Meet our Financial Professionals

Grace Advisory Group

The financial professionals at Grace Advisory Group help Florida families and individuals achieve lifelong financial confidence in their futures. Our client-focused strategies provide effective guidance to help our customers achieve their financial goals.

THE FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS AT GRACE ADVISORY GROUP

From our full-service offices in Fort Myers, Naples, and Port Charlotte, our financial professionals provide a variety of financial services and strategies customized to meet each client’s specific needs.

The independent structure of our company empowers our professionals to develop financial strategies that are built around our clients’ goals through the use of a variety of insurance and investment products rather than the limited products of any single company.

We specialize in helping people of all ages prepare for the future, which, for most people, begins with their retirements. We know everyone is different. That’s why we sit down with each of our clients to fully grasp their unique situations, purpose, and goals for the future.

As some of the area’s most trusted wealth management professionals, we take pride in providing sound advice to help our wealth management clients achieve greater confidence in their retirement strategies. We employ a “teamwork” concept as our staff of financial advisors, legal, tax, accounting, and insurance professionals collaborate to combine their knowledge, specialized skills and experience, offering the ideal outcome for our clients.

As a team, we can evaluate your unique financial situation and goals and develop a strategy that can help you live comfortably during your retirement years.

Grace Advisory Group

Leadership

ROBERT E. GRACE JD, CLU, CHFC, CFED®, RFC® - President and Founder

Robert E. Grace
JD, CLU®, CHFC®, CFED®, RFC®

President and Founder

Robert E. Grace, JD, CLU®, CHFC®, CFED®, RFC® 

President & Founder*

Bob Grace has over 40 years of experience providing estate, retirement and tax planning for individuals and companies. With specialized training by nationally acclaimed financial expert Ed Slott, CPA, Bob is also a Master Elite IRA Advisor®.

As the practice has expanded, Bob has made sure that Grace Advisory Group remains committed to helping individuals establish sophisticated, yet easy-to-understand, solutions for protecting and preserving wealth while minimizing tax exposure. Bob’s training and experience place him among our country’s leading retirement planning experts. Bob worked as a financial planner for a number of years before pursuing a law degree. As a practicing estate planning attorney in the state of Ohio, he specialized in family wealth transfer and tax planning. He expanded upon his experience working with brokers’ clients in two of the nation’s major national financial corporations.

Gulfshore Life recognized Bob several times as a “Five-Star Wealth Manager.” The distinction is only awarded to wealth managers who have scored highest in client-based research conducted by a national, independent research company under the direction of Crescendo Business Services. A maximum of 7 percent of financial professionals in any market area receive this prestigious award. Financial professionals are not able to “buy” their way onto the list, and the distinction is not based on sales volume but on how consumers have evaluated their experience in working with that individual. Fort Myers News-Press readers have named Grace Advisory Group “Best Income & Retirement Planners” numerous times since 2008.

Each Saturday and Sunday, Bob hosts his hourlong radio show, “Retire with Grace.” The program reaches much of Florida, as it airs on radio stations from Marco Island to Orlando/Winter Park.

Bob and his wife, Rose, enjoy an active Florida lifestyle as year-round Fort Myers residents. They spend quality time golfing and yachting. Bob is an active member of the Gulf Harbour Yacht and Country Club.

*Investment Advisory Services offered through Grace Capital Management Group, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser.

MEET BOB
Grace Advisory Group

Advisory Team

Bradley Gay

Bradley Gay, CPA

Wealth Manager

BRADLEY GAY |  Wealth Manager

Brad has more than 20 years of tax and corporate accounting experience and operated his own tax practice before joining the team at Grace Advisory. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and is a licensed CPA in Florida and Wisconsin.

Brad looks forward to helping his clients develop tax-efficient income plans to minimize their income tax and achieve a safe and secure retirement.

Brad spent most of his life in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he became an avid Packers fan. After vacationing on Fort Myers Beach for several years, Brad and his wife, Janet, decided to move to their “paradise” here in Southwest Florida in 2015 so they could escape the brutal Wisconsin winters. They love spending time with their two adult sons and their grandchildren.

Brad enjoys going to football games, golfing, coaching and officiating youth sports, and spending time with his family.

*Investment Advisory Services offered through Grace Capital Management Group, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser.

MEET BRAD
Joshua Storey

Joshua Storey

Wealth Manager

JOSHUA STOREY  |  Wealth Manager

Joshua has almost a decade of experience in the financial services industry. During that time, he obtained several securities and insurance licenses. After graduating from the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in finance, he spent several years with Merrill Lynch as an investment and banking specialist.

Joshua is enthused by the opportunity to build lasting relationships with his clients to accomplish their financial goals. Besides his focus on retirement planning and income distribution, he is passionate about the importance of financial knowledge among high school and college students.

Joshua was born in Toronto, Canada, and has lived in the Sarasota area since 1991. He is married to his wife, Grace, and has one son, Jaxon. Grace is a Florida native; her family has always taken advantage of the weather here. Joshua considers himself fortunate to raise his family in Southwest Florida and is blessed to be surrounded by family. Together, they enjoy boating, outdoor sporting events, zoos, parks and visiting the Siesta Key beach.

When asked why he joined Grace Advisory Group, Josh stated: “Grace is unique in the financial services industry. We help our clients create a real plan for income distribution. Our relationships are built on a holistic approach – including estate planning and tax efficiency. That’s the foundation I want for my clients.”

 *Investment Advisory Services offered through Grace Capital Management Group, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser.

MEET Joshua
Grace Advisory Group

Client Service Team

Jason DeRosa Grace Advisory Group

Jason DeRosa, CFP

Securities Specialist

JASON DEROSA, CFP  |  Securities Specialist

Certified Financial Planner Jason DeRosa joined Grace Advisory Group to help our financial advisors provide immaculate client services.

Prior to joining Grace, Jason worked for Morgan Stanley and SunTrust Wealth Management in Naples and on Marco Island.

Jason received his Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Florida and his MBA in finance from Florida Gulf Coast University.

He is married to Jill DeRosa and has two children in middle school. A Long Island native, he has been living in Florida for 30 years.

*Investment Advisory Services offered through Grace Capital Management Group, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser.

MEET JASON
Erin Welch 20170817

Erin Welch

Insurance Specialist

ERIN WELCH  |  Insurance Specialist

On the dirt paths lined with trees and powerlines, a little girl in ponytails rode her bike, bumping along the way. Today, that same girl drives on the same path, now Summerlin Road, to the place she calls her second home, Grace Advisory Group.

Erin was born and raised in Fort Myers and spent the first part of her career after college in the real estate industry. For over 15 years, she owned and operated her own mortgage company as well as going on to become a real estate agent and real estate investor in an up-and-down market. Erin obtained her life, health and annuities license in 2010 and began a career in the insurance arena. Erin works hard to allow her clients peace of mind and protection of their families.

“I found a great group of people that help create a strong path to preserving the client’s cash-flow and giving them a legacy to carry on for generations to come, this is what I found in Grace,” she said.

Although the days of riding bikes and climbing trees are gone, Erin finds joy in playing golf and spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys working with various charities to give back to the wonderful town that she grew up in.

“I just love this town, this is my home; and Grace Advisory Group is a part of that,” Erin said.

MEET ERIN
Melissa Ray

Melissa Ray

Account Manager

MELISSA RAY  |  Account Manager

Melissa got her start in the financial world in 2012. With life, health and annuities licenses from the state of Florida, plus her Series 65 Securities license, she works with our new clients and provides ongoing support for our clients’ needs.

Melissa has a passion for helping others. Before leaving the cold of Indiana for the white sandy beaches of Florida in 2010, she gained an extensive customer service background that extended to retail, retirement communities and even the operating room.

She first moved to Panama City Beach, where she got her start in retirement planning. After four years in Panama City, she was recruited by Bob Grace to join the Grace family in Southwest Florida.

Melissa was born in Indiana and has three siblings who have become her best friends. She loves spoiling her nieces and nephew. On weekends, she enjoys painting, riding her bike, walking, working out, relaxing on the beach and traveling.

She tries to live by her two favorite quotes every day. “Be the reason someone smiles today” and Mother Teresa’s words: “Never worry about the numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you.”

*Investment Advisory Services offered through Grace Capital Management Group, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser.

MEET MELISSA
advisor

John Kwit

Senior Analyst

JON KWIT |  Senior Analyst

Bio coming soon!

MEET JOHN
Grace Advisory Group

Administrative Staff

DONNA SCOTT - Office Administrator

Donna Scott

Office Administrator

DONNA SCOTT  |  Office Administrator

Donna is leading our administrative team. In addition, she is one of our VIPs — very important professionals — when it comes to greeting our clients and guests.

Born in Illinois and raised in Portage, Indiana, Donna is a graduate of Purdue University and comes from a successful career in finance and banking. Among her many achievements is working as an instructor for the American Banking Association.

In 2006, she and her husband of 37 years purchased a condo in Florida. Not enjoying having to start a snow blower three times a week for three months (42 times!) each year, she couldn’t resist paradise any longer and moved to Fort Myers in 2014.

When asked to describe what appeals to her about being part of the Grace family, Donna said, “Grace Advisory Group provided the opportunity to work in a professional environment with individuals who truly care about each other and being a true team to accomplish providing products and services that genuinely benefit their clients.”

Donna is proud of her son, daughter and five grandchildren. She enjoys playing golf and reading a good book.

MEET DONNA
 

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