Grace Advisory Group - Ft. Myers, Florida

OUR TEAM

Robert E. Grace, JD, CLU, ChFC, CFEd®, RFC
Master Elite IRA Advisor ®
Founder and President

Mr. Grace has over forty years of experience providing estate, retirement and tax planning for individuals. With specialized training by nationally acclaimed financial expert, Ed Slott, CPA, Bob is a member of Mr. Slott’s “Elite IRA Advisor®” group. 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 financial 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.

Again in 2012, Gulfshore Life recognized Bob as a “FIVE STAR Wealth Manager: Best in Client Satisfaction SM.” 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 seven 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 named Grace Advisory Group “Best Income & Retirement Planners” in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Each Saturday and Sunday, Bob hosts his hour-long radio show, “Retire with Grace”. The program reaches much of Southwest Florida, as it airs on radio stations from Sarasota to Naples.

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 Cape Coral Power Squadron, committed to safety on the water.

	Charles J. “Chuck” Brock II Vice President of Sales and Marketing Chuck recently joined Grace Advisory Group and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the company and to our clients. Although he was born in Ypsilanti, MI, Chuck was part of a military family and his father’s career took them all over the country. They ultimately settled in Texas, where he completed high school and then on to college. He earned his Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Texas. Later in his career, Chuck earned a Master’s in Logistics Management and his PhD in Economics. After his undergraduate studies, Chuck served for seven years on active duty as an Army Officer in various assignments around the world. Following his time in the service, he spent five years with ALCOA as an Area Manager; District Manager; and Southeast Area Sales and Marketing Manager. For the last eighteen years Chuck has been providing comprehensive wealth management for affluent individuals and families, with an emphasis on personalized service. He moved to Florida in 1996 to become the Fort Myers Branch Manager for Prudential. Prior to joining Grace Advisory Group, Chuck also worked for Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley. Among his numerous credentials, he is a Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow and a Certified Senior Advisor. Chuck also holds a number of Securities Licenses and has Florida Life, Health and Variable Annuity Licenses. Chuck is an Honorary Admiral in the Texas Navy and a Kentucky Colonel, both honors awarded by the Governors of those states. An active member of the Masons for over 25 years, Chuck is also very involved with the Shriners and served as Director of the Araba Temple in Fort Myers from 2005 to 2008. In his “spare” time, he is a PADI Master Diver and loves to explore the numerous wrecks off the Florida coast. Chuck and his family live in Estero. His wife Dayna is a designer with California Closets; son Joey is currently attending Edison College; and his daughter Roshelle is attending college at UCF.
	Peter L. Borowski, CRFA, IAR, CSA, RHU, LUTCF Financial Advisor, Englewood Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Pete is a graduate of the University of Baltimore. His education continued at the Non-Commissioned Officers Candidate School of the U.S. Army. For the past 35 years, Peter has devoted himself to helping clients build, manage and preserve their assets. His commitment to clients is evidenced by the many credentials he has earned through extensive, ongoing professional education. He is a Certified Retirement Financial Advisor, Investment Advisor Representative, Certified Senior Advisor, Registered Health Underwriter, a Registered Representative (Licensed Securities Broker) and a Licensed Insurance Broker Consultant. Having qualified for 20 different years, Pete has attained Lifetime membership status with the Million Dollar Roundtable (MDRT), the premier association of financial professionals. MDRT members demonstrate exceptional professional knowledge, strict ethical conduct and outstanding client service. MDRT membership is recognized internationally as the standard of sales excellence in the life insurance and financial services business. Since 1982, Pete has taught continuing education classes for the Life Underwriter’s Training Council, of which he is a Fellow. He has also been involved, since 1985, in providing continuing education seminars on retirement and tax planning concepts to CPAs, Attorneys and Accountants. Prior to joining Grace Advisory Group, Pete was President of The Center for Estate and Financial Planning, Inc., located in Englewood. He and his wife, Sue, have been married for 40 years and reside in the beautiful Suncoast of Florida. In his free time, Pete is a serious fisherman. In describing his work, Pete says “Successful people have learned how to earn and accumulate money. I help them use little-known tax reduction strategies to legally enhance their net worth, keep more of what they earn and preserve that wealth for their heirs by keeping it in the family.”
	James Perry, MBA, CFP® Financial Advisor Fort Myers Office Jim Perry was born and raised in Dansville, N.Y. Tired of “gray skies, 40 degrees and rain” he moved to Southwest Florida six years ago. He received his Master’s in Business Administration, with an emphasis on Finance, from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y. For 20 years, he owned and operated Ford and Chrysler dealerships in New York. Jim decided to switch careers after seeing what happened to his family and friends and their retirement plans. Having someone to trust and to motivate you to plan for the future is a critical piece of retirement planning. Since moving to Florida, he has utilized his business and finance expertise in the insurance and securities areas. Jim is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), a designation recognized as a standard of excellence for competent and ethical personal financial planning. He has a life, heath and annuity license and holds a number of securities licenses. He has worked for Morgan Stanley, Guardian Life and MetLife. “My goal is to provide families and business owners with value added service, both measurable and intangible. This includes helping them protect their assets and their way of life. Knowing the benefits of planning for the unexpected is what drives me to succeed. I am an Advocate for Financial Responsibility. What I like about Grace Advisory Group is the opportunity to be able to help people transition from an accumulation mindset to a distribution mindset. Too many people are focused on their net worth and not on what their net worth can provide for them, a retirement income that is safe, guaranteed, and cannot be outlived. “ Jim has been active in many volunteer activities including being a Mentor at Dana Lyon Elementary School; Chairman of the Thunderbird District of the Boy Scouts of America; and Chairman of the Cape Coral Rotary Club Cardboard Boat Regatta. Jim is a past Business Person of the Year in his hometown of Bath, NY; and most proud of earning the Leadership Award for his Executive MBA Class. Jim and Jane, his wife of 31 years, (a kindergarten teacher) live in Cape Coral. They have two daughters, one son and their beloved dog, Hershey. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, softball and walking Hershey.
	Frank Traebing, PhD Financial Advisor Fort Myers Office Frank Traebing, a native of Kassel, Germany, moved to Florida six years ago. He had “retired” from owning and operating a chain of fitness facilities and the weather in Florida drew him here. Frank received his Bachelor’s Degrees in Physical Education and Mathematics and then served as a Lieutenant in the German Army for two years, flying Alpha Jets. After getting out of the service, Frank obtained his Master’s Degrees in Physical Education and Mathematics and opened his first fitness facility. He subsequently earned his PhD in Mathematics. As he expanded his fitness center business, he returned to school for Bachelor’s Degrees in Business, Management and Computer Science. His retirement in Florida lasted a matter of weeks before Frank was looking for something interesting to occupy his time. Over the past few years, he has purchased several homes as investments and devoted a great deal of time and energy to renovating the properties for sale or rental. For several years since moving to this area, Frank also taught business classes at Heritage Institute. In his spare time, Frank obtained his Private Pilot’s License. In 2009, Frank earned his Florida Life, Health and Annuity License and joined Primerica Financial Services. He twice received Primerica’s John Schandelmeyer Builder Award and led a team of 24. Frank and his wife, Deborah, live in Cape Coral, enjoying such outdoor activities as biking and windsurfing.
	Frank Johnson Financial Advisor Tampa Office Born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Frank was raised in Tampa and graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in both Biology and Business/Marketing. An active ROTC member in high school and college, Frank is now a member of the Ready Reserves. In 1999, Frank moved to Kansas City, MO to open a banking mortgage business. In 2002 he began his financial/insurance career and ran his own small company in first Missouri and then Florida until 2008. From 2008 until joining Grace Advisory Group, Frank worked as a marketing representative for companies that serve the financial services industry. The desire to make a real difference in someone’s life led Frank back to financial services. When choosing a financial services company to join and work with, he looked for the following five attributes: •Trust •Support •Honest and ethical business practices •A willingness to take risks where appropriate •Products that are ethical Frank concluded that Grace Advisory Group met those criteria and was happy to put his life, health and annuity insurance licenses to work as the Tampa representative of the company. Frank, his wife Mary, daughter Reagan and son Grant, live in Tampa. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, camping and kayaking.
	Jennifer Lahaie Financial Advisor, Naples Born and raised in northern Michigan. Jennifer and her husband, Eric, relocated to Southwest Florida in 1995, drawn by the beautiful beaches, warm weather and business growth potential of the area. In Financial Services for the last twenty years, Jennifer was involved in all aspects of the mortgage and title business. From her start as a Title Closer, handling residential and commercial closings, she went on to become a licensed title examiner and managed a title office for several years before transitioning into mortgage lending. In 1999 she opened a mortgage lending business, which she grew over a 10-year period to 5 offices and 40 employees. Finally, regulatory changes became all-consuming. Instead of spending her time doing what she loved—helping clients accomplish their Investment Goals through Homeownership—her time was spent with mountains of paperwork and compliance nightmares. After much contemplation, Jennifer knew the time had come for her to switch her career direction and decided to focus on another sector of Financial Services—Retirement and Tax Planning. Jennifer is a goal oriented individual who has always been passionate about helping others implement a plan to accomplish their goals. The opportunity to join Grace Advisory Group was appealing to Jennifer because the company’s very mission is to help people in this manner. Says Jennifer, joining Grace allows her: “Great joy, in knowing I have helped people retire with security and peace of mind.” Jennifer, her husband and their two daughters, Haley (10) and Mallory (8), live in Fort Myers. In her time out of the office, Jennifer loves to be on the go, enjoying time with family & friends, camping, traveling, hiking, working out, gardening and also is a very active volunteer in the community. She has been involved with the Greater Fort Myers Chamber - Women in Business Committee, Blessings in a Back Pack, the American Cancer Society and American Heart Association, as well as several other community and professional groups.
	Kathy Siler – Operations Manager As Operations Manager, Kathy oversees all elements of the company’s day to day operations: the computer and communications systems, accounts payable and receivable, the nuts and bolts of running an office and is the company’s “go to” person. A native of Ohio, Kathy and her husband, Michael, moved to Fort Myers in 1998. Although it meant flying all over the country, Kathy continued to work for NCR—as a systems and project engineer designing and installing computer and communications systems. She retired in 2002 after 23 years with the company. Just one month later she took on the job of developing the computer system for Bob Grace’s small company. She is still here nine years later and has been a major part of the company’s growth. Kathy and Michael have three sons and eight grandchildren spread across the country in Colorado, Georgia and Illinois. In her spare time she enjoys reading, walking and traveling with Michael to visit the kids and grandkids.
	Henry Monahan – Senior Case Manager In his role, Henry prepares, reviews and submits applications on behalf of our clients. He also updates Account information for Clients and provides Client Service. Henry was born in Sayre, Pennsylvania and grew up in Stephenson, Michigan. He moved to Florida in 2003 and earned his Associate’s Degree from Edison College in 2006 and his Bachelor of Science in Finance/Minor in Economics from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2009.Previously, Henry worked for AIG as a Client Service/Sales Specialist and as a Benefit Specialist for the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp. Henry recently moved to Fort Myers from Englewood. When not working, Henry enjoys snorkeling, sailing, reading and biking. About his work, Henry says “I enjoy making sense of complex cases and interacting with clients and answering questions that they have.” His background as an Eagle Scout definitely helped prepare him for this role!
	Dawn Terry – Executive Assistant As Mr. Grace’s Executive Assistant, Dawn maintains his always full calendar as well as providing follow up to seminar attendees and radio show callers. Dawn was born and raised in Western New York. Trained as a Medical Office Assistant, she has 35 of experience providing executive assistance and support to senior management. She moved to Florida in June of 2004. Her mother, brother and his family live in Colorado, and her sister still lives in Western New York. She lives in Cape Coral with her significant other, Scott. In her free time, Dawn enjoys golf, cooking and her two felines Buddy and Maxwell. She also volunteers with Hope Hospice, providing home visits. In describing her work, Dawn says, “I love to work with our clients!”
	Judy Nedeau – Marketing Coordinator Judy handles the marketing, communications and special events for Grace Advisory Group. A Maine native, she moved to Fort Myers eleven years ago. Following her graduation with a B.A. in American History from the University of Maine, Judy worked in marketing, communications, public, governmental and community relations for an insurance company and medical center before leaving Maine in 2000. Here in Fort Myers, she worked in Marketing for Lee Memorial Health System for almost seven years. Judy lives in Fort Myers with her husband, Bob, and their two cats. All of their other family members (son, grandchildren and siblings) are “up north”. Judy enjoys power walking, reading and being a member of the PGA (Pitiful Golfers Association).
	Colleen Freedman – Client Service Assistant Naples Office When she joined the Grace Advisory Group team, Colleen brought a wealth of experience to our company and to our clients. She worked for Smith Barney for 12 years and Private Capital Management for four years. In her role with Grace, Colleen handles daily office operations in our Naples office, responds to client service needs and assists with educational seminars. Born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan, Colleen moved to Florida in 1987. She and her sons - Justin, age 16, and Drew, age 14 - reside in Naples. Scouting and baseball are major activities for the family. Colleen is Committee Chair for Boy Scout Troop 951 in Naples and Chairperson of Scouting for Food in Collier County. She enjoys camping trips with the Boy Scouts and attending her younger son’s baseball games at Gulf Coast High School. Says Colleen, “I enjoy meeting people at the weekly educational seminars; but assisting in helping people achieve their financial goals is particularly rewarding.”

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