STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
MICHAEL BINGER, CFA®
PRESIDENT GRADIENT INVESTMENTS, LLC
As President, Michael is the leader of Gradient Investments and has been with the firm since 2012. He brings more than 35 years of industry experience, including prior roles managing multi-billion-dollar portfolios for an institutional asset manager. Michael is a CFA® charter holder and is a frequent contributor on CNBC, Fox Business, Barron’s, and the Wall Street Journal.
KEITH GANGL, CFA®
SENIOR PORTFOLIO MANAGER GRADIENT INVESTMENTS, LLC
Keith joined Gradient Investments in 2018 and has more than 30 years of industry experience. Prior roles include senior portfolio manager for a large institutional asset management firm, managing a multi-billion-dollar portfolio. Keith is a CFA® charter holder, and has been featured in media outlets such as CNBC, Bloomberg, Investor’s Business Daily, Nasdaq and Reuters.
TYLER ELLEGARD, CFA®
SENIOR PORTFOLIO MANAGER GRADIENT INVESTMENTS, LLC
Tyler is a Senior Portfolio Manager at Gradient Investments, where he focuses on portfolio management, asset allocation, and investment research across multiple asset classes. He provides market insight and portfolio strategy to support client investment decisions. Tyler is a CFA® charterholder and has been featured in media outlets including Schwab Network, Reuters, and The Wall Street Journal.
This endorsement of Gradient Investments, LLC, (GI) and its portfolio management services is provided by the firm. The firm refers clients to GI for portfolio management services. GI does not pay separate compensation to the firm in relation to its endorsement or any promotional services. However, the firm receives a portion of the advisory fees paid by clients who utilize the portfolio management services of GI. The firm also shares in the revenue of GI via quarterly payments based on the amount of total assets the firm places with GI. This endorsement incentivizes the firm in increasing the assets placed with GI, and therefore the compensation received by the firm. The firm and its investment advisor representatives are not supervised by GI. While these conflicts of interest exist, the firm and its investment advisor representatives are subject to fiduciary duty and must act in the best interests of their clients. The firm and their clients are not required to use GI and may select other investment managers.
Case Central, LLC
Case Central, LLC is a team of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERS™ (CFPs®) that utilizes a suite of cutting-edge software reports to clearly communicate complex financial concepts and provide unique insight into your current financial situation. These proprietary reports cover a wide range of critical retirement topics such as income planning, risk analysis, and Social Security optimization.
When needed, Case Central will partner with certified public accountants (CPAs) and Chartered Financial Analysts® (CFAs) to provide you with a wealth of industry experience and financial perspective.
As you prepare for retirement, you will be faced with many important financial decisions, and the consequences of those decisions can have a significant impact on your financial future. Our partnership with Case Central helps ensure you have the support, tools and resources you need to make an informed decision about your retirement and craft the solution that is best for you.
Lance Howard does not provide tax and/or legal advice, but will work with your attorney or independent tax or legal advisor. Lance Howard is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency.
Guy Baker, CFP, MSFS, MSM, MBA
Managing Director, BTA Advisory Group and Wealth TEAMS Solutions
Guy Baker’s experience in the business and estate planning fields is extensive. He has completed estate plans for families who have a net worth in excess of $25,000,000 working with nationally known estate planning attorneys. Guy also uses similar strategies to help those with smaller estates solve similar problems. A frequent writer and speaker, Guy has spoken to advisors in more than fifty countries.
Guy was elected President of The Million Dollar Round Table – the Premier Financial Services Organization with over 40,000 members in 85 countries. Guy completed his tenure as President in 2010. He was also MDRT Foundation President, and served as a member of Advanced Association of Life Underwriters (AALU), a Washington D.C. based organization. AALU works with Congress to formulate industry favorable legislation. He was President of the National Association of Family Wealth Counselors. He has received many awards and honors in the industry, including the Pacific Life Preston Hotchkis “Distinguished Achievement Award”.
Guy formed BTA Advisory Group as a multi-disciplinary organization to serve the needs of families and owners of closely held businesses. Each of the sister organizations are managed by an experienced professional and partner. In addition to Wealth Teams Solutions, other organizations include The Stewardship Advisors, an estate and legacy planning consulting firm; BMI Consulting, a national management consulting firm specializing in the succession and compensation issues and problems facing closely-held businesses; Baker Jensen Investment Advisors, a registered investment advisor. Insight Wealth, a registered investment advisory firm; BTA Advisory Group remains primarily an insurance and financial products marketing company.
Guy earned a BS/Economics in 1967 from Claremont McKenna College and went on to earn a MBA/Finance in 1968 from the University of Southern California; Guy was certified as a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and became a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC). He holds a Master’s degree in Financial Services (MSFS) and a Master’s in Management (MSM). In addition, Guy is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and a Registered Health Underwriter (RHU). He was given an Honorary AEP by the National Association of Estate Planning Councils as was inducted into their Hall of Fame. Guy also received his Certified Family Wealth Counselor designation and is a Investment Advisor Representative.
STRATEGIC ALLIANCE – PASSIVE INVESTING
We work with Wealth TEAMS Solutions (Tax Efficient Asset Management Solution, Inc.), a California State registered investment advisor that exclusively uses Dimensional Fund Advisor portfolios. Wealth TEAMS includes a group of dedicated professionals helping clients accumulate capital for retirement using the most recent research and data. Once a client reaches retirement, Wealth TEAMS Solutions prepares a distribution plan designed to last throughout retirement. They have access to the most recent research and strategies used to provide a “Paycheck for Life,” regardless of economic conditions.
Over his career, Wealth TEAMS founder and owner, Guy Baker, saw families and business owners lose money using big name, investment advisors. When he discovered Modern Portfolio Theory built around the 1990 Nobel Prize winning research and data, he formed his first advisory firm, Baker Jensen Investment Advisors. His decision proved to be very beneficial to clients, resulting in consistent, long term returns and reducing volatility in turbulent markets for his investment clients.