Gary Hannah, CFP®, is a Wealth Advisor with over 30 years of professional experience, including more than 15 years in financial services. Originally from Gahanna, Ohio, Gary grew up in a family dedicated to hard work and servicehis father was a dentist who raised Arabian horses, and his mother was a head nurse in oncology. Gary graduated from the University of Akron, where he played soccer-a passion he still enjoys today. After college, he moved to Columbus and later to Cleveland. His journey into financial services was deeply personal, shaped by the challenges his family faced. Following the sale of the family farm, Gary's father passed away before enjoying the fruits of his labor, and his mother's investments were poorly managed, leading to significant losses during the financial crisis. These experiences motivated Gary to help others create, implement, and monitor financial plans that protect their interests and goals. Gary began his financial career with Merrill Lynch in 2008 and went on to hold roles at Thrivent Financial, New England Securities, and Peak Wealth Solutions, where he earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation and managed over $70 million in assets. In 2024, he joined Stratos Wealth Partners to collaborate with a team and work with clients closer to home. Gary is passionate about helping clients define their financial goals, explore practical options, and build sustainable plans for the future. He is committed to being an ongoing resource and advocate for his clients' success. Outside of work, Gary enjoys spending time with his family and staying active on the soccer field.
We believe Stratos Wealth Partners offers our clients a clear advantage. By bringing the resources of a national firm to the local level, we enable our advisors to take full advantage of our organizational depth of knowledge, research, talent, and expertise to serve a broader spectrum of client needs. Through innovative thinking, insightful guidance and practical advice your advisor has access to vast resources in developing the custom strategies you seek and the unparalleled service you require.
General Information |
| automated call: | Yes |
| Insurance License#: | 787332 |
| States Licensed in: | Ohio, West Virginia, South Carolina, New York, Texas |
| Number of Years with Current Firm: | 1 |
| Work Experience: | Gary was a National Sales Manager of a Privately owned Specialty Paint Manufacturer for 18 years when he found out it was going to be sold and he couldn't develop a way to buy it from the previous owners. Rather than stay in the paint business, he decided to join Merrill Lynch in an executive training program to become a broker. In December of 2008, Merrill Lynch sold off their Brokerage business and Gary was laid off since he was still in training. He obtained his licenses and started working for Thrivent Financial in spring of 2009. After 3 years, he joined New England Securities to enable him to offer all insurance and brokerage products rather than proprietary Thrivent insurance and annuity products. From 2011 to 2018 Gary worked for the same firm which changed clearing companies 3 times in 4 years. The names changed from New England Securities, to Metlife Premier Client Group to Mass Mutual. Mass Mutual was very insurance focused and Gary wanted to work for a Fiduciary Investment Advisory firm. He went to Peak Wealth Solutions in 2018. He acquired his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation and managed over 70 Million in assets. Gary became remarried and had a child. In 2024, Gary joined Stratos Wealth Partners to work with a team , existing clients and support markets close to his home. |
| Work with the following types of clients: | Businesses, Individual Investors, Non-Profit Organizations |
| Foreign Languages Serviced: | English |
| Advisory Services Provided: | Financial Advice & Consulting, Investment Advice & Management, Insurance Products & Annuities, Financial Planning, Portfolio Management, Retirement Planning, 401K Rollovers, Wealth Management, Money Management, Risk Management, Education Funding and Planning, Financial Planning for Businesses, Financial Planning for Individuals |
Services |
| Investment Types: | Mutual Funds, Bonds, Stocks, Annuities, Insurance, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Alternative Investments |
| Can meet clients in the following ways: | Your Office, Video Conference, Our Offices, Our Office, Phone |
Qualifications & Memberships |
| Insurance and Annuity Licenses: | Variable Annuity, HMO, Life, Health, Long Term Care, Variable Life, Annuity, Disability |
Firm Information |
| Advisor's Number of Clients: | 100+ |
| Advisor's Number of Managed Clients: | 100+ |
| Advisor's Number of Planning Clients: | 100+ |
| Assets Managed by Advisor: | 25 Million + |
Compensation and Fees |
| Fee Structure: | Fee-Based |
| Minimum Portfolio Size for New Managed Accounts: | $100,000 |
| Compensation Methods: | Based on Assets, Flat Fee, Commissions |
| Fee % Based on Assets: | variable |
| Additional Details on Charges: |
Variable Fee schedule ranging from 1.5% to .65% based on assets under management. This would be provided in our initial meeting A Financial plan can be provided based on the scope of work desired if there will be no assets under management. An initial discussion would take place, a scope of business would be defined and a quote would be provided. |
| Minimum Fee Charged for Hourly Planning Accounts: | $500 |
Education |
| Bachelors of Business Administration - Industrial Marketing | University of Akron - Akron, Ohio 09/03/1979-12/16/1983 |
Financial Services |
| Financial Planning for Businesses
I discuss tax efficient ways to fund successorship, Key man insurance, buy/ sell insurance, Tax efficient safe harbor 401K plans, Cash balance plans, key employee insurance and incentives. |
| Financial Planning for Individuals
I believe in developing a financial plan for everyone I work with. This enables me to understand what your income and expenses are. What lifestyle is important to you and your Family and provide input to consider to help you comfortably live in retirement. |
| Financial Advice & Consulting
I conduct a comprehensive fact finding to better understand what you earn, what your expenses are, how much money you use on a regular basis and work with you to develop a plan to use your resources tax efficiently to live the lifestyle you can afford. This can be done for a business or personally |
| Portfolio Management
Funds are managed using ETF models that are allocated by risk tolerance. They are diversified among investment classes and are cost effective. |
| Retirement Planning
Tax efficient retirement planning is important. A financial plan is run to determine expenses, income sources, efficient times to take Social Security and Medicare, how to reposition funds to be tax efficient when taking distributions. |
| 401K Rollovers
These are done if it is determined that it is in your best interest to do so. Sometimes it is better to keep funds in a 401K or 403B. If that is desired, I am licensed to manage Schwab and Fidelity funds in some 401K and 403B accounts if desired. |
| Insurance Planning
I provide life, annuity, long term care and Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and Part D products if desired. |
| Annuities
I am licensed to provide fixed and variable annuities. When this is done, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using these to enable you to make an informed decision of what you are most comfortable in doing. |
| Estate Planning & Trusts
We are not attorneys but strive to develop tax efficient estate and charitable planning when desired. |
| Tax Advice and Services
We are not accountants but work with accountants to develop tax efficient retirement distribution plans |
| Education Funding and Planning
I am licensed to provide 529 plans if desired. We also discuss other options available for college funding. |
| Investment Advice & Management
Funds are managed by risk tolerance. They are actively monitored and managed by drift. |
| Wealth Management
I assess assets, liabilities and risk tolerance and manage assets accordingly. Sometimes we tax loss harvest or reposition retirement assets into Roth IRA's. I also look at the tax bracket people are in and what future tax implications could take place and develop a distribution plan to maximize tax efficiency |
| Risk Management
I am licensed to provide insurance, annuity and long term care products if desired. This is determined based on your concerns and addressed in a comprehensive financial plan. |
| Money Management
We look at where your funds are kept, how they are titled, what your expenses are and if there are options to make things more efficient for your situation. |
Disclosures |
| WiserAdvisor provides referrals to financial professionals. WiserAdvisor is not a current client of advisor or advisory services. Financial professionals pay cash compensation for these referrals, which creates the incentive for WiserAdvisor to make these referrals, resulting in a conflict of interest. |
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Additional Detailed Disclosures |
Investment Advisor Representative:
Yes
Acknowledged fiduciary:
Yes
Compliance Disclosures in Last 5 years:
I have a clean record
Criminal Disclosures in Last 5 years:
I have a clean record
| Mon. | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Tue. | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Wed. | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Thu. | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Fri. | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Parma Heights, Parma, Seven Hills, Independence, Brecksville, Broadview Heights, North Royalton, Strongsville, Brunswick, Hinckley, Richfield, Hudson, Bath, Akron, Copley, Sharon Center, Copley, Wadsworth, Medina, Green and surrounding communities in the Cleveland/ Akron Market. Gahanna, New Albany, Johnstown, Blacklick, Pickerington, Newark, Reynoldsburg, Westerville, Powell, Johnstown and surrounding communities in the Central Ohio Market |
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