By Jolene Farley
Mutual Funds magazine has chosen Hills native Jim Sandager as one of the top financial advisers in the nation.
Sandager, a financial planner at Syverson, Strege, Sandager and Co. in Des Moines, Iowa, is modest about the honor.
"I just happen to be the face that was chosen to represent the firm," he said.
Sandager was selected for the second time as one of The Top 100 Advisers in the United States. He was the only adviser from the Midwest region to be profiled in the September issue and is one of three financial planners pictured on the magazine's cover.
"We were honored and privileged and delighted, but for us it's just an exclamation point in the trust of our clients," he said.
The Top 100 selection involved comparison of Syverson, Strege, Sandager and Co. to other firms nationwide.
Assistant managing editor of Mutual Funds Richard Teitelbaum and his team began compiling possible candidates for the Top 100 edition by talking with estate attorneys, professors and other professionals that come into contact with financial planners around the country.
We asked, "Where would you send your mother to get financial advice?" he said. Teitelbaum and his team gathered more information, narrowing the list down from hundreds of candidates, on why the professionals recommended the planners they did.
"We had a great degree of confidence in his (Sandager's) ability," said Teitelbaum. "He was judged to be very good from the technical standpoint."
"It wasn't just a question of here are the numbers," said Teitelbaum. "He's really trying to help you solve your financial problems."
"Our purpose for the entire package is to assure people it's alright to say they need some hand holding."
Syverson, Strege, Sandager and Co. operate according to the four C's, as Sandager calls them, which may explain the firm's 97 percent customer retention rate.
They are comprehensive and holistic in their approach to financial planning, consistent in advice provided to the customer, customer service orientated and completely caring in their approach to clients, according to Sandager.
"We realize we are not just talking about numbers here," said Sandager. "We are talking about people's lives. People are really looking for clarity around their goals. What they ultimately want is peace of mind."
Peace of mind is hard to achieve with the current market. "These are the times that test men's souls," Sandager said. "Are you going to choose to react with fear to the headlines, or are you going to respond with confidence? There is a dark before the dawn. There is risk in the market."
Sandager and his partners work with clients to determine their financial goals and try to take the emotion out of investment decisions.
"We are really helping them achieve what they feel is important in life," he said.
This could include donating money to people who are less fortunate, helping children become contributing members of society or to retiring to some remote location.
Many people take four hours to prepare for retirement but spend 400 hours planning for vacation, according to Sandager.
Sandager enjoys the diversity of his clients. "We are all unique individuals," he said. "That for me is the real joy in it."
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Sandager's partner, David Strege, also has local ties. Raised in Washington, his late grandfather, Paul Beyer, is a Luverne native and his mother, Jo Ann Strege, has returned to Luverne to live.