4 minute read
Ryan Gray / Oppenheimer & Co.: Your Experienced Guide in a Complex Financial World
Business Profile by Liz Burnett
Photos courtesy of Shannon Lynn Photography www.ShannonLynnPhotography.com
In an increasingly complex world, it’s important to carefully manage your financial needs and resources. If your financial world (assets, investments, insurance needs) is already complex or if you’re hoping to soon need someone to help you successfully enter and journey through a complex financial world, look no further than our local financial expert, Ryan Gray.
Ryan grew up in New York City, and always aspired to work on Wall Street. For college, he decided to attend Villanova University because of their top-notch business school and extensive Wall Street network. In 1997, he graduated with a B.S. in Finance. He then returned to New York and worked for 10 years as a trader on large equity trading desks. That was a wild-and-crazy but very eye-opening education in how to invest money. Ryan specialized in Emerging Markets, which required him to travel extensively in Latin America.
In 2005, Ryan married his wife Kristin, who’s from Wynnewood. In 2006, they moved from NYC to Newtown Square, and Ryan began working for Merrill Lynch, providing money management and investment advisory services for institutional clients. During that time, he started feeling more drawn to working directly with individuals and families. In 2011, he opted to join Oppenheimer & Co., where he continued working with institutional clients and also began helping families and individuals with their wealth management process and financial goals.
Oppenheimer & Co. Financial Advisor Ryan Gray (right) with his Associate Sean McAneney
Oppenheimer & Co. is a leading global full-service brokerage and investment bank that serves over 1,000 Financial Advisors in 94 branch offices across the United States. Ryan decided to join Oppenheimer because of its “small company feel but with the resources of a larger bank.” He runs his own financial advisory services business while Oppenheimer supports his ability to provide his clients with access to any investment necessary for their risk tolerance and goals without having to use a pre-packaged big firm’s investment platform.
Ryan’s business is centered on building financial plans for individuals and families, and then working with them to attain the goals they have identified. He feels that by starting with a plan, they are able to manage risk, avoid unnecessary taxes, and build an investment portfolio that is comfortable for his clients. These plans are living documents, as periodic updates are needed to account for life changes that occur. By having a plan, these events become very manageable and less of a burden on his clients.
Ryan enjoys working with a diverse mix of clients, from young families and individuals who are just starting to accumulate wealth, to those who are thinking about whether they’re prepared to retire, as well as retirees who are trying to make their assets last through their retirement years. As an Oppenheimer Financial Advisor, Ryan aligns each client’s unique goals, values, and needs with holistic planning and design of investment and insurance strategies. He uses an in-depth discovery process that leads to a true understanding of each client’s specific situation, time horizon, and risk tolerance. Then he uses and leverages Oppenheimer’s resources and leadership to protect and grow his clients’ assets and solve their complex financial issues so they can pursue and achieve their financial goals.
Associate Sean McAneney with Oppenheimer & Co. Financial Advisor Ryan Gray (right)
Ryan’s clients also get to work directly with his Associate, Sean McAneney. Sean helps build relationships and handles all new client’s on-boarding, paperwork and asset transfers. Sean is also the first point of contact for all clients’ administrative matters.
Ryan and Kristin have three children ages 8-11. They all participate in several community youth sports programs in which Ryan is very involved. For the past four years, he has served as President of the Wayne Wildcats (the Pop Warner Youth Football and Cheer Association for Radnor and Tredyffrin Easttown). He also coaches youth basketball and lacrosse teams.
From the exciting and competitive world of Wall Street to the relatively simpler, slower and family-oriented pace of Newtown Square, Ryan Gray feels he now does what he finds most satisfying and rewarding: Sitting across from his clients and having conversations about their financial goals, and educating them about and helping them decide on their best investment and money-management options. Ryan is ready, eager and eminently qualified to serve as your financial world guide.
With a long "To-Do" list, isn't it time to check off "Managing Your Wealth"?
The management of your wealth presents unique opportunities and new challenges that require your attention. Wealth planning is an integral part of addressing your financial goals. How you will maintain the wealth you've accumulated should be a primary consideration in the development of an investment strategy. Like any successful endeavor, managing your wealth requires a well-thought-out plan that anticipates your needs and prepares you for the future.
RYAN GRAY, Director of Investments / Oppenheimer & Co., Inc.
610-225-8975
201 King of Prussia Rd, Suite 320, Radnor
Ryan.Gray@Opco.com
