Katie Jacobson, CFP® CLU® ChFC®, Financial Advisor, Member – Principal® Financial Network

What is your current role?

I’ve been a Financial Advisor with the Principal® Financial Network since 2024, but in the financial services industry since 2016

Why did you join the TRUST?

Health hcare has always held my heart, & I’ve crafted my career to always intertwine – however uniquely – with the medical communities. I joined the TRUST in 2018 because it was my Holy Grail: women within the health care ecosystem advocating for one another & better outcomes – what could be better?

I’m a current member, Mentor, past mentee, & past Sponsorship Committee member.

What has been your favorite part of being a member of the TRUST?

I love the community & friendships that have grown here. Any time someone asks me where she could lean in to build her community, create friendships & fellowship, experience impactful professional development opportunities, or be part of non-awkward networking environments, my first answer (assuming she’s in health care) is always the Women’s Health Leadership TRUST. I am forever grateful that the TRUST family has chosen to welcome me, especially as someone who interacts with medicine differently; being a mentor, speaker & mentee has been on my top list of professional experiences thus far!

What one word would you use to summarize what the TRUST means to you?

Warmth.

What is the best mentoring experience you’ve had?

The best mentoring experience I’ve ever had happened because of the TRUST! We were part of the initial mentoring cohort, & we were all quite nervous. Some of the mentees & I created a group LinkedIn message, & it became a great community for us to do something together. Some mentees then coordinated a mentee/mentor meet & greet, & that fostered even more ripple relationships that have shaped my career to this day (shout out to Jennifer Olson!). I love that the TRUST community leans into helping one another, regardless if you’re ‘assigned’ to one person or not; we’re a great family that all succeeds when one of us does, & that’s fantastic.

How do you support other women in their leadership journeys?

In my world, only 15% of advisors are female, &, only 23.6% of us are board- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERS™ (according to Professional Advisor News & the CFP® Board, respectively).  Oddly enough, that doesn’t always create a culture of sisterhood, but can lead to what the industry has deemed the ‘Queen Bee Mentality’ – you have to separate yourself from other women in order to succeed. Personally, I think that’s insane, so it’s really important to me to be continuously reaching behind, running alongside, & emulating in the footsteps of other wonderful women to help change the game for us all.

What do you love the most about the health care industry?

Health care & medicine gave me what I value most – hope & time with the people I love. I think it’s a wonderful way to spend a career trying to pay that kindness forward within the health care & medical worlds.

What is something that not many people know about you?

My entire nuclear family – Mom, Dad, sister & me – all should’ve had much shorter lifespans but medicine stepped in & pushed Mother Nature back. I think science is so cool, but once Bill Nye stopped teaching me, I was kinda over it; I love that the health care field can take people like me & let us lean into the science & ripple impact that is medicine & health care.

Who inspires you?

My younger sister is pretty rad; she’s nothing & everything like me & has absolutely become my best friend over time. She perseveres, leads with kindness, is quite funny & tenacious, & I believe she can, does & will change the world – my hope is that she joins the TRUST soon because I think she’d be a perfect fit to our Women’s Health Leadership TRUST family!

DISCLOSURES: Insurance products issued by Principal National Life Insurance Company (except in NY), Principal Life Insurance Company®, and the companies available through the Preferred Product Network, Inc. Securities and advisory products offered through Principal Securities, Inc., Member SIPC. Referenced companies are members of the Principal Financial Group®, Des Moines, IA 50392.  Women’s Health Leadership TRUST is not an affiliate of any company of the Principal Financial Group®. CFP Board owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the U.S. 4052673-122024