Michael Carson
CFP®, CIMA®, CRPS®
Hurlow Wealth Management Group, Inc.
Partner, Financial Advisor
Michael Carson
CFP®, CIMA®, CRPS®
Hurlow Wealth Management Group, Inc.
Partner, Financial Advisor
As it has been since our inception in 2002, our goal is to help you, our client, by simplifying and coordinating all aspects of your financial life, so you can focus on the more important things in life. - Michael Carson, CFP®, CIMA®, CRPS®
Fee-Only financial planner with offices in Indianapolis and Bloomington, serving clients locally and across the country.

Hurlow Wealth Management Group provides comprehensive and objective financial planning to help individuals, families, and businesses organize, grow, and protect their assets through life’s transitions. As a fee-only fiduciary and independent financial advisor, we are never paid a commission of any kind and have a legal obligation to provide unbiased and trustworthy financial advice.
Michael Carson has over 12 years of experience developing strategies to help clients build, manage, preserve, and transition their wealth. Through the Coordinated Financial Overview™ (CFO) process, Michael helps clients with complex financial lives to simplify and coordinate all aspects of their financial affairs while guiding them to smart decisions, moving them closer to their ultimate personal and financial goals.
Michael started his career with Hurlow Wealth Management Group, Inc. in 2008. Since then, he has achieved several professional designations, including CFP® - Certified Financial Planner™, CIMA® - Certified Investment Management Analyst®, CRPS® - Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist™, and Series 66 registration.
Michael and the Hurlow team provide wealth management services to business owners, corporate executives, professors, physicians, retirees, and individuals and families with complex financial situations. Through the Coordinated Financial Overview™ (CFO) process, the team helps clients with all aspects of their financial affairs, including investment and portfolio management, cash flow and budgeting, retirement savings and income planning, college planning, estate strategies and wealth transfer planning, insurance and risk management, and investment related tax planning. In addition, Michael and the team focus on providing retirement plan consulting services to businesses through the Coordinated Fiduciary Overview™ (CFO) process. Through this process, the team guides the fiduciaries of corporate retirement plans in providing a plan to employees that stays in compliance with fiduciary rules and regulations from the DOL and IRS.
Away from the office, Michael enjoys spending his free time with his family and friends. He likes to stay active by traveling, watching/ attending Indy-car races, driving on his racing simulator and building things/ working around the house. Michael is a board member with Junior Achievement of Central Indiana and the Estate Planning Council of Indianapolis. In addition, Mike serves on the Riley Children’s Foundation Advisor Council.
Michael Carson is a Member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors

The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors - highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
NAPFA members live by three important values:
- To be the beacon for independent, objective financial advice for individuals and families.
- To be the champion of financial services delivered in the public interest.
- To be the standard bearer for the emerging profession of financial planning.
Hurlow Wealth Management Group, Inc. is an independent, fee-only advisory practice serving individuals, families, and businesses. We provide our clients with comprehensive wealth management strategies designed to help them organize their finances, clarify their goals, and implement an appropriate investment portfolio to help meet those goals. Before making any investment recommendations, we walk through a planning process with our clients that takes into account their overall financial situation, including: retirement and education planning, estate and legacy planning, insurance and risk management planning, investment-related tax planning, and liability management strategies. With this information, we get to know our clients at a deeper level and are able to provide more tailored recommendations.
Our mission is to form life-long client relationships built on trust, honesty, and transparency. We work with our clients to formulate a comprehensive plan, implement that plan, and provide ongoing guidance and direction. As we work to help our clients accomplish their ultimate individual, family, and organizational goals, our focus never wavers from what is important - you, our client.
Fee-Only, Fiduciary, Independent: Three Important Criteria to Consider When Choosing a Financial Advisor.
Specialties
- Comprehensive Financial Planning
- Retirement Income Planning
- Investment Management
- College Education Planning
- Tax Planning
- Estate Planning
- Insurance and Risk Management
Ideal Clients
- Individuals and Families
- Business Owners
- Dentists, Physicians, Professors
- Corporate Executives
- Retirees and Near Retirees
- Novice Investors
Working Together
- In-Office Meetings
- Virtual Meetings
- Clearly Defined Fees
- No Product Sales
- Complimentary Initial Consultation
Professional Designations & Affiliations
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Michael Carson is a NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor
The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors—highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
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Michael Carson is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional - Click for Verification
CFP® professionals are held to strict ethical standards to ensure financial planning recommendations are in your best interest. What’s more, a CFP® professional must acquire several years of experience related to delivering financial planning services to clients and pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Exam before they can use the CFP® designation.
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Michael Carson is a Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®)
The CIMA designation is the premier certification for financial advisors and investment consultants and one of the only professional certifications in financial services to meet international accreditation and quality standards. CIMA advisors have completed a rigorous process and have demonstrated knowledge and competency in a variety of investment management consulting and portfolio construction topics, including advanced investment management theory and application.
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Michael Carson is a Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist® (CRPS®)
Individuals who hold the CRPS® designation have completed a course of study encompassing design, installation, maintenance and administration of retirement plans. Additionally, individuals must pass an end-of-course examination that tests their ability to synthesize complex concepts and apply theoretical concepts to real-life situations.
All designees have agreed to adhere to Standards of Professional Conduct and are subject to a disciplinary process.
Designees renew their designation every two-years by completing 16 hours of continuing education, reaffirming adherence to the Standards of Professional Conduct and complying with self-disclosure requirements.
Contact Michael Carson
Office Locations:
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3925 E. Hagan Street
Suite 300
Bloomington, IN 47401 -
50 E. 91st Street
Suite 205
Indianapolis, IN 46240