About Roy Y. Gagaza

Roy Y. Gagaza is president and CEO of Journey Wealth Management, LLC, where he focuses on helping people achieve their retirement goals through thoughtful, organized planning. He leads a firm with offices in Manteca, California, and in Aiea and Honolulu, Hawaii, serving clients from many backgrounds. He draws on his experience in business marketing and his years of service as an officer to explain financial strategies in clear language so individuals and families can make decisions that feel respectful of their needs and goals.

Roy’s Military Career

Roy began his military career in the U.S. Army Reserve and later transitioned to active duty, serving for more than 20 years as an Armor Officer. He became airborne and ranger qualified, led a tank platoon with the 1st Armored Division during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, and later commanded a cavalry troop in South Korea with the 5/17 Cavalry Squadron, 2nd Infantry Division. He also served as an operations and training officer, preparing units from company through brigade level for deployments during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, completing multiple combat tours and earning the Bronze Star for his service.

Roy’s Professional Career

Gagaza began building his second career while still in uniform, using limited off-duty time to meet with clients, host educational seminars, and pursue professional designations as a Certified Estate Planner and Registered Financial Consultant. He continued this preparation even during a year-long deployment to Kuwait in 2004, steadily laying the foundation for the practice he would later lead. After retiring from the Army in 2008, he carried his commitment to service into the financial field, guiding clients in retirement planning, investment and wealth management, tax planning, health care strategies, and legacy and estate services at Journey Wealth Management.

Roy’s Approach with His Clients

Roy Y. Gagaza approaches each client relationship with discipline, humility, and patience, drawing on his military background to stay calm and focused even when circumstances change. He encourages clients to think about what a meaningful life after full-time work might look like and helps design strategies that seek to protect assets, create dependable income streams, and allow for adjustments over time. He believes that “living the dream” in retirement comes from building momentum long before retirement day itself, and he treats the advisor–client relationship as a partnership built on trust, planning, and readiness.

Working with Communities to Build Financial Confidence

Roy is active in the communities his firm serves, working with highway patrol personnel, local school districts, chambers of commerce, certified public accountants, and many individuals who are approaching or already in retirement. He regularly hosts seminars for hundreds of pre-retirees and retirees, focusing on how to preserve assets, develop retirement-income strategies, and use tax-efficient approaches to reduce tax liability. He aims to create an open, respectful environment in these events so people feel comfortable asking questions and leaving with a clearer understanding of their options.

Education, Certifications, and Licenses

Gagaza earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing from San Jose State University and has continued his education throughout his professional life. He is a Financial Professional who holds the Certified Estate Planner and Registered Financial Consultant designations, reflecting his commitment to ongoing learning in his field. He also maintains insurance licenses in Hawaii (number 458231) and California (number 0L87925), allowing him to serve clients in both states with strategies that include insurance-based tools when appropriate to their situations and goals.

A Mission to Give Back

Roy Y. Gagaza keeps service at the center of his work by supporting organizations that assist U.S. veterans and their families, reflecting his own military background. His firm regularly contributes to veteran-focused causes and often matches client donations, seeking to make a greater impact together. He also supports efforts that provide food for those in need through partnerships with Second Harvest of the Greater Valley and the Hawaii Food Bank, as well as organizations that help rescue German shepherds and preserve backcountry trails and the historical use of horses through conservation, education, and advocacy.

Roy’s Personal Life

Roy is originally from Livermore, California, on the eastern edge of the San Francisco Bay Area, and he values both his roots and the communities he serves in California and Hawaii. He is married to a partner who serves as the firm’s co-founder and chief financial officer, and together they have raised three children, all of whom have careers spanning finance, education, and marketing leadership. He is a proud grandfather to two young grandchildren. In his free time, he enjoys being in and near the water, playing golf, traveling, paddleboarding, snorkeling, diving, reading, and spending time with family while also supporting charitable efforts that reflect his values.