Blog

Spring Seasonal Income Opportunities for Retirees

By Damian Beard, CFP®, Financial Planner



For retirees or those preparing for retirement, the arrival of spring can offer a fresh start — not just for your garden but also for your finances. Whether you’re looking to stay busy or supplement your retirement income, spring brings a variety of seasonal job opportunities that can help you stay financially secure while still enjoying your newfound free time.

Podcast

529 College Savings Plans

In this short Finance Moment podcast, Financial Planner Mike Murkins explains the various reasons a 529 College Savings Plan is a smart, flexible and tax-efficient way to help cover education costs. Tune into the episode here.

Quarterly Market Update

Chief Investment Officer Jason Gunkel shares information regarding Q1 market performance. Read his message and watch the video here.

In the News

Syverson Strege Named a Best Financial Advisory Firm by USA TODAY

We are excited to share Syverson Strege has been named a 2025 Best Financial Advisory Firm by USA TODAY! Thank you to our clients and colleagues for choosing to work with us over the past 28 years! You can read the full article and ranking information here.

Disclaimer: This independent ranking was provided by USA TODAY in conjunction with market research firm Statista and is based on the growth of the company’s assets under management (AUM) over the short and long term and the number of recommendations we received from clients and peers. No compensation has been provided by Syverson Strege with obtaining this rating.

Weathering Market Volatility

Economic, political, and global uncertainties can naturally lead to anxiety, stress, and even frustration. Syverson Strege's Managing Director Lance Gunkel spoke with WHO-13 earlier this month about the best ways to stay focused during market volatility when it comes to your financial plan and investments. Watch the news segment here. 

Events

• May 7-9: Document Shredding & Recycling Event @ Syverson Strege Office, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. all three days. 

• May 21: Retiree Coffee Meetup @ Syverson Strege Office, 8:30 a.m.; If you have recently retired, or are retiring soon, connect with others in the same life phase, complete with coffee and pastries. RSVP to DLongseth@onlyworkforyou.com.com.

• June 17 & June 24, 2025: Financial Foundations - Education for Lifelong Success: Created by the Syverson Strege team, Financial Foundations is a financial education course to learn more about the purpose of money, spending, investing, savings, income taxes, insurance, estate planning, and charitable giving. This two-part course will be held 5:30-7:30 p.m. on both dates at the Syverson Strege office. Dinner will be provided. Registration is limited to the first 30 individuals or family units. Register for this free, two-part course here. 

Inside Look

Congratulations, Jennifer!

Congratulations to Jennifer Scheck, Associate Financial Planner, for passing the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ exam in March!  

Client Easter Egg Hunt + Party

We loved hosting our clients' and team members' children at our Easter egg hunt + party! From the stress-free egg hunt and delicious cookies by Glorious Desserts, LLC. to a special visit from the Easter Bunny himself, it was a fun-filled afternoon. 

Philanthropy

DMARC’s Spring Greens

Syverson Strege once again sponsored Des Moines Area Religious Council’s (DMARC) signature event Spring Greens in early April. DMARC’s mission of “Working together to meet basic human needs for the greater Des Moines community” is one we are proud to support. 

Iowa Prayer Breakfast

For 64 years, The Iowa Prayer Breakfast has hosted Iowa’s Governor along with hundreds of legislators, businesses, and community leaders. This annual gathering unites Iowa’s Christian Community and Syverson Strege is proud to support and attend this inspiring event. Several Syverson Strege team members had the pleasure of listening to keynote speaker Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer of The Moddy Church.

Out and About

Helping Clients Create Meaningful Giving Plans

In March, Chief Planning Officer Matt Roberts spoke to the Mid-Iowa Planned Giving Council as part of a panel sharing how financial advisors and nonprofits can work together to help individuals have a meaningful impact on the organizations they support. We are blessed to work with so many generous clients! 

Iowa Personal Finance Challenge

Financial Planner Ben Geiger recently served as a judge for the Iowa Personal Finance Challenge State Finals, hosted by the Iowa Jump$tart Coalition. The challenge is an opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge of personal finance. State finalists were assigned a fictional case-study with time to prepare a presentation sharing their recommendations for the fictional client before a panel of judges, including economists, business leaders and financial professionals.