About Roy Y. Gagaza
After nearly 25 years in the United States Army, retired officer Roy Y. Gagaza knew he needed a retirement plan. But he had yet to learn that his path to retirement would help his clients achieve the same goal. With a professional goal of assisting others in receiving the financial resources they require and the sound financial advice they deserve, he has had a unique experience in financial planning and consulting. "After nearly 25 years of service, I retired from the military on September 30, 2008. But, about ten years into my career, my wife and I began to consider our options outside of the military, "the officer with two Bronze Stars mentioned in an interview. He recognized the need for a career outside of the military and provided individual financial counselling and educational seminars during his final ten years.
His military experience has been beneficial, providing a solid foundation for hard work and a pragmatic approach to education and business. Recently, he stated, "I enjoy working with senior clients—those aged 55 and up. I get along better with people my own age. They've been through a lot and seen a lot in their lives." He has helped his clients work towards their dream retirement by developing well-thought-out financial strategies that take a personal approach to their wishes and goals by capitalizing on his experience and rolling it into gains. Simultaneously, he has taken the time to develop personalized approaches for each client and get to know each individual and their family, resulting in long-lasting relationships that produce strong results.
He is proud to serve the community by providing financial education to people from all walks of life. He has a long history of working with local school districts, CPAs, the highway patrol, Chambers of Commerce, and numerous individuals. Roy Y. Gagaza earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from San Jose State University and is also a Financial Professional, Certified Estate Planner, and Registered Financial Consultant with insurance licenses in Hawaii and California. He developed an interest in the Hawaiian market due to his military experiences there, and he decided to test the market by offering a seminar on the island.
He has also observed a significant difference between these two major markets. Hawaiian clients are more conservative in their principles, whereas northern Californians in the tech sector want to play stocks and take on excessive risk. These diverse groups necessitate a delicate touch, encouraging conservative planners to take on a little more risk while attempting to mitigate risk for those who believe investing in high-risk stocks is not Gagaza's area of expertise. In an interview, he stated, "The key for me is to help my clients preserve their money and have lifelong income."
In addition to his military honours, he has received several civilian awards, including the Advisors Excel Elite Advisor Award every year since 2018, the Allianz Century Award - 100 million in premium, and the Security Benefit Elite Advisor Award in 2018 and 2020. Most recently, Roy and his wife, Patricia, were inducted into the Advisors Excel Hall of Fame. Roy Y. Gagaza has led countless educational seminars that have reached hundreds of people nearing retirement. His financial advice enables them to preserve their assets, use tax-efficient strategies to reduce their tax liability, and create retirement income strategies, allowing them to enjoy their golden years with peace of mind. However, he advises his clients to create spending plans that are both realistic and well-founded, in addition to simply investing for retirement. He discovers that many people get into trouble about five years before and after retirement. "People reach their "red zone," where they believe they have arrived. And they start saying: "Let's take that cruise. Or how about 12 of them?" However, a fine balance and a plan must be in place before proceeding."
He believes in community building outside of the office and provides a comprehensive, holistic approach to planning for many individuals through asset preservation, risk reduction, and principal protection. In an on-demand, fast-paced society, he forms long-term relationships with his clients and their families, distinguishing himself from many financial counsellors. This close relationship with his client base has put him in a good position for long-term, consistent financial growth; as he states, "I'd rather build a business of referrals than a few big clients." He regularly matches client contributions to charitable organizations, particularly those focused on the military, such as US Vets and Folds of Honor. Because they understand the challenges that military families face daily, his family recognizes the importance of assisting military personnel as they transition from active duty and military life back into civilian life, including housing, mental health, wellness, workforce development, and support that is tailored to each veteran's specific needs.
But he's had a full and enjoyable life outside of the office. Patricia, his wife, business partner, and co-founder has been by his side for the past 24 years, as well as many years as a military wife. After graduating from the University of Pacific with a Business Finance degree and obtaining his Life and Health Insurance license, their son, Grant, decided to follow in his father's footsteps. Mackenzie, their middle child, recently married and has a Master of Education in Literacy. She teaches high school English. Kyrie, the eldest child, is also married and has just given birth to Roy and Patricia's first grandchild, Eleanor. Kyrie holds a Master of Business Administration and is the Senior Team Lead, Marketing Operations at Yardi Systems, a real estate software company.
Roy Y. Gagaza enjoys spending time in the water, paddle boarding, snorkelling, diving, perfecting his golf game, snowboarding, and unwinding with a good book when he is not with his family.
His military experience has been beneficial, providing a solid foundation for hard work and a pragmatic approach to education and business. Recently, he stated, "I enjoy working with senior clients—those aged 55 and up. I get along better with people my own age. They've been through a lot and seen a lot in their lives." He has helped his clients work towards their dream retirement by developing well-thought-out financial strategies that take a personal approach to their wishes and goals by capitalizing on his experience and rolling it into gains. Simultaneously, he has taken the time to develop personalized approaches for each client and get to know each individual and their family, resulting in long-lasting relationships that produce strong results.
He is proud to serve the community by providing financial education to people from all walks of life. He has a long history of working with local school districts, CPAs, the highway patrol, Chambers of Commerce, and numerous individuals. Roy Y. Gagaza earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from San Jose State University and is also a Financial Professional, Certified Estate Planner, and Registered Financial Consultant with insurance licenses in Hawaii and California. He developed an interest in the Hawaiian market due to his military experiences there, and he decided to test the market by offering a seminar on the island.
He has also observed a significant difference between these two major markets. Hawaiian clients are more conservative in their principles, whereas northern Californians in the tech sector want to play stocks and take on excessive risk. These diverse groups necessitate a delicate touch, encouraging conservative planners to take on a little more risk while attempting to mitigate risk for those who believe investing in high-risk stocks is not Gagaza's area of expertise. In an interview, he stated, "The key for me is to help my clients preserve their money and have lifelong income."
In addition to his military honours, he has received several civilian awards, including the Advisors Excel Elite Advisor Award every year since 2018, the Allianz Century Award - 100 million in premium, and the Security Benefit Elite Advisor Award in 2018 and 2020. Most recently, Roy and his wife, Patricia, were inducted into the Advisors Excel Hall of Fame. Roy Y. Gagaza has led countless educational seminars that have reached hundreds of people nearing retirement. His financial advice enables them to preserve their assets, use tax-efficient strategies to reduce their tax liability, and create retirement income strategies, allowing them to enjoy their golden years with peace of mind. However, he advises his clients to create spending plans that are both realistic and well-founded, in addition to simply investing for retirement. He discovers that many people get into trouble about five years before and after retirement. "People reach their "red zone," where they believe they have arrived. And they start saying: "Let's take that cruise. Or how about 12 of them?" However, a fine balance and a plan must be in place before proceeding."
He believes in community building outside of the office and provides a comprehensive, holistic approach to planning for many individuals through asset preservation, risk reduction, and principal protection. In an on-demand, fast-paced society, he forms long-term relationships with his clients and their families, distinguishing himself from many financial counsellors. This close relationship with his client base has put him in a good position for long-term, consistent financial growth; as he states, "I'd rather build a business of referrals than a few big clients." He regularly matches client contributions to charitable organizations, particularly those focused on the military, such as US Vets and Folds of Honor. Because they understand the challenges that military families face daily, his family recognizes the importance of assisting military personnel as they transition from active duty and military life back into civilian life, including housing, mental health, wellness, workforce development, and support that is tailored to each veteran's specific needs.
But he's had a full and enjoyable life outside of the office. Patricia, his wife, business partner, and co-founder has been by his side for the past 24 years, as well as many years as a military wife. After graduating from the University of Pacific with a Business Finance degree and obtaining his Life and Health Insurance license, their son, Grant, decided to follow in his father's footsteps. Mackenzie, their middle child, recently married and has a Master of Education in Literacy. She teaches high school English. Kyrie, the eldest child, is also married and has just given birth to Roy and Patricia's first grandchild, Eleanor. Kyrie holds a Master of Business Administration and is the Senior Team Lead, Marketing Operations at Yardi Systems, a real estate software company.
Roy Y. Gagaza enjoys spending time in the water, paddle boarding, snorkelling, diving, perfecting his golf game, snowboarding, and unwinding with a good book when he is not with his family.