Who We Are 
What’s Going on at GDS – September 2026
September brought national recognition, media spotlight, meaningful client experiences, community involvement, and continued investment in the team that serves you. Here’s a look at what happened at GDS this month and how each moment connects back to our mission of helping families build financial confidence through fiduciary, fee-only planning.
GDS Named a Top Wealth Manager of 2026 by D Magazine
For the fourth consecutive year, GDS Wealth Management has been named to D Magazine’s Top Wealth Managers list. This is a peer-nominated honor, awarded by members of the financial services community across Dallas-Fort Worth. It reflects something we don’t take lightly: a sustained, unwavering commitment to fiduciary, fee-only financial planning built on trust and long-term relationships, not a one-time achievement, but a standard we work to earn every year. Read more about the recognition here.
Glen Smith in the Media: Bonds, Stocks, and What’s Really Happening
Glen D. Smith, CFP®, CRPC®, was featured in national financial media this month.
Barron’s and Seeking Alpha: Glen shared his take on the bond market volatility that’s had investors on edge. His honest read: bond chaos doesn’t necessarily mean stocks are next. Yields have been erratic, but Glen points out there’s more underlying order in the market than the headlines suggest, and that order is a good sign for equities.
BNN Bloomberg: Glen also sat down for an interview on the current state of the stock market, offering perspective for investors trying to separate short-term noise from long-term signal.
Evenings with Chef Darren McGrady
This month, GDS hosted private dinners featuring Chef Darren McGrady, who spent 15 years cooking for the Royal Family, including four as personal chef to Princess Diana. Chef McGrady prepared several of Princess Diana’s favorite dishes for GDS clients, a rare, intimate evening that blended culinary artistry with genuine connection.
Events like this reflect something core to how we work: financial planning is built on relationships, and relationships deserve to be celebrated outside of a conference room.
Supporting Our Community
Giving back is part of who we are at GDS, and September gave us several great ways to show up for the community we call home. Our team supported the Cross Timbers Rotary Duck Derby, a local favorite that raises funds for community and service projects in our area. We were also proud to stand behind Liberty Christian School and the Christian Community Action 5K, an event that directly supports CCA’s mission of providing food, clothing, and emergency assistance to families in need across Denton County. Whether it’s a duck race down a creek or a 5K on a Saturday morning, these are the kinds of community moments that remind us that financial planning and neighborly support go hand in hand.
New Video Resources from GDS
September was a busy month for content, with several new videos posted across our channels. Here are two we wanted to highlight, both tackling questions we hear from people approaching or already in retirement.
What Nobody Tells You About Your First 5 Years of Retirement explains sequence risk — why the order your investment returns show up in can matter more than the average return itself, and how it can make or break a retirement plan. Watch the video →
How Much Money Do You Really Need to Retire? The $1 Million Myth takes on one of retirement planning’s biggest questions: is $1 million still the right number to aim for? Glen Smith and Robert Casey explain why there’s no single answer that fits everyone. Watch the episode →
Want to catch everything we posted this month? Subscribe to our YouTube channels → GDS Wealth Management and Glen D. Smith
Investing in Our Team: Two Days with Clint Bruce
In September, the GDS team stepped away from client work for two days to train with former Navy SEAL and NFL linebacker Clint Bruce on leadership, excellence, and courage. It was a hands-on experience in team building and growth, an investment we make so that, day to day, we can show up better for the families we serve.
Save the Date: GDS’ Christmas Photo Experience Returns November 18
Mark your calendars! Our third annual Christmas Photo Experience is coming up on November 18th from 4-8pm at GDS. Click here for more information.
Looking Ahead
From national recognition to media spotlights, an evening with a chef who once cooked for royalty, and time spent supporting causes close to home, September was a reminder that great financial planning happens alongside real relationships and real growth, for our clients, our community, and our team.
As we move into October, GDS is proud to support breast cancer awareness research. For every new client GDS gains in October, GDS will donate to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). If you’d like more information or want to get involved, reach out to GDS or speak with your advisor.
Thank you to our clients, our neighbors, and our team for making September another month worth celebrating. If there’s ever anything we can do to help you or your family plan for what’s ahead, we’re always here.
GDS Wealth Management (“GDS”) is an SEC-registered investment adviser; registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. This article reflects GDS’s views as of publication and is not individualized advice. Glen Smith’s media comments are his views and opinions at the time of the interview, are not predictions, and may change. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. D Magazine’s 2026 Top Wealth Managers list (announced September 2026) is based on peer nominations from the DFW financial services community; GDS paid an application fee and purchased advertising in D Magazine. Rankings are not indicative of future performance or client experience. Media appearances are not endorsements. GDS funds the October BCRF donation at a fixed amount per new client; it does not affect client fees, and BCRF does not endorse GDS. For more information, including fees and conflicts, visit www.gdswealth.com.