Welcome

Our clients come from many walks of life. They are business owners and entrepreneurs, retirees and professionals. The single factor that unites them? An appreciation for living by design and investing with reason.

They focus on the future, always considering the bigger picture when making financial decisions. Because their assets are invested with a design in mind, they invest wisely and seek independent counsel from wealth managers like ourselves who support them in a smart and proactive manner.

They acknowledge the value of having a long term relationship with a principled adviser to address their needs and those of their family. As such, the engagement starts with a detailed discovery process to help ensure new clients are a good fit for us and we are a proper fit for them.

For new clients, there is a standard minimum portfolio value of $250,000. This minimum is waived for referrals and the family of existing clients. If you feel that your individual circumstances warrant an exception to our minimum, we are happy to consider them on a case-by-case basis. 

Bobbie Meola is a Managing Partner with Stratos Wealth Partners and works out of the firm's Scottsdale, Arizona office. Bobbie has over thirty three years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Stratos Wealth Partners, she served as a Senior Vice President - Investments & Complex Manager at Wells Fargo Advisors in Phoenix. She held a similar position at Smith Barney for nearly fifteen years. Bobbie has been continually recognized for her strong interpersonal relationships and is regularly invited to speak at national, regional and local conferences and workshops. She holds her Series 8, 7 and 63 with LPL Financial and her series 65 with Stratos Wealth Partners as well as her Arizona Life, Health and Disability Insurance Licenses. She has three children, a fiance Kevin and lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. When not engaged in work or family matters Bobbie enjoys hitting the links or working on charitable endeavors for One in Ten.             

My personal story starts when I graduated from Boston University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. Upon graduation, I accepted a position with Shearson Lehman in New York City. Four years later I transitioned into broadcast sales and management where I worked for both NBC and Tribune Media for the next twelve years. Looking for new opportunities I decided to pursue my Masters in Business Administration at DePaul University in Chicago. I graduated in 2007 and shortly thereafter joined Merrill Lynch. In 2011 I joined the Scottsdale office of Wells Fargo Advisers and remained with the firm until 2016 when I decided to become a partner with Stratos Wealth Partners. In 2013 I earned the certification of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. For further information on the rigorous requirements please go to www.cfp.net 

I am married to my wife Amy and we have three young children. When not balancing the commitments of work and home life I can be found peddling around Scottsdale in the early morning hours on my bike.

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER­™ Professional, Erica understands that the future brings unique challenges. Erica focuses on helping clients with a full spectrum of investment and planning solutions, ranging from retirement planning to crafting financial plans incorporating tax-efficient strategies. She accomplishes this through a comprehensive planning approach based on her core beliefs of communication, integrity, honesty and hard work. Erica has worked with LPL Financial since 2003 joining the Stratos Wealth Partners team in 2015.

Erica obtained a B.A in Marketing from Arizona State University before getting her licenses to become a Financial Advisor.

She has continued to increase her knowledge of the financial markets while acting in the capacity of a Financial Advisor. Along with the required registrations to invest for her clients, Erica also holds the prestigious CFP® designation. In order to use the CFP® certification she has met rigorous professional standards and continually adheres to the principles of integrity, objectivity, competence, fairness, confidentiality, professionalism, and diligence when dealing with clients.

Erica Gargol Receives Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® Designation

A CDFA™ is trained to provide financial advice on divorce cases and to educate clients on the financial implications of different divorce settlement proposals. The CDFA™ designation is sponsored by the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysis. Certification requires successful completion of exams within the course of study, continuing education in the field, and commitment to uphold the Institute’s Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility.

“I’m excited to have attained the CDFA™ designation. The program not only enhanced my understanding of the complex financial issues regarding divorce, but also prepared me to better serve individuals who are either contemplating divorce or building a new life after divorce.”

Divorce cases by their very nature are going to be very intricate when it comes to the finances. There are a lot of moving and complicated parts. Even your standard divorce could use a CDFA. Finances make up 3 of the 4 core parts of divorce – child support, alimony, and equitable division. When dealing with the person who may have been a stay-at-home parent, they may not understand what goes into a 401(k), or a pension plan, or what stocks are. I can step in, show them how to streamline, and how best to put those finances together to benefit them as they go forward from the divorce.

When Erica is not working with her clients, she dedicates her time to her family. She and her husband, Ryan, enjoy watching their three children (Blake, Tyler, and Weston) play sports and participate in their school PTA. Erica enjoys running, traveling, and fine wine. She organizes and runs financial workshops within her church and is very involved in the Junior Achievement Program in the Paradise Valley School District.

As client associate for both Bobbie and John I am here to field your questions about account opening, scheduling a review, fund transfers and any of the myriad questions that arise regarding the day to day function of your account(s). 

I am a mid western girl at heart having been born in Omaha, NE. I attended the University of Arizona where I completed my B.A. in Family Consumer Resources and then attended the University if Illinois, Chicago for my Masters in Social Work. 

What free time I have is spent with my children and their numerous sporting activities.