The Vander Leest & Wenzel Group - Baird Private Wealth Management

05/27/2026

We are excited to welcome our summer interns, Aiden and Nicole, to our team!

Aiden will be a senior at the University of Iowa this fall studying Finance and Accounting, and Nicole will also be a senior at Iowa, majoring in Finance and Risk Management & Insurance.

We’re looking forward to having them in the office this summer and are grateful for the perspective, energy, and contributions they’ll bring to our team.

05/23/2026

05/23/2026

04/22/2026

Behind every well‑run team is strong administrative support.

Today we recognize Administrative Professionals for their organization, consistency, and behind‑the‑scenes contributions that help teams function at a high level. Thank you for what you bring to the role each and every day.

01/23/2026

We are proud to share that Forbes/Shook Research has recognized our team as the #3 Best-In-State Wealth Management Team in Iowa — and the top-ranked team in Eastern Iowa. As a team, we’re honored to receive this recognition and grateful for the trust our clients place in us every day.

https://www.forbes.com/lists/wealth-management-teams-best-in-state/

2026 FORBES | SHOOK Research Best in State Wealth Management Teams. Published 1/7/26, rankings based on data as of 3/31/25.

01/09/2026

We’re proud to share some exciting news—Kara Prickett has joined The Vander Leest & Wenzel Group as a Financial Advisor.

Kara brings a unique blend of experience to our team, with an 18‑year background in healthcare and a strong foundation in finance. Her passion for problem‑solving, building trusted relationships, and taking a holistic approach to planning aligns well with our values and the way we serve clients. Kara is committed to helping families and professionals make thoughtful decisions around their finances while keeping what matters most at the center of the conversation.

We’re thrilled to have her on the team and look forward to the impact she’ll make for our clients and our community.

Please join us in welcoming Kara!

10/30/2025

Please join us in celebrating Lainey Ford’s achievement in becoming a fully registered associate at the Baird Cedar Rapids office! After successfully passing her licensing exams, Lainey is officially stepping into her new role with confidence and capability.

Her dedication, professionalism, and positive energy have already made a strong impact on our team, and we are excited to see her continue to thrive in this next chapter.
Way to go, Lainey — we are proud of you and are glad you are a part of The Vander Leest and Wenzel Group of Baird!

09/24/2025

Meet Cate Konicek, our Branch Administrative Supervisor.

A natural talent for math and love for relationship building led Cate to the financial industry. Creativity and innovative thinking keep her in it.

With life, crafting, and clients, seeing the bigger picture keeps what matters in focus. And no matter where it takes you, the fun is discovering what you make.

07/31/2025

Today is National Intern Day, and we want to celebrate our amazing interns, Kaia and Madison! Thank you both for your hard work and contributions to our team this summer. We are lucky to have you!

Kaia is a senior at Iowa State University, majoring in Finance and minoring in Entrepreneurship.

Madison is a junior at the University of Iowa, majoring in Finance, minoring in Psychology, and pursuing a certificate in International Business.

07/29/2025

The Vander Leest & Wenzel Group proudly sponsored the Baird Iowa Open, a two-weekend tennis tournament hosted in Cedar Rapids!

Pictured: Doug Wenzel with Mark Fiala, longtime Chairman of the Baird Iowa Open and officer of the Cedar Rapids Tennis Association.