Gary Sutton may have started his career by helping people manage their finances, but as time went on, he recognized that he could offer even more valuable assistance to his clients as they grew older. “I started working in the financial service industry more than 30 years ago,” he remembers. “On my last day of training as a financial planner, my trainer said that if a client ever asked about Medicare, I should direct them to Social Security. For about two decades, I never had any clients who were over 65 years old, but eventually, those people started reaching that age and saying, ‘Gary, I did what you said and called Social Security, but they put me on hold!’ I realized that most financial planners didn’t want to deal with Medicare because it’s a small yet complicated part of the job. But my clients needed me, so I decided to get certified in Medicare to help them navigate the process, and that has been my focus for the last 10 years.”

Today, as owner of Gary Sutton - Medicare Services, Gary says his favorite parts of his job are alleviating his clients’ anxiety about Medicare and helping them find plans that meet their needs. “A lot of people worry about Medicare because they’ve heard and read so many things about it, but most of what they come across is only partially true. On top of that, when they turn 65, insurance companies bombard them with flashy brochures that claim to have perfect solutions but don’t contain enough details to be helpful. I deal with this anxiety by assuring my clients that I’ve done this type of work hundreds of times, so I know how to find the best options.”

A lifelong resident of the Bay Area, Gary currently lives in San Jose with his wife, Pam, where they enjoy a quiet life surrounded by natural beauty. “We live across the street from hundreds of acres of watershed, so our neighbors are deer, racoons, turkeys and coyotes,” he explains. “I sit in my second-story window and look at vultures hovering, ground squirrels popping up their heads, hawks trying to grab the squirrels…if there weren’t high-voltage towers at the top of the hill, we would be completely removed from civilization.”

When he’s not taking in the splendor of his personal oak savanna, Gary likes working out at his local YMCA and spending time with his daughter, Taylor, and her two children. “I’m also really interested in economics, geopolitical issues and history in general,” he adds. “There aren’t enough hours in the day to do all of those things, but I’ve learned how to portion them appropriately.”

In terms of a personal philosophy, Gary highlights the importance of keeping an open mind when interacting with others. “If you don’t let anyone else talk, you won’t learn anything you don’t already know, so my advice is to listen more and talk less,” he offers. “It’s important to know what other people are thinking. I already know what I’m thinking, so I like to allow space for people to let me know what they’re about.”

When asked what his life might look like if he could retire tomorrow, Gary says not much would change with his daily priorities. “When Taylor was young, I never missed any of her activities or school events because I was able to adjust my schedule to spend time with her, and I’ve been able to continue that balance to this day. Since I’m my own boss, I call the shots when it comes to balancing life and work, so there’s really no need to retire. Also, I often find that people who retire have a hard time figuring out how to fill their days. I can’t imagine reverting to something with more options because I already have all of them!”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite sports team?

A: Manchester City F.C.

Q: What kind of music do you like?

A: I mostly like music that I grew up with from the ’60s and ’70s.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

A: Central America. I’m really interested in the tropical forests and animal life.

Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?

A: I go to bed at 10pm and wake up between 7am and 9am, so I guess I’m in the middle.

Q: What’s your favorite snack?

A: Dried fruit with some chocolate sprinkled on top.

Gary Sutton is owner of Gary Sutton - Medicare Services, a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (408) 578-3039 or garymedplan@gmail.com.