‘Family’ ties run deep at Gar Wood
Bob & Bobby Jersey, 2024
Bob Jersey, CEO, Gar Wood Securities
At Gar Wood Securities, our family goes beyond blood relations – it encompasses our community. From our leadership team to our network of independent brokers, we embrace a culture that gives everyone a seat at the table. A “We Win Together” mentality.
Watching my personal and professional family grow in the 20 years since we launched Gar Wood is inspiring. I’m honored that independent brokers who choose us understand the firm is more than a place to support their needs and drive success – it’s a community that understands where they’re coming from and where they want to go. Most independent brokers who work with Gar Wood are still with us today.
They tell us they join because we provide access to unique investment products, they stay because we offer them operating freedom while providing growth opportunities. It’s a cultural fit that supports a lifestyle and approach that some independent contractors can’t get at a traditional Wall Street-type wirehouse.
I remember when Dennis Gerecke and I launched the firm back in 2003. It seems like yesterday when we sat shoulder-to-shoulder in my basement, sketching out a mission to offer independent brokers, and institutional and individual traders trading and clearing services that are personalized, comprehensive and cost-effective. Dennis and I have worked together since 1987, and we honed our brokerage skills together at The Chicago Corporation and ABN AMRO.
Four years later in 2007, Michael Tattas joined our firm as Chief Compliance Officer, and Sherry Gouwens joined as Head of Administration. Craig Gantar also joined as a vice president and manager of client services. Today Craig is an SVP, and Head of Sales and supervises most of our independent brokers.
My son, Bobby, joined in 2010 as an operations associate and has worked his way to a Senior Vice President role overseeing Business Development and managing our clearing relationship with Interactive Brokers.
My wife (Barb) is a big part of the Gar Wood team, she’s an honorary member who witnessed and supported the firm’s humble beginnings. We met through a mutual friend in early 1980 when I worked for The Chicago Corporation and she for Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette on the CBOE trading floor. We married later that year, and we just celebrated our 44th anniversary. I am confident that neither Gar Wood nor I would have survived without her resilience and support.
I am excited about the future of Gar Wood and looking forward to the launching on new services and products to attract investment advisors to our new RIA, which we are forming.