Kate Leipprandt has been a financial advisor since 1986 and is a 3^rd generation Equitable Advisor.  Her father, Ben Baldwin wrote several books on financial planning and on Variable Life Insurance originally terming it the “Swiss Army Knife” of planning in one of his books.  Kate followed in his footsteps getting her CFP®, ChFC, and CLU and specializes in financial planning.  She also has authored several financial planning books and taught many classes on the topic.  She is involved in fee-based financial planning, consulting and education for individuals, associations and small businesses. Kate has a talent for making difficult topics easier to understand and is always mentoring new advisors and students teaching them this skill.  Kate donates her time and expertise to speak, mentor, teach and hosts financial workshops.  Most recently, she has been openly sharing her recent diagnosis of a rare form of cancer to teach advisors and clients about the importance of being financially prepared with adequate life and long term care insurances.  Kate is very active in our industry and in the community. 

Kate did her undergraduate studies at DePauw University (Greencastle, IN), earning a BA in Economics with minors in French and Psychology. She studied Economics as part of her undergraduate work at the Université de Strasbourg, France.  She continues her work at DePauw by returning to the school campus to speak to the Women in Economics and Business students, and for the prestigious McDermond Center Speaker Series.  Kate has recently been nominated for a Darnall Fellowship for her role in working to create opportunities for alumnae graduates.  She continues to hire Economic students as interns each summer, one of whom has become a full time hire.

Kate’s was first published in 1988 when she was selected as a contributing author for Loren Dunton’s book “About Your Future.”   In 2004, she had her first edition of a textbook titled the “ABA Financial Planning Workbook” published by the ABA. It is a resource recommended by the American Bankers Association (ABA) for trust administrators, private bankers and other wealth advisors to obtain their Certified Trust and Financial Advisors (CTFA) designation. Kate’s most recent version was published in 2016.  Kate continues to write, update the texts and teach the courses.

Kate has taught the Insurance courses she authored at the American Bankers Association’s National Graduate Trust School off and on since 1997.  She taught the ‘In-Bank’ Trust Schools (Financial Planning, Stock Options, Qualified Plans and Insurance) held by Wachovia banks in 2006. Other audiences for Kate include corporate clients Commonwealth Edison, InSpeech, Underwriters Laboratories, Northern Trust Bank and the First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights.

Numerous financial institutions continue to utilize the systems, processes and tools Kate has taught in her presentations.

She has also appeared as a spokesperson for a major financial services firm in national TV advertisements, as well as in Business Week, U.S. News and World Report and Working Woman magazines and other publications, including the Chicago Tribune.

Kate is involved with many associations including:

• The CFP Board Women’s Initiative (WIN) group, wherein Kate, as a mentor, is charged with identifying, encouraging and supporting women into careers in financial planning. 
• The Financial Planning Association (FPA), where Kate has volunteered during Smart Money week to offer financial advice to families in Chicago, plus offered her services via a free call-in for military families.
• The Society of Financial Service Professionals (SFP) for which she has presented programs such as “What Women Want” and also “Practice Management & Wealth Planning Tools”
• The Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce and
• The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) among others.
• The National Association of Estate Planners and Councils just nominated Kate to the NAEPC Estate Planning Hall of Fame as an Accredited Estate Planner (distinguished) designee

Investment News on April 27, 2017 asked Kate and her mentee, Elizabeth Grady, to present “Developing the Next Generation of Female Advisers” at the 2017 Women Adviser Summit in Chicago.  Interviews of the two of them can be found at: Investment News Interview Kate Leipprandt CFP® Elizabeth Grady.  Kate runs financial workshops for women aimed at empowering women alongside global partner, Equitable Advisors, within the group WomenTalkFinance.com.

Kate has been active in the community as past Co-President of the local High School's PTA (TPC) board, Team Parent for the high school soccer team, and youth soccer coach. She serves on the Investment Committee and Endowment committees at the First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights, IL; has run Charitable Giving and financial planning workshops for church members since 1992 and sponsors the annual charity golf event.  Kate participated in several youth mission trips via Appalachia Service Project and her own family's mission trip to South Africa, inspired by her daughter who was studying there, to donate soccer "boots" to a church group. Kate embodies the core of what we do.  She is truly in this business to serve and has spent her entire career serving. 

Securities offered through Equitable Advisors (NY, NY 212-314-4600), member FINRA, SIPC. Investment advisory products and services offered through Equitable Advisors, an investment advisor registered with the SEC.  Annuity and insurance products offered through Equitable Network, LLC.  

CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ are certification marks owned by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. These marks are awarded to individuals who successfully complete the CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.