About the Founder

Douglas T. Gaines

“Our relationship starts the moment you share your needs, goals, and expectations with us, and our long-term relationship continues to grow and develop as we help you reach your financial goals.”

Douglas T. Gaines is a sales professional from Chicago, working as a broker with large conglomerate companies such as Athene Life and Annuity Company, Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, The American General Life Insurance Company, and The Prudential Insurance Company of America, a subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. Douglas Gaines are the Founder and CEO of Gaines & Gaines Financial Services, Ltd.

He has partnered with his mentor and business partner, Sol Hicks, CEO of Hicks Global Enterprises & Solomon Hicks Financial Services of Acworth, Georgia. The latter mentored him to the Top of the Table of the Million Dollar Round Table. Mr. Gaines is appointed with approximately 30 insurance companies in 25 states.
Mr. Gaines joined The Prudential Chicagoland Agency in 1996, where he won The Rookie of the Year Award during his first year with the company. In 2002, he was ranked as his agency’s Number One sales professional, and he won his first of three consecutive President’s Citation Awards – one of the Company’s most celebrated honors presented each year in recognition of individual achievement in sales and production. In addition, he was a member of the influential Prudential Leaders Council, a seven-time qualifier for Prudential’s prestigious Master’s Conference; two time Life Qualifying Member of the Million Dollar Round Table – Top of the Table, 16 times Life Qualifying Member of the Million Dollar Round Table – Court of the Table, as well as a 19 times Life Qualifying Member of the Million Dollar Round Table. The Million Dollar Round Table represents the top 6 percent of all insurance and financial services professionals worldwide. In comparison, Court of the Table represents the top 3 percent, and Top of the Table represents the top 1/16th of 1% of all insurance and financial professionals globally.

Mr. Gaines serves on the Board of Directors and is Treasurer and Chairman of the Special Events Committee of the Bernie Mac Foundation. Mr. Gaines is a Past President of the Chicago Chapter and a Lifetime Member of the National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. He is a Minister at Covenant United Church of Christ in South Holland, Illinois. He serves on the Eco-Justice Committee – Green Team, “Jazzin 4 Justice,” and CARES Initiative, under the auspices of The Barbara W. Smith Family Life Center, which services the Thornton Township of 8 south suburban cities. Mr. Gaines served on the Board of Directors, Director of Finance, and Member of the Endowment Committee for 13 years of eta Creative Arts Foundation; Mr. Gaines is a native of Chicago and graduated from DePaul University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting.

Mr. Gaines is a graduate of McCormick Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity in May 2022. Upon his graduation, he received a scholarship from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary to start the Doctor of Divinity Program in June 2022, focusing on Leadership for Social Transformation.