Gary D. Halbert is the president and CEO of ProFutures, Inc. and its related companies, collectively known as "ProFutures Investments." Located in Austin, Texas, ProFutures Investments is a highly diversified investment advisory firm that manages hundreds of millions of dollars for investors all across the U.S.
Gary has been in the investment advisory business continuously since 1976 when he first became a broker with a national investment firm. After working eight years for large brokerage firms, Gary (and his wife, Debi) founded ProFutures in 1984 in order to provide a truly independent service for his clients.
During his years in the brokerage industry, Gary learned that most people are frustrated with their investment results and need experienced, professional help when it comes to investing their money. He also recognized that stockbrokers often were not much more sophisticated than their clients, and that when clients simply followed their broker's advice it usually led to disappointing results.
Another important thing Gary learned is that no one person, including himself, could be an expert and truly successful in all of the various areas of investing. While large brokerage firms often tout that they can handle all of your investment needs, Gary believes investors should have the benefit of more diversified and independent advice.
So, when he founded ProFutures Investments in 1984, his mission was (and still is) to locate successful, professional money managers that he could recommend to his clients. Other than carefully selecting the successful money managers he recommends, as well as certain carefully selected mutual funds, Gary does not make the day-to-day investment decisions. His recommended professional money managers, each with their own proven strategy and specialty, make the actual investment decisions for Gary's clients. They decide which funds or stocks to buy, when to be in the market, or when to be in the safety of a money market fund.
The strategy of using successful professionals to manage client portfolios has become increasingly popular over the years, and even more so with the current market turmoil. As a result, ProFutures Investments has enjoyed a large increase in the number of clients and assets under management since its founding in 1984.
In recent years, Gary's clients increasingly indicated that they needed comprehensive, professional financial planning assistance. Accepting nothing less than the best, Gary invested in a sophisticated software platform and hired experienced financial planners. This combination allows ProFutures to produce customized financial plans to satisfy any investor's goals and objectives.
Another reason for ProFutures' growth is Gary's intense desire to communicate with his clients. In 1977, Gary began to write a newsletter that was designed to be interesting and informative for his clients who lived all across the country. Today, Gary still writes his Forecasts & Trends newsletter every month, and clients frequently tell him it is one of their favorite publications. Forecasts & Trends and Gary's other newsletters are available free of charge to ProFutures' clients.
On a personal note, Gary and Debi have two children and live in a home they built on beautiful Lake Travis, northwest of Austin. Naturally, they are avid boaters and skiers. The children are both very active in sports, and Gary has been coaching their various teams for the last six years. Gary and Debi also are very active in their church and the school their children attend.
In 1975, Gary received a Masters Degree in international business from the American Graduate School of International Management (also known as "Thunderbird") in Phoenix, Arizona. He was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in 1974 by Texas Tech University, located in Lubbock, Texas where he was born.