ADAM L. WAY
CFP®, AEP®, ChFC®, AIF®, CLU®, CLTC®
Chief Executive Officer I Chief Compliance Officer
Adam Way is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and the founder of Global Wealth Strategies & Associates (GWS&A), a boutique financial and estate planning firm. Since entering the financial services industry in 2002, Adam has been serving his clientele with a passion for guiding and educating them towards success and financial independence. Adam specializes in helping families, individuals, and business owners in the areas of retirement distribution planning, education planning, tax mitigation, and business succession planning, amongst other financial planning related topics.
Committed to being highly proficient in his field, Adam spends a significant amount of time staying current. He has numerous financial designations - CFP®, AEP®, ChFC®, AIF®, CLU®, and CLTC®, to name a few. Additionally, Adam passed the following exams: Series 6, 63, 65, and 7. Adam serves clients all over the country and because of this, carries various licenses across the United States.
Adam has a diverse background in working with business owners, both from his upbringing, and the various companies he’s been affiliated with over time. Because of this knowledge, Adam brings a unique skillset that boldly serves GWS&A’s business clients. Adam’s acumen as it relates to the inner workings of business valuations, tax and legal structuring, company benefits, and complex buy/sell transactions, sets him apart from his peers. Adam is also a member of the Denver Estate Planning Council.
Following a strong desire to give back, Adam is actively involved with Rachel’s Challenge, a non-profit dedicated in preventing violence in schools. He is also actively involved with Trails Preservation Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to keeping trails open in the wilderness. Lastly, Adam sponsors a racing team, dedicated to helping athletes with equipment, race entry fees, and other support necessary for them to be able to compete. Currently, his team supports 15+ athletes.
Adam lives in Cherry Creek, Denver. Adam enjoys competitive skydiving, racing cars, racing trucks, rock-crawling, competitively shooting IPSC, hunting, camping, and any other activities the Colorado Rocky Mountains have to offer. In Adam’s time off, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Barb and his black lab, Diesel.
ERIC M. JACOBS
MBA, APMA®, AIF®
Chief Investment Officer I Portfolio Manager
Eric’s background is centered in retail investments and banking, with a deep focus towards comprehensive planning, through diverse asset management strategies. His experience led him to GWS&A after beginning his career in financial services at JP Morgan Chase and Edward Jones, following a desire to serve clients in a fiduciary capacity. During his time at JP Morgan Chase, he worked on large, complex retirement plans and is highly competent in the Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit spaces.
Charged with directing GWS&A’s Investment Operations & Strategies, Eric believes in taking a big picture approach to the investment planning process. He uses holistic methodologies aimed at mitigating risk, while still focusing on consistent and measured growth in client portfolios. He has a passion for educating clients and guiding them along the journey towards financial success and independence.
A firm believer in continually furthering his knowledge and financial acumen, Eric’s educational background includes his Master’s Degree, earned from the University of Colorado, Denver, with dual specializations in Finance and Risk Management & Insurance. Prior to this, Eric completed his undergraduate work at the University of Redlands in southern California, with a double major in Business and Philosophy. Most recently, Eric earned the Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor℠ - APMA® - designation, completing advanced coursework in portfolio construction, augmentation and maintenance - with emphasis on sophisticated and unique client situations. Additionally, Eric has earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary - AIF® - designation, signifying his commitment to upholding the highest fiduciary standards. Eric has also passed both Series 7 and 66 licensing exams.
Remaining active in his community, Eric currently serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for ALS United, Rocky Mountain, an organization dedicated to helping those living with ALS and finding a cure for Lou Gehrig’s Disease. In addition, Eric participates as a mentor in the Mentor Collective program through the University of Colorado, Denver; meeting with and guiding current Undergrad and Graduate students as they enter into the workplace and transition through life and their careers.
A native of Montana, Eric now resides in Denver’s Stapleton neighborhood with his wife Jami, their boys Foster and Arley, and daughter Willah. In his free time, Eric enjoys exercising, training in Krav Maga, watching and playing sports, fly fishing, coaching his kids in youth sports, and spending quality time with his family.
Sara began her financial services career in January of 2008, as a Financial Representative Intern with Northwestern Mutual. Shortly into her internship, she realized that the analyzing and planning aspect of the industry suited her talents more than the Representative role. During this time, she met Adam Way. It was apparent to Adam that Sara's skills were a great fit for Adam's practice vision, and he brought her onto his team as a Financial Plan Analyst. Over the past 14+ years, Sara has been a GWS&A mainstay, the primary component of Adam's original team.
Since entering the financial services world, Sara has attended numerous Advanced Planning seminars, Estate Planning workshops, and focused her knowledge on how to bring all aspects of a client’s financial situation together. In keeping with GWS&A's philosophy of furthering one's education, Sara obtained her RP® (Registered Paraplanner) designation in 2014, now retitled as FPQP® (Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional℠).
Sara specializes in analyzing current and future planning ideas; optimizing the needs and goals of our clients. She works closely with our client's estate planning attorneys and CPAs to determine how their financial situations could be improved and what steps are needed in order to make these improvements.
Most recently, Sara has transitioned into the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) for GWS&A. This role allows Sara to further impact the GWS&A business using her skills in project management, IT integrations, and unique attention to detail. GWS&A clients can rest assured that Sara is taking on the challenges every day to keep our team running like a well-oiled machine and at the same time at the forefront of independent financial planning innovation.
Sara grew up on the Western Slope of Colorado and then attended the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, where she earned a degree in Sports Health & Wellness. Sara currently lives in San Diego with her husband Sam, daughter Grace, and their dog, Rucker. While Sara loves sunny Southern California, much of her heart still resides in Colorado, where she makes frequent trips back to visit family and enjoy the Colorado lifestyle. In her free time, Sara enjoys photography, off-roading, mountain biking, and camping.
Brad Scoular began his career in financial services in 2003 with Northwestern Mutual in the greater Los Angeles area. Brad’s passion for service and working to positively affect the lives of others guided him into the financial services industry. After relocating to Colorado, Brad made the decision to partner with GWS&A for shared mutual values, fiduciary driven relationships, and a collaborative approach to comprehensive financial planning.
Throughout his career, Brad has strived to further his education. Brad has passed exams for Series 6, 63, 66, and 7 licenses. In addition to his four Series licenses, Brad has achieved the CLU® Chartered Life Underwriter designation, showing a commitment to being knowledgable in the various insurances. Brad has also received the AIF® Accredited Investment Fiduciary designation, demonstrating a commitment to adhering to the highest fiduciary standards. Additionally, Brad has obtained the CLTC® Certification in Long-Term Care designation. Currently, Brad is studying for the ChFC® designation.
During his nearly 20 years in business, Brad has gained further competency in many financial arenas. Brad has a strong desire to guide his clients through a holistic planning process. Because of Brad’s qualifications and knowledge, he spends a significant amount of time teaching groups around the country on various financial and retirement planning topics.
Brad grew up in Los Angeles and attended Loyola High School. He earned his B.A. in business from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Despite now living in Colorado, Brad still spends a good amount of time in Los Angeles; both conducting business and spending time with family. Currently, Brad lives in Denver with his rescue dog, Sawyer. In his free time, Brad is a passionate wood turner and wood worker as well as an avid skier. He enjoys adventuring into nature and all things that Colorado’s beautiful outdoors has to offer.