About

Roy Gagaza, CEP®, RFC™, is president and CEO of Journey Wealth Management, LLC, assisting clients in achieving their retirement dreams with well-conceived and planned financial strategies. Roy entered the financial services industry after retiring from serving as an officer in the military. The company has three locations: Manteca, California, and Aiea and Honolulu, Hawaii.

Roy’s Military Career

Roy began his military career serving over four years in the U.S. Army Reserve before transitioning to active duty, where he spent 20 years as an Armor Officer. Airborne and Ranger qualified, he served as a Tank Platoon Leader with the 1st Armored Division during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, and later as a Troop Commander in South Korea with the 5/17 Cavalry Squadron, 2nd Infantry Division. Roy also served as an Operations and Training Officer, where he was responsible for preparing and training Army units from company to brigade level prior to their deployments into theater during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Over the course of his distinguished military career, Roy completed multiple combat deployments and earned the Bronze Star for his service during both Desert Storm and Operation.

Iraqi Freedom.

Midway through his military service, Roy began preparing for his next chapter—leveraging his business marketing background and passion for financial education to pursue a career in the financial services industry. While still on active duty, including a year-long deployment to Kuwait in 2004, he began meeting with clients, hosting educational seminars, and earning his professional designations as a Certified Estate Planner and Registered Financial Consultant.

Roy retired from the Army in 2008, carrying forward his lifelong commitment to service—this time helping individuals and families navigate their financial futures with clarity, purpose, and confidence.

Roy’s Professional Career

In his leadership role at Journey Wealth Management, Roy Gagaza provides clients with the financial resources they need and deserve, including retirement planning, investment and wealth management, tax planning, health care strategies, and legacy/estate services. He provides sound guidance, respects his clients’ wishes, and genuinely cares about helping them pursue their goals, distinguishing him and his company in the financial and insurance services industry.

Roy has been recognized for outstanding service to clients. He was inducted into the Advisors Excel Hall of Fame. Additionally, every year since 2018, Roy has received the Advisors Excel Elite Advisor Award. He also received the Security Benefit Elite Advisor Award in 2018 and 2020, and the Allianz Century Award for achieving $100 million in premiums.

Roy’s Approach with His Clients

Roy enjoys helping clients envision what their ideal post-career life looks like. He designs strategies that protect their assets, create meaningful income streams, and offer flexibility for evolving goals. Roy emphasizes that “living the dream” isn’t about waiting for retirement to happen. It’s about using the years leading up to it to build intentional momentum.

At the same time, Roy’s military background shapes his approach, with discipline, adaptability, and proactive leadership being central. He guides clients through change, uncertainty, and transition, whether from active work to retirement or from one phase of life to the next, with the same focus he applied while in the service. Roy views the advisor-client relationship as a partnership built on trust, planning, and readiness for whatever comes next, understanding that life can throw you unexpected curveballs.

Roy’s approach and success are reflected in the long-lasting relationships he has built and maintained with his clients and their families. He takes time to get to know each client and their families.

Working with Communities to Build Financial Confidence

Roy works closely with the highway patrol, local school districts, CPAs, several Chambers of Commerce, and numerous individuals. His seminars continue to reach hundreds of pre-retirees and retirees in need of financial guidance to help preserve their assets, create retirement income strategies, and use tax-efficient strategies to potentially reduce their taxes.

Education, Certifications, and Licenses

Roy Gagaza graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing from San Jose State University. He is a Financial Professional, CEP (Certified Estate Planner), and RFC (Registered Financial Consultant), and holds insurance licenses in Hawaii (458231) and California (0L87925).

A Mission to Give Back

Rooted in his own military service, Roy’s company regularly contributes to organizations supporting U.S. veterans, matching client donations to make a greater difference together. He is passionate about helping military retirees enjoy their retirement as a just reward for their many years of faithful service to our country. The firm also partners with Second Harvest of the Greater Valley and the Hawaii Food Bank to inspire contributions of funds and canned goods. In addition, Journey Wealth champions The Golden State German Shepherd Rescue, helping provide second chances and loving homes for this remarkable breed. Roy's love of the outdoors and nature is evident in the firm's support of the Backcountry Horseman of CA. This organization aims to preserve and promote California’s backcountry trails, resources, and historical use of horses through conservation, education, and advocacy.

Roy’s Personal Life

Roy is originally from Livermore, California, located on the eastern edge of California's San Francisco Bay Area. He is married to Patricia, who is his life and business partner. Patricia is the CFO and co-founder of Journey Wealth Management. They have three children, Grant, Mackenzie, and Kyrie.

Grant graduated from the University of Pacific with a degree in Business Finance, earned his Life and Health Insurance license, and also works in the family business as a Financial Consultant. Mackenzie is married, has a Master’s of Education in Literacy, and is an Intervention Teacher on Special Assignment. Their oldest child, Kyrie, is also married and has two children, Eleanor, age three, and Charlotte, age one. Kyrie earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and continues her career as a Manager of Marketing Operations at Yardi Systems, a real estate software firm.

In his free time, Roy enjoys spending time in the water, playing golf, traveling, paddleboarding, snorkeling, diving, and reading.