Gary Smith
Gary Smith, CLU®, ChFC®
Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor, Portfolio Advisor
I take a planning based approach and use a defined process to assess your risk tolerance. I then design a financial strategy that attempts to maximize a greater degree of certainty while minimizing your risk. I help to manage the sequence of returns when you are in retirement and maximize assets going to your intended beneficiaries.
Before any financial decisions are made, I look at your whole financial life and take the time to fully understand who you are and what matters the most to you. With this intimate knowledge about what you value most, I will help you to establish objectives, develop an appropriate strategy and make recommendations that draw upon the breath and depth of Total Merrill to connect all the pieces of your financial life. I will conduct regular reviews with you to help you track your progress toward reaching your goals and keep your strategies consistent with any changes that may take place in your life and/or business.
I have been a Financial Advisor since 1981, joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2007. I am a graduate of Allegheny College and hold a Masters Degree in Teaching from Antioch University. I have authored several articles in national magazines as well authoring a weekly column in the “Syracuse Herald Journal” from 1991 – 1997 on financial topics. I enjoy golf and spending time with my wife and five children.
Community involvement is an integral part of how I interact with clients and communities. I am actively involved with volunteering and as a former charter Board Member of The Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra and a current Board member of Learn to Read of St. Augustine. I am also a Del Webb HOA Board Member and an active member of the Riverwood Men's Club (formerly president). Let me show you how my dedication to achieving your goals and to client service could benefit you and your family. Contact me at your earliest convenience.
I strive to understand you and your priorities. To take the time, to ask hard, smart questions and to listen carefully, then to understand, in great detail, exactly where your wealth stands today, and where you'd like it to be tomorrow. I then help you design, implement and periodically review a customized wealth management strategy that helps you and your family pursue your personal financial goals without unnecessary investment risk. My wealth management approach is about using wealth to help turn goals into reality. When you succeed, I succeed.
You should connect with me if you:
- Seek a tailored retirement income plan
- Are divorced and looking for a new, professional relationship with an advisor
- You have moved and would like a local advisor relationship
- Seek access to banking services
- Are a CPA or Attorney interested in providing a resource for your clients
Bringing fresh perspectives to your financial life
The financial decisions you make today can help determine the future you build for yourself and your family. Carving a clear path forward starts with connecting your life and finances. A Merrill advisor provides access to the investing insights of Merrill and banking capabilities of Bank of America to help you make informed decisions as you pursue your goals.
