The Forrest Group, LLC provides estate planning in Houston, Texas, that primarily focuses on privately held business owners, high net worth individuals, and affluent families. Our firm specializes in wealth transfer and business succession planning. We address problems common to the transfer of wealth, lifestyles and financial security to future generations.
Most of your clients have life insurance. With the attrition rate in the life insurance industry being so high, there is a strong probability that the life insurance policy that your client has deployed is not being effectively monitored. We can help you review their existing coverage and give insight as to how the policy will perform and if any adjustments should be undertaken.
We are going to help you think about how you want your business to flow downstream. Do you want your children to inherit your business? Would you prefer to sell to a third party? Are there employees you trust to carry on the business that you can sell to? We will help you think through these issues and assist in determining the right solution that most effectively accomplishes your objective.
For people who have been blessed with significant resources, cascading their wealth downstream can be a complicated matter. We will help you think through all the issues, both positive and negative, and assist in the deployment of a plan that is most reflective of your objectives. All of this, with a keen eye towards your legacy and your philanthropic desires.
Our objective at The Forrest Group is to help our clients:
Pass on their hard earned assets (including their businesses) to their desired heirs in a manner that enables them to leave the legacy intended.
Protect their assets from excessive tax burdens and potential undesirable future creditors.
Ensure that the client’s desires for charitable giving are crystallized and enabled to be continued for future generations.
Please watch the video to the left to learn how and why Gib got started in the business.

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children…

Proverbs 13:22


Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.

Albert Einstein
We are proud to partner with several organizations that provide us with support and resources. These strategic alliances were chosen because they allow us to best meet the needs of our clients, no matter how simple or complex they may be.

Click on the logos below to learn more about each organization.


Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.

Benjamin Franklin
At The Forrest Group, we honor building relationships with our clients and the people in our community. Watch the video on the right to hear how our relationship developed over the years with Former Chairman Kevin Brady, previously of the United States House of Representatives 8th Congressional District. In addition to valuing relationships with people, some of the other things we value as a company include:

Open communication

Commitment to continuing education

Trustworthiness and transparency

Putting our clients’ interests first

The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.

Chinese Proverb

One thing our clients appreciate about working with us is that we don’t believe in cookie-cutter financial services or a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we follow a meticulous process designed to help get to know each client’s situation, goals and level of risk tolerance so that we can make appropriate recommendations to meet their needs. Everyone is different and we may amend our approach to suit a specific client, but in general, we utilize the following process to help those we're privileged to serve.
Review your individual situation and personal objectives. Every family's financial situation is unique. That's why it's so important to find out as much as we can about you and your financial goals. The more we know about you, the more precise recommendations we can make and the more we can help you. As a result, we may take some time to discuss your hopes, dreams and objectives, and the things that really matter to you. This is the basis for the first meeting with anyone we sit down with.
Analyze and review your needs. As needed, we will work with you to identify and prioritize your objectives, and then help establish benchmark goals. This is important because we live in a world of unlimited choices. People often fail to achieve objectives because they try to accomplish too much at once, or they don’t attach specific deadlines to their goals. By breaking down your goals to specific objectives, you can look at available resources and decide which goals are realistic, which need to be adjusted and scaled down, and which simply must be abandoned.
Develop and implement a strategy to help you achieve your goals. Based on our conversation and analysis, we can recommend the steps that it will take to help you achieve your financial goals.
Coordinate your financial activities. We regularly coordinate insurance and financial activities for clients with the other members of their team of financial, tax and legal advisors. We can do the same for you.
We'll implement your strategy, and work closely with you and your other third party professionals to help ensure its success. We'll monitor progress and provide ongoing service as your needs and situation change over time.
Planning is not a one-shot deal. Strategies need to be adjusted periodically as your life and the economy changes. We will work with you over the years to help keep your program on track with your changing needs.

In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.

Benjamin Franklin
Certainly, high net worth individuals face many complex questions about how to optimize their financial wealth and ensure the security of their families’ futures. Gib Surles is a Member Agent of The Nautilus Group®, a service of New York Life Insurance Company. Through our affiliation with The Nautilus Group® and with New York Life we have access to an unmatched base of knowledge and experience. Together, we can work with you one-on-one to answer your questions and tailor solutions to fit your needs.





2121 Sage Road, Suite 355
Houston, TX 77056