This newsletter from Compass Financial Services provides updates to its clients. It thanks clients for their continued business and support in 2006. It announces that Compass has been nominated for the 2006 Small Business of the Year award by the local Chamber of Commerce. It invites clients to a private screening of a movie about legacy and estate planning. It previews upcoming financial reviews with clients and topics for the year such as updating plans and portfolios. It introduces the financial advisors on the Compass team and their specialties. It congratulates one advisor, Michele, on earning her Registered Paraplanner designation.

1. January 2007
The NavigaTor Financial Advice for the Adventures of Life
Happy New Year!
2006 was a good year at Compass. As always, we
want to thank you for your business. The loyalty you
show by attending our events, sending referrals and keep-
Kurtis Pearson, C.F.P.
ing your business with Compass is greatly appreciated. kurtis.pearson@lpl.com
The West Des Moines Chamber informed us in De-
cember that Compass is a finalist for the 2006 Business
of the Year (Small Business Division). This is an award
that reflects positively on each of our loyal clients and
Share Generously, we
Team members. We were nominated from within the Steve Conard
are given time, talent
community. The winner will be announced on January Financial Consultant
and money to invest and steve.conard@lpl.com
25, 2007 at the annual West Des Moines Chamber din-
share. How can I do more
ner. Thanks again for your support and commitment to
sharing in 2007? Love
Compass. Congratulations to the Compass Team, this
Deeply, this has to start
award belongs to all of you.
with a sense of self worth
and respect, then it moves
February 15, 2007 is our private screening for The Michele Bjorkgren
out to others. These are
Ultimate Gift. This movie will be hitting mainstream Director of Client Services
the life themes I’m pon- michele.bjorkgren@lpl.com
theatres later in 2007. The storyline is about a grand-
dering for 2007.
father’s passing. Realizing that the immense wealth he
built through his life’s work has spoiled his family, he
There is much work
holds out hope that one grandson can come to truly ap-
to do on the financial
preciate it. This grandson has to choose between “jump-
front. Updating financial
ing through hoops” set forth in his grandfather’s will, Nancy Economos
plans, rebalancing port-
or walking away from his inheritance. It’s a story that Compliance Administrator
folios, reviewing estate
teaches us about the importance of legacy planning and
nancy.economos@lpl.com
plans and getting ready
estate planning. There are still a few tickets available,
for tax season. We will be
call Michele today.
contacting you soon for a
review. Thanks again for
I’m sure the resolutions are flying around. In addi-
your business.
tion to the obvious, there are some deeper themes that Julie Greer
I’m hearing. Live Free, isn’t it easy to get all bound up Sales Assistant
julie.greer@lpl.com
by small thinking. Living large and living free in 2007!
COMPASS
FINANCIAL SERVICES

2. “When Conversations Turn Crucial”
C
By Shirley Poertner
an you relate to this? You know you need to talk
I want to thank Shirley Poertner for contributing
to someone about an important issue, but you
a fine article for our Compass Newsletter. As you
haven’t stepped up the conversation. Not really. all know finances can be a difficult subject to discuss
You may have danced around the issue or sugarcoated within our families. Shirley’s advice on sharpening
your message. Or maybe you relied on hints, sarcasm, or our communication skills is well taken.
not-so-subtle humor but the person missed the message - Kurtis Pearson, C.F.P. -
completely. Or maybe she did get it and became defensive
• Make it safe to talk about almost anything.
so you backed out before the discussion spun out of con-
It is not the content of what we say that strikes fear
trol. Now when you think about re-entering the conversa-
in others, despite the fact that it may be sensitive,
tion, you break into a cold sweat.
controversial, or even negative. It’s the perceived
intent that makes them nervous. By communicat-
This is an example of being “stuck.” And any time
ing what you really want, establishing mutual
we’re stuck, there’s a crucial conversation keeping us
purpose, and clarifying possible misunderstand-
there. Our ability to handle crucial discussions determines
ings, you are in a position to step up to even the
how influential we are in our work and personal lives.
most challenging of conversations. With the right
intent, you can tackle almost any content.
The authors of Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talk-
ing When Stakes Are High have spent over twenty years
Want to learn more? Take these steps:
studying opinion leaders. They’ve learned that the people
who are most admired and listened to by their co-work-
• Make a concentrated effort. If you’re willing
ers are masters of crucial conversations. Their ability to
to work at it for 45 minutes a week for about four
speak up and be heard and make it safe for others to do
months, you can make significant gains in your
the same sets them apart from everyone else. When others
ability to tackle tough conversations.
either go mum or ballistic, opinion leaders shine.
• Seek the help of others. You can’t learn to
play tennis alone. Likewise, you can’t get bet-
There’s good news. The ability to step up to and hold
ter at crucial conversations sitting alone in your
crucial conversations – no matter how touchy, awkward,
office. Partner with someone else who wants to
or challenging – can be learned. The bad news, unfortu-
work on their crucial conversations skills.
nately, is that the average person is likely to have spent
• Attend a Crucial Conversations workshop.
more time memorizing the capitals of Europe than learn-
Shirley Poertner, a Master Trainer of the Crucial
ing how to deal with under-achieving employees, an in-
Conversations skills, offers workshops locally to
sensitive brother-in-law, or a micro-managing boss.
help individuals, teams and organizations learn
how to talk about the tough issues they face.
Tips for Success:
Check out her website at www.poertner.com for
Here are some tips for discussing issues that have pre-
the next offering of this powerful program which
viously seemed “undiscussable.”
helps almost anyone talk about almost anything.
• Be persuasive, not abrasive.
Like it or not, the more significant the issue, the more
Shirley Poertner is President of Poertner Consulting
likely we are to be on our worst behavior, pushing our Group. She has over 20 years of experience working in the
personal agenda with such force that others openly resist private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Poertner’s focus is
us out of a sense of preservation. Eliminate resistance helping executives and their organizations achieve their full
potential, accomplishing the results they want for themselves
by starting with facts, using tentative language, and in-
and for those they lead. She has experience in a variety of
viting others to share your views. Softening your stance industries. She has a Masters in Leadership & Adult Devel-
strengthens your credibility. opment from Drake University.

3. Who ya gonna call?
I
t is our goal to provide the best service pos- Nancy, extension 3 •
sible. Each professional on our Team special- Nancy handles administrative tasks related to transferring
izes in a different area. Listed below is the accounts to LPL, opening new accounts and paperwork
Team member and their area of expertise: related to investment changes.
So, if you need……
Michele, extension 1 •
Michele can help you with scheduling appoint-
ments, updating facts and details to your finan- Account View setup Call Michele Ext 1
cial plan, life insurance questions, setup online Change of address Call Julie Ext 5
Account View and all LPL investment account Make an appointment to review Call Michele Ext 1
questions. Request a distribution Call Julie Ext 5
Questions on your LPL statement Call Michele Ext 1
Transferring account questions Call Nancy Ext 3
Julie, extension 5 •
Julie is our specialist in requesting distributions Tax Season Cost Basis questions Call Julie Ext 5
from investment accounts, changing bank instruc-
tions on accounts, answering cost basis questions In 2007 Nancy will be leading the Document Imaging
during tax season, changing addresses. Julie also project. Many of the documents we are required to keep
makes many outbound calls to set up initial con- in your file can now be digitally filed under your LPL ac-
sultations with prospects and yearly reviews with count. This will reduce the number of files we maintain
existing clients. in hard copy.
Congratulations
to Michele Bjorkgren!
Michele has recently attained her
Registered ParaplannerSM designation
from the College for Financial Planning.
This designation provides an overview
of the financial planning process including
retirement planning, tax planning,
investments, estate planning
and other categories.
Michele is in her fourth year
as part of the Compass
Financial Team.
COMPASS
FINANCIAL SERVICES
5015 Grand Ridge Drive, Suite 200, West Des Moines, IA 50265
515.327.1020 • Toll Free: 888.334.1020 • www.lpl.com/compass.financial
Securities offered through Linsco Private Ledger • Member NASD/SIPC