Linda Cook, CFP®

Linda is a Partner & Practice Leader in the West Des Moines, Iowa office. For more than three decades, Linda Cook has helped individuals, families, and business owners navigate complex financial lives with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Prior to joining Cerity Partners, Linda served as Founder and Managing Partner of Gilbert & Cook. Founded in 1993, Gilbert & Cook was founded with a clear and enduring vision: to create an independent firm that puts people first. She built a wealth management firm grounded in genuine relationships and thoughtful strategy.

Early in her career, Linda recognized that meaningful financial success is not driven by products, but by relationships. That insight became the foundation of Gilbert & Cook — shaping a client experience centered on deep listening, personalized planning, and long-term partnership. In 1994, she earned her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation, reinforcing her commitment to fiduciary excellence and disciplined advice.

Linda works closely with affluent individuals, multi-generational families, and business owners navigating pivotal life transitions — from retirement and succession planning to legacy and estate strategies. She is widely respected for her steady leadership, long-term perspective, and ability to guide clients through complex decisions with clarity and confidence.

What began as a one-woman mission grew into a collaborative ensemble of advisors, analysts, and planning specialists. Under Linda’s leadership, Gilbert & Cook achieved consistent, disciplined growth while remaining deeply rooted in its client-first philosophy — demonstrating that it is possible to scale excellence without sacrificing relationships.

Linda’s philosophy — Live a Life of Abundance® — is a mindset that challenges both clients and professionals to think bigger, plan more intentionally, and align their financial lives with what matters most.

Outside the office, Linda and her husband, Chris, enjoy traveling and embracing new experiences together. They frequently spend time in Minnesota and Texas with their daughters, Hal and Kamryn, and enjoy life’s everyday moments with their two dogs, Maizy and Rue.

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