Fortress Financial Group, LLC

How We Work

Our mission is to get to know and understand your needs, wants, and long-term goals. We want to help you develop, implement, and monitor a strategy that’s designed to address your individual situation.

We understand the challenges families face today. From managing debt to saving for college to retirement, these personal finance challenges can be overwhelming. Our commitment is to utilize all of our resources to help you pursue your goals.

We believe in thinking “out of the box” and we are not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom in our approach to investing and preserving wealth. All of our energy, commitment, and efforts are focused on you, the client, and your satisfaction.

Meet Our Team

Jack D. Gibbs, Jr., CPA and Wealth Management Advisor

Jack D. Gibbs, Jr, CPA and Wealth Management Advisor, was born and raised in the Chicago area and graduated from the University of Notre Dame with degrees in Accountancy and Sociology. He began his career with Ernst & Whinney (now Ernst & Young LLP). Seeing a need for personalized planning services he founded "Fortress Financial Group, LLC" in 1993. Along with his partner Jennifer, business grew and the couple moved to Chicago's lively Lincoln Square neighborhood to begin raising their family.

A trip to the West Coast inspired a life-changing exploration, and the Gibbs relocated to Ashland, Oregon in 2007. "Moving to a completely new community was exciting, but knowing that we could continue to serve our clients well was a critical part of our decision. Thankfully, our business has grown, which is a testament to the premium service we offer our widely dispersed clients. Regardless of our physical location, we can still maintain robust and effective relationships and visit clients as needed." With a larger office, new staff members and more time to focus on client needs, Jack is excited about the future. Says Jack, "We love our clients dearly and greatly appreciate the responsibility to help them navigate the ups and downs of life, while building and maintaining their financial health along the way."

While it's true that financial discipline can help people lead healthier and more productive lives, Jack approaches each situation with energy, optimism and realism. "It's necessary to make educated choices and find a healthy balance between the future and the present." As a CPA with a keen sense for minimizing tax exposure, Jack feels that exploiting opportunities allowed by the tax rules enhances portfolio performance and is a major ingredient for long term success. "If you can build or protect wealth in ways that can substantially reduce or eliminate taxes, why wouldn't you do so?" "Too often", says Jack, "people are unaware of the opportunities out there -- we make it our mission to help make people aware."

With a passion for helping people navigate the ever-changing tax and financial environment, Jack greatly respects his role as a "personal CFO" for his people. "My role as advisor is often about education but also about the subjective factors ... (and) this really helps me serve people better." As a fiduciary, Jack’s highest priority is to always serve client needs to the best of his ability. "Openness, honesty and confidentiality builds trust and allegiance, which is the foundation for our existence. I think we differ from others in how we relate to our clients, and how we act as an advocate available around the clock as needed. That, and our vast expertise in the tax planning realm provides our clients distinct advantages beyond the typical wealth advisor."

When not helping clients, Jack greatly cherishes time with his family and friends and enjoys the nearby mountains, rivers, lakes and trails. Jack served as the President of the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce and has been Treasurer of The Siskiyou School since 2009. He likes to play soccer, basketball and volleyball and would like to golf, sail, fish, surf and mushroom hunt more often. Jack's family thinks he is a good chef but he enjoys eating out and also supporting the local music, art, film, wine and brew here in the Rogue Valley in Southern Oregon.

Lebeau Potgieter, Wealth Management Advisor

Lebeau became a financial advisor in 2005. He brings a wealth of knowledge around financial planning principals and goal-based advice. Registered as an Investment Advisory Representative, Lebeau focuses on working in a fiduciary role to ensure you reach your financial goals. Lebeau has a particular passion in helping clients to invest in their values.

Lebeau has 3 incredible children, Jack, Hudson and Claire.

Lebeau divides his time between Oregon and Michigan. Lebeau is an alumni board member at the Siskiyou School, Rogue Valley Farm 2 School, both in Ashland, Oregon. In Michigan he is a member of the Advisory Council for Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, and an alumni Board Member at The Pathfinder School in Traverse City, Michigan.

Born in Southern Africa, Lebeau spent his formative years in England where he attended Kingston University and graduated with a BA Honors in Business with Law.

Lebeau loves playing and coaching team sports. He is active in his local CrossFit communities and loves to spend time travelling and in nature. His passion and mission is to leave the world a better place for the next generation.

Clare Shore, Wealth Management Assistant

Clare brings a variety of experience to her new role as a wealth management assistant with Fortress Financial. She has 10+ years of experience in the financial industry, namely investments and banking. Her degree is from the University of Illinois, College of Business with a BS in Finance and Accounting. After college graduation, she had originally started her career as an auditor. More recently, Clare has worked in the field of human resources and also has been working as a public school substitute teacher.

In Clare’s own words – “I have three grown children who are fantastic human beings, some of my very favorite on the planet. My husband and I are now living just outside Indianapolis, after living in Illinois for years. We have been fortunate to have also spent a few years living in the states of Wisconsin and Utah; travel with interesting people and places is definitely something that we share. Lastly, I am really thrilled to be working with the Fortress Financial team!”

Kelli Graybill, Wealth Management Coordinator

Kelli joined us in 2015, after 34 years in the legal field. Her interest in the financial field led her to seek her securities license, and we are proud to report that Kelli passed the Securities Industry Essentials exam (“SIE”) at the end of 2020, and more recently passed the Series 6 exam in mid-June! Kelli’s role here at Fortress Financial has been invaluable and continually growing. Our clients enjoy working with Kelli, and have come to rely on her as their main contact for our team, and the person to get the job done!

Kelli’s passions closer to home are cooking, gardening, true crime tv, the paranormal, her daughter and pets. In the summertime, she and partner Mark enjoy exploring the woods in Oregon, traveling in their RV, and spending time at their mountain property near Hyatt Lake.

Address: 295 E. Main St., Suite 10, Ashland, OR 97520, USA

Phone: +1 541 488 3600
FAX: +1 773 334 2313