7 Tips to Save (and Pay) for College

By Damian Beard, CFP®, MBA, Associate Financial Planner

According to the Education Data Initiative, enrolling in a U.S. college costs an average of $38,270 per student yearly. This amount covers tuition, supplies, and daily living expenses. For a 4-year course, you’d need to save between $108,584 and $234,512 — depending on whether it’s a public or private institution.

Celebrate National Savings Day: The Power of Starting Early

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

National Savings Day is a day dedicated to something most of us know we should do more of and it can be a source of anxiety. Saving money often feels like a chore we put off – like organizing the garage – but here is the good news: Starting a solid savings plan early in life can be much easier and less painful than you think, and the payoff can be huge!

Market Update

Chief Investment Officer Jason Gunkel provides our Q3 Market Update and shares how inflation, slow job growth, anticipated interest rate cuts and the upcoming election have all impacted the markets.

Podcast

Starting a Roth IRA for a Child

Did you know that children can begin contributing to a Roth IRA once they start earning income? In this short Finance Moment podcast episode, Associate Financial Planner Lance Knaack shares the benefits of contributing to a retirement account as young as possible. You can listen to the full episode here.

Financial Updates

Chief Investment Officer Jason Gunkel recently moderated a webinar in conjunction with Dimensional Fund Advisers titled “Taking Stock in Elections: To Trade, or Not to Trade?” The webinar shared a wealth of information about historical market performance in election years, as well as what you might expect from your portfolio during this election cycle. You can view that webinar here. 

Events

You're Invited!

• Nov. 8: “Impactful Giving” workshop, 9-11 a.m. at the Syverson Strege office. Virtual option available via Zoom. Brunch will be provided for those attending in person. Register here. 
• Dec. 3: Power of Connection Women’s Series: Purposeful Planning for 2025, 4:30-7 p.m. at Middlebrook Mercantile, 4125 Cumming Ave., Cumming, IA. Charcuterie and beverages will be provided. Register here.
• Dec. 13: It’s a Wrap!, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Syverson Strege office. Free gift-wrapping event for clients. Refreshments will be served. Please consider bringing hat/mitten donations for our drive for Orchard Place. RSVP here to have your gifts wrapped.

Save the Date!

• Feb. 18 & 25, 2025: Financial Foundations - Financial Coaching for the Next Generation: 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 or virtually via Zoom. Registration limited to first 30 individuals or family units. Register for this free, two-part course here.  

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

dlongseth@onlyworkforyou.com

Inside Look

Vote for Us!

Syverson Strege is working to bring home the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce “Best of the West” award for Best Wealth Management Company for the second year in a row, and we need your help! Between now and the end of the day on Thursday, Oct. 31, please visit https://wdmchamber.org/best-of-the-west/ and write in Syverson Strege as your vote for Best Wealth Management Company (category #97). You can vote once per day from both your computer and your mobile device. Note: You do not have to fill in every category to submit. We appreciate your vote!

Office Closure

The Syverson Strege office will be closed Nov. 27 for a team volunteer event, and Nov. 28-29 to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. We will resume normal business hours on Monday, Dec. 2.

Out and About

Mid-Iowa Planned Giving Council Annual Conference

Financial Planner Bobby Daniels represented Syverson Strege earlier this month at the Mid-Iowa Planned Giving Council annual conference. We understand the difference planned giving can make not only for the organizations supported, but also in the lives of the donors who give. We are proud to be a longtime supporter of MIPGC!

Philanthropy

Wild Boar Challenge for Charity

Several team members took on the 5-mile Wild Boar Challenge for Charity this month. Cameron Pietzsch, Nicole Tripp, Wayne Johnson and Tim Schau all competed in the event, while Tracy White and Jason Gunkel both volunteered to assist participants. The Wild Boar Challenge is an off-road obstacle course that supports Wildwood Hills Ranch which provides life-changing educational programming, leadership development, job skill training and equine therapy for youth and at-risk veterans in need. Syverson Strege is honored to be able to support worthy causes like Wildwood Hills Ranch through corporate sponsorship dollars, volunteer opportunities and participation in events such as this one.

4^th Annual 100 Men on a Mission Golf Outing

We were honored to sponsor the 4th Annual 100 Men on a Mission Golf Outing benefitting Single Parent Provision, an organization focused on partnering with single parents to help strengthen their lives and the lives of their families. This year’s Syverson Strege FIRST PLACE four-man team included Tim Schau, Tim Roemmich, Cameron Pietzsch and Jason Gunkel.