Gerry Ward, Principal
Gerry considers merging his company, Ward Financial Advisors, with Anchor Investment Management the second best decision he’s ever made—he believes the first best decision was proposing to his wife, Jackie. Gerry feels there are no compromises to be made when it comes to caring for clients. Though his company was thriving, one of his greatest fears was not having a succession plan in place for clients and employees of Ward Financial Advisors should the worst happen to him. He began his search in 2006, and though it took him almost seven years to find a firm that valued clients the same way he did, he found the perfect partnership in 2013 with Pat Dorn and Anchor. Gerry knows past, present, and future clients will receive the best possible care and attention—now and well into the future—so long as they are with Anchor.
Gerry grew up in Columbia and did his undergraduate work at The Citadel before returning home to start his career as a wealth manager. At that time, financial planners were few and far between, and the credential of Certified Financial Planner was a new concept in the investment world. Gerry created Ward Financial Advisors in 1984 and soon after became both a Certified Financial Planner and earned his Master’s Degree from the University of South Carolina. He gave back to his profession by organizing curriculum and serving as Program Director and Associate Professor of the Registered Financial Planning Program at the University of South Carolina. Between 2000 and 2010, he represented the United States as a Technical Expert at worldwide quarterly ISO Conferences on the Competency Committee. Gerry and his colleagues from fourteen nations created a global standard for personal financial planning that would direct business practices of fiduciaries worldwide.
As a lifelong and passionate student of our nation’s history, Gerry and his wife relocated to Williamsburg, Virginia to be closer to the epicenter of our country’s founding. He works several days of the week from his home office, but when he isn’t there, he and his wife can be found roaming the streets of Williamsburg or walking long stretches of beach just a few miles from town. They have four children and six grandchildren, and serve the community through several civic organizations as well as through Williamsburg Presbyterian Church.
