Behind the Scenes at Sound Stewardship: Team Updates
As summer winds down, we’re reflecting on the year’s highlights so far. This is some of what our team and their families have been up to.
Team Milestones
- Team faithfulness: As of this summer, 60% of our team has been with Sound Stewardship for 10 years or more!
- Educational outreach: Partner Matt Syverson and Marketing Manager Kristin Schroeder recently shared our principles with students in K-State’s Personal Financial Planning Program. Various team members will be on-campus with K-State students several more times this fall to pour into the next generation of professionals.
- Leadership development: Partner Jonathan Harrison joined an Acumen Leadership Council, a peer group for local executives. This community equips Jonathan with fresh perspectives and leadership skills to help our team constantly get better.
- Monthly webinars: Our monthly webinar series continues to be a hit, covering topics like how to maintain your home, finding the perfect college fit, or planning a Kansas City staycation. Have a topic in mind? We’d love to hear your suggestions.
- Celebrating generosity: In 2024, we helped clients give away $2,536,193 to causes they care about! This year, clients continue to give in a big way. Your generosity is inspiring and worth celebrating!
Looking ahead, here’s some of what we’re working on:
- Welcome, Shae! After a successful summer internship, Shae Greidanus will join us in October as a Project Analyst while completing her MBA at Oklahoma State University.
- Client Portal upgrade: This fall we’re testing a major update to the Sound Stewardship client portal. While you may experience brief service interruptions during the transition, we’re confident the improvements will be a big boost. Interested in shaping the future of the portal? Let your advisors know if you’d like to join our trial feedback group.
- AI integrations: We’re carefully reviewing where AI can improve service to clients. But we’re very serious about vetting all tools through the lenses of privacy, security, and accuracy. We are committed to ensuring your information remains secure while enhancing the service you receive.
- Streamlined onboarding: We’ve refreshed our Financial Organizer and onboarding process to make it easier than ever for new clients to get started. These updates help ensure a smooth, personalized experience from day one.
Thank you for allowing us to be part of your financial story. We’re honored to walk alongside you and look forward to what the next season brings!
Family Highlights from our Summer Adventures
In addition to the exciting developments happening at Sound Stewardship, our team has been making meaningful memories with their families.
The Syverson Family had a summer filled with Camps & Colorado! Levi and Matt enjoyed their perennial week-long campout with Trail Life, while Lily had a great time down at Camp Barnabas, which is an overnight camp in Missouri for people with disabilities. After a fun Jeep trip to the Colorado mountains and Great Sand Dunes, they also supported Levi doing his Theater Camps with First Act KC. If all that wasn’t enough, they also celebrated 15 years of going to Kanakuk Family Kamp down in Branson; always a great week for their extended family! Whew! Time to get back to work!
The Harrison Family enjoyed an unforgettable trip to Japan this summer before sending their oldest off to Missouri State University. With two high schoolers still at home, Jonathan and Karen are busy with music, sports – and soon to be more college visits!
Cindy St. John celebrated a deeply meaningful milestone with the opening of Ricky’s Snack Shack at the new Advent Health Cancer Institute, honoring the legacy of her late husband, Ricky St. John. Seeing his memory live on in such a special way has been a powerful experience.
The Hensley Family enjoyed visits with loved ones across the Midwest, a complimentary suite at a Royals game, and the exciting milestone of their oldest child starting kindergarten.
The Spradling Family wrapped up the summer by welcoming their second son, Benjamin. His arrival came so quickly that he made his debut at home! The family also enjoyed a trip to Saugatuck, Michigan, where they were joined by Josh’s side of the family.
The Leibach Family had a summer full of adventure including a road trip to the Slugger Factory, Dollywood, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Nashville where they enjoyed the lively music scene and a visit to the Grand Ole Opry.
Additionally, Ambra and her husband celebrated their 15-year anniversary with a special trip to Charleston. To top it all off, they added a playful puppy to the family! Now they’re settling into their new routine and looking forward to what the next season brings.
Joel and Jenine traveled to California in early September to celebrate Joel’s parents’ 70th wedding anniversary, joined by his siblings for a joyful family gathering.
The Buethe Family started the summer with a trip to the Colorado mountains followed by a trip to Kansas to visit Melody’s parents. They also enjoyed boating, camping, and cheering at baseball games with friends!
The Smith Family celebrated Leah and Jordan’s 15th anniversary with a trip to Nashville, where they saw Metallica in concert—twice! They also enjoyed a family getaway to Silver Dollar City and celebrated Leah’s sister’s wedding.
The Schroeder Family started the summer with a trip to Hilton Head Island alongside extended family. The rest of the season was spent exploring Kansas City and cheering on their daughters at swim meets and ballet performances.
We’re grateful for the joy, growth, and connection our team experienced this year—both inside and outside the office.
Here’s to a fantastic fall ahead!
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