Gar Wood Blog
News & Events
October 14, 2026
Gar Wood Securities Welcomes Brett Mezatis as Client Service & Trading Operations Representative
Gar Wood Securities welcomes Brett Mezatis as its new Client Service & Trading Operations Representative. Brett is a recent Illinois State University finance graduate and first-place winner of the university’s trading club competition, and he will support the firm’s trading operations, client service, investment banking, and compliance teams.
September 30, 2026 · Events
Teeing Up for Kids with Dyslexia: The Brent Sopel Foundation Golf Outing
Gar Wood Securities joined the Brent Sopel Foundation golf outing at Riverside Golf Club to support kids with dyslexia. It was a day of competition, connection and giving back, spent alongside our friends at Cboe Global Markets.
September 21, 2026
The Conviction Standard: How We Back the Middle Market
Strong middle market companies often get lost at big institutions, treated as "too small" or run through a process instead of a partnership. Gar Wood's investment banking division takes a different approach, built on three commitments: back what's tangible, move at the speed of conviction, and run on relationships, not transactions.
September 9, 2026
Gar Wood Securities Proud to Sponsor Invest For Kids 2026
Gar Wood Securities is proud to sponsor the 18th Annual Invest For Kids Conference on October 28, 2026, in Chicago – an event where leading investors share ideas and 100% of proceeds go to nonprofits supporting local youth.
August 7, 2026 · Events · News
Investing in the Next Generation: Gar Wood Securities at STAC Young Professionals
Gar Wood Securities' Craig Gantar served as a Mentor at STAC Young Professionals' Summer Social, joining industry veterans in supporting the next generation of Chicago's securities talent.
July 24, 2026 · Events · News
An Evening with Chicago's Investment Community: Gar Wood at Invest For Kids
Gar Wood Securities joined Chicago's finance community for an evening of networking and family office insights at Invest For Kids' summer event.
June 26, 2026 · Events · News
A Day on the Course: Recapping the 6th Annual KGF Celebrity Pro-Am
On June 20th, Gar Wood Securities joined the Kids Golf Foundation and Bo Jackson's Give Me A Chance Foundation at Rich Harvest Farms for the 6th Annual KGF Celebrity Pro-Am — helping equip 80+ kids with new golf gear and supporting a foundation now running 91 programs across Illinois.
May 20, 2026 · Events · News
Gar Wood Securities Proud to Sponsor the 6th Annual KGF Celebrity Pro-Am Benefiting Bo Jackson's Give Me A Chance Foundation
Gar Wood Securities is proud to sponsor the 6th Annual KGF Celebrity Pro-Am at Rich Harvest Farms on June 20th, supporting the Kids Golf Foundation in providing over 80 youth participants with equipment, training, and access to the game.
March 30, 2026
Gar Wood Securities Welcomes Patryk Wydrych
Gar Wood Securities is pleased to welcome Patryk Wydrych to the team. In his new role as Associate, Patryk supports brokerage and banking operations — bringing a grounded, people-first perspective shaped by a background in automotive sales and law enforcement.
March 3, 2026 · News
Gar Wood Securities Advises on Acquisition of American Infrastructure Services, Inc. by Michiana Contracting
Gar Wood Securities served as the exclusive placement agent in Michiana Contracting’s acquisition of American Infrastructure Services, Inc., expanding infrastructure and electrical capabilities across the Midwest and Southeast.
February 9, 2026
The 5 Friction Points in Professional Trading
Most trading losses don’t come from bad ideas. They come from friction – hidden in routing, support, risk systems, and infrastructure. Here are the five pressure points that matter when markets move fast.
January 13, 2026 · News · Events
Gar Wood Securities Proudly Sponsors STAC’s 100th Annual Mid-Winter Meeting | January 21-22, 2026
Gar Wood Securities is proud to support STAC’s 100th Annual Mid-Winter Meeting, bringing industry leaders together to discuss the future of trading and markets.
October 23, 2025 · News · Events
Gar Wood Securities Attends the 2025 Invest For Kids Chicago Conference
Gar Wood Securities joined industry leaders at the 2025 Invest For Kids Chicago conference – an event that unites finance professionals to share insights and support youth-focused charities across Chicago.
October 3, 2025 · Events
Gar Wood Securities Sponsors the Sopel Foundation for Dyslexia’s Golf Outing
Gar Wood Securities was a proud sponsor of the recent Sopel Foundation for Dyslexia's annual golf outing. It was a fantastic day to swing the irons with Brent Sopel and so many foundation supporters.
September 22, 2025 · News · Events
Beyond Finance: Gar Wood Securities at New York’s Private Collector Car Show
Gar Wood Securities proudly sponsored a private collector car show at the East River Helipad in New York City. The event brought together vintage cars, families, and the local community — reflecting our commitment to building connections beyond finance.
June 11, 2025 · News
Behind The Desk: Jason Toledo
Jason has been with Gar Wood since 2018, but his journey into independence started long before that. After building a successful team for someone else, he made the leap to launch Toledo Trade – a DBA of Gar Wood Securities serving self-directed traders worldwide. What started as a business decision quickly became something much more personal.
May 21, 2025 · News
Behind The Desk: Bobby Jersey
Mental health isn’t just something I think about – it’s something I actively work on every day. I’ve learned that staying strong, both mentally and physically, isn’t just about discipline. It’s about having a purpose beyond yourself, showing up for others, and knowing when to ask for help.
May 17, 2025 · Events
2025 Dyslexic Stars Charity Hockey Game
Gar Wood team joined former National Hockey League (NHL) players – including Brent Sopel – Illinois labor union members, families and friends from our incredible community to sponsor an unforgettable charity hockey event in support of Sopel Foundation for Dyslexia and its mission to raise awa reness for dyslexia and ADHD.
May 7, 2025 · News · Events
Gar Wood Securities x Rockin’ the Hill
Join us on Saturday, July 26, 2025 for a night of live music, good company, and unforgettable summer energy – all set on one of the most beautiful private estates in the country. This year’s headline: Stone Temple Pilots
May 1, 2025 · News
The Human Side of Finance
As our industry evolves, we remain committed to what’s always set us apart: being a firm built on relationships. While we have, and implement technology that makes it easier than ever to analyze data and execute trades – no algorithm can replace the value of a trusted partner.
April 8, 2025 · News
Behind The Desk: Craig Gantar
"Lately I've been thinking a lot about the future – not just the markets, but of what's to come from our firm. How do we as Gar Wood evolve with the times, yet stay true to who we are?"
March 26, 2025 · News
For Me, Gar Wood Means ‘Family’
“I believe in Gar Wood, its leadership, and its role in the industry – making it easy to want to be a part of the company. Leadership welcomes collaboration and is supportive of ideas. That is a welcome contrast to what I have previously experienced with a rigid chain of commands and consequences for not following that command.”
March 20, 2025 · Events
Gar Wood Securities at the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Irish eyes were smiling at Chicago's downtown St. Patrick's Day parade!
November 13, 2024 · News · Events
Gar Wood Securities Proudly Sponsors 16th Annual Invest for Kids Conference
Since 2009, Invest for Kids has raised and donated over $23.5M, helping to foster a rich ecosystem of organizations that lift up Chicago’s most in-need youth from early childhood through college & career.
October 30, 2024 · News
Gar Wood Securities Welcomes Veteran Business Strategist Thomas E. Gavin IV to Enhance Firm's Growth
Gar Wood Securities, LLC, a leading broker-dealer specializing in agency brokerage transactions in equities, options, ETF and futures, today announced that experienced business strategist Thomas E. Gavin IV has joined the firm as an Associate.
September 23, 2024
‘Family’ ties run deep at Gar Wood
"At Gar Wood Securities, our family goes beyond blood relations – it encompasses our community." – Bob Jersey
September 23, 2024
Entrepreneurs At Heart
"When Dennis Gerecke and I set out to create Gar Wood Securities, our goal was to create a home that would provide the support and solutions independent brokers needed to be successful." – Bob Jersey
September 23, 2024
A Career Defining Field Trip
"I remember visiting the Chicago Board of Trade during a sixth-grade field trip. We were standing in the visitor’s gallery which overlooked the trading floor." – Bob Jersey