Our service to you is grounded in our values. We know many of you are seeing difficult headlines about federal immigration enforcement activity in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area and may be feeling unsettled. When events impact our community, our nation, or our world, our first priority is you. We are here to empower your dreams, foster lasting connections, and ensure that your journey is built on trust and assurance.
In our focus on you, one of our key values is the principle of honor. Over the years, I’ve reflected on why this principle moves me. To me, honor goes beyond honesty and integrity—though those are essential. Honor means never taking advantage of others and it also embraces warmth and compassion.
We believe that what is occurring in our community does not reflect honor and can bring harm. Without a doubt, we stand for public safety. For me, this includes borders and border control. At the same time, recent immigration enforcement actions in our community have raised serious concerns. The Minneapolis and St. Paul police chiefs offer some examples including an off-duty police officer stopped by ICE as she drove. One LWP team member whose fiancé is a school counselor says that some children are not going to school. Some restaurants and businesses are closing, including one that Tom and I frequent. This ICE overreach is not a recipe for community and financial stability. It does not reflect the safe, ordered, and fair environment necessary for investors to thrive.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that ICE “…officers are rewarded for making arrests, even if immigrants they take in are later released…”* At LWP, we are very aware that incentives matter. We reward our team members to live our values which include “count on us,” and go “beyond expected.” Every organization must align their incentives with their values to achieve their mission – essentially to make the right difference in their world.
In support of our community, our office will be closed this coming Friday, January 23 at 1 p.m., re-opening Monday morning at 8:00 a.m. and continuing with our normal hours. To serve you on Friday afternoon, we will have a wealth manager on call. Please call our main business line at 952-854-6250 for contact data.
Honor Includes Compassion
For me, the principle of honor embraces compassion. We believe that people of color, including the great majority with legal status, are feeling targeted. My friend, who is partly of Mexican background and who was born in the United States, has said to me that, “brown peeps are staying close to home”.
Last Saturday, Tom and I had the joy of supporting folks in our community by delivering food and diapers to folks staying at home. Coincidentally, we ran into Jesse Kuusisto, CFP®, Wealth Manager, who was volunteering at the same place – along with 700 others. Tom and I also delivered food on Monday, Martin Luther King Day. Young Rosa and her beautiful family stood out to me. We had tried to deliver to Rosa on Saturday, but couldn’t due to a snafu. She texted me, especially concerned about diapers. Tom and I delivered to her two days later on Monday. It was a beautiful moment for me. Rosa’s young husband came out to help carry the boxes. Rosa, a tall young woman, thanked us. A child stood in the window.
Investment Update
You may have seen that the S&P 500 dropped 3% yesterday, largely on news that there was some risk that the U.S. may take military action to against Greenland. Today, Jan. 21, 2026, 10:30 a.m., the index has recovered about 30% of this loss as the U.S. has softened its position. As you might expect, we stand ready to buy on your behalf when prices we consider attractive materialize. But, because the U.S. stock market continues overvalued, we are still a distance from attractive values. Implementing the opposite side of our contrarian discipline, we pared stocks back last year when we believed that stocks became overvalued. We are also currently moving toward increasing international stock exposures, as suitable. U.S. actions may cause further U.S. dollar decline which can enhance the value of international stocks in the hands of U.S. investors. You will receive an email from us if this investment update is suitable for your portfolio.
As always, please let us know your questions and comments. Without a doubt, we always appreciate hearing from you.
*Jan 6, 2025, “The Standoff that has turned Minnesota into a tinderbox.”
Investment results data from Yahoo finance.
INDEX DEFINITIONS
• S&P 500 index: this is an index of the 500 largest stocks in the U.S. It is subject to substantial price fluctuation.
IMPORTANT NOTICE AND DISCLOSURE
The foregoing content reflects the opinions of Laurel Wealth Planning LLC and is subject to change at any time without notice. Content provided herein has been obtained from sources considered reliable, but we do not guarantee the accuracy, or the completeness of any description of securities, markets, or developments mentioned. The content is for informational purposes only and should not be used or construed as investment advice or a recommendation regarding the purchase or sale of any security. There is no guarantee that the statements, opinions, or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. LWP is a wealth management firm and does not practice law or accountancy.
Indices are not available for direct investment. Any investor who attempts to mimic the performance of an index would incur fees and expenses which would reduce returns. Securities investing involves risk, including the potential for loss of principal. There is no assurance that any investment plan or strategy will be successful.
As a precautionary measure, we cannot rely on e-mail requests to authorize, direct, or affect the purchase or sale of any security, wire transfer, or to affect any other transactions. Such requests, orders, or other instructions sent via email should be confirmed verbally, or by written instructions faxed to 952-854-6250 prior to their anticipated execution. We are unable to ensure that email sent to you from us, or sent from you to us, will be received. Please contact us at 952-854-6250 if there is any change in your financial situation, needs, goals, or objectives, or if you wish to initiate any restrictions on the management of the account or modify existing restrictions. Additionally, we recommend that you compare any account reports from Laurel Wealth Planning LLC with the account statements from your custodian. Please notify us if you do not receive statements from your custodian on at least a quarterly basis. Our current disclosure brochures, From ADV Part 2 and Form ADV Part 3, are available upon request and on our website, www.laurelwealthplanning.com. This disclosure brochure, or a summary of material changes made, is also provided to our clients on an annual basis.
