Gar Wood Securities Welcomes Bret DeGood as Chief Financial Officer
Naperville, Illinois – October 19, 2026 – Gar Wood Securities is pleased to announce the appointment of Bret DeGood as Chief Financial Officer. In this newly created role, Bret will also serve as the firm's Series 27 registered Financial and Operations Principal (FINOP).
Bret brings nearly a decade of public accounting experience to Gar Wood Securities. He began his career at McGladrey (now RSM US LLP), a leading middle-market audit firm, where he advanced from intern to audit manager over the course of ten years. He went on to serve as senior manager at Michael Coglianese CPA, P.C. in Lincolnshire before moving into the corporate sector as accounting manager at B.C. Ziegler and Company, where he managed the regulatory financial reporting and broker-dealer accounting functions
"I'm excited about the opportunity to build out the CFO role here and really own it," DeGood said. "The team is full of sharp people with a real growth mindset, which is exactly the kind of environment I wanted to be part of."
DeGood's initial focus at Gar Wood Securities is ensuring a smooth transition as he works alongside the team during the current leadership handoff, with an eye toward driving efficiency improvements across operations in the months ahead.
Outside the office, Bret lives in Geneva, Illinois, with his wife and young daughter. A hands-on hobbyist, he spent years restoring a classic 1968 Mustang coupe – a project he started as a teenager and completed decades later – and has recently taken up golf.
"Gar Wood Securities is a great fit for me," DeGood added. "It's close to home, the team is top-notch, and it lines up perfectly with where I want to take my career."
About Gar Wood Securities
Gar Wood Securities is a Illinois-based financial services firm committed to delivering thoughtful, client-centered brokerage and banking solutions. The firm is built on relationships, integrity, and a team culture that values growth at every level.