Gib Surles is principal and founder of The Forrest Group, L.L.C., an estate management firm in Houston, Texas, that specializes in wealth transfer and business succession planning.  Utilizing life insurance, his firm works with family-owned businesses and high net worth individuals in addressing problems common to the transfer of assets, lifestyles, and financial security to future generations.

Gib graduated from Texas A & M University in 1985 with a B.B.A in Marketing and received his Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) from The American College in 2001.  He was awarded the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) in 1996, Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) in 1997, Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) in 1997, and Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®) in 1999.

Gib has been married to his wife, Lauri, for thirty-five years.  He has a twenty-nine-year-old son, Forrest, who is a 2016 Graduate of the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University.  He is also father to twenty-six-year-old twin daughters, Autumn and Amy, who both graduated from Texas A&M University in 2019.  He is an active member of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, TX, where he serves on the Vestry.  He also currently serves as the Chairperson of the Houston Safari Club Foundation’s annual Sporting Clays Tournament is a loyal supporter of the Hunters for the Hungry.