Headquarters:
5058 Grand Ridge Dr, West Des Moines, IA 50265
Year founded:
1989
Number of employees:
338
Phone:
407 869 9800
Email:
cshindler@gilbertcook.com
Website:
gilbertcook.com
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/gilbert-&-cook-inc
Gilbert & Cook
Linda Cook, CFP®
Founding Partner and Advisor
Chris Cook, CPA, CFA
Partner and Chief Investment Strategist
Megan Rosenstiel, CFP®, CDFA™, AWMA®, ADPA®, LTCP
Partner and Director of Advisory Services
Leadership
Linda Cook is the founder and managing partner of Gilbert & Cook, a private wealth management firm she established in 1993 with a vision to deliver relationship-driven, comprehensive financial planning. With over 30 years of experience, she has guided individuals and families through increasingly complex financial lives by delivering thoughtful, sophisticated planning strategies tailored to their evolving needs. She has led the firm’s growth to over $1.7 billion in assets and a team of 37 professionals through a collaborative ensemble model. Guided by her philosophy to Live a Life of Abundance®, Cook continues to foster a culture centered on trust, service, and meaningful client relationships.
Founding Partner and Advisor
Linda Cook, CFP®
Chris Cook is a partner and chief investment strategist at Gilbert & Cook, bringing over 35 years of experience in investment management, financial strategy, and business advisory services. A CFA® charterholder and CPA, he provides thoughtful guidance to individuals, families, and business owners navigating complex financial decisions, market uncertainty, and multigenerational planning. He works closely with the firm’s investment and advisory teams to deliver strategic insight and coordinated solutions. Known for his relationship-driven approach, Cook is committed to helping clients align their wealth with their values and make confident, informed decisions to support their long-term goals.
Partner and Chief Investment Strategist
Chris Cook, CPA, CFA
Megan Rosenstiel is a partner and lead advisor at Gilbert & Cook, bringing over 20 years of experience helping high-net-worth individuals and multigenerational families navigate complex financial decisions. She specializes in guiding clients through important life transitions, including divorce, business succession, retirement, and wealth transfer. Rosenstiel plays a key leadership role within the firm, mentoring advisors and helping shape a client experience rooted in personalized, white-glove service. She has received national recognition for her leadership and impact and is actively involved in her community, serving on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Partner and Director of Advisory Services
Megan Rosenstiel, CFP®, CDFA™, AWMA®, ADPA®, LTCP
Brandon Grimm, MBA, CFA
Partner and Chief Investment Officer
Brandon Grimm is a partner and chief investment officer at Gilbert & Cook, where he leads the firm’s investment strategy and portfolio oversight. A CFA® charterholder with an MBA, he brings a disciplined, research-driven approach across both traditional and private market investments, including private equity, private credit, and real estate. He works closely with advisors and planning professionals to ensure investment strategies are aligned with each client’s broader financial plan. As a member of the leadership team, Grimm is committed to fostering innovation and helping clients make informed decisions to support long-term financial success.
Partner and Chief Investment Officer
Brandon Grimm, MBA, CFA
Kate Gudgel, CFA
Director of Research and Investor Relations
Kate Gudgel is a senior investment strategist and director of research and investor relations at Gilbert & Cook, bringing over a decade of experience in investment research and portfolio strategy. A CFA® charterholder, she leads the firm’s research process, identifying opportunities across public and private markets and supporting portfolio construction aligned with clients’ long-term goals. She serves on the Investment Committee, contributing to manager due diligence and strategic investment decisions. Known for her disciplined approach and strong communication, Gudgel helps translate complex market insights into actionable guidance for advisors and clients.
Director of Research and Investor Relations
Kate Gudgel, CFA
Gilbert & Cook is a private wealth management firm built on a collaborative ensemble model designed to serve clients with depth, coordination, and care. Its team of 37 professionals – including in-house investment professionals (seven CFA® charterholders), a dedicated planning team, advisors, and client service specialists – works together to deliver comprehensive, tax-aware, and estate-driven strategies tailored to each client’s evolving needs.
At the heart of the firm is a commitment to building genuine, lasting relationships. It believes trust and continuity are foundational to helping clients navigate complexity with confidence. This is supported by its core value of maintaining a “quest to grow and improve,” empowering the team to continuously develop its capabilities and elevate the client experience.
Guided by its trademarked philosophy, Live a Life of Abundance®, the firm integrates financial planning, investment management, private market access, and legacy planning into a cohesive strategy aligned with each client’s goals.
Its approach blends hospitality-driven, in-person engagement with modern technology to enhance communication, transparency, and efficiency. This combination has enabled Gilbert & Cook to grow to $1.7 billion in assets under management – while preserving the personalized, relationship-first experience that defines the firm.
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Risk Placement Services
Zach Ripka, CPA/PFS, CFP®, CEPA, CDFA®
Chief Operating Officer
Cara Shindler
Director of Business Strategy
Jerit Tripp, CFP®, CRPS®, CWS®
Partner and Advisor
Simon Williams
Chief Strategy & Distribution Officer, Arch Insurance International
and Active Underwriter, Syndicate 1955
Zach Ripka is the chief operating officer at Gilbert & Cook, where he oversees firm operations and helps execute the organization’s strategic vision. Working closely with leadership, he aligns teams across the firm to support growth, efficiency, and a consistent client experience. A CPA and CFP® professional, Ripka also holds the CEPA® and CDFA® designations, bringing a unique perspective to business owners and clients navigating complex planning decisions, including succession and life transitions. As a member of the leadership team, he is committed to fostering collaboration, continuous improvement, and long-term value for both clients and the firm.
Chief Operating Officer
Zach Ripka, CPA/PFS, CFP®, CEPA, CDFA®
Cara Shindler is the director of business strategy at Gilbert & Cook, where she leads strategic growth initiatives, including marketing and business development. She works closely with the leadership team to expand the firm’s reach, strengthen its brand, and drive meaningful engagement with clients and centers of influence. Shindler plays a key role in aligning strategy with execution, including client experiences, digital marketing, and business development efforts. Through her relationship-driven approach, she is committed to continuous improvement and creating impactful strategies that support the firm’s long-term growth and client-focused mission.
Director of Business Strategy
Cara Shindler
Jerit Tripp is a partner and advisor at Gilbert & Cook, where he focuses on building meaningful relationships and helping clients better understand their financial lives. He works closely with individuals, executives, and business owners, providing guidance in areas such as retirement planning, executive compensation, and benefits. Tripp is known for his approachable style and ability to simplify complex financial concepts, helping clients make informed decisions with confidence. He remains actively engaged in the professional and local community, serving on boards that support financial education and youth development, reflecting his commitment to service both inside and outside the firm.
Partner and Advisor
Jerit Tripp, CFP®, CRPS®, CWS®
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
maintaining an in-house team of more than 20 programmers to facilitate fast improvements
direct bill options to streamline the payment process for the agent and the insured
providing IVANS policy downloads that enable up to 30 percent labor savings to independent agencies
delivering online capabilities including rating, policy documents, payments, and claims reporting
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RPS continues to add top-tier talent to its roster of insurance specialists and growth through new merger partners, all with one central focus – providing insurance expertise and speed of service to its clients.
relationships and teamwork
embracing and driving change
holding teammates accountable
pursuing excellence with humility
giving back to the community
To remain competitive, J&J strategically markets its expertise to bolster brand awareness. Licensed in every state and with over 600 employees, the firm has plans to continue expanding.
Reflecting on J&J’s status as a long-term regional player, Burrous shares, “In the last four to five years, we decided that it was important for J&J to become a national player. We have offices in Dallas and Phoenix, and we just did an acquisition in Oregon.”
Despite expansion plans, upholding quality customer experience remains a key priority for J&J.
“It’s from the point an agency thinks about contacting J&J to how they contact J&J, to the experience they have after that contact. We measure all of that and we’re building an extensive internal report card that is monitored consistently,” shares Burrous.
Aside from providing clients with best-in-class services, J&J also strives to create meaningful impact within the communities it operates in.
Whether it’s participating in Trident United Way’s Day of Caring, joining a project with Habitat for Humanity, organizing food and clothing drives, or volunteering for local community organizations, J&J drives positive change.
To sum up the most important asset of the J&J Team, the core value “relationships and teamwork” exemplifies the root of the company’s success.
“Our family culture is what sets us apart. If you need something as a teammate, I’m going to help you even if it’s not my department. I think that’s really the glue of what keeps us together,” says Burrous.
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Risk Placement Services
