Blake Kauffmann

Background

About Blake Kauffmann

Blake Kauffmann is an Investment Consultant with Trailhead Retirement Planning Group at Morgan Stanley. As a member of the group’s wealth planning team, Blake develops, maintains, and oversees clients’ financial plans. He assists clients in their financial journeys by- Providing financial planning (including basic income replacement needs, supplemental retirement planning, estate and business planning strategy, and wealth transfer planning)- Conducting Annual Account Reviews to help ensure that clients’ plans are up to date - Executing investment processing as recommended by a client’s Financial Advisor/Financial Plan - Examining and monitoring clients’ annuities and insurance plans - Serving as a resource connecting clients to other product/service opportunities (making connections to cash management solutions based upon needs identified through a client’s financial plan, for example)- Actively communicating with clients; confirming that orders have been filled, following up on paperwork, offering help with any of the challenges of wealth management Blake is enthusiastic about the wealth planning team’s integration of advice approach to planning, which encourages sharing of ideas and insights among team members and allows multiple professionals to view and manage client portfolios. This integration aims to simplify the management of clients’ finances. Blake is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago with a BA in Sports Management and a Master’s degree in Finance. He started with Trailhead as a production intern in 2016 when he was still a Junior at Loyola, and the variety of positions he’s held since joining have given him wide-ranging experience. Blake became a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor® (CRPC®) in 2024. In addition, he holds Series 7, 66, and Life and Health Insurance licenses. Blake loves all things Chicago sports. He enjoys golfing, hiking, playing in a beach volleyball league, exploring new music venues. Blake and his wife, Kaitlyn, were recently married and moved back to the suburbs after a decade in Chicago. Blake also regularly spends time reading with underprivileged public-school students, as a mentor in Chicago’s WITS (Working in the Schools) program. The investments listed may not be appropriate for all investors. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a financial advisor. The appropriateness of a particular investment will depend upon an investor's individual circumstances and objectives.