Growing up as the son of a Baltimore County bricklayer, Gary learned lifelong lessons about money at an early age. His family’s frequent financial struggles (deepening with the death of Gary’s mother when he was just eight years old) forced them to periodically rely on welfare, with little or no extra cash for emergencies. It was an experience that instilled a profound belief in hard work, putting family first, and saving and investing for a more secure future—values that ultimately shaped his career.
Gary attended Towson University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a concentration in finance. He quickly realized that, as a financial advisor, he could help others avoid mistakes and achieve financial security; it’s something he feels strongly about. For the past twenty-four years, Gary has done just that, specializing in working with pre- and post-retirees to help them maintain an enjoyable lifestyle during their retirement years.
Gary began his career in 1994 and has earned well-respected credentials including the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification, the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ designation, and the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® designation. His extensive experience has made him a highly sought-after investment commentator for news outlets such as Money Magazine, Bankrate.com, Yahoo Finance, Maryland Public Television’s Business Connection, The Business Monthly, and others as well as a regular columnist for the Baltimore Business Journal.
To help raise money for charities dear to his heart, Gary wrote the acclaimed Amazon bestseller* The Art of Retirement (with a foreword by NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott). The book uses the story of Michelangelo’s incredibly long (and challenging) life and famed art as a metaphor to compare the reader’s life to a masterpiece while emphasizing the importance of creating a resilient, well-crafted portfolio. All profits from The Art of Retirement are donated to the Y in Central Maryland, Augie’s Quest, the Maryland SPCA, and the Brigance Brigade Foundation.
Gary is exceedingly active in the community and serves on numerous nonprofit boards including the Association Board of Directors of the Y in Central Maryland, the Investment Committee for Mount Saint Joseph High School Endowment, and as the chairman of the Investment Committee for more than $20 million Y in Central Maryland Endowment.
Gary lives with his family and Goldendoodle, Cali, in Howard County, Maryland. In his spare time, Gary enjoys spending time with his family, exercising, skiing, and surfing.
*Ranked #62 in Retirement Planning books for 2013
Gary Williams is proud to have been recognized as a Chairman’s Level advisor for 2023—a distinction based on annual production that places him among the top 3 percent of advisors affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network.
Each year, Commonwealth, the broker/dealer–RIA that helps us process investment transactions on your behalf, recognizes Chairman’s Level advisors by inviting them to an exclusive gathering of their peers, leading industry experts, and Commonwealth home office staff. Chairman’s Level advisors benefit from an intensive learning and networking experience designed to help them hone their expertise, share best practices, and provide ever-higher levels of service, education, and leadership to their clients.