4 Documents to Complete Before a Child Goes to College

By Meri Grogan, Director of Finance and Administration

I have been a parent for 18 years, but I never really thought about having an adult child and what that would mean until I read a 2023 Wealth Management article in The Wall Street Journal titled, "Before Your Child Goes to College, Complete These Documents." It was then that I realized how many things change once your child turns 18, and how important it is for parents to know about these documents to continue to support their children, especially in emergencies or when big decisions need to be made. 

Syverson Strege’s Core Values: Compassion

By Jason Gunkel, CFP®, CFA, CAP®, Chief Investment Officer

One of the most important Syverson Strege core values to me is compassion. I think compassion is at the heart of serving clients and motivates us to do our job to the best of our ability. When people try to define compassion, they might think of empathy. So, what is the difference between the two?

Podcast

Banks vs. Credit Unions

Do you know the difference between a bank and a credit union? In this short Finance Moment podcast episode, Financial Planner Mike Murkins provides a quick overview of the differences between these two types of financial institutions and how to select the best one for your needs. You can listen to the full episode here.

Inside Look

Holiday Notice

Our office will be closed Thursday, July 4 to celebrate Independence Day. We will resume normal business hours on Friday, July 5. 

Events

• Sept. 6: Power of Connection Women’s Series: Women in Business Breakfast, 9-11 a.m. at Raccoon River Park Nature Lodge, 2500 Grand Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50265. (Brunch will be provided.) More details to come! 
• Oct. 3: Client Appreciation Event @ Rewind Hotel in West Des Moines; 4:30-7:30 p.m. (Heavy appetizers and beverages will be provided.) Formal invitation to come!
• Oct. 10: “The 2024 Election: How It Could Affect the Markets and Your Portfolio” virtual event, Noon-1 p.m. Presented by Dr. Apollo Lupescu, Vice President at Dimensional Fund Advisors and Jason Gunkel, Chief Investment Officer at Syverson Strege.
• Oct. 23: “Protect Yourself by Being Cybersmart” workshop, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Syverson Strege office. Virtual option available via Zoom. Lunch will be provided for those attending in person. 

RSVP for these events to Deb Longseth at (515) 225-6000 or 

dlongseth@onlyworkforyou.com. 

Philanthropy

DMARC Donation

Earlier this month, Syverson Strege donated $1,000 to DMARC to help meet the rising need. Just a couple of days after the close of the 2024 school year, The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry Network assisted 2,080 unique individuals on Tuesday, June 4 – setting a single-day record of people assisted. Through June 30, monetary donations to DMARC are being matched by an anonymous donor (up to $7,000). To learn more or donate, visit https://www.dmarcunited.org/. 

Nonprofit Volunteer Fair

On June 8, we hosted our first Nonprofit Volunteer Fair in our office parking lot with more than a dozen nonprofits onsite to share their missions and volunteer opportunities with individuals seeking to get involved in the community. Thank you to all who participated and attended; we hope you found new connections!