Gary McKae
Senior Commercial Advisor, Engel & Volkers San Francisco
San Francisco, CA 94123
Bringing Decades of Experience
Phone (650) 743-7249
Bringing Decades of Experience
Specialties
Investment Sales Broker
Property Types
Multifamily
Markets
San Francisco
Languages
German
Bio
THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Gary McKae is a veteran investment strategist and fiduciary
leader with 50 years of institutional memory. A graduate of the Wharton School’s CIMA®
program, Gary has spent five decades navigating the complexities of global markets—from
managing regional institutional sales for tier-one firms like Merrill Lynch to founding a top-
ranked hedge fund specializing in risk arbitrage.
Beyond technical rigor, Gary brings the rare social capital of a public servant, having served two
terms as the Mayor of Woodside, California. This unique combination of "Street" expertise and
"Civic" stewardship makes him a singular choice for Family Offices seeking a leader who
understands that wealth is not just a portfolio, but a legacy.
THE "STEADY HAND" PHILOSOPHY
"At 82, I consider age not a marker of retirement, but a marker of Judgment. I have managed
capital through the 1974 recession, the 1987 crash, the 2000 tech bubble, and the 2008 financial
crisis. I understand that for ultra-high-net-worth families, the greatest risk is not market
volatility—it is a lack of perspective. I provide that perspective."
KEY PILLARS OF EXPERIENCE
• INSTITUTIONAL RIGOR: As a Vice President at Merrill Lynch and Paine Webber,
Gary led performance measurement and institutional sales, developing a disciplined,
data-driven approach to capital preservation that remains the hallmark of his practice.
• ALPHAGENIC LEADERSHIP: Founded W.I.S.E. Capital Management, a hedge
fund that earned a #1 industry ranking from The Arbitrageur magazine for its
performance in risk arbitrage and S&L conversions during the 1990s.
• PUBLIC FIDUCIARY: Served as Mayor and Council Member for the Town of
Woodside. In this role, he acted as a fiduciary for one of the wealthiest municipalities in
the world, managing public trust, municipal finance, and complex community
governance.
• BOARD GOVERNANCE: As a Trustee for the College of Notre Dame, Gary
provided endowment oversight and strategic financial planning, ensuring long-term
institutional stability.
STRATEGIC FOCUS Gary is currently seeking a Senior Fiduciary, CIO, or Executive Advisor
role within a Single-Family Office or Boutique RIA. He offers a "Steady Hand" to families who
require a leader with the experience to distinguish between market noise and true systemic risk.
Education
Affiliations
