Please enjoy this recent article about the Syntegra team!
We Built This
As Syntegra continues to grow, founders Tom Burke and Jeff Fiehler celebrate the firm’s stellar advisors, staff, and—above all—clients.
By Whit Hill
Warmth. Communication. Relationships.
When asked about Syntegra Wealth Management, founders and financial advisors Tom Burke, CFP®, ChFC®, APMA®, and Jeff Fiehler, APMA®, inevitably find themselves talking less about numbers and more about people. That's because a deep humanism and a belief in the power of the integrative mind have fueled the firm's extraordinary success since its inception in 2022.
"Jeff and I - along with the entire team - thought long and hard about the name we chose," Tom recalls. "The Syntegra name, first suggested by Terry Moyers, APMA®, is a blending of our core values: synergy and integrity, always. This has proven to be a steady guide." The firm's people-centered philosophy infuses every team meeting, every client interaction, adds Jeff. "Our success relies on the strength and diversity of our team, the trust we've built with our clients, and the friendly office environment which enables our best work."
Syntegra's ten financial advisors are proudly intergenerational, ranging in age from 20s-60s and holding a wide variety of professional designations. They are buoyed by a positive, collaborative spirit as they work together on clients' behalf. If a client is confronting a complex tax issue, for example, their advisor can pop into the office of fellow advisor Sarah Burkemper, CFP®, CPA whose tax expertise is a huge asset to everyone. "There are many opportunities to integrate tax planning with our clients' investment goals," says Sarah. "Our clients benefit when we can pull tax strategies into their overall plan; I love working with the team to uncover and implement those strategies."*
"I couldn't ask for a better staff and better advisors to work with," adds Terry, the firm's newest partner. "This environment supports my personal mission: to do good things for good people."
The Syntegra staff works tirelessly to provide clients with white-glove service. Calls are answered quickly or immediately returned. Problems are solved, promises kept, birthdays remembered. The firm's eight-person support staff, headed by the calm and confident Lisa Witt, includes experts in everything from client service to data analysis to trading and integration. "Everyone is united in their desire to make every client interaction warm, positive, and effective." says Jeff.
"To be honest, what we do here is about a lot more than money," adds Tom. "At the heart of this place are the personal relationships that develop between client and advisor. We hear what's going on in their lives, celebrate with them, console them during hard times. Our clients often tell us they cherish that connection. We do too."
Some firms may measure success in dollar amounts, but, says Tom, "the fact that Syntegra recently crossed over to $1 billion in assets is simply a testament to the hard work of our advisors and staff. What's truly important are the clients who have joined us on this journey, and whose friendship and loyalty mean the world to us. They are the reason we do this important work. We're so grateful to them."
*Securities America and its representatives do not provide tax advice, therefore, it is important to coordinate with your tax advisor regarding your specific situation.
Securities offered through Securities America, Inc. (SAI) member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Syntegra Private Wealth Group, LLC. (SPWG). SAI is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of SAI.
2023 Fall Updates
As autumn approaches and we see the vibrant colors of the changing leaves, it reminds us that it's the perfect time to review our financial landscapes as well. We hope this message finds you well amidst the hustle and bustle of fall sports and gardening, and that you are considering your year-end financial plans.
Our calendars are filling up with regular reviews, financial plan updates, and for some, year-end tax planning. We're here to assist you with all these topics and more. If you've been thinking about estate plan reviews, income planning, or achieving your accumulation goals, please don't hesitate to let us know. Your financial well-being is our priority.
In addition to the investments already in your portfolio, we've identified opportunities to make your cash work harder for you. We've found FDIC insured CDs offering rates as high as 5.5%, and the more liquid Schwab Money Market Fund is earning over 5%. Many of you have been taking advantage of these opportunities by adding to your accounts to earn a higher yield on your cash. The current outlook for short-term rates suggests that they may remain "higher for longer," presenting a real opportunity for your cash to earn more. If you have excess cash sitting idle, reach out to us, and we can explore ways to make it work harder for you.
Finally, you may notice some gradual rebalancing in your portfolios in the coming weeks. A small portion of the market is performing exceptionally well this year, particularly technology stocks. After a challenging year for tech stocks in the past, this rebound is not surprising. In our last communication, we discussed the narrow market rally this year. While not all asset classes are moving up, there are often opportunities. Our recent adjustments focus on high-quality portfolio positions that offer potential upside while maintaining stability. If you have questions about these changes, your risk tolerance, or the components of your diversified portfolio, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're here to discuss any concerns you may have.
We want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for your trust and business. We appreciate the opportunity to be part of helping you achieve your financial goals and for your patience during the recent TD Ameritrade/Schwab conversion. We would also like to remind you, any accounts that were included in the conversion will have two monthly statements for September.
- One statement from TD Ameritrade – likely showing $0 balance because the positions and cash moved to Schwab
- One statement from Schwab – displaying the full balance of the converted account(s)
- If there is any residual activity in the TD account(s), such as dividend or interest payments, you may receive two statements in subsequent months as well.
The Syntegra team is readily available to assist you. Please feel free to get in touch, and let's continue the conversation.
Tom Burke and Jeff Fiehler Named to Forbes 2023 Best-In-State Wealth Advisors
Syntegra Private Wealth Group is pleased to announce our owners, Tom Burke and Jeff Fiehler have been named to the 2023 edition of the Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors.
With all the recent uncertainty and recession fears, the steady hand of a seasoned wealth advisor is more important than ever. This listing represents those advisors who have a track record of success over time.
The Best-In-State Wealth Advisors rankings are compiled by SHOOK Research. Achieving this recognition is an honor that symbolizes high ethical standards, quality of service and success in business. These accolades reflect both Tom and Jeff's dedication, drive and commitment to making a difference in the lives of our clients.
We are honored to have Tom and Jeff representing our team. We hope you will join us in congratulating them on this accomplishment.
-The Forbes/SHOOK Best-In-State Advisors list spotlights more than 4,000 top advisors across the country. Each advisor was nominated by their respective firm, then vetted and ranked by SHOOK Research. SHOOK Research evaluated candidates on five criteria: in-person interviews, industry experience, compliance records, revenue produced, and assets under management. The award may not be representative of any one client’s experience. The award is not indicative of the investment advisor’s future performance. The advisor does not pay a fee to be a recipient of the award.