If there’s one thing we love, it’s a sense of adventure. We’re also fond of familiar faces. On both counts, we’re delighted to welcome Elizabeth “Liz” Winkle as our new Client Relationship Specialist at Cogent Strategic Wealth.
Today, we share a conversation with Liz, so you can get to know and love her as much as we do. Better yet, stop by our office, so you can meet her in person.
Before joining us at Cogent Strategic Wealth, you were a Client Relationship Lead for BAM Advisor Services in St. Louis. What brought you here?
I was born in Canada but spent most of my life in St. Louis. I loved being a part of the BAM team, where I learned so much about client care and investing. My team leader Laura Cloud was an especially important mentor to me.
Still, whenever I visited Chicago, it always felt like home. I wanted to see what it would be like to live here. So, in early 2019, I took a leap of faith and made the move. Luckily, Michael heard about my transition, and reached out to me. As soon as I met him and Kelly, I wanted to be a part of the team. Apparently, they felt the same way about me! As a bonus, I get to stay in touch with my BAM friends too.
What is your role here at Cogent?
For all of us here at Cogent, it’s about building relationships – among our clients, ourselves, and our allied service providers. My role will be to connect everyone together. We can build stronger relationships as a team than any us can do by ourselves. I’m also here to make sure our clients are comfortable, and that they know we’ve got them covered, even on the smallest details.
What was your experience prior to BAM Advisor Services?
I graduated from Saint Louis University with a bachelor’s degree in human resources and international business. I interned at a prominent St. Louis public relations agency where I assisted with domestic and foreign talent development. Upon graduation, I was a recruiting coordinator for another local firm before connecting with BAM. It was a good culture fit, and I especially enjoyed learning about evidence-based investing.
How’s Chicago working out for you?
It’s been so much fun getting to know my new city. I’ve got several college friends here, but I’m making a point of making new friends too. Now that I’m in my apartment and mostly settled in, I also hope to get involved in some volunteer opportunities – maybe join an organizational board where I can make a meaningful difference. I’m still getting used to my daily commute, but our awesome office location is worth it.
Rumor has it you’re adventurous?
Well, moving from St. Louis to Chicago was a big step. Besides that, I studied abroad in college, and I try to take an international trip every year. One of my favorite cities was Krakow, Poland. The people are wonderful there – they love to celebrate almost any occasion. This year, I’m planning to hike Machu Picchu in August.
Then again, I also love a good Netflix movie, and visiting my family in St. Louis and Kansas City. I guess we all need a mix of comfort and adventure in our lives.
