Tate Kerst

The path that Tate has taken over the last 25 years has truly made a difference not only for the people that have engaged him in impacting their business but for the many clients and customers they serve. Tate’s original path led him to leave college to impact young people in secondary education to allow Tate to be a coach to athletes at that level. He quickly learned that English, reading and writing are something Tate enjoys so he figured it would make getting through college easier, would allow him to share the passion he has for the great writings while allowing him to lead sports teams to championships. Quickly Tate realized that English wasn’t everyone’s favorite topic and that he actually had to read all the essays he assigned. A few years of teaching led Tate to pursue alternatives where he had more control of the direction and impact he could have.

Tate’s career in financial services began in Oakley, KS as a Financial Advisor with Waddell and Reed. He reached production recognition levels every year he was in his advisory role and his success in that role and his educational background led him to have an impact not just on his practice but his peers as well. This was a turning point, that wasn’t recognized by him at the time, that would lead him down a road that few people understood and even fewer people received full benefit of–Practice Development.

It honored Tate to be tapped by Waddell and Reed to start their first Practice Development program and grow it to the level that allowed advisors to find unprecedented success. Tate pulled from contemporary practice management literature to develop a program that provided the ability to develop a practice rather than manage it. A focus driven by advisors to meet them where they are at and to take them to where they want to be in their business and life proved to resonate with the advisors, he had the honor to work with and infuses Tate with energy and excitement today. Tate is fueled by continuing to help everyone business owner he comes into contact with be a better business person or to get them to share with him the keys to their success.

Tate grew up as a wrestler and pursued that athletic endeavor into his college career. That tenacity, and difference in mentality, have served to mold Tate into the person he has become. He attended Fort Hays State University where he majored in English Education and met his wife of almost 30 years! You can guess which accomplishment was hardest. Tate lives in Kansas City, KS with his wife Amy and is actively pursuing getting his three college age children off his payroll. When not working Tate enjoys pursuing his frustrating golf game, reading both business books and spy/military fiction and spending time with his family.