Meet Shelly
Michelle (Shelly) Gams
CFP®, RICP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CASL®, WMCP®
Founder | Financial Planner
Shelly’s mission is to improve the lives of those around her, from her clients, to their families, to her community. Through holistic planning, she strives to leave a legacy of empowerment, helping people reach a place where they feel financially secure and confident about the direction of their future. With nearly three decades in the financial industry, Shelly is passionate about seeing her clients succeed, and she brings a level of authenticity that they appreciate. Clients know her door is always open, she’s there to answer their questions, and they can rely on her to keep them on track for a secure, prosperous future.
Advising Approach
Shelly loves taking care of people, and her clients trust her to do so—she is the one overseeing their plans, navigating market volatility, researching tax strategies, and managing every detail in between. She is diligent about staying apprised of the latest products, tax laws, and market developments, giving her clients the freedom to focus on what matters most to them. Shelly works to take the burden of planning off their plates, communicating constantly so clients feel informed and on track without being overwhelmed by the details. She educates clients throughout their financial journeys, helping them unpack pertinent concepts at each step of the planning process.
Areas of Expertise
Specialize in helping people maximize their retirement plans (401k, 403b, IRAs) to successfully transition from the workplace to their next place. She specializes in income distribution planning, helping clients prepare for their next phase of life with personalized investment strategies, tax diversification, and strategic asset allocation. She goes beyond the basics, ensuring clients have their estate planning documents in order to ensure a well-thought-out, purposeful future. Through this process, she provides her clients a sense of accomplishment and wellbeing about their financial worlds.
Industry Designations
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®)
For more than 30 years, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification has been the standard of excellence in financial planning. CFP® professionals meet rigorous education, training and ethical standards, and are committed to serving their clients' best interests today to prepare them for a more secure tomorrow.
Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®)
The RICP® designation teaches advisors techniques and best practices used to create sustainable streams of retirement income. The education covers retirement income planning, maximizing Social Security and other income sources, minimizing risks to the plan, and managing portfolios during the asset distribution phase. The designation includes three required, college-level courses that represent a total average study time of more than 150 hours. RICP® designees must meet experience, continuing education and ethics requirements. The credential is awarded by The American College, a non-profit educator founded in 1927 and the highest form of academic accreditation.
Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®)
For nearly 100 years, the Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) designation has helped insurance and financial professionals seeking the knowledge they need to succeed in the life insurance field. Through the program, designees gain an in-depth understanding of the practical, legal, and ethical aspects of life insurance and learn how to provide the best solutions to a modern and diverse clientele facing a range of risks and financial situations.
Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®)
Designed for immediate, real-world application, the financial planning strategies taught in the Chartered Financial Consultant®(ChFC®) program prepare designees to advise a full range of potential clients on a diverse set of financial matters.
Chartered Advisor for Senior Living® (CASL®)
The Chartered Advisor in Senior Living® (CASL®) designation shows a commitment to helping aging clients achieve financial security now and into the future. The CASL® helps designees lead clients from middle age through retirement and assist them with the management, preservation, and transfer of wealth.
Wealth Management Certified Professional® (WMCP®)
The American College awards the WMCP® and describes it in this manner: The WMCP® credential uses contemporary investment management, portfolio management, and financial planning strategies to bring a new level of value to the relationship between financial advisors and investors. WMCP® provides advisors with a deep understanding of investment management and financial planning, and how they can be used to meet clients’ goals. They develop an expertise in analyzing and identifying goals and risk tolerance and building investment management plans tailored to the needs of their clients.
Background & Education
Shelly graduated from the University of Wyoming and entered the financial industry with the goal of helping people make wise decisions. The daughter of scrupulous ranchers who did everything possible to build a great business, it was important to her to lead people with integrity and empower them to protect their hard work. She started at Ameriprise in 1997 before working at an investment bank for a few years. Then, in 2001, as the financial planning industry was just taking shape, she transitioned her practice to New York Life, where she could build intentional, lifelong relationships with clients.
Community Involvement
Shelly is passionate about making a difference in her community, and she is an active contributor to both nonprofit initiatives and financial industry organizations. Some of her activities include:
Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance – Vice President
National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) – Member
University of Wyoming Alumni Association – Montana Liaison
Billings Clinic Foundation Classic Golf Tournament – Volunteer, Competitor
YWCA Endowment Board – Member
New York Life Agents Advisory Council – Past Member (2012)
Personal Life
Shelly grew up on a ranch in Cowley, Wyoming, and lives in Billings, Montana, with her husband Mike. They spend many weekends helping Shelly’s parents on the ranch in Wyoming or simply enjoying the outdoors together, taking their side-by-side to the mountain or fishing. Shelly also loves hiking and gardening, and in the summer, she and Mike like to attend Mustang baseball games.
