Gary S. Williams, CFP<sup>&reg;</sup> - Financial Advisor

Gary S. Williams, CFP®

AIF®, CRPC®

President

Williams Asset Management

8850 Columbia 100 Pkwy, Ste 204
Columbia, MD 21045
FINANCIAL ADVISOR'S WEBSITE
(410) 740-0220 CONNECT WITH Gary
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General

Gary Williams is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and member of the Financial Planning Association. Serving clients at Williams Asset Management in Columbia, MD and the surrounding communities.

Financial Advisor Overview

Gary Williams is the founder of Williams Asset Management, a distinguished, fee-based, and independent wealth management team based in Columbia, Maryland. Williams Asset Management provides wealth management, financial planning, and fiduciary investment guidance to individuals, families, nonprofits, and businesses throughout Howard County, Maryland, and beyond. Gary began his career in 1994 and has earned well-respected credentials including the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, and Accredited Investment Fiduciary designations. Further, Gary has been honored with numerous awards, including the Forbes’ 2019 and 2020 Best-In-State Wealth Advisor award. Gary is 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 the Brigance Brigade Foundation Board of Directors. To help raise money for charities dear to his heart, Gary wrote the acclaimed Amazon best seller* The Art of Retirement (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. Through Williams Asset Management’s partnership with Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser–broker/dealer, it gains access to resources that translate into indispensable service for its clients. The Commonwealth team consists of more than 45 professionals with the CFA®, CFP®, CRFC ®, or JD certification/designation. These experts act as an extension of Williams Asset Management’s team, providing support to deliver tailored guidance. As a truly collaborative team, Williams Asset Management is adept at helping clients tackle a broad range of needs—from retirement income, education, estate, tax, and insurance planning to the efficient management of tax-smart investment portfolios. Working together, they help ensure that even the smallest details of their client’s financial life are properly addressed. *-Retirement Planning books for 2013

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Financial Advisor Experience

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 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 the values of 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 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; something he feels strongly about. And 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. He has continued to hone his expertise over the years, obtaining several specialized designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM, and Accredited Investment Fiduciary®. His extensive experience has made him a highly sought-after investment commentator for news outlets such as Money Magazine, Bankrate.com, Yahoo Finance, The Business Monthly, The Baltimore Business Journal and many others. Gary is 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 the Brigance Brigade Foundation Board of Directors. To help raise money for charities dear to his heart, Gary wrote the acclaimed Amazon best seller* The Art of Retirement (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, his wife, Lee, and their three children—Abigail, Nicholas, and Emerson—live in Howard County, Maryland, along with their goldendoodle, Cali. In his spare time, Gary enjoys spending time with his family, exercising, and surfing. *Ranked #62 in Retirement Planning books for 2013

Financial Advisor Certifications

Securities Registrations or Exam Qualifications

65

Designations & Certifications

  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®)
  • Other - AIF® & Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor

Insurance Licenses

  • Life insurance: CA,CO,FL,GA,MD,ME,NC,NH,NJ,PA,TX,VA
  • Health/disability insurance: CA,CO,FL,GA,MD,ME,NC,NH,NJ,PA,TX,VA
  • Fixed annuities: CA,CO,FL,GA,MD,ME,NC,NH,NJ,PA,TX,VA
  • Variable annuities: AR,AZ,CA,CO,DC,DE,FL,GA,KS,MA,MD,ME,MI,MO,NC,NH,NJ,NY,OH,PA,SC,TN,TX,UT,VA,WV

Broker-Dealer Affiliation

Commonwealth Financial Network®

Broker-Dealer Disclaimer

Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser.

Financial Advisor's Specialties

401(k)/403(b)/IRAs, Charitable & Planned Giving, Asset Allocation, Career Change, Estate Planning, Employee Benefits, Getting Divorced, Irregular Income, Getting Married, Mutual Funds, Real Estate, Insurance, Job Loss, Life Planning, Retirement, Stocks & Bonds, Long-term Care, Succession Planning, Sudden Wealth, Men's Finances, Nontraditional Households, Special Needs, Personal Taxes, Women's Finances

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