SYVERSON STREGE AND COMPANY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications & Marketing
Christina Gayman joined Syverson Strege in 2022 as Director of Communications & Marketing after spending the previous 12 years in corporate communications roles at large companies in the grocery and construction industries, including Hy-Vee, Inc., and Caterpillar, and leading client accounts at marketing agencies Two Rivers Marketing in Des Moines and Zenzi in San Diego.
Writing is her passion, and the first seven years of her career were spent as a newspaper and magazine writer in Florida and Alabama near where she grew up. Christina has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Florida, and has her master's degree in journalism from the University of Alabama. She is also an Accredited Public Relations (APR) professional who loves to create and implement strategic communications and marketing campaigns.
Personal:
I live in Grimes with my husband Greg, our two daughters Norah and Hannah, and our French bulldog Typo. I love to run, hike, read, travel, listen to podcasts, and spend time with my family.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Senior CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER
- Senior Financial Planner
David Strege serves clients as a Senior CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner at Syverson Strege in West Des Moines, helping individuals and families lay out an integrated personal financial plan to efficiently get them from where they are to where they want to be. He also serves on the investment committee and is chairman of the board of directors.
David earned a B.S.B.A. in Finance with a concentration in personal financial planning from Drake University. He earned his CFP® certification in 1982 and in 2008 served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the U.S.A. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. In 1987 he received the Chartered Financial Analyst® certification to better assist clients with their investment portfolios. He earned the Certified Kingdom Advisor® designation in 2017.
He continues to improve his professional knowledge through attending conferences put on by the Financial Planning Association, Chartered Financial Analyst Institute, Kingdom Advisors, and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisers, which is the industry association of fee-only financial planners.
Personal financial planning has been his only career. He has served the profession by being on the National Boards of the Financial Planning Association and Certified Financial Planners Board of Standards. While he was Chairman of the CFP Board in 2008, he traveled to other CFP countries to make sure the standards were consistent worldwide. David spoke at the FPA of Singapore's conference, the CFP Professional International Forum in Christchurch, New Zealand and China's first Financial Planning Conference in Shanghai.
In 1997, the central Iowa Chapter of IAFP presented him the Ric Jorgenson Award. This prestigious award is presented annually to the financial planning professional who exemplifies excellence and high standards in the field of financial planning and community service. Worth magazine has listed David as one of the top financial advisors in the United States. This national recognition comes from David being part of a team that won two national awards for financial planning case studies.
David served on the Board of Directors for the National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®) for nine years and served as Chairman in 2018. He enjoys teaching others and implementing policy governance to have more effective boards.
Personal:
My wife, Jennifer, and I live near Winterset, Iowa, have two adult children and all of the family members are avid volleyball players. Jennifer and I still medal in volleyball at a national and international level.
Job Titles:
- Client Service Specialist
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Chief Investment Officer, Financial Planner
Jason Gunkel has been with Syverson Strege since 2004 when he started as a college intern and worked his way into his current roles as Chief Investment Officer and Financial Planner. He spent a short time at Principal Global Investors before realizing that his passion is working directly with individuals and families to help them achieve their goals. He leads the Investment Committee where he helps design and monitor the firm's investment strategies.
Job Titles:
- Associate Financial Planner at Syverson Strege
Jennifer Scheck is an Associate Financial Planner at Syverson Strege. Born in Illinois, she enjoyed the Chicago suburbs through elementary age and then relocated to Lawrence, Kansas for middle school, high school, and college.
Jennifer holds a master's degree in Math Education from the University of Kansas and had a career as a high school math teacher and college adjunct professor. Seeking to redirect her math talent to a business environment, Jennifer broadened her finance experience at Principal where she was a Financial Analyst in Retirement Income Solutions. She enjoys merging her passions for both education and financial planning to serve clients and support the financial planners at Syverson Strege.
Personal:
I am intentional about integrating a good work ethic and enthusiasm into everything I pursue. I love spending time with my three children, traveling, and making memories. We all like to cheer on the Hawks...Jayhawks and Hawkeyes! I enjoy being outdoors and I stay active by walking, running, cycling, and strength training.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate Financial Planner
Jerin Young has been with Syverson Strege since 2016. She grew up in the Johnston area but ventured south to complete her education. She studied Finance at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. There she completed her bachelor's degree in finance with summa cum laude honors in May 2016. She earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification in 2019 and the Certified Kingdom Advisor® certification in 2021. Jerin is dedicated to serving clients and helping them meet their financial goals.
Personal:
I have an intense passion for helping others. I love that I have found a career that I am able to help people in such an important, life-changing way. When I am not at work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, playing guitar, and getting involved with my church. I am married to my husband Nathaniel, and we have two children. I strive to make the most of every day and I live by these words from Dr. Seuss, "Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you."
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Strategic Advisor
Johnne Syverson has more than 45 years of experience in financial consulting and advising. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner, and one of only 2,000 practitioners in the United States who is credentialed as an Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®). He was among the first in the nation to attain the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) designation. In addition, he has a Masters of Science in Financial Services degree (MSFS) from the American College in Bryn Mawr, Penn.
Johnne specializes in values-based planning for high-net-worth families, a process that incorporates their philanthropic values into the traditional financial and estate planning process. He also serves as a resource to other professionals in the area of advanced estate and charitable tax planning.
In 1981, he co-founded the first independent fee-for-service financial planning firm in Iowa. He has served as past president of the Central Iowa chapter of the Financial Planning Association (FPA). Johnne served as past president of the Mid-Iowa Estate Planning Council, and is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) made up exclusively of fee-only planners. Johnne served as past president of the International Association of Advisors in Philanthropy (AiP), an office that reflects his expertise in charitable planning. He also served as past president of Mid-Iowa Planned Giving Council. Johnne currently serves as the Chair of the Iowa Christian Generosity Council.
Johnne has been interviewed by many media sources and has been named as a resource in the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Investment Advisor, Financial Planning, Boomer Planning, the Des Moines Register, CCH Practical Estate Planning, Des Moines Business Record, Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman, Progressive Farmer, Farm Journal, The Advisor published by World Vision and NAPFA Advisor magazine.
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Kara Knaack started working at Syverson Strege in 2022. Originally hailing from Sergeant Bluff, IA, she completed her communications degree at Northwestern College after spending time studying abroad in London. Kara also holds a master's degree from Gonzaga University in Communications Leadership. Prior to this, she spent several years co-owning and leading business development with Des Moines Mom, a locally based parenting resource website. Kara has a marketing and client relationships background. She enjoys helping businesses connect with their audience through integrative marketing and content creation.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Syverson Strege 's Managing Director
Lance Gunkel is Syverson Strege's Managing Director, overseeing the design and implementation of the firm's financial, client service, staffing, and reporting processes. His objective is to make sure the company is meeting its service commitments to clients. He also plays a role in shaping the future growth and development of the organization, as well as serving as a member of the investment committee.
Lance grew up in Bismarck, North Dakota, and has been with the firm since 2003. He received a Bachelor's degree in Finance from Drake University and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and Finance from the University of Iowa.
Lance is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) charterholder. He has been quoted in many publications including the CFA Magazine, Des Moines Register, Des Moines Business Record, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Financial Planning magazine.
Personal:
I am driven to work hard for our clients in an effort to help them reach the goals that are important to them and, in addition, assist the communities they live in.
Job Titles:
- Associate Financial Planner
Lance Knaack joined the team at Syverson Strege as Associate Financial Planner in July of 2020. Lance has a long history in the finance industry while working for over a decade at Voya Financial in their mutual fund division. Lance is excited to use his financial knowledge to help and serve Syverson Strege clients.
Lance was born and raised on a farm one mile north of Pierson in Northwest Iowa. Lance attended Iowa State University where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Education and a minor in Ag Systems Technology.
Personal:
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, coaching my children's baseball and soccer teams, as well as being a fan of the Iowa State Cyclones and Minnesota Twins. I like to recharge by heading back to the family farm to work on the weekends from time to time. I am an active member of NorthPoint Church in Johnston. I reside in Grimes with my wife Kara and my two kids, Lucan and Gracelyn.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Chief Planning Officer at Syverson Strege
- Chief Planning Officer, Financial Planner
Matt Roberts is the Chief Planning Officer at Syverson Strege and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner. He is committed to serving others to enrich and empower their lives. His primary focus is to ensure clients maximize what they desire from their money and reach their personal and financial goals. Matt provides peace of mind, joy, and clarity of personal and family wealth through comprehensive financial planning strategies. He often says "there are only three place you will leave your money when you are gone: your family, your community, or the government. It's up to you to decide your legacy. Matt also leads the firm's Planning Committee which is responsible for the oversight of the financial process. He earned his B.S. in finance from Iowa State University and a Master of Financial Management (MFM) degree from Drake University.
Personal:
When I'm away from work, my primary focus is spending time with family. Currently, I live in Urbandale with my wife, Laura, our two sons, Henry and Charlie, and our basset hound. In high school, I developed a passion for music and learned to play the guitar, bass guitar, and drums. As I've gotten older, I've pared down to a one-man band and focus mostly on playing the acoustic guitar.
Megan Geary joined the Syverson Strege team as an office assistant in 2014 and currently works as Accounting Assistant. While her primary role is to assist with billing, she is a great resource for any administrative needs that arise.
Megan grew up in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a degree in sociology. Prior to joining Syverson Strege, she worked in an administrative role in the real estate industry.
Personal:
I am a social person by nature and I love getting to interact with so many different people on a daily basis both at work and at home. I enjoy spending time with my husband Zach, and our two boys Ayden and Talen. Together, we share a love of music and traveling.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance & Administration
- Syverson Strege 's Director of Finance and Administration
Meri Grogan is Syverson Strege's Director of Finance and Administration. Meri has been with the firm since 2012. As her title indicates, she wears many different hats here. Meri holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Maine. She has more than 20 years of broad-based business experience in finance and human resources. She draws upon this and her years of accounting experience to help monitor, evaluate, and reinforce Syverson Strege's financial foundation.
Personal:
I am constantly encouraged by our firm's commitment to a values based life, whether it is for our clients or our team members. This manifests itself not only financially, but also influences how we all live our lives.
Job Titles:
- Associate Financial Planner / Operations & Administration
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate Financial Planner
Tim Roemmich is a Senior Associate Financial Planner and has been with the firm since 2004. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and has earned the Chartered Advisor for Senior Living® (CASL®) designation. Tim holds a bachelor's degree from Northwestern College. He has worked in the financial industry for more than 25 years.
Job Titles:
- IT Support Specialist
- Syverson Strege 's IT Specialist
Tim Schau is Syverson Strege's IT Specialist. He oversees all our technology-related issues, including software maintenance and set-up, troubleshooting IT issues for our staff, and is the liaison with our third-party IT Management team. In addition, Tim is a key member of the task force keeping our office as paperless as possible.
Tim's hometown is Carroll, Iowa. Tim earned his Associates degree in 2002, majoring in Computer Programming from AIB College of Business.
Personal:
In my spare time, you will either find me on the golf course, listening to music, or watching the Yankees and Hawkeyes. I also enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I love a good BBQ. I have become an avid reader and frequent Half Price Books.
Tracy White joined the Syverson Strege team as Receptionist in January 2023. She grew up in Omaha, Neb., graduated from University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachleor's in Communication Studies. (Go Big Red!!) After graduating college, she moved to Davenport, Iowa, to be a merchandise buyer for Von Maur. In 2005, Tracy transitioned to the banking industry, first in retail lending and then commercial lending, Tracy's passion has always been making each customer feel welcome and taken care of.
In 2017, Tracy left banking and moved into an entirely new profession, gym ownership. She owned, managed, and was the head coach for a Farrell's Extreme BodyShaping location for more than four years. She sold in the gym in August 2022. Most recently, Tracy was a substitute teacher for West Des Moines Community Schools.
Personal:
I live in Clive with my husband Eric and two kids, Jordin and Evan, who both attend West Des Moines Community Schools. When not at work, I enjoy spending time with family, traveling, thrifting (I like to call it treasure hunting), spending time outside, reading (I love science fiction, history, or philosophy books) and cooking. I love to try new dishes! We also enjoy going to college football games, our house bleeds red: Cyclone Red and Husker Red.
Teamwork. Friendships. Encouragement. Kindness. Patience. Special. Peace and calm. Compassion and care. Serving each other. Like family. Those are a few words and phrases that describe the culture at Syverson Strege.
We have a "people over process" culture with respect and support for each other. Relationship building is an intentional focus. Opinions and ideas are listened to. Our team members also enjoy great benefits and a flexible, modern work environment!
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Financial Planner
Tyler (TC) Conley grew up in Ankeny, Iowa, and is a second-generation CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner in the Des Moines community. He joined the team at Syverson Strege in 2019 as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner. He also holds Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) designations.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER
- Financial Planner
Wayne Johnson is a skilled professional that serves people where they are by asking the right questions and listening to the answers. Wayne takes a practical approach to achieving the outcomes that his clients seek. He engages all that he meets in a down to earth and warm manner.
Wayne grew up in a multi-generational family business in rural Iowa. His background provided his most valuable experience that now helps him work with families and business owners, particularly those related to agriculture.
Wayne is a graduate of Iowa State University with a bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration. He worked for more than 15 years in Fortune 500 companies in project management, quality engineering and procurement prior to entering the financial services field.
Wayne is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner, Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®), and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®). He has been serving individuals and families in the financial services industry for nearly 20 years.
Personal:
My mission is to recognize and take good care of the gifts I have been given. Therefore, in my time away from the office I enjoy biking, trail running, or other fitness activities to take care of my health. I take care of my relationships with my wife Sandy and our two adult children by enjoying time with Sandy and staying in communication with the busy millennials. Sandy and I have learned that being a grandparent is a really good deal, especially compared with being the parents of teenagers.