Broker Check
(919) 719-3816
tlawson@capfs.com
Client Login

Blog

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Most of us take for granted our ability to earn an income and save for retirement. But what if something happens to you and you can no longer work? Not only would your day-to-day expenses start piling up, but your retirement...

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Did you know that the origins of spring cleaning date from when fireplaces heated homes? Through the fall and winter, soot would build up throughout the house, and when the weather warmed, a little clean up was required. “Spring...

Monday, March 2, 2026

Are you waiting to invest until you have more funds to work with? Don’t wait! The size of your portfolio 20, 30, or 40 years from now won’t reflect the dollar amount you start with today; rather, it will almost entirely rely on the...

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

This month’s Your Money Matters newsletter contains helpful information on tax deductions, protecting your home against flood loss, and building a personal finance calendar to remember important dates. We also included an insightful...

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

With the new year comes the annual tradition of setting a resolution. We’re sure you won’t be surprised to hear that we are in favor of resolutions that change your financial habits for the better.Here are a couple of financial...

Show All

Monday, December 8, 2025

As a reminder, the 2025 Open Enrollment Period for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace is November 1 through January 15, 2025. Anyone looking to enroll, re-enroll, or opt out of private health, vision, and...

Thursday, November 6, 2025

Making charitable contributions is a great way to help people in need while maximizing tax benefits, creating a win-win. Donations to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations can shrink taxable income, saving hard-earned cash. Here are four...

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Cyber Security. We all know we need it. Unfortunately, as our society continues to be more digitally connected, it creates a breeding ground for heightened criminal activity. The growing pool of personal and financial data being...

Monday, September 8, 2025

Good days and bad days are a fact of life in the market. Sometimes it’s up and we celebrate. But when it dips, we worry…and if it tanks, forget it: the first instinct for most of us is panic, and we wonder if we should just get out of...

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

August is Make a Will Month, a time dedicated to strategizing for the future. You may have seen in the news that Aretha Franklin's loved ones are still caught in a legal battle due to the existence of multiple wills. The lesson from...

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

As a financial professional, I’m always looking for ways to help clients be more efficient with their money. Now that summer’s here, staying cool can make electricity bills skyrocket, so here are some strategies to help keep cool and...

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

National Safety Month, in June, is a time to raise awareness on preventing injury and death in the workplace, on the road, at home, and in our communities. Prioritizing safety can keep you healthier, help prevent accidents, and reduce...

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

If you have teenagers, you’re likely very in touch with the adage, “One day you’re changing diapers, and the next you’re sending them off to college.” One of the results of that compressed passage of time is the bracing reality that...

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Thursday, June 20, 2024

In their most recent podcast, Will and Trevor discussed the amazing run of sports in and around this year’s Father’s Day, opportunities in today’s interest rate environment, and the search for significance as people make inevitable life tra

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

In this episode, Trevor shares his recent staycation adventures in Raleigh with his young family. From exploring local attractions to discovering hidden gems, Trevor recounts the highlights and challenges of balan

Friday, April 12, 2024

In this podcast Will and Trevor discuss the most recent Wolfpack run in basketball as well as Trevor’s trip to Pittsburgh and Will‘s family trip to New York City for spring break. They also discussed the current state of interest rates...

Thursday, March 21, 2024

“Just because you got it doesn’t mean you got to spend it.” When I graduated college and began working, my grandad, who did not have the privilege of going to college, began bestowing the financial wisdom that can only be acquired...

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

As this January officially marked my 10-year anniversary as a financial advisor, I am writing this email to pause for a moment of reflection. Life finds a way to occasionally remind us that it is not slowing down for anyone, and this...

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Over the course of my career, I’ve had the privilege of helping many people connect the financial dots of their retirement. Pensions, 401Ks, Social Security, Medicare…the pieces can seem endless and overwhelming until...

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Will and Trevor discuss Thanksgiving, 2023 year to date, a thought about 2024 and what a great time it is to be an investor.

Thursday, November 16, 2023

This month's Retirement Readiness newsletter features a look at the different parts of Medicare, considerations for retaining your life insurance post-retirement, insights about disability insurance, and five considerations...

Friday, October 6, 2023

In this episode Will and Trevor discuss the end of summer, a welcome to the fall, client success stories, and how there is a risk in being too safe.

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Because we’re always seeking to keep you informed and aware, we thought you might be interested in the just-published whitepaper from Phil Blancato, Osaic's Chief Marketing Strategist, attached below. This special-edition paper...

Monday, July 31, 2023

Will and Trevor discuss the summer heat, what clients are doing once their financial house is in order, how to think through buying rental properties, and what the direction of interest rates could look like.

Saturday, July 15, 2023

Investing involves risk. We all know that, but it doesn’t make it any easier to bear the endless supply of distressing headlines. Between skyrocketing inflation, bank closures, and a few years of market turmoil, it’s been...

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

While looking ahead to a leisurely retirement is natural, it’s prudent to prepare for expenses that catch many retirees by surprise. In a recent survey, nearly one-third of retirees reported they faced at least four unforeseen...

Monday, May 29, 2023

In this month’s podcast, Trevor and Will discuss what Mother’s Day means to them, why Will stayed at a hockey game until 2am, and then dive into the gratitude they have for the many ways they get to serve their clients.

Friday, May 5, 2023

In this episode, Will and Trevor discuss the latest rate hike from the Federal Reserve, historical trends with interest rates, and the direction of the economy. They also help everyone better understand what all of the professional...

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

We strive to keep you regularly updated with important market changes and economic news. Please find the most recent Quarterly Market Recap from Phil Blancato, Advisor Group’s Chief Market Strategist attached below. This...

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Discussing Will’s trip to the Booth School of Business, our upcoming Capitol Connect Webinar, and planning for taxes.

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Will and Trevor discuss current market conditions and upcoming events.

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Even if you’ve been investing for years, the language of investing can sometimes feel confusing. Getting a better grip on investing terminology (which is often a complex combination of legalese, colloquialisms and slang) can help...

Thursday, January 26, 2023

Will and Trevor detail the new Secure Act 2.0, discuss the most recent Capital Connect Webinar, and a new financial planning initiative we’ve invested in for our clients.

Sunday, January 8, 2023

Educational attainment is a bedrock of the American Dream. We all want our kids to do better than us, and we’ll do anything to help them achieve that! There are dreams, and then there’s reality: college costs have exploded...

Thursday, November 10, 2022

Hawkish comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell, following the announcement of another 75 basis points interest rate hike last week, cast a pall over financial markets, sending yields higher and stocks lower.The Dow Jones Industrial...

Friday, October 28, 2022

In this podcast we discuss the fed raising rates, mid term elections and our upcoming Capitol Connect

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Trevor and Will discuss the value of a Financial Advisor and the importance of planning and communication.

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Many of us are accustomed to seeing our doctor for our annual physical. We have blood drawn then our labs run for insights into some of our biggest health indicators: cholesterol and insulin levels. If we are fortunate, our results...

Thursday, September 15, 2022

If you have teenagers, you’re likely very in touch with the adage, “One day you’re changing diapers, and the next you’re sending them off to college.” One of the results of that compressed passage of time...

Thursday, August 25, 2022

Will and Trevor talk about end-of-summer plans, recent travels, market conditions, and upcoming events.

Monday, August 15, 2022

While most people would agree that “leaving the world a better place than we found it” is a worthy goal, many find that it’s not the easiest task to accomplish. Aside from adhering to the “reduce, reuse,...

Thursday, June 30, 2022

Trevor and Will are discussing upcoming statements, strategies during the downturn, and best practices from some of our happiest retired clients.

Monday, June 13, 2022

In a holiday-shortened week of volatile trading, stocks surrendered some of the previous week’s strong gains.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.94%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 declined 1.20%. The Nasdaq Composite...

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Will and Trevor discuss the transition to spring and how that also means March Madness is around the corner. They also briefly touch on the conflict in Ukraine and talk about the importance of having a plan- and sticking to it.

Monday, January 31, 2022

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Heather and I recently decided to have a date night at Brewery Bhavana. We hadn’t been in over two years! On a whim, we looked at their website and they had a reservation so we grabbed it. Brewery Bhavana is located in the heart...

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

We hope you enjoy the podcast!

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

As usual, Heather and I came, we saw, and we ate! At the tail end of their peak travel season, Heather and I traveled to the Maine coastline. I had been to Maine as a child but Heather had never been. We flew into Portland for two days...

Monday, October 4, 2021

Enjoy our latest podcast!

Monday, July 26, 2021

Kent brings over 35 years of valuable experience to the team and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and has his Masters in Financial Services. He is a native of Southern Pines and is currently involved with the Wake Tech...

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Is there really anything better than a low-key, sunny, warm North Carolina beach weekend!? I don’t think so either. Heather and I were able to recently spend the weekend in Wrightsville Beach for a nice kickoff to Spring! Of...

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Want to see one of the best night views of Downtown Raleigh!? The picture I have attached to this blog doesn’t do it justice. We made a reservation at Wye Hill Brewery in Boylan Heights on a recent Friday evening. The night was...

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

During these long winter months, we took advantage of one of the nice, impromptu sunny Friday evenings and went to a few places in downtown Raleigh. First, we stopped at Whiskey Kitchen which of course has tons of whiskey varieties but...

Monday, November 9, 2020

Heather and I finally made it to Jolie! Jolie is a French Restaurant in Downtown Raleigh which opened last year. We have been excited to try it as we are big fans of the chef, Scott Crawford, who also owns Crawford and Son. For a...

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Heather and I have been missing out on this place! For a long time, we have been wanting to give it a try and then it would come time to decide where we wanted to go for dinner and we would continue to forget about this hidden gem....

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Have you been to Bartaco? We are fortunate to have one in the North Hills area of Raleigh. Heather and I were out running errands recently and developed a hankering for tacos. Since we both agreed on a restaurant, we decided to jump at...

Monday, July 6, 2020

Have you ever ventured to the Jubala coffee shop? They have two locations in Raleigh and I highly recommend them. A few years ago for Heather’s birthday, I wanted to take her somewhere special for breakfast. We love a hearty...

Monday, June 8, 2020

We have wanted to try the SnapPea pop up caterings that one of my clients told me about a few years ago. Heather has been receiving their emails for a while now, but we have not been unable to buy tickets because they sell out so...

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Heather and I recently went on our honeymoon and WOW what a trip! Because its seasons are opposite ours and we were in search of warmer weather, we adventured to South America. It’s a part of the world neither of us had ever been...

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

For my Birthday, Heather treated me to a visit to our favorite North Carolina mountain town, Blowing Rock. We always enjoy visiting this area of North Carolina as it has so much to offer. For a special Birthday dinner, Heather made a...

Friday, November 22, 2019

One Friday evening recently, Heather and I finally got a chance to try Hayes Barton Cafe in Five Points! After coming highly recommended, we knew we needed to make a date night there happen. It’s a low-key casual spot that has a...

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Heather and I decided to try Side Street Restaurant for lunch in the heart of the lovely Historic Oakwood neighborhood. We saw on the local news that Side Street was celebrating their 40th year anniversary and we knew we had to give it...

Thursday, June 27, 2019

It’s been a while since Heather and I made it out for a date night for one reason or another but the wait is over! Saturday night we finally tried Seoul 116 on West Street in Downtown Raleigh. Wow! I love Korean food so I was...

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

In celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Heather & I decided to venture out to Cary to the highly recommended H Mart. The H Mart is an Asian-American supermarket chain that has a location in Cary. Not only can you buy nearly...

Monday, February 11, 2019

We are ashamed to say that we live pretty close to Crawford & Son and it's only the second time we have been able to make it for dinner! It was as excellent as we remembered. We decided to order two craft cocktails to start the meal...

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Heather and I always plan to have at least one night away towards the end of each year for a "goal planning getaway." It gives us time to reflect on what we accomplished and what we didn't and map out individual and couple goals for...

Friday, January 4, 2019

A few weekends ago, Heather and I went to Boone, NC for a weekend getaway. We had a wonderful time! As you can see from the pictures, we ate our way around! We didn't get there until late on Friday night so we didn't start our...

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Last Thursday, Heather and I made it out for a weeknight date night. We try to do this when our schedule allows. It provides an opportunity for quality time together and an opportunity to try some new restaurants that may attract...

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

You want to know mine and Heather’s new favorite thing!? Eating breakfast at new places on Saturday mornings! There are many places we have always said we wanted to try for breakfast and we recently decided to make that happen....

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Have you been to the Morgan Street Food Hall yet?!!? It's one of the latest attractions to hit the Raleigh food scene. Heather and I decided to see what the hype was all about after many people had suggested that we go. This concept...

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

This is a very special blog! A few weeks ago, I popped the question. I asked Heather to marry me after we have been dating for almost 4 years! This was a very special day for the both of us and I planned a surprise trip to Umstead for...

Monday, September 17, 2018

Heather and I don't get to eat lunch together often but when we do, of course we like to try a new place! Poke Burri in Raleigh came on our radar from a few advertisements that we have been seeing around and we figured we would give it...

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

So, what's our new favorite way to spend a Tuesday?! Take the 3 o'clock train from Raleigh to Durham for $7 a person and explore Downtown Durham! Even if you aren't from this area, it's no secret how much the Triangle area has grown...

Monday, August 6, 2018

Playing catch up on our blogs, this summer is moving by quickly! Several weeks ago, we had the pleasure of going to the International Food Festival in Downtown Raleigh. We decided to walk over and try some of the different types of...

Monday, August 6, 2018

***Our Favorite Restaurant Alert*** Sitti has been a very special restaurant to us throughout our relationship so we make it a point to go back every so often. It's always a treat. We highly recommend making a reservation if you are...

Thursday, June 28, 2018

As you can see from the busy picture, we ate our way through Nags Head, Kitty Hawk & Duck, North Carolina! After Heather's graduation, we decided to take a week-long vacation to this area of North Carolina as neither of us had been. We...

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

We have had a crazy few weeks and have to catch up on our blogs! Even though we have been busy, not to worry, we have been eating at plenty of places to share with everyone. This blog post is going to focus on our last trip to Shelby,...

Monday, May 21, 2018

Recently, Heather and I attended my 10-year reunion at Woodberry Forest School in Orange, VA. We decided to stay in Charlottesville, VA with friends at an Air B&B. Charlottesville is a quaint college town, much like Chapel Hill, that...

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

ALERT, ALERT! *NEW* quick stop in DTR! My brother was coming into town and Heather and I always try to take him somewhere new. We have been very excited about trying the new Ramen restaurant on Wilmington St. and this seemed to be the...

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Simple, quick bite with local flare sums up ‘The Cardinal.’ This local spot is close to our house and we had been waiting for the right time to try it out. We were headed to a movie and wanted to grab something quick so we...

Monday, April 9, 2018

I don't know why we waited so long to have dinner at Raleigh Beer Garden. We have been in a few times for drinks with friends but we had never ordered food. Wanting to get out of the house to watch basketball, we decided to give it a...

Friday, April 6, 2018

Listen to Corbin Oliver, AIF®, RICP® and I talk about recent market volatility and more.

Monday, March 19, 2018

We had to write about this one. We had seen the advertisements for the new Smashed Waffles on Hillsborough St. (near NC State’s campus) on the Offline app and finally we couldn't resist waiting any longer to try it out. It's open...

Monday, March 19, 2018

Do you ever walk into a restaurant and it feels like home? That's how we feel every time we walk into Vic's. We use to live just a block away from the Italian restaurant that is located in the Moore Square section of Downtown Raleigh....

Monday, March 5, 2018

How rare is a place that is a bar, book shop, flower shop and restaurant all in one? When we heard that Brewery Bhavana had been named one of the best new restaurants in America for 2017, we weren't surprised! This restaurant is all of...

Thursday, February 8, 2018

January always seems to be a long month. We aren't complaining but the early sunsets and cold days seem to exaggerate the length of January. Also, if you live in the Raleigh area, you were lucky enough to enjoy two snow storms two...

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Happy New Year Everyone! Heather and I are ready to tackle 2018 and see what the year has in store for us! We have two Raleigh restaurants that we would like to suggest that are quick, yummy, and healthy! On one of those abnormally...

Thursday, January 4, 2018

In anticipation of the holidays, Heather and I went to Wilmington, NC, for a quick one-night getaway to kick off this lovely time of year! Here is how we indulged in their food scene: First, we went to Sweet n Savory Café which...

Monday, December 11, 2017

Many people will go through life choosing to take care of financial matters personally without the help of a financial planner. However, there are several life events and other situations that can make financial matters a bit unclear,...

Thursday, November 30, 2017

How to Choose the Right Financial Advisor Financial planners are an excellent resource for people with short and long-term financial goals who need guidance during the process. They can help plan ways to save and invest money as well...

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Are you looking for a charming, low-key restaurant in Downtown Raleigh with excellent small plates?!?! We found one this past weekend. It was my birthday and Heather wanted to make reservations somewhere we had never been before....

Thursday, November 16, 2017

This year my firm’s annual practice advancement conference (Signator PAC) was in Chicago. Because neither Heather nor I had ever been to the city, we took advantage of the opportunity to get away and explore! As some of our...

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

This weekend Heather and I had family in town and on Sunday morning, we went on a walk searching for the perfect brunch spot. We decided upon a hidden gem in Downtown Raleigh, the Oakwood Cafe. The Oakwood Cafe is a small, quaint...

Thursday, September 7, 2017

I had the craving for chicken wings, so Heather and I went to one of our old favorites in Downtown Raleigh that never disappoints, Woody's at City Market. This is a place we will go to anytime we want good bar food that doesn't break...

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

food·ie noun informal a person with a particular interest in food; a gourmet. synonyms: gourmet, epicure, gastronome, gourmand "his father was a foodie who worked for an international magazine"