Meet Our Team Member: Kendra Kasznel Reilly

By Kendra Reilly, CFP®, CIMA®, CEPA®

I learned the value of a dollar and the importance of being a good steward of your financial resources from a very young age. For as long as I can remember, my dad has always taught me about the importance of being able to support myself and encouraged me to get my first job at the age of 12 so I could pay for a field trip. When I asked him to co-sign my college loans, he asked me to write an essay on why I wanted to go to college and why I thought it was a good financial investment. He did not want me to rely on others to financially support me and he knew that working for what I wanted was a foundational principle that would carry me through the rest of my life. 

As I entered adulthood, I learned that not everyone had this type of upbringing or mindset. I was motivated to pursue my own financial freedom by working my way through college and began to establish my independence more and more as I progressed through college.   

First Career Steps

I graduated Cum Laude from the University of Pittsburgh with a double major in Communications and English Writing with the hopes of beginning a career in PR or marketing. I graduated in 2010 when unfortunately the job market was still recovering from the 2008 recession and it was extremely challenging to find a job in my desired field. I expanded my search outside the marketing and public relations field to look for a full-time job (hoping to eventually make my way back to marketing and PR). 

I didn’t know what a great opportunity it was then, but the first full-time job I was offered was as a teller at PNC Bank. At the time, I thought this would be a good first step in a career at a well-respected bank with many different lines of business that I could potentially move into later on down the road. It turns out it was a great first step in a career that I love. Throughout the years I held various roles at PNC—I moved from teller, to personal banker, to assistant branch manager. In 2013 I accepted a position in the Wealth Management Development program. In this program I spent a year shadowing senior advisors and learning about all the different areas of wealth management. After that year of shadowing was complete, I became an Associate Relationship Manager and began working closely with clients. Something that stood out to me in these pivotal years was how much I enjoyed helping people clarify their goals so they could realize their own financial freedom.

In 2014 I completed the Executive Certificate in Financial Planning program through Duquesne University and successfully earned my CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation in 2015. In order to enhance my investment management knowledge, I completed the Yale’s School of Management CIMA education course, Investment Management Theory & Practice, and earned my Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) designation in 2018. Most recently, I completed the Certified Exit Planning Advisor program through the Exit Planning Institute and earned my CEPA® designation.

In 2015, I met Ahmie Baum when he was looking to add a Relationship Manager to his team. I had enjoyed working for PNC, but after meeting Ahmie, I thought his way of delivering wealth management to clients was far superior to what I had previously learned. Seeing the impact Ahmie made on his clients’ lives, I found a passion for building long-lasting, trusting relationships with clients. I accepted the opportunity to join his team at UBS as a Senior Wealth Strategy Associate, and the rest is history.

Fast-Forward to Today

When Ahmie first approached me about partnering with him at Interchange Capital Partners, I was excited for the opportunity to build a firm that puts its clients and their goals first. As Senior Director of Relationship Management, I get to do more of what I love—working closely with families and their other professional partners to provide the highest quality service and advice possible. I spend my days helping our clients navigate their wealth management challenges and opportunities in the areas of investing, wealth planning, wealth enhancement, wealth transfer, and charitable giving. Using a holistic approach, I review every detail of our clients’ financial lives to make sure their financial plans are successful by identifying areas of improvement and looking for gaps to address.

The Value of a Plan

The best part of my job is when I get to present a plan to our clients that will have real, long-term financial benefits for them and their families. I do what I do to help our clients maximize their resources and achieve all their financial goals. There is no greater joy than using my passions and skills to help clients sleep better at night knowing they have the financial freedom to live the life they want. That is what motivates me to get out of bed every morning.

Take the Next Step

I am always open to meeting new people and seeing how I may be able to help. Whether you have already started planning for the future or have yet to put strategies in place, I encourage you to reach out to us today for a no-obligation introductory conversation to see if we’d be a good fit for each other. Email us at team@interchangecp.com or call our office to get started.

About Kendra

Kendra Kasznel Reilly is the senior director of relationship management at Interchange Capital Partners, an independent registered investment advisory firm providing collaborative and comprehensive planning and disciplined wealth management. Kendra has 10 years of industry experience and spends her days building relationships with her clients and providing advice and strategy around the five key areas of wealth management: investing, wealth enhancement, wealth planning, wealth transfer, and charitable giving. She is known for her holistic approach that allows her to spot opportunities, identify gaps, and make recommendations to enhance her clients’ overall plan. Kendra is passionate about making sure her clients are on track to achieve financial security as she acts as their partner for all things financial. 

Kendra graduated Cum Laude from the University of Pittsburgh with a double major in communications and English writing. She completed the Executive Certificate in Financial Planning program through Duquesne University and successfully earned her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) designation and Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) credential. In her free time, Kendra enjoys traveling, cooking with her husband, and baking and decorating cakes. You can often find her hiking with her dogs or spending time with her family and friends. She has been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBS) for many years and is a member of the Young Professionals Advisory Committee for the Pittsburgh Foundation. She and her husband Curtis are embarking on a new chapter in their life after welcoming their first child, Benjamin, in July. To learn more about Kendra, connect with her on LinkedIn.