Hello! Welcome to the M2 Financial Group Year End Letter 2024 – hosted by Michael Matheson! As we wrap up 2024, I want to take a moment to thank you for allowing M2 Financial Group to be a part of your journey. This year has been one of growth, resilience, and meaningful moments. Together, we’ve navigated market changes, celebrated personal milestones, and worked toward your financial dreams. It is an honor to serve as your valued advice team in seeking to contribute to the success and confidence of your future.
2024 Financial Market Review
- Looking back at 2024, the financial markets experienced notable shifts influenced by a mix of economic and geopolitical events. Inflationary pressures eased compared to prior years, thanks to coordinated efforts by central banks globally, leading to more stable interest rates by mid-year. The U.S. stock markets showed resilience, with the S&P 500 posting moderate gains despite early volatility stemming from global uncertainties. On the fixed-income side, bond markets rebounded as interest rate hikes paused, providing opportunities for income-focused investors. Meanwhile, international markets saw mixed results, with emerging markets benefiting from stabilizing commodity prices. While challenges like global tensions and a slower-than-expected recovery in some regions persisted, the overall market sentiment remained cautiously optimistic. Staying diversified and focusing on long-term goals can be a winning strategy in navigating the future’s complexities.
2025 Financial Market Outlook
- As we step into 2025 with a Presidential election in the rearview mirror, the financial markets are poised for a year of cautious optimism, shaped by ever evolving global dynamics and economic trends. Here’s what we anticipate:
- Economic Growth: Global growth is expected to stabilize, driven by steady consumer spending, easing supply chain issues, and continued innovation in technology and green energy. The U.S. economy may experience moderate expansion, while emerging markets could see stronger momentum.
- Interest Rates: With inflation largely under control, central banks are likely to maintain stable or slightly lower interest rates, fostering favorable conditions for both borrowers and investors.
- Equities: While volatility may persist, sectors like healthcare, technology, and clean energy are positioned for growth, reflecting trends in AI, biotech, and sustainability. Dividend-paying stocks may also attract attention as investors consistent returns.
- Fixed Income: Bonds could continue to appeal as yields remain competitive, especially in high-quality corporate and municipal bonds. Diversification within fixed income will remain key to managing risks.
- Global Markets: Opportunities in international markets, particularly in Asia and parts of Europe, could emerge as economies recover and adapt to changing global trade patterns.
- Risks to Watch: Geopolitical tensions, regulatory changes, and the pace of technological adoption could influence market movements. Staying informed and flexible will be crucial.
As you may know, we have many resources to keep you up to date on market trends and current market news including Client Center on our website (m2financialgroup.com) where we regularly post updates! At M2 Financial Group, we’re here to guide you through these market trends, helping you align your financial strategies with your goals for the year ahead. Let’s navigate 2025 together with confidence and a focus on your long-term success.
M2 Financial Group and YOU!
- All of that said about the markets, our relationship with you is our focus. A trusted relationship with your financial advisor is one of the most valuable assets in achieving your financial and life goals. We have been told by our clients that our process helps them in these and many other ways:
- Personalized Guidance: We know your unique situation, values, and aspirations. This allows for tailored strategies that go beyond generic advice.
- Long-Term Perspective: Markets and life can be unpredictable. Our advisors provide steady guidance to keep you focused on your long-term goals, helping you navigate both opportunities and challenges.
- Holistic Planning: Financial success involves more than investments—it’s about planning for retirement, managing taxes, safeguarding your family’s future, and achieving peace of mind. Our advice works to get all of these elements working together.
- Reducing Emotional Decisions: When markets fluctuate, emotions can lead to impulsive decisions. We provide personalized advice, helping you make sound decisions during both calm and rough times.
- Partner in Life’s Journey: Whether you’re planning a major milestone, facing unexpected challenges, or simply reviewing your progress, your advisor is there to support and guide you.
- Your relationship with us is built on professional advice, communication, and a shared commitment to your success. At M2 Financial Group, we value the opportunity to walk alongside you, providing the expertise and care you deserve. Together, we’ll make your vision for the future a reality.
M2 Financial Group and YOURS!
- Your well-being and the well-being of those important to you matter to us. That’s why we’re offering a no-cost, no-obligation 20-minute “Ask Anything” sounding board session, open to your family, friends, neighbors, or co-workers—anytime they need. Whether it’s to get a fresh perspective, guidance, or just a listening ear, we’re here to help. Feel free to share M2 Financial Group with those in your circle who could benefit from our services.
Random 2024 Updates and Happenings (in no particular order!)
- As you all know, we made a change of business partner / broker dealer early in the year. Joining LPL Financial was a huge undertaking, and many clients have asked us - “so… after the work of moving to a new business partner, has it been worth it?” We are VERY happy (and relieved!) that we can look back almost a year after we made the decision and say a resounding yes! Yes - we are happy and yes, we would do it again. The promises made during the “courting” phase of our relationship with LPL have been fulfilled and we continue to unearth value with the firm. We are excited and confident that, as we continue to absorb the benefits of the investment that LPL has put into the client / advisor relationship, more good will come! We have heard nothing but positive reviews, after some time to get familiar with the systems, from our clients about everything from the statements to the online experience. We appreciate the support and feedback as we continue to implement more positive changes. A couple of LPL housekeeping items:
- Statements and confirmations – My industry loves its paper! Every time we make a change, a confirmation is generated and, ONLY if required, is sent out. Please reach out if you have any questions about this!
- That said, if you would like to limit paper mailings, you can do so through your online access with LPL. Go to our website, find the Client Center tab in the upper right and you will find access as well as instructions!
- We’re proud of the work we do and the relationships we build with our clients. If we've made a positive impact on you and your family, we’d be honored to share your story! Your kind words mean the world to us, and we’d love to feature them on our website and in our future communications. If you have a testimonial or story about how we’ve helped you, please feel free to share it with us. It’s easy—just drop us an email or give us a call. We look forward to hearing from you and thank you for trusting us with your needs. We’re grateful for your support and look forward to continuing to serve you in the future.
- It’s capital gain season again, and we wanted to touch base regarding mutual fund distributions. As you may recall, mutual funds can sometimes make distributions even in years where the overall market performance is flat or negative. In good years, these distributions can be big! We are currently in the process of analyzing holdings that may be impacted by these distributions, working to manage them in the most tax-efficient manner possible. This could result in additional year-end trading activity. If you have any questions or would like to talk this through, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
- Our team remains deeply committed to making a positive impact in the community, both through hands-on efforts and sponsorships. We’re proud of the work we’ve done this year and are excited to continue these efforts in 2025. We are always open to supporting causes that matter to you, so please don’t hesitate to let us know if there’s a cause you’re passionate about—we’d love to help where we can. Right now, our Toy Drive for the Osseo/Maple Grove American Legion is in full swing, and we’re looking forward to several more opportunities to give back together as a team. Your support and involvement mean so much to us, and we’re grateful to be able to make a difference alongside you.
M2 Financial Group - Team Updates 2024-2025!
As you likely know, we have had a reshuffling on our team. Staci Murphy left us in the early fall to pursue other opportunities. We wish her all our best after many years together. The entire team has come together to support each other as we transition client responsibilities primarily to Scott and Jenny.
Scott’s role has been elevated and he is officially a Financial Advisor with M2 Financial Group! He has taken on the relationships that were with Staci and is transitioning other client duties to Jenny Nelson. We have also added Kaitlyn Holmbeck (not my daughter!) to the team in an administrative role!
In my many years of leading this team, I have never felt more comfortable and confident that we have amazing people, in the right seats to serve our clients at the highest of levels! Thank you for your continued confidence in the M2 team. This year, my team wrote their own parts of this note, and I have made comments on many of them as I could not resist… 😊
Marie Henrichs, CFP®, CFS®, CRPC™- 2024 has been one of the busiest years, both personally and professionally! Our transition to LPL Financial kicked off the year and we are so appreciative of everyone’s support while we made the change. We are excited to be a part of this broker dealer, and it seems that we are learning new things every day! I continued my education and completed the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation, earning the CRPC™ marks. A big thank you to my husband, Tim, for covering the home front and providing tons of support during the transition, my studying and, well, every day!
Tim and I celebrated our 20th anniversary this fall. Our oldest, Mckenzie (17) officially committed to Kansas University- Rock Chalk! We are soaking up every moment we can with her before she graduates in the spring, both from high school and the Bethel University Associate of Arts program. Lexie (15) keeps us busy with volleyball and softball and is getting lots of driving practice to all of her activities. Mallory (11) loves gymnastics, dance and even participated in her first triathlon this year. Chase (7) is exploring everything-wrestling, hockey, football, soccer, and skiing have all been this year. It’s fun to cheer them all on in their various activities.
This time of year, always makes me pause in appreciation. I am so thankful for my family, team, friends, health and all the wonderful clients I am blessed to meet with every day!
Susan Anderson, CFS®, CRPC™– has been a valued member of the team and current Advisor on the M2 team for 20 years. This year brought an exciting transition to LPL Financial, and your trust and support during this change have meant so much. Susan also earned the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC™) designation, further enhancing her expertise. We’re grateful for your continued partnership and remain committed to delivering exceptional service and support.
This year has been filled with cherished moments and family adventures for Susan and her husband, Mike. They’ve enjoyed watching their children, Brady (17) and Aubree (15), grow and pursue their passions. Brady has balanced school with DECA, Math League, and a job at Coborn’s while preparing for snowboarding this winter and deciding on a university to attend after he graduates in 2026. Aubree has stayed busy with volleyball, at both the High School and JO Club Season. She is also studying for her driving permit, all while keeping up with her busy social life.
As a family, they’ve shared special times camping, enjoying ATV rides, and traveling, including a memorable trip to Glacier National Park. Susan and Mike also celebrated 18 years of marriage with a summer trip to Sturgis, riding their Harley through the scenic Custer State Park. Susan is grateful for the opportunity to work with her clients and looks forward to another year of helping you all achieve your financial dreams!
Scott Robichaud – Scott has been an integral part of M2 for nearly 15 years, building lasting relationships with clients and providing exceptional service. In 2024, Scott transitioned into the role of Associate Financial Advisor, where he is excited to embrace new challenges while continuing to offer the high-level, personalized care that has defined his career. Driven by a passion for client success and a deep commitment to delivering the best possible experience, Scott is dedicated to helping individuals and families navigate their financial journeys.
Outside of work, Scott’s 2024 has been filled with new adventures and meaningful moments. He and his wife, Mary, who works as a Health Unit Coordinator at Mercy Hospital, share a strong foundation that anchors their family life. Their daughter Eden (23) is thriving as she pursues a career in healthcare, having been accepted to Dunwoody College to train as a CT Tech. Eden recently got engaged to Max Prusak (a familiar name to the M2 team, as he’s related to Shari!), and the family is excited to celebrate. Their son Kyle (20) is at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix working toward a degree in sports journalism and has aspirations of attending the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at ASU. When he’s not studying, Kyle enjoys the gym, concerts, and sports.
A significant highlight for Scott in 2024 was the purchase of a camper at Crescent Bay Resort near Brainerd, a special getaway where he and Mary can spend quality time with family, creating lasting memories. As an "empty nester," Scott and Mary enjoy a variety of activities, including competitive cornhole in the summer and a winter cribbage league to keep their skills sharp. Scott also continues to enjoy running special effects for Gopher home games and remains the acting commissioner of his fantasy football league, which has been going strong for over 25 years.
Looking ahead, Scott is excited about more lake activities, including kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, and jet skiing, as well as making the most of the time spent with his family and friends.
Shari Prusak – Shari has been part of M2 for over 5 years and is loving stepping into the Executive Assistant role. Shari is still enjoying working from FL for M2 Financial Group. She loves talking with each of you while scheduling your Update & Outlook meetings with us. She continues to focus on her new role and supporting the team from Florida. This year was exciting and a challenge to learn new program platforms with our LPL transition.
Shari has two awesome daughters Kelcie and Meagan and a Shiba Inu named Kona that keeps her and her husband moving with a couple walks a day! Her and her husband love being involved with their daughters’ adventures and accomplishments. We are blessed to have such amazing daughters.
Shari and her husband love to go on adventures and travel together. They continue their travels up to Minnesota for work and visiting family and friends and LOVE from them to FL. They also love attending NASCAR races, riding their electric bikes all over, going to music concerts around town, adventuring out and about to small historic FL towns and hanging on the beaches. Shari and Brad are now true Floridian’s their neighbors tell them because they experienced their first hurricane this fall. As the year comes to an end Shari feels truly blessed for my family, friends, new FL friends and my team.
Jenny Nelson - This year has been an exciting one of growth and new experiences. Jenny stepped into a new role of Client Service Manager, allowing her to work more closely with clients and build stronger connections. She was also deeply involved in our transition to LPL, taking on the challenge of learning new platforms and supporting our team throughout the change.
Outside of work, Jenny enjoyed quality time with my family at the lake—a favorite place of hers—and she is always finding new home projects to keep busy. As Jenny looks forward to next year, she is excited to continue growing in her role and getting to serve you better!
MM: I can not say enough about Jenny and the impact she had this year. She has shown up in tough times repeatedly and is a no-nonsense fighter when times are tough!
Jenni Bock – For Jenni, this year as part of the M2 family has been a rewarding experience, as she has continued to get to know our clients better and building more meaningful relationships. She is truly grateful for the opportunity to work with such amazing people.
On a personal note, it’s been a year of adventures and cherished memories. She had the chance to visit Michigan with my husband and our youngest and took her very first trip with just my three girls to Washington, D.C.
Most of the summer was spent at her new camper in Crosby, where the family embraced lake life and the quiet of being away from the cities. There’s nothing quite like the calm and beauty of the outdoors to refresh the soul.
MM: Jenni’s contributions have been amazing. I have heard her more than once (or 12…) times battling vendors to help get things accomplished for our clients. She is amazing and so appreciated!
Kaitlyn Holmbeck – Since joining M2 Financial Group in March 2024, Kaitlyn has had the pleasure of getting to know her incredible team members and connecting with our clients to help meet their financial needs. As one of the newest additions to the M2 team, she has embraced the opportunity to learn and grow in a supportive environment.
This year has been filled with fun and memorable experiences. She attended Winstock with friends this summer, seeing some of her favorite country artists perform live as well as enjoying the Morgan Wallen concert with her family. She spent much of the summer at her family’s cabin up north, enjoying time on the lake and making lasting memories with loved ones. It’s been a year of both personal and professional growth for Kaitlyn, and she is looking forward to what the future holds!
MM: For the record – No – Kaitlyn is not MY Katelyn (daughter…! 😊). We are so pleased with her growth since she has joined our team!
Carol Harvey – Carol is going on her second year with M2 and so far, she says that she is really enjoying it! She says the team here is great to work with and she especially likes her interactions with our clients.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family. Her husband, Jeff, of 36 years; her son, Steven, his wife Hannah and their 2-year-old granddaughter; as well as her daughter, Laura. Outside of work, she spends a good amount of time attending various car shows in her 1957 Chevy, on the golf course, at the cabin, or at their daughter’s dance lessons and recitals. They are also fully enjoying being grandparents! She says that it’s such a joy to have a little one around the house, especially during the holidays.
Matheson Family Update 2024
Blessed. Grateful. Amazed. All words that describe how I feel looking back at 2024 personally. The support from my family during a busy year allowed me to remain focused on my role in the lives of my clients during a time of great change.
Shawna wears many hats in my life and wears them all with poise, beauty, love, joy, and grace. I could not ask for a better partner in my life to help balance everything that we have going on. She continues to be an amazing Mom to our daughter Katelyn. She takes care of me (full time job…). She works for M2 coordinating and executing our events. She volunteers countless hours at our daughter’s school and is the superglue that holds us all together. I’m not sure if there is a word that is beyond love that I can use to describe how I feel about her…!
The kids - Katelyn is in HIGH SCHOOL - What!?!? Yes - 9th grade, driving, playing volleyball and softball, piano, spring musical, beating her Dad at cribbage, loving MN Wild games and spending time with her family and friends. She spends as much time as possible with her dog Cheeto as well. Andrew joined M2 for many hours of data / systems help during our transition and will continue to do so as needed. He still works at a 3D printing company and is a fan of everything author Brandon Sanderson!
Question for you – do you know the feeling you have while waking up after an amazing night’s sleep? That’s how I felt 2024 was for me personally. Feeling reenergized, invigorated, excited, motivated – all those positive feelings – every day. While the business change dominated much of the year for me, there was still plenty of time to have some amazing family memories with travel to Florida, Niagara Falls and a family cruise with my best pal and his family, attending many MN Wild hockey games, helping Katelyn’s school with many volunteer hours, going on many date nights with my favorite girl, battling with my garden (my tomatoes were HORRIBLE this year!) and enjoying friends and family. Our family had a blessed year, and we feel extremely grateful for our health and happiness!
Wrapping with a Few Random Thoughts…
All intentions were to make this year’s message MUCH shorter. As my high school English teacher Mr. Oman said… ..”the road to H E double toothpicks is paved with good….” So, I will keep the finale short:
- Again, this year, M2 Financial Group made charitable donations in lieu of traditional client holiday gifts. “Meals for Minneapolis” is again one of our benefactors. My team and I attended the event, packed meals, and helped students pack meals. It was a rewarding day for us all – thank you for your support! We were also invited to support Fire Fighters for Healing with sponsorship from a group of great friends. This is an amazing organization that has helped so many burn victims and their families in the Twin Cities. We are all blessed to be able to support these organizations!
- The year 2024 found us saying goodbye in the physical to several of our long-term clients with their passing. It is not easy to say goodbye but meeting many family members for the first time and getting to know them has been a blessing. Continued prayers to the families!
- Enclosed, you’ll find our 2025 M2 Financial Group Wall Calendar (old school!!). We hope you enjoy every day of the year with this timeless calendar, and that it brings a touch of nostalgia to your space.
Every one of our clients is appreciated and we thank you for your continued support and business. Providing you with financial Advice, Guidance and Direction is a great responsibility that we take very seriously and work hard every day to do our very best for you and your family. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your extended families!!
With gratitude and love,
M2 Financial Group, 11272 – 86th Avenue North, Maple Grove MN 763-416-8207
Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC.
PS – A few important words from our compliance partners regarding some of the statements in this letter:
Content in this material is for general information only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results.
There is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will enhance overall returns or outperform a non-diversified portfolio. Diversification does not protect against market risk.
Stock investing includes risks, including fluctuating prices and loss of principal. Dividend payments are not guaranteed and may be reduced or eliminated at any time by the company.
International investing involves special risks such as currency fluctuation and political instability and may not be suitable for all investors. These risks are often heightened for investments in emerging markets.
Because of their narrow focus, investments concentrated in certain sectors or industries will be subject to greater volatility and specific risks compared with investing more broadly across many sectors, industries, and companies.
The fast price swings in commodities will result in significant volatility in an investor’s holdings. Commodities include increased risks, such as political, economic, and currency instability, and may not be suitable for all investors.
All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly.
The economic forecasts set forth in this material may not develop as predicted and there can be no guarantee that strategies promoted will be successful.