Do you picture yourself owning a new home, starting a business, or retiring comfortably? These are a few of the financial goals that may be important to you, and each comes with a price tag attached.

I was brought up in a family of modest means by parents who counted on Social Security and a small pension for their retirement. The stock market was a mysterious entity and my parents considered the market as legalized gambling created for, and used by, those who circumvented an honest living. They were not alone in their mistrust of the stock markets, which is a perception still exists today: 65% of respondents in a recent survey* indicated they “mistrust a lot” or “mistrust a little” the financial services industry. Only 2% of respondents said they trust the financial services industry “a lot” and nearly 83% said they believe their interests are secondary to corporate profits. Yet traditional pensions have gone by the wayside, and most of us will need to rely on our own savings to fund at least part of our retirement. If only there were a way to invest in companies that treat employees well, care about the environment and are financially prudent. If you could invest cost effectively and achieve returns that compete with some of the most successful managers. This may seem altruistic and, hence, too good to be true. Welcome to the ever-evolving world of ESG investing.

Market declines are challenging times and it is important to realize that they are an inevitable part of the economic cycle. Here are some simple tips to consider when thinking about your portfolio.

After years of development, numerous robo advisors have entered the world of investment management. Still, many investors may not fully understand exactly what robos do, or how they do it.

What does this mean to our clients and community? As a Fiduciary, we are required to act on behalf of any person with the “highest standard of care,” trust, honesty, and loyalty. We have a legal obligation to act with our clients’ best interest in mind, and this comes naturally to us each and every day. This standard of excellence permeates our culture at CNC, where each employee is doing what is in the best interest of you, our clients.

How many of us can honestly say that we have made, and stuck to, all of our New Year’s Resolutions over the years? For those of you who have, I congratulate you; you have achieved something that many struggle with each year. Recent research from YouGov Omnibus shows that only 1 in 5 Americans has stuck to their New Year’s Resolutions. Whether it is losing weight, creating better work/life balance or taking up a new hobby, often times our busy lives get the better of our good intentions. It can be the same with Financial Resolutions, unless you not only create the plan, but also create an easy way to track and measure (and celebrate) your results.

Ask the Experts is a financial forum for education and advice as CNB’s experts answer your questions on financial topics that interest you.  The experts of this show featured Laurie Haelen, AIF®, Senior Vice President, Manager of Wealth Solutions, and

For many, retirement has become something different from what it once was. Now, many retirees are just as active in retirement as they were when they were working full time. They are filling their days with meaningful non-profit work and embarking on second and third careers that they likely could not afford to try in their earlier lives.

Since the early 1990s, there has been an evolution taking place within the vast and complex world of investments. Once regarded as a strategy with a lot of heart and little gain, Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) has become more sophisticated and accessible.

The decision to start a family is one of the most exciting, and daunting, decisions you can face. As you are swept up in the joy of planning for life with your new child, there are also many financial planning decisions to think about - including budgeting, estate planning, and insurance.

Your estate doesn't have to be very large before you need to start making some big decisions-decisions that will affect your family's well-being for many years to come. Tune into this edition of Ask the Experts to hear CNB's Laurie Haelen and Kate Noble discuss the 10 most common estate planning mistakes.