News & Views
September 25, 2022
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Check All the Boxes When Saving for College
by Matt Roberts, MFM, CFP®, CAP®, Chief Planning Officer
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Are you looking for a way to support your child or grandchild in pursuit of further education?
Are you seeking an immediate tax deduction as well as tax-deferred growth on your contributions?
Do you also want flexibility in your ...
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Out of My Comfort Zone: A Summer Opportunity
by Shannon Smith, Creston Community High School Business Teacher
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... one of my Drake University friends reached out, asking if I might want a part-time, temporary position this summer working at Syverson Strege. I will admit, I was on the fence about this but then I thought back to my classroom. One of the phrases students see when they come into the room is “Great things never came from comfort zones.” ... |
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On Friday, August 19, a severe hail storm pounded the Syverson Strege office and the cars in its parking lot. It was reported that up to 3” diameter hail fell for nearly 30 minutes. Nine employees had major damage to their vehicles, most of which were totaled. Ceiling dust fell on many of the desks from the battering of the hail on the roof. In the days following, you could often hear hallway conversations about insurance negotiations, car rentals, driving other family members’ vehicles, and stories of damage. Employees scrambled to make alternative car arrangements. The best news is that no one was hurt and many of the employees were able to receive a good replacement value for their cars and are on their way to purchasing new vehicles. |
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ISU vs. Iowa Tailgate Party |
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Regardless of the game outcome, ISU fans and Iowa fans can both agree that everyone wins at a company tailgate! Employees from Syverson Strege and our neighbors, Shive Hattery, enjoyed some friendly lunchtime rivalry before the annual Cy-Hawk game last week.
Congratulations to ISU for the win!
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In April, we had our first of five monthly contests in celebration of Syverson Strege’s 25th anniversary. August was our last month of the contest. Each month we have posted two contest questions in the News & Views newsletter and the winner has received one of our cool camper mugs!
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Answers from the August contest:
1. What is Syverson Strege’s client retention rate (including clients who have died)? 98%! We are grateful that almost all of our clients stay with us through their lifetime financial journey. We consider it a privilege to come alongside these families and serve them for so many years.
2. What % of new clients are from introductions by current clients? 49%. Thank you to all of our clients for referring your friends and family to Syverson Strege!
In case you missed the other monthly contest questions and answers, you might find the answers interesting!
April contest:
Guess the number of client families who have been with us for the entire 25 years. The answer is 79! We were thrilled when we calculated this number and are so very thankful we have been able to serve these valued clients for 25 years!
Other than Johnne Syverson and David Strege, what is the employee's name who has been with the firm the longest? The answer is our receptionist, Debbie Richards. As of October 2022, Debbie will have been with us for 20 years. We are grateful for her longtime service to our clients!
May contest:
How old is our oldest client? The answer is 101! No matter what age our clients are, it is a privilege to walk through life and serve them with financial education and guidance.
How many clients (spouse and partner count as one client) are currently served by Syverson Strege? The answer is 530. We are thankful that our client base is growing nearly every week and that we are able to serve each and every family.
June contest:
How many out-of-state clients does Syverson Strege serve? Of our approximately 530 clients, 134 of them live out of state. We are able to effectively serve clients virtually with the latest technology, including Zoom meetings.
How many office locations has Syverson Strege had since 1997? Four. We are thankful for and satisfied with our current location in West Des Moines that has extra space for future growth. Click here to see a "drone" tour of our current office!
July contest:
How many current Syverson Strege employees are related? Five. Jason Gunkel and Lance Gunkel are brothers. Lance Knaack and Kara Knaack are married. Matt Roberts and Lance Gunkel are brothers-in-law since they are married to sisters!
We have 23 employees. As of this month, how many collective years have they worked at Syverson Strege? 228! We are grateful that many of our employees have longevity and experience to better serve our clients.
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Johnne Syverson Retirement Party |
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Syverson Strege hosted an early retirement party for Johnne Syverson who is retiring at the end of 2022. Invitees included lawyers, accountants, and other professionals Johnne has worked with over the years. Before the party, the Syverson Strege team presented Johnne with two special gifts – a memory photo book and a commissioned watercolor painting representing many of his favorite things. Thank you, Johnne! |
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Syverson Strege Fashion Show Recap |
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Syverson Strege’s first-ever fashion show was a morning of pampering, fashion, fun, and fellowship for a large group of women. Attendees viewed the latest fall fashions modeled by Syverson Strege employees. Plus, Nicole Kems from Angel Wings & CT boutique in Winterset, shared info about creative layering with accessories, sassy scarf tying, and more. |
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Going Pro! Come and hear about Moulaye Niang’s journey of how key people encouraged and inspired him to succeed in basketball and in life!
About Moulaye:
From growing up in a small town in Senegal, West Africa to playing basketball at the University of Kansas, Moulaye Niang has learned the importance of having a belief system, following a process, and connecting with people.
- Youngest of eight children
- Almost quit basketball because he had no shoes
- Came to America to play basketball at age 16 without knowing English
- Played under both legends Roy Williams and Bill Self at Kansas
Watch this short video about Moulaye.
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Also, at the event – prizes, refreshments, and Q&A with Moulaye and Chief Investment Officer Jason Gunkel! |
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Join Syverson Strege and Moulaye Niang either in-person or virtually for this free event on November 9 from 3:30-5:00 PM.
Register by clicking the button below or calling or emailing Deb Longseth at 515-225-6000 or DLongseth@onlyworkforyou.com.
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Meri Grogan, Director of Finance and Administration, has been a longtime volunteer for the Military Tribute Concert, an organization whose purpose is to honor all who have served in the United States military through music (concert at the Iowa State Fair), fellowship, recognition, and support for military members and their families through fundraising and community awareness.
And this year, Meri’s husband, Tim Grogan, was honored with the Quilt of Valor®. A Quilt of Valor® is awarded to a Service Member or Veteran who has been touched by war. The Quilt of Valor® says unequivocally, “Thank you for your service and sacrifice in serving our nation.”
Tim enlisted in the Army and served as Mobile Launch Systems crewman in Fort Sill, OK, home of the Field Artillery. He next joined the Army National Guard Unit and was mobilized for Iraqi Freedom and sent to Fort Dix, NJ for pre-mobilization training and then deployed to Camp Bucca, Iraq near the Kuwait border. SSG Grogan served as a MP squad leader in the Operations Platoon in the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6). Thank you, Tim, for your service and congratulations on your award!
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Take me out to the ball game, take me out with the crowd! Syverson Strege employees enjoyed an afternoon cheering on the Iowa Cubs. However, it looks like Jason Gunkel was a defector with his Minnesota Twins shirt! Syverson Strege employees regularly enjoy taking part in a variety of team-building activities. |
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Meet Your Syverson Strege Team – Ryan Simpson |
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What’s the biggest fish Ryan has ever caught? Or is it just a fish tale? Get to know Associate Financial Planner Ryan Simpson in this newest edition of “Meet Your Syverson Strege Team.” |
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Backpack Program - Food Bank of Iowa |
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Syverson Strege is happy to support the Food Bank of Iowa’s BackPack Program. The Backpack Program provides thousands of BackPack sacks to partner schools every week. These BackPack sacks give elementary students in need a sack of nutritious, kid-friendly food each Friday during the school year. To learn how you can support the more than 300,000 Iowans facing food insecurity, click here.
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You are invited to join Syverson Strege employees for the “Game for Good” on October 2 at 2:00 PM at Principal Park. We are honored to sponsor the “Game for Good” where Central Iowa players and celebrities will compete in a charity softball game at Principal Park to support Can Play. You can learn more about the event here.
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United Way of Central Iowa |
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Syverson Strege is honored to support the 2022 United Way Campaign by providing a donation to the Delta Dental United Way silent auction.
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Syverson Strege
4125 Westown Parkway, Suite 104
West Des Moines, IA 50266
515-225-6000
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