Gradient Annuity Brokerage

For the second installment in our Financial Services Blog Series, we are covering Gradient Annuity Brokerage (GAB). GAB is part of Gradient Financial Group, LLC (GFG) and its family of companies. This home-grown business first opened their doors 12 years ago in Topeka, Kansas. During their first year of business, the organization set up shop in a small facility at Forbes Field that had a roll-up garage door and no air conditioning. The company has come a long way since its humble beginnings and now has offices in both Topeka, Kansas and Arden Hills, Minnesota.

GAB is a field marketing organization (FMO) lead by GFG founders and owners, Chuck and Tami Lucius, along with Gradient Insurance Brokerage, Inc. President Chad Roesler. This means they offer products lines exclusively to independent financial service professionals (FSP). These FSPs traditionally focus on income solutions, retirement planning, life insurance needs and financial safety for their clients. Some of the main carriers GAB partners with include hometown names like Security Benefit and Athene as well as brands such as Nationwide and American Equity. GAB seeks to educate FSPs so they can assist their clients with their financial decisions, and GAB is committed to this through the sales tools and technology solutions that are made available to the FSPs who work with them. This includes unparalleled support, specialized expertise, proven marketing systems, and comprehensive value-added professional and educational services to meet the needs of today’s population who are near or in retirement.

As Chuck and Tami Lucius have seen much success over the years, they also want to give back to their local community. The Gradient Gives Back Foundation is a non-profit organization that devotes its resources to assisting families who have fallen on hard times. The Foundation provided a “hand-up” to a Topeka family by awarding 12 months of mortgage payments to help them rebuild their financial life.  The Foundation and employees of the Topeka office regularly seek to unite the local community and inspire Americans for the purpose of charitable giving through activities and donations to the Topeka Rescue Mission and other organizations.

GFG and its family of companies employ over 80 people in its Topeka office. Roesler believes one of Topeka’s greatest assets to be its people. As Roesler stated, “You get good quality people in Topeka…it’s also a central hub for educated young people.” He noted that as long as an individual has the drive to succeed and desire to learn, GAB can teach them to be successful professionals in the financial industry. This ties in well with his notion that the Midwestern work ethic in Shawnee County factors into GAB’s overall success and good workforce continuity.