After a three-month hiatus to reflect on his 15-year journey in the insurance and financial services industry, Gerardo “J.J.” Ramirez Jr. is energized and ready to begin a bold new chapter. “I’m back in business,” he explained with enthusiasm from his South Seguin Avenue office. “This time, I’m working directly with clients, leading a team of financial representatives and advisors, and building a business I’ll ultimately own,” J.J. added with pride. “Other than that, nothing’s changed!”
J.J. now serves as head of agency at Think Net Tailored Wealth Solutions (Think Net), a firm dedicated to helping clients protect their income, grow their wealth, and navigate estate planning. The agency is affiliated with Guardian Life, a Fortune 300 insurance and benefits provider that’s been advocating for financial well-being since 1860. Think Net also offers securities products and advisory services through Park Avenue Securities LLC, a registered broker-dealer, investment advisor, and wholly owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America.
As the founder of Think Net, J.J. focuses on three core areas: building a team of exceptional advisors, providing world-class professional training and development, and delivering fee-based financial planning — especially for clients with complex tax efficiency and business succession needs. “I’m thrilled to be back advising clients,” he said.
J.J.’s career began in 2010 when he transitioned out of a demanding role at a car dealership — where long hours disrupted his work-life balance — and stepped into the financial services world. Driven by a desire for purpose in his work and harmony between his personal and professional lives, he quickly found success as a financial representative.
Over the next four years, J.J. helped hundreds of families protect their income and grow their wealth with insurance and financial strategies. His early achievements earned him numerous accolades and recognition as one of the top performers among peers with similar tenure. By 2014, he was promoted to partner, a role he welcomed with his signature humor. “I had so much free time,” he joked, “I figured, why not build and develop a team too?”
J.J. continued to excel in leadership roles, including senior partner and executive partner, and garnered national recognition for his success in recruiting, retention, and new financial services production. From 2014 to 2024, J.J. built a team of dozens of financial services professionals — each one brought on board by partners he had hired or mentored himself. He credits their shared success to a family-like culture and a no-excuses mentality, values that guide decision making and inspire the team at Think Net.
The team is growing quickly. J.J. is especially focused on attracting retired military personnel and educators who are seeking greater income-earning potential and a new sense of purpose as financial services professionals. His own career transformation 15 years ago fuels his passion for helping others reach their full potential. “I’ve learned that our greatest potential doesn’t come from what others teach us to do — it comes from what we teach ourselves to believe,” he reflected. “My mission is to help every Think Net team member and client unlock that belief.”
His desire to make a difference extends well beyond business. J.J. is deeply involved in his New Braunfels community, serving for 15 years as a volunteer with Watch D.O.G.S.® (Dads of Great Students), a national program that brings fathers and father figures into schools to make a positive impact on education.
At home, J.J. and his wife Sarah are proud parents to a dynamic group of young adults and youth athletes. Their family includes Cristian (24), Camryn (21), Cayden (16), Miles (3), Sam (2), and newborn Layla Heartsease. Over the years, J.J. has juggled his professional life with coaching soccer, basketball, and football — always finding time to be present where it matters most.
Contact J.J. about planning for tax efficiency or business succession, or about a career as a financial representative at Think Net Tailored Wealth Solutions.