Roy Y. Gagaza

Roy Y. Gagaza is the president and CEO of a retirement-focused financial firm with offices in California and Hawaii, where he helps individuals and families prepare for life after work through thoughtful and organized planning. He draws on his business marketing education and many years of face-to-face conversations to explain financial topics in plain language. He works in areas such as income planning, investments, tax strategies, health care considerations, and legacy and estate goals so people can move toward retirement with clearer expectations and steadier decision-making.

Roy first served his country in the Army Reserve before moving to active duty, where he spent two decades as an Armor Officer leading soldiers in demanding settings at home and overseas. He became both Airborne and Ranger qualified, led a tank platoon during primary operations in the Middle East, commanded a cavalry troop in Asia, and later helped train units from company to brigade level as they prepared to deploy. He completed multiple combat tours, received a significant combat decoration, and carried forward the discipline and calm focus he learned in uniform.

Roy Y. Gagaza began laying the groundwork for a second career while still on active duty, using limited personal time to meet with clients, lead educational sessions, and study for professional credentials in estate planning and financial consulting, even during a year-long deployment to the Middle East in 2004. He retired from the Army in 2008 and then committed himself full-time to the financial services industry. Over the years, he has been honored by industry organizations with elite and hall of fame–level recognition for client service, education, and overall production.

Roy now leads a team that primarily serves people nearing or already in retirement, helping them build plans that aim to protect savings, create reliable and understandable income streams, and stay flexible as life changes. He believes retirement is not a single finish line but a transition that feels smoother when planning starts early and is reviewed regularly. He works closely with public safety personnel, educators, tax professionals, and local business leaders, offering educational events designed to build financial confidence and encourage tax-efficient strategies that help preserve hard-earned assets.

Gagaza keeps service, humility, and community at the center of his work, guiding clients through periods of uncertainty, life changes, and unexpected events with a steady, practical approach. He views each advisory relationship as a partnership built on trust, preparation, and realistic expectations rather than quick promises. He takes time to understand what matters most to each household, encourages open conversation among family members, and remains available as a long-term resource as clients move from working years into retirement and then through different stages of later life.

Roy Y. Gagaza also values giving back, supporting causes that reflect his background and interests, including groups that serve veterans, food banks, a rescue organization that finds new homes for German Shepherd dogs, and a group that helps protect backcountry trails in California. He grew up in a community on the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay Area and now shares life and business leadership with a spouse who works with him at the firm. He has three adult children and grandchildren, and he enjoys travel, reading, golf, and time on or in the water.