Ben has 20 years of experience in the financial services industry.  Before Starting Gear & Buchanan Wealth Management, he spent 15 years with Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, with the last 13 years as a Financial Advisor. Ben has been a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® professional since 2004.

Ben was born in Royal Oak, MI and grew up in Tavares, FL. He attended the University of Michigan and graduated with a degree in History. He then received a Graduate Certification in Business Administration from Eastern Michigan University.

Ben and his wife, Annelise, have lived in Melbourne since 1999. They have four wonderful children. Ben's hobbies/interests include history, running, lifting weights and rugby.

Professional Registrations and Designations:

• Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® professional
• Series 6, Investment Company Products/Variable Contracts Representative Examination
• Series 7, General Securities Representative Examination
• Series 9 & 10, General Securities Supervisor Qualifications Examinations
• Series 65, Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination
• Series 63, Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination
• Florida Life, Accident & Health Insurance & Annuity Licenses

Bill has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Before starting Gear & Buchanan Wealth Management, he spent 27 years with Bank of America/Merrill Lynch.

Bill graduated from Penn State with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics. His first position out of college was with Equitable Life Insurance Company in 1981. He then changed to Invest, a savings and loan investment company.  Later, in 1986, Bill moved to Barnett Bank, located in Winter Park, Florida. In 1990, he left Barnett to start C&S Investment Office in Winter Park, Florida, which then merged with NCNB which created NationsBank. NationsBank later merged with Bank of America.

Bill and his wife, Kris, are proud sponsors of the King Center.

Bill is married to his high school sweetheart, Kristina for 36 years now. They have 2 sons, Kody and Kyle.  Kody and his wife Kristina reside in Naples Florida and Kyle and his wife Erin currently live in Houston, Texas.  Jasper, their Dalmatian dog is also part of the family. Bill's interests are boating, fishing and travel. Bill is also a Master Mason and a member of the Melbourne Masonic lodge # 143.

Professional Registrations and Designations:

• Series 7, General Securities Representative Examination
• Series 65, Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination
• Florida Life, Accident & Health Insurance, & Annuity Licenses