The Cates Team - About Our Team

The Cates Team

Our Mission

The Cates Team at RBC Wealth Management combines the talents and abilities of individuals with over 65 years of financial services experience. We draw on that experience to help our clients realize their financial goals through the design, implementation, and monitoring of a sound financial plan. A primary focus of our practice is a disciplined investment process that employs a holistic approach to long-term wealth management. We believe it is essential to understand our client’s needs and desires and to build working relationships based on trust and integrity. Our ultimate goal is the creation of financial security for our clients.

Bill Cates
Senior Vice President - Financial Consultant, Consulting Group

(505) 872-5909
bill.cates@rbc.com

Bill is a Senior Vice President-Financial Consultant at RBC Wealth Management. His experience in financial services and investment analysis spans 31 years. He is a New Mexico native and graduate of Tucumcari High School. Bill graduated on the Dean’s List from the US Military Academy at West Point and attained his M.A. in History from the University of North Carolina. After completing Army’s Ranger and Airborne Schools, he served as a field artillery officer and battery commander in Germany, Vietnam, and at Fort Carson, Colorado. He taught history to cadets at West Point from 1974 to 1978 while on the faculty of the Military Academy. After eleven years of active service, Bill returned to Albuquerque and began his career as a financial consultant in 1978. He is a weekly volunteer at the Joy Junction Shelter and a member of the Board of Directors at the UNM Lobo Club. Bill and his wife, Karla, enjoy traveling with their ten grandchildren.

Brad Cates
First Vice President - Financial Consultant, Private Client Group

(505) 872-5912
brad.cates@rbc.com

Brad Cates joined the Cates Team in 1994. He graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas in 1993, receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree. Brad holds the Series 7 and New Mexico Insurance licenses. He focuses on individual and small business retirement planning, which includes designing and implementing customized investment portfolios, as well as education funding plans. Brad’s family includes wife, Shelley, daughter, Cameron and son Chase. Their newest addition, daughter Savannah, was born July 16, 2009. Outside the office Brad enjoys golf, Lobo athletics, and volunteering on his son’s soccer team.

Chris Cates
CFP®
First Vice President - Financial Consultant, Private Client Group

(505) 872-5910
chris.cates@rbc.com

Chris began his career in financial services in Phoenix, AZ with the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. In 1998, Chris moved back to his hometown of Albuquerque to join the Cates Team. Chris is a graduate of Northern Arizona University, where he earned a B.S. in Finance. In 2007, Chris completed the CFP program through the College of Financial Planning, and in 2008 he passed the CFP Board Exam designating him a Certified Financial Planner. Chris focuses on all areas of wealth management including retirement, educational, insurance, and estate planning. He also works with business owners in establishing employer-sponsored retirement plans. Chris is married to Lauren Cates, and they share two beautiful daughters, Reily and Addison.

Joseph Romero
Senior Financial Associate

(505) 872-5930
joe.romero@rbc.com

Joseph graduated from New Mexico State University in 1995, with a BA in Finance. After graduating he took a year for himself and moved to South Korea where he taught English as a second language. When he returned he began his career as a Jr. Trader with Paine Webber. In 2000 he went on to become the Operations Manager of the Santa Fe branch and obtained his series 8 and 9. In 2003 he joined Smith Barney as the Operations Manager of the Albuquerque office where he served until 2009 when he joined the Cates Team at RBC Wealth Management.

Joe enjoys hiking, traveling overseas, and spending time at the family cabin in northern NM. Most of all he loves spending time with is new son, Archer.

Vickie Zimmerman
Investment Associate

(505) 872-5917
victoria.zimmerman@rbc.com

Vickie’s career as an assistant to Bill Cates at RBC Wealth Management began in 1987, but her career in the financial services industry began years before that. Directly out of high school she was a receptionist for a small regional firm in Omaha, Nebraska. When her Air Force father was re-assigned to Colorado Springs, Vickie, along with her 12 brothers and sisters, all moved to Colorado, where she continues to build her experience with other firms. Over the next 30 years, in various locales, Vickie continued to build her resume as a teletype operator, cashier and operations manager. She is a fully licensed Registered Representative. The wealth of knowledge and experience she has acquired over the years has been invaluable to the Cates Team and its clients.

Vickie and her husband, Bill, have five children and nine grandchildren. They live in the mountains west of Albuquerque on ten acres that they share with their horses, Doc and Colonel. In addition to good wine and fine food, Vickie and Bill enjoy trail riding and spending as much time as they can with their grandchildren.

Christina Lauderdale
Registered Client Associate

(505) 872-5918
christina.lauderdale@rbc.com

Christina graduated with a B.A. in Communications and a minor in Spanish from the University of Arizona in 1997. She began her career in financial services as a Registered Representative at Charles Schwab in 1999 She received the series 7 & 63 licenses. She works with a dedicated trading team who assists clients with their equity and options portfolios. In 2005, Christina transitioned into the role as a Registered Client Associate at Merrill Lynch in Phoenix. She moved to Albuquerque in 2006 and joined the Cates Team where she was able to use prior experience in assisting the clients of Brad and Chris Cates. Her and her husband, Lee recently became proud parents of twins, Tyler and Devon.