Gary Reese considers himself to be a Financial Pastor.   He is motivated from the heart to help people.  At the core of his business model is the concept of “parakletos” — the Greek word for the Holy Spirit which means “One called alongside to help.”  That idea of coming alongside is central to every part of Gary’s work with clients.  It is Gary’s desire to walk alongside you (whether you are a widow, an individual approaching retirement, a family seeking college planning advice, or a seasoned investor with broad experience) and help carry your load — with expertise, compassion, thorough understanding, and careful planning.

Gary started in the financial services industry in 1987.  His certifications include ChFC, CLU, LUTCF, and CLTC.  He is an alumni of The American College, has a BA from Ohio State/Asbury College, has a MA from Asbury Theological Seminary, and has a PhD in progress in Conflict Resolution.

After many years with a national financial services corporation, Gary felt led to start Faith Investment Services in 2003.  He is a registered representative of NEXT Financial Group, Inc. a broker/dealer based in Houston, TX.   In the financial services industry, registered representatives are often called ‘independent’ or ‘captive.’   An independent registered representative is free to research a variety of products or plans that might meet your specific needs and implement what he perceives to be appropriate from a very broad field of choices.   A captive agent is either employed by or committed to a specific company or family of products.   When a captive registered representative looks for a solution, their field of choices is limited by what their company offers.   Faith Investment Services isn’t the only independent firm out there.   If you are considering leaving a captive agent (or at least checking out other options), there are a host of different registered representatives you can call.   I would invite you to call more than one.   Knowledge is power!

What makes Faith Investment Services different?

Gary Reese has been both captive and independent.   He is a trained researcher and has a host of credentials garnered from years of study.   He has practical experience and has been a mentor and trainer for other registered representatives.   As a former pastor and missionary, he has gained insight into the needs and sometimes unspoken concerns of people around him.   He is committed to active listening.

Central to his decision to start his own business was his passion for Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI).  BRI is the purposeful accumulation of resources in a way that honors God, respects His priorities, and is obedient to scripture.  Gary believes that every Christian should know about the influence and potential BRI can have and that every Christian should actively consider having their current investments screened to see what they are supporting.

Faith Investment Services is located in Bluffton, Ohio — a small community in Northwest Ohio.  Gary currently serves clients in over 10 states.