Kate Johnson
Financial Advisor
Intentional Planning for Successful Female Professionals, Business Owners, and Medical Practitioners
About me
My team and I are committed to helping you get closer to your dreams. I believe financial planning should be simple, not stressful. When you partner with us, you can expect a judgment-free, pressure-free environment with conversations that will be focused on your priorities alone. A pleasant and polished client experience is something my team and I take pride in.
Kyle, my husband, and I were married in September 2022 and recently welcomed our baby girl, Maya, in July 2024. Originally from Florida and Oregon, we met in Miami, FL and are loving our life in San Diego. We live in the Clairemont neighborhood and enjoy practicing yoga, surfing and cooking new recipes together. Kyle is a podiatrist and practices across San Diego County. We also have a dog, Pepper, who ensures no crumb is left behind.
Professionally, my career began in the restaurant world. I attended Washington State University (GO COUGS!) and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality business management & a minor in economics. While I loved my time in the hospitality industry, I also wanted to have the flexibility to start a family. I was raised by a single mom that sought out the advice of a local advisor to get her retirement “back on track.” After watching her navigate that process and seeing the immense value it brought to our family, I knew this was going to be a great fit.
I began my financial career with Northwestern Mutual in 2022 and haven’t looked back since. In my first year as an advisor, I accomplished Pacesetter40 & Pacesetter 2nd 60 milestones, ranking my team and I in the top 1% of first year advisors across the country. I am honored to serve our clients in a way that ensures financial success and peace of mind for generations to come. Since inception, our team has impacted over 120 families, and we have no intention of slowing down.
Looking forward to connecting with you,
-Kate
Get to know my dedicated team
Each of us are committed to providing exceptional service. If you need to schedule an appointment, request service, or have a question about a policy or account, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Grace Gaustad
Operations Assistant
My name is Grace Gaustad, and I am a recent addition to Kate Johnson’s team as her Operations Assistant. I graduated from the University of North Dakota with a major in Marketing and was a part of the Alpha Phi sorority. In 2023, I relocated to San Diego and in 2024 I started my career with Northwestern Mutual. I find joy in assisting clients with our exemplary services because it allows me to make a meaningful impact on their families and future.
Elliot James
Investment Associate
My name is Elliot James, and I am an Associate on Kate's Financial Planning team. I graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a concentration in Finance. I currently hold my SIE, Series 63, and Series 7 investment licenses. I love helping clients with their financial goals because it’s incredibly rewarding to see them achieve peace of mind and financial security.
Laura Jane Murphy
Director of Development
My name is Laura Murphy and I serve as a business development coach for Kate Johnson and her team. I have been with Northwestern Mutual since August of 2016 and specialize in helping financial advisors grow and build their practices. Kate and I have worked closely together to create processes that allow her to provide excellent service to her clientele, while still staying authentic to who she is!
Lending a hand in my community.
As part of Northwestern Mutual, I'm proud to help accelerate the search for better childhood cancer treatments while supporting families undergoing treatment, and survivors from late effects. Here are some of the organizations we partner with:
Feeding San Diego
Established in 2007, Feeding San Diego is the leading hunger-relief and food rescue organization in San Diego County and the only Feeding America member in the region. Feeding San Diego provides more than 35 million meals every year to children, families, seniors, college students, military families, veterans, people facing homelessness, and other underserved populations. We distribute meals in partnership with 370 local charities, schools, faith communities, meal sites, and food pantries throughout the region.
San Diego Humane Society
San Diego Humane Society, an open-admission shelter, is creating a more humane world by inspiring compassion and advancing the welfare of animals and people. Our lifesaving safety net has helped San Diego become the largest city in the U.S. to keep healthy and treatable shelter animals from being euthanized. We are a private, independent, nonprofit organization that is not affiliated with any other humane society or society for the prevention of cruelty to animals. While our influence is expanding nationally, our top priority is meeting the needs of San Diego. We provide exceptional care for all animals through world-class veterinary medicine, shelter and most of all: love.
