About

Roy Y. Gagaza serves as President and CEO of Journey Wealth Management, LLC, a retirement-focused financial firm that helps individuals and families plan thoughtfully for life after work. He leads a team that builds strategies for income, savings, tax planning, health care costs, and legacy goals, always working to keep conversations clear and respectful. He entered the financial services field after a long military career and now guides clients from offices in Manteca, California, and in the communities of Aiea and Honolulu in Hawaii, offering ongoing support as they move toward retirement.

Military Foundations

Roy began his professional journey in the U.S. Army Reserve, where he first learned the value of discipline, teamwork, and preparation. After more than 4 years in that role, he transitioned to active duty as an Armor Officer and served for 20 years. During this time, he completed demanding airborne and ranger training, gaining skills that required both mental and physical endurance, and began developing the leadership style that would later carry over into his civilian career.

Combat Service and Command Experience

Gagaza served as a Tank Platoon Leader with an armored division during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, leading soldiers and equipment in complex, sometimes dangerous conditions. He later became a Troop Commander with a cavalry squadron in South Korea, where he was responsible for the readiness, training, and welfare of the service members under his command. Over the course of several combat deployments, he earned the Bronze Star for his efforts during both Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, reflecting many years of steady responsibility.

Operational Planning and Training Leadership

Roy Y. Gagaza continued his military service as an Operations and Training Officer, where he was tasked with preparing units from company to brigade level for deployment into combat theaters. He worked to design and oversee training that focused on readiness, coordination, and safety, supporting missions related to both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. In this role, he helped leaders and soldiers sharpen skills before entering demanding environments, further strengthening his belief in careful preparation, clear communication, and accountability for those who depend on a plan.

Education and Early Steps into Finance

Roy began preparing for his next chapter while still in uniform, drawing on his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing from a state university in San Jose, California. He became increasingly interested in financial education and how careful planning could help families feel more confident about their futures. Even during a year-long deployment to Kuwait in 2004, he used his limited free time to meet with clients, host educational gatherings, and pursue professional training that would later support his full-time career in financial services.

Professional Designations and Career Transition

Gagaza earned respected credentials as a Certified Estate Planner and a Registered Financial Consultant while he was completing his final years of military service, laying a strong technical foundation for the work he planned to do after retirement. He formally left active duty in 2008 and fully entered the financial services profession, bringing decades of leadership and planning experience. In his new role, he focused on turning complex financial ideas into practical strategies people could use to support real-life retirement and family security goals.

Financial Leadership and Client Services

Roy Y. Gagaza now leads his firm in providing retirement planning, investment and wealth management, tax strategies, health care planning, and legacy and estate services for pre-retirees and retirees. He emphasizes honest conversations about risk, time horizon, and personal priorities, ensuring each strategy reflects the client’s situation rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. His work has been recognized with Hall of Fame honors, repeated Elite Advisor Awards, and a century-level premium achievement from major industry partners, all of which acknowledge his long-term dedication to client service.

Approach to Clients and Planning Philosophy

Roy treats each client relationship as a long-term partnership built on trust, clear communication, and realistic expectations, rather than quick or pressured decisions. He encourages people to think carefully about what they want their post-career life to look like, including lifestyle choices, family responsibilities, and possible charitable goals. He then designs strategies to protect assets, create steady income streams, and maintain flexibility, so plans can be adjusted as markets shift, health needs change, or personal priorities evolve across the different stages of retirement.

Community Engagement and Educational Outreach

Gagaza is committed to sharing financial knowledge beyond his immediate client base, working with highway patrol personnel, local school districts, tax professionals, Chambers of Commerce, and many community members. He regularly offers seminars for pre-retirees and retirees that focus on preserving assets, creating retirement income strategies, and using tax-efficient approaches to help people keep more of what they have earned. Through these events, he aims to provide practical information in plain language so attendees feel better prepared to ask good questions and to start or refine their own planning.

Charitable Work and Support for Causes

Roy Y. Gagaza extends his long-held sense of service into philanthropy through efforts supported by his firm, especially for organizations that assist U.S. veterans and their families. The company regularly contributes to these groups and often matches clients' donations, enabling them to increase their collective impact. The firm also partners with food banks in California’s Central Valley and in Hawaii, encourages contributions of canned goods and funds, supports a German Shepherd rescue group, and assists an organization dedicated to preserving backcountry trails and natural resources for future generations.

Education, Licensing, and Professional Standards

Roy maintains a strong commitment to professional standards, drawing on his degree in business marketing, his status as a Certified Estate Planner, and his designation as a Registered Financial Consultant. He holds insurance licenses in both Hawaii and California, allowing him to help clients in those states implement retirement and protection strategies that suit their situations. He uses this background to explain financial tools in straightforward terms, assisting people to understand how different choices may affect their income, taxes, health care planning, and long-term legacy wishes.

Family Life and Personal Interests

Roy Y. Gagaza was raised in a city on the eastern edge of the San Francisco Bay Area and values his family as a central part of his life. He is married to a partner who serves as both his life companion and the firm’s co-founder and chief financial officer, and together they have three adult children whose careers span finance, education, and business. He is also a grandfather and enjoys watching the younger generation grow, spending his free time traveling, reading, playing golf, snorkeling, paddleboarding, diving, and simply being in or near the water with loved ones.