People don't come to Kate because they love talking about money. They come because they want to stop worrying about it. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and Managing Principal at Strong Valley Wealth & Pension, she helps individuals and families navigate life's biggest financial decisions with thoughtful planning, practical advice, and genuine care. Whether a client is preparing for retirement, evaluating a business sale, navigating equity compensation, or simply asking "Am I going to be okay?", her goal is the same: replace uncertainty with confidence and give them a plan they can trust.

Kate has spent more than 22 years helping clients navigate an ever-changing financial landscape, and she has always believed good planning is about far more than investment returns. She enjoys solving complex problems and finding efficiencies others overlook — through tax planning, retirement income strategy, Roth conversions, capital loss harvesting, and thoughtful portfolio design. Small decisions, made consistently, add up to a meaningful difference over time.

Retirement planning sits at the center of much of her work, but every client's path is different. Some are building wealth while balancing careers, young families, and stock compensation. Others are preparing to retire after decades of hard work. Wherever a client is in life, every recommendation is tailored to the individual — never a model or a template.

Kate began her career in investment banking with Prudential Capital Group in Chicago before returning to California's Central Valley in 2004 to work alongside her father, a respected advisor with more than 30 years of experience. For more than two decades she built her career inside some of the nation's largest wealth management firms, most recently leading her own practice at Wells Fargo Advisors, where she was recognized by Forbes as one of California's top women wealth advisors. But as planning became increasingly standardized across large firms, Kate wanted the freedom to build solutions around people rather than platforms. That's what drew her to Strong Valley. Leading the firm's Tennessee satellite office, she now has the independence to do exactly that — and to build the practice she always envisioned: sophisticated planning paired with a warm, highly personal client experience.

Kate holds her FINRA Series 7, 66, 9, and 10 securities registrations, is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and a Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®), and holds insurance and long-term care licensing.

Away from the office

Long before financial planning, Kate learned discipline and resilience as a Division I softball pitcher at the University of Michigan, where she became the first junior team captain in program history. Still a competitive athlete, she's won multiple local 5K races and believes consistency — not perfection — is what leads to lasting results. She also enjoys cooking, music, reading, and a good game of chess. Above all, Kate is grateful for her faith, is active in her church and community, and cherishes time with her daughters, Charlie and Olivia.