By Cheryl Winokur Munk
Katie Thompson, a 44-year-old financial advisor with Merrill Wealth Management in Albuquerque, N.M., spent much of her childhood and young adulthood dancing. She started ballet as a young girl and competed nationally, teaching dance as a side gig in college to make money. While she still dances occasionally, most of her legwork today focuses on helping recently divorced or widowed women find their financial footing.
Thompson's parents divorced when she was in fourth grade, and she discovered a passion for finance in college. She is now using her past experiences, her training, and a creative mind-set to help women feel more confident about their finances.
"If more women are educated and empowered to make really great decisions with the money they have and with the money they're saving, they are ultimately going to be in a position that gives them financial freedom," Thompson says. She recently spoke to Barron's about her practice, her passions outside of work, and how she navigates clients' biggest concerns.
Barron's: Why did you choose to focus your practice on divorced or recently widowed women?
Katie Thompson: I'm most intentional about serving women who find themselves suddenly navigating finances alone, through divorce or the loss of a spouse, because these women are often incredibly capable but may not have been the primary financial decision-maker, and now they're facing that responsibility in the middle of grief.
Several women in my family have experienced these types of losses. They spend so much time wondering if they're going to be OK and how they're going to navigate this new part of their life. It really opened my eyes to how common a situation it is for women.
Can you share an example of someone you helped that was particularly rewarding?
A woman set an initial appointment with me based on a recommendation from a mutual acquaintance. She had recently lost her husband of 30 years, and he had managed all of the financial decisions and activities in their lives. She came to our first meeting with a stack of statements, a copy of the trust, and no clear sense of what to do next. She was understandably emotional, overwhelmed, and uncertain about what her financial stability would look like without him. Having specialized training in supporting clients through grief, I assured her that we would move at her pace, that no decision needed to be made all at once, and that our focus would be on tackling one priority at a time.
One of the most meaningful moments early in our relationship -- she did go on to become a client -- was when she asked if she could give me a hug at the end of that first meeting because she felt seen.
Over the next several months, my team and I worked alongside her to put all the pieces together: consolidating scattered accounts, helping her understand how each investment fit into her overall picture, and coordinating with her estate attorney and CPA [certified public accountant] so her trust structure, tax considerations, and financial strategy were aligned. I continue to feel deeply rewarded by this relationship as I've watched her confidence grow -- both in her understanding of her finances and in her ability to actively engage in decisions across the many areas of life that money touches.
The thing that fills my cup the most about what I do for a living is feedback from clients that we're making a huge difference in their lives.
How do you think your background prepared you for your career?
I didn't grow up wealthy, and that experience shaped how I work with clients today. When you've lived through the same financial stages most people face -- saving carefully, prioritizing competing goals, navigating uncertainty -- you develop a very practical understanding of what financial security really means. I believe that for clients, that translates into advice that is grounded, thoughtful, and highly personal. I'm very attuned to the questions people may be hesitant to ask, the fears that can often sit beneath financial decisions, and the need to move at a pace that feels manageable. Growing up without wealth also taught me that good advice isn't about complexity, and that instead it's about clarity, trust, and helping people feel confident in their decisions. That perspective shapes how I work with clients every day.
Where do they tend to need the most support?
Many of the women I work with haven't made major financial decisions before. Many, for example, may not have a relationship with their CPA, and they feel really vulnerable. Unfortunately, when a woman becomes a widow or single, some people will take advantage of that. I try to help them build resources so they feel they aren't alone. For example, I often go with them to their first meeting with a CPA or estate-planning attorney to make sure that they feel confident.
If you could only pick one thing for women who are recently widowed or divorced to know, what would it be?
My No. 1 piece of advice is to not rush into making any major decisions. In the early stages of widowhood or divorce, people are often surrounded by well-meaning friends and family who want to help by offering advice. While that support comes from a good place, it can be disjointed and overwhelming.
Grief also has very real cognitive effects -- such as difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, and mental fatigue -- that can make it harder to connect the dots and make clear, informed decisions. That's completely normal, but it's rarely acknowledged.
An advisor can play an important role during that first year by helping slow the process down. We work on gathering and organizing financial information, taking the time to listen and understand what truly matters, and creating structure during a period that often feels chaotic. From there, decisions can be made thoughtfully, and a longer-term strategy can be put in place once clarity and confidence begin to return.
Tell us something about yourself that not many people know.
I'm really creative. So, when I am not at work, I like to sew, stitch, and create art journals. And I spend a lot of time doing this with other people. I love to share my creativity with my children and at craft and art retreats with other women. The retreats are often focused on journaling, fiber arts, and mixed media projects -- it's a time when women come together to slow down, create, and connect.
How does your creativity help you at work?
I think a creative mind-set trains you to look at things holistically, to anticipate what's coming next, and to ask better questions. In our day-to-day practice, that means rethinking how we structure meetings so clients don't feel overwhelmed, designing deliverables that are clear and intuitive rather than purely technical, and building a team where each person plays a distinct, complementary role.
Creativity also influences how I think about the future of advice. Creativity pushes me to continually ask: How do clients want to be served today, how will that evolve, and how do we stay ahead of changes like AI [artificial intelligence] while keeping the human element front and center? For example, we're intentional about where technology adds efficiency and where personal judgment, empathy, and conversation matter most.
What kinds of advice are you giving most today?
The advice I'm giving most right now centers on clarity and transition -- helping clients simplify complex financial lives; coordinate investment, tax, and estate planning; and make thoughtful decisions during moments of change such as retirement, loss, or inheritance.
Are you changing your investment strategy, given the uncertainty?
My team and I aren't changing our investment philosophy in response to uncertainty alone. With experience comes the understanding that markets go through cycles, and disciplined, long-term plans tend to hold up best. We do, however, make adjustments when a client's life changes. For example, as someone nears retirement or navigates a major transition, we may shift how risk is allocated or increase liquidity to support income needs, while keeping the broader strategy intact. The focus is always on aligning the portfolio with the client's life, not the headlines.
Most of your clients have $2.5 million to $10 million of investible assets, but some of your clients have significantly more. How do you manage to serve such a wide range of people?
Good teamwork. I have a team of 16 people, which includes four advisors. We also have many different specialists within our organization and resources that allow us to deliver great service.
Thank you, Katie.
Write to rankings@barrons.com
This content was created by Barron's, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. Barron's is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 20, 2026 09:30 ET (13:30 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
