Blended Families and the Surviving Spouse who Tries to Circumvent the Estate Plan
Join us for a discussion on estate planning for blended families and what to do when the surviving spouse tries to deviate from the estate plan. Katie Yoder and Laurie Klinkhammer will co-present on the topic.
About Katie Yoder:
Katie serves as a fiduciary professional and advisor in the areas of tax, trust, and estate
planning and administration. With a heart for service and a head for strategy, she brings over
a decade of experience and a deep passion for fiduciary work. Katie provides customized
advice to help clients integrate their tax, legacy, and estate planning goals into a cohesive
personal wealth management strategy. She collaborates closely with a team of trust and
estate professionals to deliver comprehensive fiduciary services.
Prior to joining BMO, Katie built a rich career in both private practice and institutional
leadership. She practiced law at Huck Bouma PC in Wheaton and spent 10 years at her former
financial institution, where she led estate settlement and personal trust services teams. Most
recently, she held a national leadership role within the fiduciary services group, shaping
strategy and best practices across the organization.
Katie earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Stetson University College of Law and holds a
Certificate of Concentration in Elder Law. She is an active member of the Chicago and DuPage
Estate Planning Councils among many other estate planning organizations.
Rooted in her Irish heritage, Katie brings a storyteller’s soul and a deep belief in the power of
relationships, legacy, and doing right by people—values that resonate deeply with BMO’s
culture. She is also deeply committed to her community, serving on the Board of Directors for
CASA DuPage, an organization advocating for abused and neglected children. As a certified
instructor through An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG), she teaches Irish dance at the
Onórach Mulhern Geraghty Irish Dance School. Katie resides in Wheaton with her husband,
Carleton, daughter, Lilly, and Yorkipoo, Smores.
About Laurie Klinkhammer
As the head of BMO Private Bank's Estate Settlement Services group, Laurie leads
the post-death team that settles estates and trusts for deceased clients. She also
works closely with clients, their advisors and other partners regarding issues
related to estate planning. She joined the organization in 2021 and has over 15
years of experience in estate and tax planning, trust and estate administration,
and other business and fiduciary matters.
Laurie graduated summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota with a
Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology/Archaeology and received her Masters
of Science in Education from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Laurie earned
her JD from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, MN.
Laurie has two adult sons and makes her home in Wisconsin with her spouse, her
dog, and her horse.
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