In 2021, Kathie Okun has been recognized by The Daily Record
as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women
The Daily Record Announces 2021 Maryland's Top 100 Women
Baltimore, Md., March 24, 2021 — The Daily Record has named KATHIE H. OKUN, PRESIDENT | WEALTH ADVISOR, OKUN FINANCIAL GROUP to its 2021 listing of Maryland’s Top 100 Women.
"This year's Maryland's Top 100 Women are navigating Maryland businesses through extraordinary times. They are defining the new normal while also leading their teams from survival to success," said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, group publisher of The Daily Record. "In addition, this year's honorees are actively involved in their communities while also mentoring the next generation of leaders. We at The Daily Record are pleased to honor them. Outstanding achievement and a commitment to excellence are two of the many attributes that describe this year’s honorees. We celebrate this year’s Top 100 Women’s achievements and look forward to their future accomplishments.”
Maryland’s Top 100 Women was founded in 1996 to recognize outstanding achievements by women demonstrated through professional accomplishments, community leadership and mentoring. More than 1,500 women have been presented with the honor over the years.
Nominees were asked to complete an application outlining their educational and career history, professional and community involvement, corporate and nonprofit board memberships and mentoring experience. They were encouraged to submit letters of recommendation from those who are familiar with their accomplishments professionally, in the community and through mentoring.
A panel of business professionals, previous Maryland’s Top 100 Women honorees from throughout the state and a representative of The Daily Record reviewed the final applications and selected this year’s honorees.
The Maryland’s Top 100 Women is independently produced by The Daily Record. To be awarded, you must complete an application with their educational and career history, professional and community involvement, corporate and nonprofit board memberships and mentoring experience. Maryland’s Top 100 Women recognizes high-achieving Maryland women who are making an impact through their leadership, community service and mentoring. Winners are selected by past Top 100 Women and business leaders. Kathie Okun was nominated for this award. No fee was paid for the nomination, selection or receipt. A fee of $220 was paid to promote the award. This award was independently granted and a membership in an organization was not required.
KATHIE OKUN TOP 20 IN 2020 AWARD WINNER ENTERPRISING WOMEN MAGAZINE
ENTERPRISING WOMEN “TOP 20 IN 2020” AWARD WINNERS
Twenty previous Enterprising Women of the Year Award Winners recognized for business growth, legacy, and give-back during the magazine’s 20th anniversary
Monica Smiley, publisher and CEO of Enterprising Women magazine, has announced the winners of a special recognition in honor of the 20th anniversary of Enterprising Women magazine. Twenty previous winners of the Enterprising Women of the Year Award are being recognized for substantial business growth since the year they won the Enterprising Women of the Year Award, as well as the remarkable legacy they have built for themselves and their companies, and their engagement and support of the Enterprising Women community.
Honorees will be recognized at the 18th Annual Enterprising Women of the Year Awards Celebration & Conference, to be held from Sunday, October 18 to Tuesday, October 20 at the Wyndham Grand in Clearwater Beach, Florida.
“All of these honorees have at least doubled the size of their companies since they were first recognized by Enterprising Women, and many have experienced explosive growth. Each woman stands out for her leadership and give-back, and many have also been leaders within our Enterprising Women community in freely sharing their best practices and expertise through the pages of Enterprising Women magazine or in supporting our sister non-profit, the Enterprising Women Foundation’s Young Enterprising Women Mentoring Forum Program with a leadership role,” according to Smiley.
The Top 20 in 2020 is independently produced by Enterprising Women magazine and recognizes winners for business growth, legacy, and give-back during the magazine’s 20th anniversary. Twenty previous winners of the award are recognized for substantial business growth since the year they won the Enterprising Women of the Year Award, as well as the remarkable legacy they have built for themselves and their companies, and their engagement and support of the Enterprising Women community. The award is independently granted and can only be won once. Membership in an organization was not required and no fee was paid for the nomination, selection, receipt or promotion of this award.
KATHIE OKUN NAMED 2014 ENTERPRISING WOMEN OF THE YEAR BY ENTERPRISING WOMEN MAGAZINE
To qualify for consideration a nominee must show financial strength and business success, prove they are a leader in their community and provide mentoring. A panel of judges reviews the nominations, conducts interviews and selects those who receive the award. The award is independently granted and can only be won once. Membership in an organization was not required and no fee was paid for the nomination, selection, receipt or promotion of this award.
WIFS: Circle of Excellence Award, October 2019
Kathie is the recipient of The Ruby Award, once again, for 2019. This award demonstrates the achievement of significant income levels in both the financial and insurance services industry based upon production levels in the previous year. This is the sixth consecutive year that Kathie has received this award.
(Kathie has received The Ruby Award annually since 2014).
Women in Insurance & Financial Services (WIFS) is a professional 501(c)6 organization which attracts women in the financial services and insurance industry. WIFS develops businesswomen further by sharing resources, support, and tools to thrive in the workplace. Collaborative networks, mentorships, and constructive feedback build the foundation for the dynamic organization.
Circle of Excellence Ruby Award 2014 – 2019. Presented by Women in Insurance & Financial Services (WIFS). This award demonstrates the achievement of significant income levels in both the financial and insurance services industry based upon production levels in the previous year. This is the sixth consecutive year that Kathie has received this award. Kathie has received this award annually since 2014. Kathie Okun applied for membership and a fee of $260 was paid to be a member. There were no fees to promote this award which was independently granted.
Five Star Wealth Manager Award 2019
Baltimore Magazine has named Kathie a Five Star Wealth Manager for the third year. Kathie also received this accolade in 2014 and 2015.
To receive the Five Star Wealth Manager award, a wealth manager must satisfy 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria that are associated with wealth mangers who provide quality services to their clients. Factors taken into account include assets under management and client retention rate. Candidates also undergo a thorough regulatory and complaint review.
The Five Star Wealth Manager Award Winner is independently produced by Five Star Professional (FSP) and is based on data from financial advisors, regulatory disclosures, and FSP research. We were independently nominated for the award. Neither the advisors nor their parent firm pay a fee to FSP for the nomination or receipt of the award. In 2018, a fee of $4,397 was paid for a promotional package from Baltimore Magazine for the February 2019 publication. The award was independently granted and membership in an organization was not required. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager is no guarantee of investment success.
Blue Chip Advisor Award 2015
Kathie H. Okun, of the Okun Financial Group, Named First Woman to Earn the Blue Chip Award from Broker Dealer, Hornor, Townsend & Kent (HTK)
Press Release: March 23, 2016, Hunt Valley, Maryland:
At the Hornor, Townsend & Kent 2016 annual conference, Kathie H. Okun, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF was awarded the 2015 Blue Chip award. Kathie is the first woman in the 169-year history of Hornor, Townsend & Kent (HTK) and Penn Mutual to receive this award. Kathie is the founder of Okun Financial Group, now in Lutherville, Maryland.
The HTK Blue Chip Award is presented each year to the one individual who best exemplifies the principles of HTK and Penn Mutual. The advisor must be a top sales performer and demonstrate the highest level of integrity in meeting the needs of his or her clients. He or she must possess a strong sense of commitment to their clients and to Penn Mutual and its broker/dealer Hornor, Townsend & Kent. This prestigious, annual award recognizes an HTK advisor for high standards of integrity, ethics and performance in helping clients achieve financial security.
"Our Blue Chip award is given to an advisor with a proven track record of excellent customer service and compliant business practices. I've had the pleasure of knowing Kathie for many years and she's always gone the extra mile for her clients. She's also the first female advisor in our company's history to receive this award from Hornor, Townsend & Kent," said Michael Williams, Assistant Vice President, Business Development and Agency Integration, Penn Mutual.
Kathie H. Okun, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF has been in the financial services industry for thirty years. Her success is attributed to building strong relationships with her clients while presenting effective ideas and strategies in a style that makes it easy for her clients to understand. Throughout her career, Kathie has maintained the highest level of professionalism, integrity and leadership. She holds multiple designations from The American College of Financial Services, attended UMBC and holds a Retirement Income Planning Certificate from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business.
Over the course of her career she has received other awards for her outstanding service in her industry.
- Enterprising Women of the Year award* in 2014
- Smart CEO, Brava award* winner in 2013
Kathie said “Winning the Blue Chip award was an overwhelmingly emotional experience and completely unexpected. I am still in shock,” ...When asked about how she was feeling. “I'm not one to look for or seek out accolades for the work that I do with my clients. All I want is to help my clients take care of their families,” she added.
The HTK Blue Chip Award is presented each year to the one individual who best exemplifies the principles of HTK and Penn Mutual. In doing so, the advisor must be a top sales performer and demonstrate the highest level of integrity in meeting the needs of his or her clients.
In addition, he or she must possess a strong sense of commitment not only to their success, but also to the success of their clients and to both HTK and Penn Mutual. ww.htk.com/content/htk/join_htk/recognition-events.html
Blue Chip Advisor of the Year award is an award from Penn Mutual and its broker/dealer Horner, Townsend & Kent (HTK) which recognizes an HTK advisor who is a top sales performer and demonstrates high standards of integrity, ethics and performance in helping clients achieve financial security. Kathie Okun was nominated for this internal award which was independently granted.
Kathie Okun named 2013 Brava Award Winner by SmartCEO Magazine*
Kathie Okun was named a 2013 Brava Award Winner by SmartCEO Magazine in July. This award features top female entrepreneurs in the Baltimore area who not only achieve great things in the workplace, but who are giving back to their community as well.
The Brava Award is based on Kathie Okun's experience as a business leader in the community and is not related to the financial services she offers.
The BRAVA Women Business Achievement award is independently produced by the Smart CEO Magazine BRAVA and is based on women executives leading companies that generated at least $1 million in revenue and who encourage local philanthropy, mentor fellow CEOs and set their companies on the path to tremendous growth. Each year, an independent committee of local business leaders selects winners based on the quality of applications submitted. Kathie Okun applied for this award. No fee was paid for the nomination or receipt of this award. A fee of $125 was paid to promote the award. This award was independently granted and a membership in an organization was not required.
Kathie is a member of the Women's Presidents' Organization, Baltimore Chapter II
WPO is a collaborative network of women business leaders that seek to support and advise each other. A non-profit membership organization, members participate in specialized advisory groups in order to promote exceptional businesses. Baltimore Chapter II meets monthly and emphasizes in local opportunities for women and business leaders alike.
KATHIE OKUN APPOINTED TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS WOMEN'S PRESIDENT ORGANIZATION WPO NATIONAL
Kathie Herbst Okun Appointed to Board of Directors for WPO Organization
Kathie Herbst Okun, Founder and President of Okun Financial Group, has been appointed to the Board of Directors for The Women's President Organization (WPO).
WPO is a premier membership organization for women presidents, CEOs, and managing directors of privately held multimillion-dollar companies and nonprofit organizations. Through global, confidential, and collaborative peer-learning groups, the WPO accelerates business growth, enhances competitiveness, and promotes economic security. It is the ultimate destination for successful women entrepreneurs. WPO has over 120 chapters around the world learn more and find a chapter near you here.
Kathie has been a proud and active member of the WPO Baltimore Chapter since 2013. Kathie has served on membership, the WPO annual conference and annual leadership retreats over the years. Kathie was very instrumental in leading the mission to bring the WPO Global Conference to her home town of Baltimore in April, 2016.
The mission and purpose of the WPO is to improve business conditions for women entrepreneurs and to promote the acceptance and advancement of women entrepreneurs in all industries. Kathie has a core focus in her financial advisory business for women in business. Encouraging, educating and guiding women as successful stewards of their money, finances, insurance and investments.
Marsha Firestone, President of WPO announced the 5 new board members. Over 30 applications were received and the field is competitive. Kathie said in a statement “It is an honor to be selected among such incredible women, some of which are my peers, to sit on the board of WPO”. Please meet the new board members here.