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What’s your role at Syverson Strege & Co.?

The firm works both with individuals, family businesses and charitable organizations. The piece of the company that I represent is our wealth coaching piece. As I look at wealth coaching, I see it as my opportunity to educate, encourage and empower clients to be more effective stewards of their financial resources.

You were with Wells Fargo for 20 years. Why did you make the transition to Syverson Strege?

I made the transition in a variety of interests and considerations. I wanted to make a change to an independent firm like Syverson Strege, and wealth coaching is a role that, in a different fashion, I played at Wells Fargo. This gives me an opportunity to work in a very different, smaller, closer-to-the-client environment. I’ve known Syverson Strege & Co. for a number of years. In fact, I met Johnne Syverson and David Strege when we were on the board of directors for the Central Iowa chapter of the International Association for Financial Planning. Both David and Johnne have distinguished themselves in this field, and their reputation and the reputation of this firm is certainly something that drew me to it.

Has the economy changed your approach as a wealth coach?

I think the events that we have seen in the past nine to 12 months have caused many individuals and businesses to reflect on a new reality. It’s not a matter of merely staying the course, but on the other hand, it’s not a matter of changing everything and overhauling everything that is already in place. It is a call to seriously address the current economy with perhaps a new and better perspective; to make sure (my clients’) financial plan or investment portfolio is structured in a way that makes accommodations for the events that we have seen unfold over the past several months.

Are your clients being more cautious?

Well, I think the risk spectrum has been reevaluated, and I think individuals over the past several months have taken a decidedly different approach to risk and the amount of risk that they feel is appropriate for them. I think today people are more concerned about being assured of a financial return on their investments rather than seeing an eradication in value of their investments, or a sharp diminishment in value of their investments. So rather than trying to hit the proverbial home runs and going for outsized returns, today people are more accepting of a slighter return on their investments with the security of that return.

Is there one piece of advice that you give to your clients?

As a coach, it’s encouraging clients to be ever attentive to their game plan, to their investment plan and to their financial plan; constantly reviewing it and making sure that it is sharp and consistent with their goals and objectives. Also encouraging them to not be complacent and rather be vigilant about their situation; communicating more regularly with advisers and other people whom they rely on for help.

Is this a 9-to-5 job?

This really is not a 9-to-5 job. This is a job where you want to be available to clients no matter what day of the week it is or what time of the day it is.

What do you enjoy outside of work?

I have been a distance runner for several years, and I’ve been able to participate in several marathons over the past few years, so I enjoy that. But I also like sailing and boating in Clear Lake, where my family has a property that I like to call our cottage.