The Vander Leest & Wenzel Group Helps Families Build Lasting Wealth

Jill Christine Photography

When it comes to the world of financial planning, Cedar Rapids-based The Vander Leest & Wenzel Group, a team from Baird Wealth Management, is breaking down both barriers and stereotypes. 

While the image that comes to mind may be of a middle-aged man advising wealthy retirees, the truth is that financial advice is for all types and all ages of people. At Baird, they want their team to reflect the diversity of the clients they serve. 

“We’re intentionally building our team not just for today, but to last well into the future,” says CFP® and Associate Branch Manager Craig Vander Leest. “We’re hiring people in different stages of life and bringing in more female advisors. We want younger and more diverse individuals on our team to continue to provide solid financial advice for our clients seamlessly and well into the future.” 

A Multigenerational Staff

As many teams in the financial advising industry reach later stages in their careers, The Vander Leest & Wenzel Group distinguishes itself with a future-focused team that’s equipped to grow alongside their clients through every stage of life. With this in mind, they are intentionally thinking about future succession plans and hiring younger individuals who can continue serving their clients’ needs today and beyond. 

CFP® and Senior Vice President Josh Mills is in his 40s and has been with the team for almost 20 years. “In many cases, when folks retire and have a plan in place, their advisor is retiring around the same time and suddenly, the client is trying to translate that plan to a new advisor,” he says. “Something we’re passionate about is having a cohesive plan, a consistent system and a degree of familiarity with the entire family. If wealth passes to kids or grandkids, we continue to build our expertise to serve our clients.” 

Photo by Sean Pavone

The Vander Leest & Wenzel Group knows that real life happens and not everyone’s goals are the same – yet another reason they’ve made it a point to hire a diverse range of advisors who bring different perspectives to the table. 

“The intention behind our hiring process is to meet people where they are,” says CFP® and an Associate Financial Advisor Kaylee McIntire. McIntire is in her 20s and was the group’s first female financial planner. “Our team is multigenerational, but so are our clients. We have parents who have brought in their kids who are just beginning their investment journey. We want to serve all of them. Where younger clients may be intimidated by an older advisor, we’ve seen the fruits of having me join the conversation. It’s helpful to have someone who is going through the same things and who understands their generation.” 

The Vander Leest & Wenzel Group offers its clients advisors that come from diverse backgrounds to better serve their clients’ individual financial needs not just for today, but for decades to come. 

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® in the U.S., which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification. 

For more information, visit thevlwgroup.com.