Founder and Principal, Morton Brown Family Wealth
It wasn’t long after Katie Brown first moved to Lehigh Valley with her husband, Deke, to decide that the region would be the perfect place to raise their family and pursue their dreams.
“I love the Lehigh Valley…this area has afforded us the opportunity to plant deep roots in the community.” she explained.
She and her husband met while attending York College, located just south of Harrisburg and about 100 miles from Lehigh Valley, but they didn’t know anyone in the area when first arriving here in 2003. Katie grew up in Michigan and her husband previously called New Hampshire home.
“We both went to York College and then landed in Lehigh Valley after graduation. My husband is a teacher at Emmaus High School in the East Penn School District, that’s what brought us to the Valley… Not really knowing anyone. We have since enjoyed making it our home,” Katie said.
“We have a great network of friends that we’ve built over time here,” she added.
At York College, Katie earned an Economics and Finance degree which enabled her to pursue a career as a financial planner. For 15 years, she helped to lead financial planning, operations, and compliance as a Partner at Concannon Wealth Management, later Corbenic Partners.
A little over two years ago, Katie and her business partner Dennis Morton decided to form their own financial firm after working together for the past decade.
With a desire to change the way financial advisory services are delivered in the region, Katie and Dennis created an RIA firm that is solely focused on family wealth management. They moved into a brand new, glass-filled office in downtown Allentown that mirrors their transparent nature and openness with which they treat clients.
She believes in the importance of a comprehensive fiduciary approach to wealth management and works to foster a healthy relationship between money and life for the families she serves.
When she’s not helping clients plan and save for all the unexpected twists and turns life has to offer, Katie and her family enjoy takeout pizza nights from Switchback Pizza, exploring new hiking spots, and running in the Lehigh Parkway in Allentown. She looks forward to once again filling her weekends supporting her children at youth soccer games and enjoying live music at Steel Stacks.
The balance Katie has achieved with her family, in her profession, and throughout her community has led to her being recognized as one of Lehigh Valley Business’ 2019 Forty Under 40 honorees and a 2015 Woman of Influence. She has served on local boards including the Valley Youth House, Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, and the Estate Planning Council of the LV.
She is most excited for a community of women she is fostering through gatherings and a YouTube series titled Coffee with Katie. This effort was born from her desire to change the conversation and make the topic of finance more inviting for women. Turned off by Wall Street jargon, she hopes this initiative will build confidence around investing and foster meaningful conversations around planning for the future.
For newcomers to the region in which she and her family have found happiness, Katie encourages them to “Explore everything. There are so many opportunities, whether you like arts or music or sports… whether you like being inside or outside. Explore it all and look for different events that are happening at Coca-Cola Park, PPL Center, ArtsQuest and everywhere else. Try new things.”
Live like a local:
Favorite restaurant: Union & Finch in Allentown
Favorite low key drink spot: The Trapp Door in Emmaus
Favorite summer activity: Kayaking on the Lehigh River
What’s the part of Lehigh Valley surprised you the most since you moved here?
How much I really appreciate the old and the new here. I think it’s kind of an eclectic mix, and they both have their draw to them, which is really cool.