In the heart of downtown Lee’s Summit sits a wealth management firm built on clarity, trust, and long standing relationships. The firm’s purpose is straightforward yet powerful: to help individuals and families achieve financial freedom so they can give, serve, and enjoy life with confidence.
That mission has guided the firm since 2007, when founder and president Stephen Stricklin opened Wise Wealth with a simple goal. He wanted to help individuals and families make work optional and design financial plans that supported not just retirement, but a meaningful life. Over time, that approach resonated. Clients stayed, referred friends, and built long term relationships grounded in trust and clarity.
That success did not go unnoticed. In November 2025, Wise Wealth entered a strategic partnership with Wealth Enhancement Group, one of the largest financial planning firms in the country with more than $130 billion in assets under management. Wealth Enhancement became the owner of the firm, while Stricklin retained leadership, control, and an ownership stake in the broader organization.
Today, the firm operates as the GSEL Team at Wealth Enhancement Group. GSEL stands for Give, Serve, Enjoy Life, a philosophy so central to the practice that it is federally trademarked. While the name on the door has evolved, the heart of the firm has not changed. The team remains locally based, locally led, and deeply invested in the Lee’s Summit community.
The partnership brings meaningful benefits. Clients now have access to expanded resources, deeper professional expertise, and a wider range of planning solutions. The team benefits from enhanced support and opportunities, and the community benefits from a local firm with national strength behind it.
Wealth management can feel intimidating, but the GSEL Team works hard to make it approachable. Their philosophy is grounded in a belief that financial planning should support life, not complicate it. Every recommendation starts with understanding the client’s values, goals, and concerns. The firm is fully comprehensive, offering investment management, insurance based solutions, tax planning and preparation, legacy planning including wills and powers of attorney, Medicare guidance, and long-term care planning. Everything is coordinated so clients are not juggling advice from multiple sources.
Rather than offering one size fits all solutions, the team serves as fiduciaries, tailoring guidance to each stage of life. Young professionals may focus on building strong habits and managing growth. Families often need help balancing competing priorities. Retirees want confidence that their income will last. In every case, the goal is the same. Clients should have a plan, understand the plan, and feel confident following it.
Trust is central to financial planning, and it is earned over time. The GSEL Team does not work on contracts or set end dates. They work with families across generations, before retirement, through retirement, and beyond. The focus is on relationships, not transactions.
That approach is reflected in the office itself. A sign on the wall reads, “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” It sets the tone. Clients are encouraged to ask questions, express uncertainty, and learn at their own pace.
Education is a core value. The firm operates under the principle of “First Wisdom, Then Wealth.” Clients are taught how their strategies work and why they matter. This includes addressing common misconceptions, such as the difference between average and real rates of return and the risks posed by the sequence of market returns.
Many people today share the same concerns. Will my income last through retirement? Will taxes erode what I have built? The GSEL Team addresses these challenges with a straightforward philosophy. Protect the income. Grow the rest.
Using a simple three bucket planning approach, the firm helps clients reduce uncertainty and make confident decisions. With a clear plan in place, financial choices feel less stressful and more aligned with the life clients want to live.
For those seeking a local wealth manager with national resources and a down to earth approach, the GSEL Team at Wealth Enhancement Group offers something rare. Sophisticated planning, delivered with clarity, care, and a genuine commitment to the community they call home.
Contact Wealth Enhancement at 816-246-WISE(9473) or gsel-info@wealthenhancement.com.