About Us
Our History
Since 1975, GCG Financial, LLC, has been a trusted partner for our clients. Our mission has been to enhance the financial security of the businesses and families we serve through exceptional employee benefits, risk management, and wealth management solutions.
In 2017, GCG Financial and 23 other like- minded, entrepreneurial firms came together to form Alera Group. Since then, Alera Group has grown to over 4,200 employees, 190+ locations, and thousands of clients across the country.
In 2022, we officially began embracing the Alera Group brand. What remains consistent is holding our clients at the core of our business; we focus on bringing personalized solutions, expanding our capabilities, and deepening our resources nationally.
Our Team
Trusted. Smart. Passionate.
Our team has a sincere commitment to the long- term success of our clients. With an emphasis on collaboration and teamwork, we create unique solutions that fit the distinct needs of each client. We are passionate about doing what is right for every client, driven by the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, integrity, character, fairness, trust, and confidence.
Our Presence
Our clients benefit from the expertise and resources of a large national firm, while still maintaining the advantages of local service and relationships. We leverage powerful relationships, industry experience, and resources with the goal of supporting our clients’ business strategies and elevating the experience of working with us.
Above all, our firm believes in empowering people – our clients, our team, and the individuals in the communities where we live and work.
We are headquartered in Deerfield, IL, with offices throughout Illinois and Colorado, along with more than 150 Alera Group locations across the country. Wherever you are, we can meet your needs.
Meet Our Team
Gigi Verrey, CHFC®, CLU®
Vice President, Wealth ServicesGigi manages investment portfolios for individuals and 401(K) plans for businesses. She prepares retirement strategies that help clients think about, clarify, and establish investment plans and future income sources to achieve their financial goals to retire successfully.
As a Vice President of Wealth Services with 28 years’ experience and clients in 16+ states, Gigi is dedicated to helping her clients attain their financial goals while minimizing worry. Gigi’s mission in life is to help busy women, their families and their businesses succeed financially. As a Chartered Financial Consultant, she has the knowledge, tools, and compassion to help navigate change. Gigi helps answer the financial questions that come with job change, loss of a spouse, retirement, changes in marital status, the sale of a business interest and inheritance.
Gigi lives in Lake Forest, Illinois with her husband, son and shih tzu, Taz. She enjoys creating new recipes, entertaining friends, gardening and yoga.
Education: Northeastern Illinois University, Summa Cum Laude
Organizations: Society of Financial Service Professionals, National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), Served as a consultant to the Congressional Social Security Administration
Credentials: Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®)
Investment advisory services offered through Alera Investment Advisors, LLC. Securities offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Wealth is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth.
Thomas Wagner
Senior Wealth Advisor | Wealth ServicesTom was drawn to the firm’s commitment to delivering personalized wealth services and insurance strategies to his clients with a holistic financial approach. Using the firm’s in-house resources, he provides a face-to-face interaction between solution experts and clients that integrates all disciplines of financial success into one collaborative strategy. Tom spent 18 years trading stock index options and volatility products at the Chicago Board Options Exchange and Chicago Board of Trade. Having navigated the front lines of both bull and bear markets, Tom brings a unique industry perspective of the risks and returns of today’s investing environment. His extensive experience guides his clients through their long-term investment strategies while taking advantage of the potential market volatility.
Tom lives in Naperville, Illinois with his three children, to whom he has devoted many seasons to coaching sports such as basketball, football, and soccer. When not chasing three kids around, he enjoys running, barbecuing, and riding his motorcycle.
Education: B.S., Finance, University of Illinois College of Business.
Investment advisory services offered through Alera Investment Advisors, LLC. Securities offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Wealth is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth.
Resources
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Employee Benefits
Meeting the Needs of an Aging Workforce
Our experts will provide tips and insights about how to incorporate Medicare, menopause benefits, retirement, communications best practices and other hot topics for older workers into your program successfully and without breaking the bank.
October 17, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Sign UpWealth Services
State of the Markets
Join us as we unveil the factors that drive the nation's financial pulse and how they may impact your personal finances.
October 23, 2024 at 11:00 am CT | Virtual
Sign UpEmployee Benefits
When Captive Insurance Makes Sense
In this session, our experts will talk about how captives work, the advantages and disadvantages and what you need to know to determine whether they make sense for your organization.
November 21, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Sign UpTHOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Employee Benefits
Webinar: Meeting the Needs of an Aging Workforce
Why is recognizing and addressing the priorities of older workers an imperative? Because, as Bain’s analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data determined, workers 55 and older will exceed a quarter of the workforce among G7 nations, including the United States, by 2031. Older workers typically have different priorities and needs compared to their younger colleagues, as Alera Group will examine and discuss on October 17 during the next event in our Engage series of employee benefits webinars, “Meeting the Needs of an Aging Workforce.”
October 3, 2024
Find out moreEmployee Benefits
Wellbeing Fair Sessions — When and Where You Like
Themed “Live for Tomorrow,” Alera Group's 2024 Employee Wellbeing Fair is now available online, where you can access all eight sessions, select which ones you want to view and watch them at your convenience.
October 2, 2024
Find out moreWealth Services
Weekly Market Update
Stocks moved higher last week, continuing to build on the momentum generated after the Federal Reserve decided to cut short-term rates by 0.50 percent.
September 30, 2024
Find out moreProperty and Casualty
What To Do About the High Cost of Insurance for Transportation and Logistics Companies
Here’s a close look at three major insurance challenges for transportation and logistics companies, along with practical steps you can take to address them.
September 26, 2024
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