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About

Our Company Values

For those who are looking for financial advice, we realize the available options are many and deciding who to work with is a challenging problem. Listed below are our Company Values which we hope will give you a better understanding of how we operate.

  1. People Matter – We believe that each person is innately valuable and worthy of respect and honor. We believe that relationships matter and that business is relational, top to bottom. People First, Money Second is a priority statement that places people and relationships ahead of financial matters.
  2. Integrity Matters – We believe that integrity and truth matter. We believe we need to conduct our business in such a way that we are above reproach. We believe suitability and ethical practices come from placing a high value on other people and their needs before our own.
  3. Communication Matters – We believe that communication with our client partners builds and maintains the trust that is necessary for business relationships to reach their full potential. We believe that our client partners deserve the type of communication that is frequent, timely, truthful, & relevant.
  4. Service Matters – We believe that good service is practical and that great service is necessary in the pursuit of business excellence. We will pursue perfection and in so doing “catch a little excellence along the way.” (Vince Lombardi)

Gary Knode

President, Safe Harbor Wealth

As a former Russian linguist for U.S. Army Intelligence and proud North Central University alumnus, my journey into financial services and retirement planning was born from personal loss and hard lessons. When my father passed away at just 58, I discovered he had no life insurance, no retirement plan, and a financial advisor who had mismanaged his investments. Even more heartbreaking, there was no clear path forward for my mother.

This experience left me with a deep conviction: there had to be a better way.

Driven by a passion for helping others and solving complex problems, I found my purpose in financial services. I set out to become the kind of advisor I wish my family had—someone who always acts in their clients’ best interests. That commitment led me to earn the Certified Financial Fiduciary designation and a Series 65 securities license, reinforcing my obligation to uphold the highest standard of care.

Today, I lead a team of five agents/advisors, serving clients throughout South Carolina and beyond. Our mission is to empower families to protect their legacies and retire with confidence. I’ve been honored to be featured in several publications and am currently writing a book on retirement financial planning—a project and subject I’m deeply passionate about.

Helping clients achieve peace of mind and a fulfilling retirement isn’t just my job—it’s my calling. And I truly can’t imagine doing anything else.

Plan For Your Future

There is no one “best place” to put your retirement money because each individual and couple has unique requirements, different tolerances for risk, and need their money at different times. Likewise, there is no one place to keep your money that fits everyone for exactly the same reasons. Your unique circumstances must be taken into consideration if you seek to find the “most favorable place” for your retirement money. This is where we can be of service.