or projections. |
| Retirement Planning
We will listen closely to your goals and concerns, and help you maximize your retirement assets. We develop retirement financial plans for families to help you retire as early as you'd like and stay comfortably retired. |
| Education Funding and Planning
We help clients structure their plan to minimize their out of pocket costs for college, not just save for it. |
| Investment Management & Advice
We hate pies. Not the food kind - the fixed 'buy and hope' type models that most advisors use. We think that portfolios should be flexible and adaptive to changes in market trends and risk levels. If you want an advisor that will actually pay attention and make or recommend changes on a timely basis, then you will love what we can do for you. We can also help clients manage accounts like 401k's at their current employers that cannot be directly rolled over to another firm yet. |
| Wealth Management
We help advise clients on their entire financial picture on one secure, easy portal. |
| Money Management
We manage money directly in-house with time proven methodologies and strategies. Our strategies are 'quantitative' or math-based to help you rise above the Wall Street noise to make well- calculated portfolio decisions. This helps take the emotion out of investing so you can sleep better at night. |
| Financial Planning for Businesses
As a business owner for the last 25 years we have a high level of experience with privately held businesses. |
| Insurance Planning
Through our independent agency: Tax Advantages Retirement Consultants, LLC we provide life and long term care insurance. We shop a wide array of carriers to find the most competitive products. |
| Annuities
Through our independent agency: Tax Advantaged Retirement Consultants, LLC we provide fixed and indexed annuities. We shop a wide array of carriers to find the most competitive products. |
| Estate Planning & Trusts
We work in conjunction with a client's attorney to provide a coordinated estate plan. |
| Tax Advice and Services
We work in conjunction with a client's CPA to provide a coordinated estate plan. We help focus on long term tax mitigation strategies but do not file tax returns or provide tax-return advice. |
| Risk Management
We are advocates of using techniques to reduce risk of loss in stock and bond markets. Buying and holding securities presents a large risk to investors, specifically those at or near retirement. By using risk management methods we aim to minimize the loss potential of 'bear' markets such as 2008 and 2000-2002. |
| Financial Planning for Individuals
We are happy to provide comprehensive financial planning for individuals and families. |
| Financial Advice & Consulting
We provide financial advice and consulting for individuals and families. |
| 401K Rollovers
Yes, we work with individuals and families on employer retirement plan rollovers, and can also directly manage 401k plans for clients at their current employer. |
FAQs |
Do you have a customer satisfaction or refund policy?We aim to please, so there is no contractual time requirement and any usused advisory fees are refunded if a client decides to end our business relationship. |
Why should I choose you as my financial advisor?Listen and understand the clients needs, wants and objectives. Keep things simple and understandable so that they can easily execute their plan. |
What are your qualifications? What is your education background?I have a B.A. in Economics, the CLU designation, and have studied investment technics and risk management from some of the industry greats. |
How do you charge for your services?Investment management is an asset based fee; financial planning or consulting is a set fee based on the service. |
How are you compensated? How will I pay for your services?Fee only for investment management. this can be done via account deductions or payment via check or paypal. |
Disclosures |
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WiserAdvisor provides referrals to financial professionals. WiserAdvisor is not a current client of advisor or advisory services. Financial professionals pay cash compensation for these referrals, which creates the incentive for WiserAdvisor to make these referrals, resulting in a conflict of interest. |
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Additional Detailed Disclosures |
Registered Investment Advisor:
Yes
Investment Advisor Representative:
Yes
Acknowledged fiduciary:
Yes
Compliance Disclosures in Last 5 years:
I have a clean record
Criminal Disclosures in Last 5 years:
I have a clean record
| Mon. | 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Tue. | 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Wed. | 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Thu. | 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Fri. | 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM |
| Austin metro area | Bertram |
| Cedar Park | Georgetown |
| Leander | Liberty Hill |
| Round Rock | |
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