Wendy Stenberg joins Gilbert & Cook!

"I am thrilled to be joining the private wealth management firm of Gilbert & Cook where we are committed to helping people live more meaningful and fulfilling lives. We employ a process to crystalize goals, provide clarity, and instill confidence with our clients to help them to Live a Life of Abundance. At Gilbert and Cook, it’s more than just the numbers, it’s about living your best life." - Wendy

Wendy Stenberg joined Gilbert & Cook as an Advisor in November 2022. With over thirty years of experience, Wendy is a dedicated and experienced wealth management professional who is passionate about exceeding client expectations and building long-term meaningful relationships to help clients achieve personal goals and aspirations. 

In her new role, Wendy works in collaboration with other members of the Gilbert & Cook team to provide sophisticated strategies and service to her clients. Gilbert & Cook is thrilled and honored to welcome Wendy to the team. We are delighted that she has decided to lend her talents and experience to inspire abundance with our clients and Gilbert & Cook family.

Welcome Wendy!

Gilbert & Cook is named US Top 300 Registered Investment Advisors in 2020 by the Financial Times

Gilbert & Cook is honored to announce that we have been named one of the Top 300 Registered Investment Advisors in 2020 by the Financial Times!

The list recognizes elite advisors and independent RIA (Registered Investment Advisor) firms from across the United States. The FT 300 represents an elite group segmented by state, rather than a competitive ranking of one to 300.

Breadth of service is a key theme in this year’s list, with many advisers managing retirement planning, tax management, philanthropy and other aspects of clients’ financial lives beyond just investments. Read more about this honor on the FT.com

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Disclosure: The Financial Times 300 Top Registered Investment Advisers is an independent listing produced annually by Ignites Research, a division of Money-Media, Inc., on behalf of the Financial Times (July 2020). The FT 300 is based on data gathered from RIA firms, regulatory disclosures, and the FT’s research. The listing reflected each practice’s performance in six primary areas: assets under management, asset growth, compliance record, years in existence, credentials and online accessibility. Over 750 qualified firms applied for the award, 300 of which were selected (40%). This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of the practice’s future performance. Neither the RIA firms nor their employees pay a fee to The Financial Times in exchange for inclusion in the FT 300.

Gilbert & Cook Awarded one of the Top Advisory Firms in 2019 from Investment News

Our firm is dedicated to providing our clients and their families with sophisticated strategies, and genuine relationships, creating a truly unique experience. Each team member is driven by the same passion and focus to help our clients and empower one another to Live a Life of Abundance®. For these efforts, we are proud to be recognized as a leader in our industry. In November 2019, Gilbert & Cook was honored to receive the 2019 Best Practices Award from Investment News.

November 2019 - Linda Cook & Heather Knight received the Best in Practices Award on behalf of Gilbert & Cook.

Investment News honored a group of Top Advisory Firms who are growing with intent and a focus on fostering a culture of excellence within the firm. Learn more about this award.

Introducing Al Ryerson, Lead Strategist

We are pleased to announce that Al Ryerson, ASA, has joined our firm as a Lead Strategist.

Al joined Gilbert & Cook in January 2019 following a successful career as a Certified Public Accountant and Tax Advisor, Chief Financial Officer and Business Valuation and Financial Litigation Consultant (and a brief, unsuccessful attempt at retirement).

Over his 40+ year career, Al has earned the following designations and certifications: Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Accredited in Business Valuation, Certified in Financial Forensics, and Accredited Senior Appraiser. He has been active in the Iowa Society of CPAs, Financial Executives International, Des Moines Estate Planners, ESOP Association, and Wednesday Tax Forum.

As a Lead Strategist at Gilbert & Cook, Al focuses on the complex business and personal financial inter-relationships of our clients. We are honored to have Al join our Gilbert & Cook family. Al has been a trusted friend of the firm for many years and we are looking forward to adding his vast experience and talents to our team.

Contact Al via email at: aryerson@gilbertcook.com or call 515.270.6444

Read more about Al and the rest of our Gilbert & Cook team in our “About Us” section.

Good News from Gilbert & Cook

Please join me in welcoming long-time team members, Megan Rosenstiel, Brandon Grimm and Jerit Tripp as new Gilbert & Cook shareholders. We celebrate this growth during our 25th Anniversary year and look forward to a great future. - Linda Cook, President

Shea Mears joins Gilbert & Cook as Financial Advisor

We are pleased to announce that Shea Mears has joined our team as a lead Financial Advisor.

Shea brings a rich background and skillset to the Gilbert & Cook team, with experience in financial planning strategy and implementation, education, investments and tax planning. Utilizing his experience and talents as a former tax professional, Shea looks forward to creating financial planning and tax mitigation strategies for the clients of Gilbert & Cook. 

“Gilbert & Cook is one of the most respected Wealth Management firms around.  From inception the Gilbert & Cook team has focused on taking care of clients through sophisticated planning and investment techniques. With that philosophy, they have built a team of highly educated, highly experienced professionals that work together to ensure that the client experience is second to none.” Shea explained.

“When an opportunity arises to join a firm like this, you don’t even pause.”

This year, Gilbert & Cook, Inc. is celebrating 25 Years in business. Founder, Linda Cook states, “We are honored to have Shea join our team. We have known Shea for many years and are looking forward to adding his experience and talents to our financial planning team. This is a big year for our firm, celebrating 25 years, and I am so happy to welcome Shea to our Gilbert & Cook family and have him share this journey with us.”

Not only has Shea been a Financial Advisor, he has been dedicated to giving back to others as an educator – formerly an accounting professor at the Des Moines Area Community College and currently an adjunct professor at Simpson College.

Shea earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Northern Iowa and a Masters in Business Administration with accounting emphasis from Drake University. Additionally, Shea is both a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)

Contact Cara Shindler at cshindler@gilbertcook.com for more information regarding the latest updates with Gilbert & Cook. 

Read Shea's full bio online. 

Mary Ann Baker Announces Her Retirement

Too quickly, the time has passed us by. After 14 years with Gilbert & Cook, Mary Ann Baker will retire at the end of the year. She has been an important part of our family and truly embodies what it means to have a genuine relationship - a core value of the Gilbert & Cook team.

A letter from Mary Ann Baker: 

Fourteen and a half years ago, I moved to Des Moines and was known by what mortgage people call the "trailing spouse", as I relocate a lot because of my husband's advancing career. As usual, I had applied for positions online during the moving process. While unpacking, I received a call from Gilbert & Cook to come in for an interview. 

Upon arriving at the office, my first impression was that this place was nothing like any other office I had worked in - and in all of my travels, I have worked in several. The office had a warm, cozy, home-like atmosphere. It was something that I had never seen in an office environment before and I welcomed it. I had found an office in which their clients and staff came first. Caring for people is my passion, so I accepted the offer in a heartbeat. 

I have come to love the team at Gilbert & Cook and "my" clients as if they were my family. Yes, I call each and every one of them "my clients", as I have come to love them all as if we were related. I love to hear about their families, adventures and care about their trials and troubles. 

This letter is bitter sweet. I am off on a new adventure called "retirement" and I have very mixed feelings. I am excited for my husband, Marty and I to enjoy what we have worked so hard to accomplish, but I am also going to miss the daily connections to my office family and "my clients" lives. Fourteen years is a long time, in which I have made some lifelong friends. 

I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers and hope you know that I will always be thankful for this experience. Thank you to all for being a part of my life. I will cherish the memories. 

Mary Ann Baker