Sage Professionals
Lasting Partnerships Start Here: Our firm of skilled professionals has decades of collective experience. Not only are they experts in their field, they’re genuinely dedicated to the clients that they serve. This commitment shows in every interaction, every day.
Sage Investment Professionals
Robert G. Smith
AIF®, CIMC | President & Co-Chief Investment Officer, Managing Partner
Thomas H. Urano
CFA | Co-Chief Investment Officer, Managing Partner
Robert D. Williams
CFA | Managing Partner, Chief Investment Strategist
Jeffery S. Timlin
CFA, CMT | Managing Partner, Portfolio Management
Komson Silapachai
CFA | Partner, Research & Portfolio Strategy
Andrew K. Demand
CFA | Partner, Portfolio Management
Sage Business Development & Client Service Professionals
Michael D. Walton
AIF® | Managing Partner, Consultant & Client Relations
Allison C. Hartman
Partner, Director of Operations
Lily Tu
Vice President, Consultant & Client Relations
Michael D. Walton
AIF® | Managing Partner, Consultant & Client Relations
Michael is a Managing Partner of the firm and leads the Business Development Team. He began his career in 1996 with Invesco AIM Investments in a variety of senior marketing and supervisory roles within the organization’s marketing and financial advisor sales group. Later, he worked with U.S. Fiduciary, LLC (USF) in Houston, Texas, as the Director of Wealth Management Services. Michael received his B.A. degree from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Michael is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) and has a strong background in wealth management services as well as institutional distribution system design and management.
Robert G. Smith
AIF®, CIMC | President & Co-Chief Investment Officer, Managing Partner
Bob co-founded Sage in 1996 and serves as the firm’s President and Co-Chief Investment Officer, and he leads the Investment Committee. He began his career in 1970 at Moody's Investors Services as a member of the Corporate Bond Rating Committee; he then went on to Loeb, Rhoades & Co. to cover the insurance industry in the Institutional Equity Research Department. He later worked at Merrill Lynch & Co. for 13 years in a variety of institutional research, trading and portfolio management roles in New York and London. During this period, he was assigned to the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency as a Resident Financial Advisor in Riyadh responsible for managing the foreign reserves of the Central Bank. Bob Smith received his MBA in Finance from New York University Stern School of Business, and he is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) and Certified Investment Management Consultant (CIMC).
Thomas H. Urano
CFA | Co-Chief Investment Officer, Managing Partner
Thomas serves as Co-Chief Investment Officer. He is a Managing Partner of the firm and a member of the Investment Committee. He leads the portfolio management team overseeing Sage’s fixed income and equity strategies. Prior to joining Sage, Thomas worked at Credit Suisse Asset Management in New York trading fixed income assets and implementing investment strategy on behalf of the firm's institutional clients. Thomas began his career in 1996 as a fixed income portfolio analyst with Morgan Keegan. Thomas received his B.A. in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin and is a CFA charter holder and a member of the CFA Institute.
Allison C. Hartman
Partner, Director of Operations
Allison is a Partner and Director of Operations at Sage. She began her career in 2005 as a Client Relationship Manager in the Structured Finance Department at BNY Mellon in Houston. Allison joined Sage in 2009 as a member of the Portfolio Management and Accounting team. She currently serves as the firm’s Senior Investment Performance Analyst and is a member of the Operating Committee and GIPs Committee. Allison received her B.A degree with honors in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin. Outside of work you’ll find Allison baking cookies, volunteering at the local schools, and spending time with her husband and two kids.
Robert D. Williams
CFA | Managing Partner, Chief Investment Strategist
Rob is a Managing Partner and Chief Investment Strategist, as well as a member of the Investment Committee. Rob began his investment career in 1997 at Merrill Lynch & Co. where he served as a Research Analyst. Later, he joined Mutual of New York as a Director of Asset Allocation Policy. He then took the position of Senior Fixed Income Strategist for UBS in New York. Rob received his B.A. in Management from the University of Colorado. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a member of the CFA Institute.
Lily Tu
Vice President, Consultant & Client Relations
Lily serves as a Vice President on the Consultant and Client Relations Team. In her role, Lily is focused on sourcing new growth opportunities, building strategic partnerships, and providing investment solutions to clients. Prior to moving her family from Brooklyn to Austin to join Sage, Lily was working with one of the top female producers ranked by Forbes and Barron’s at Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan Wealth Management. She successfully managed high profile client relationships and oversaw the asset allocation and portfolio construction process for the team. Lily began her career in 2005 with Goldman Sachs and later joined a boutique private equity firm. Lily received her B.S. in Management Science and Information Systems as Valedictorian of her major from Rutgers University, holds her Series 7 and 66 licenses, and leads the Professional Development and Women’s Network at Sage. Lily loves to travel internationally to experience different cultures and food and has dreams to see all seven wonders of the world. In her spare time, Lily likes to peloton, garden, and play board games with her husband, David, and two children, Dylan and Devon.
Dustin Finley
Partner, Consultant & Client Relations
Dustin is a Partner and a member of the Consultant and Client Relations Team at Sage where he manages key relationships for the firm. Dustin began his career in 1998 as an Operations Manager with Bank of America’s housing services division. Prior to joining Sage, he worked as a Senior Consultant at CBIZ, Inc. in Memphis, TN, formerly Consulting Services Group, LLC, where he worked with a diversified group of institutional clients in areas such as IPS design, asset allocation, and manager research. Dustin received both his M.B.A and B.A. degrees from Delta State University in Cleveland, MS. Outside the office, Dustin is the proud father of three daughters and enjoys participating in a wide range of endurance sports with his wife Maggi. As a family, they are also actively involved with Central Texas Ruffugees, helping to save the lives of abandoned dogs across South and Central Texas.
Jeffery S. Timlin
CFA, CMT | Managing Partner, Portfolio Management
Jeff is a Managing Partner of the firm and a member of the Investment Committee. He serves as a Portfolio Manager for the tax-exempt fixed income strategies. Prior to joining Sage, he worked with MFS Investment Management in Boston as a Fixed Income Associate Trader. He began his career in 1997 as a Client Account Manager with Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. Jeff received his B.S. degree in Business Administration from Villanova University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and member of the CFA Institute, and is a Chartered Market Technician (CMT). He is also a member of the Market Technicians Association, the National Federation of Municipal Analysts, and the Southern Municipal Finance Society. Jeff and his wife Kery love spending time together with their ginormous dogs, traveling internationally as often as they can, and watching all things Patriots.
Sean C. Krasan
Managing Partner, Consultant & Client Relations
Sean is a Managing Partner of the firm and serves on the Consultant and Client Relations team. Prior to this role, he served as Sage’s Head of Systems and Operations since the inception of the firm in 1996. Sean began his investment career in 1989. Prior to Sage, Sean was a Trader & Account Executive at Smith Affiliated Capital. He received his M.B.A. in Finance from St. Edward’s University and his B.A. from the State University of New York at Oswego. Outside of the office, Sean enjoys restoring and driving classic cars, racecars, and motorcycles. Sean and his family enjoy traveling, skiing, and investing time with their neighborhood non-profit Lost Creek Dads Club, whose primary goal is to generate funding for the Make a Wish Foundation through event creation and planning.
Komson Silapachai
CFA | Partner, Research & Portfolio Strategy
Komson Silapachai is a Partner of the firm and a member of the Investment Committee. Before being named Partner in September 2021, Komson was Vice President of Research and Portfolio Strategy spanning responsibilities in macro strategy, asset allocation, portfolio construction, and sustainability. Prior to joining Sage in 2016, Komson spent nine years at Teacher Retirement System of Texas, most recently as an investment manager in its Asset Allocation group. Komson holds a B.B.A. in Finance from Texas A&M University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and member of the CFA Institute. When he’s not in the office, Komson loves exploring Austin with his wife, his daughter, and their two pups. In his spare time, he also volunteers with retired racing greyhounds and as a YES mentor through Partnerships for Children, helping foster youth transition to adulthood.
Gregory H. Cobb
Vice President, Insurance Solutions
Greg serves as Director of Insurance Solutions at Sage Advisory Services, focusing on the development of portfolio management strategies and risk management solutions for both commercial insurance companies and risk-bearing entities in the world of alternative risk transfer. In 2024 and for the fourth consecutive year, he was recognized by Captive International as Insurance Asset Manager of the Year. In 2025, he made entry into Captive Review’s prestigious Global Power 50 for the second time. He also serves as a faculty member for investments at the International Center for Captive Insurance Education. Greg began his career holding Senior Portfolio Manager roles at SunTrust and Bank of America, with a keen focus on insurance company portfolio management. Later roles included Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer for Sovereign Advisers, and Lead Strategist and Director of Fixed Income at Boyd Watterson Asset Management. He holds a BS in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a member of the CFA Institute.
John R. Slais
Managing Partner, Chief Financial Officer
John is a Managing Partner and serves as Chief Financial Officer at Sage. He began his career as a Certified Public Accountant at Ernst & Young, and later he served as CFO and CCO of Capitol Securities Group in Austin, Texas, where he initiated and structured the company’s successful merger with Raymond James. Before joining Sage as Chief Compliance Officer in 2011, John served as CFO and CCO for various regulated entities including a boutique asset-backed securitization firm and several non-profit organizations. John received his B.S. degree in Business Administration and Accounting from Harding University and is currently a voting member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA).
Andrew K. Demand
CFA | Partner, Portfolio Management
Andrew is a Partner of the firm and a member of the Investment Committee. He is part of the Portfolio Management team at Sage. He began his career in 2006 at the International Bank of Commerce First Equity, where he worked in mortgage accounting. Andrew received both his M.B.A. and B.A. degrees from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and member of the CFA Institute. Andrew is an active volunteer for The Foundation for Prader-Willi Research and a member of their Leadership Circle.
Seth B. Henry
CFA | Partner, Portfolio Management
Seth is a Partner of the firm and a member of the Investment Committee. He is part of the Portfolio Management team at Sage. He joined Sage in 2006, and his responsibilities include portfolio management, credit analysis, and trading. Seth received a B.A. degree in Finance from Hillsdale College in Michigan and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and member of the CFA Institute.
Sean F. McShea
Executive Vice President
Sean serves as Executive Vice President and Director of Institutional Business. In his role, Sean works with Sage investment professionals to provide investment management and liability advisory services. Sean has more than 25 years of demonstrated success and a broad-based leadership background that encompasses portfolio management, business development, and quantitative research. He began his career in 1987 as a Management Consultant at Accenture in their financial services practice. In 1993 he joined Ryan Labs, where he eventually served as the company’s President. He earned his master’s degree in Business Administration from Columbia Business School with concentrations in finance and accounting, as well as a B.S. degree with Distinction in Industrial Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Nicholas C. Erickson
CFA | Vice President, Portfolio Management
Nick serves as a Vice President of Portfolio Management at Sage. Nick began his investment career in 2004 as an Analyst with GMAC. Nick received his M.B.A. from Webster University in Missouri and a B.A. degree in Economics from Grinnell College in Iowa. Nick is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a member of the CFA Institute.
Kari K. Edgar
Director of Client Administration
Kari is on the Institutional Team at Sage, and she serves as Director of Client Administration. Kari began her investment career in 2005 as a Consultant Relations and Marketing Analyst at Fischer, Francis, Trees & Watts (acquired by BNP Paribas) in New York City. In 2009 Kari moved to Austin and joined Sage, where she is responsible for onboarding new accounts and maintaining client relationships. Kari received her B.S. degree in Education from the University of Oklahoma, holds a Series 65 license, and leads Sage’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. She loves spending time with her wife and three kids, cheering for the Sooners, and searching for the best queso in Austin.
Wade T. Uloth
IACCP | Partner, Chief Compliance Officer
Wade is a Partner and Chief Compliance Officer at Sage. Wade joined Sage’s Compliance department in 2013 and was promoted to Chief Compliance Officer in 2020. Prior to joining Sage, Wade served as the Chief Compliance Officer of Veritrust Financial, LLC, a dually registered firm based in Austin, Texas. Wade received his B.A. degree in Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Additionally, Wade has received his Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional (IACCP®) designation, is a member of the National Society of Compliance Professionals (NSCP), and is an active member of the Austin Compliance Roundtable. He loves spending time with his wife and two daughters, cooking, and spending time doing various outdoor activities.
David L. Luria
CFA | Vice President, Portfolio Management
David serves as a Vice President of Portfolio Management at Sage. David began his career in 2013 at Franklin Templeton Investments, where he worked within Franklin’s Fixed Income Portfolio Management Group. His previous responsibilities included portfolio construction, corporate credit research, quantitative analysis, and credit derivative trading. He received his master’s degree in the Science of Finance as well as his B.A. degree in Economics & Finance from Florida State University. David is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and member of the CFA Institute.
Erica G. Mass
Assistant Vice President, Operations
Erica is on the Operations Team at Sage and serves as Assistant Vice President of Portfolio Administration. She began her investment career in 2007 as a Personal Financial Representative at Washington Mutual (acquired by Chase). In 2008, Erica joined Sage where she is responsible for managing cash flows across multiple platforms, onboarding new accounts, and collaborating with data vendors. Erica graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas State University – San Marcos with a B.A. degree in Communications Studies and holds a Series 65 license. Outside of work, she enjoys volunteering at her children's school and serving in her church. In her free time, Erica loves trail running, traveling, and spending time with her husband watching their two boys play lacrosse, football, and piano.
Brett J. Adelglass
CFA | Associate, Portfolio Management
Brett serves as an Associate on the Portfolio Management team at Sage. His responsibilities include portfolio management, trading, and credit analysis for the tax-exempt strategies. Brett began his career at Moody’s Investors Service in 2015, where he served as a lead credit analyst for a portfolio of municipalities and led the firm’s coverage of land secured financings in Colorado. At Moody’s, he frequently published credit research on a variety of topics impacting municipal credit, including pension risk, oil and gas volatility, and the credit implications of new legislation. Brett received his M.B.A. in Finance with high distinction from the University of Texas at Dallas and received his B.A. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and member of the CFA Institute. Having recently relocated to Austin, you can find Brett out with his fiancé exploring the vibrant local food scene or chasing his dog around one of the many greenbelts throughout the city.
Matthew L. Cleavenger
Assistant Vice President, Operations
Matthew is on the Trade Operations Team at Sage and serves as an Assistant Vice President of Operations. He began his career with Sage’s Operations Team in 2014. Matthew received his B.A. degree in Political Science and in History from the University of Washington. Matthew is a veteran, having served as an intelligence analyst in the United States Marine Corps. He enjoys problem solving and takes pride in doing so for the benefit of our clients.
Mark J. Welp
Assistant Vice President, Operations
Mark is on the Trade Operations Team at Sage and serves as an Assistant Vice President of Operations. Mark began his investment career in 2004 in trade settlements at Whitebox Advisors in Minneapolis. In 2010, Mark moved to Austin with Whitebox and then went on to work for Teachers Retirement System of Texas in various Operations roles before joining Sage in 2016. Mark received his B.A. degree in Business and Information Systems from the University of North Dakota and has been working in the investment services industry for almost 18 years. He enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters while exploring the nearby hill country’s small towns, the occasional golf outing, and cheering for UND College Hockey.
Nicholas A. Barnard
CFA | Associate, Portfolio Management
Nick serves as an Associate on the Portfolio Management team at Sage. He previously served as an Associate for the Operations team, having joined Sage in 2020. Prior to joining Sage, he worked at Fidelity Investments on their Retail Trading Team. Nick is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire where he received a B.S. in Finance and Entrepreneurial Studies. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and member of the CFA Institute. In his spare time, Nick volunteers at the Austin Zoo. Along with volunteering, Nick enjoys taking his dog around to explore the city of Austin.
Jae Y. Song
ASA | Vice President, Senior Research Analyst
Jae serves as the Senior Research Analyst in Sage’s Quantitative Strategies Group. Jae began his professional career in 2013 at Nova 401 (k) Associates, where he spent four years working with pension plans as an Actuarial Analyst. In his role as an Actuarial Analyst, he gained knowledge and experience in aspects of pension and cash balance plan administration. Jae received his B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin. He has his actuarial designation (ASA) from the Society of Actuaries.
Debora Ayala-Chavez
Associate, Operations
Debora is on the Operations team at Sage and serves as an Associate. She previously served as Sage’s Office Coordinator, having joined Sage in 2020. Debora is also a member of Sage’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. She received her B.S. in Electronic Media and Mass Communications at Texas State University and comes from a background in Marketing. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, their little boy, and their very mischievous cat watching reruns of The Office. When she isn’t home or at the office, you can definitely find her at Target buying things she doesn’t need, but somehow can’t live without.
Douglas A. Benning
Vice President, Senior Research Analyst
Doug serves as Vice President, Senior Research Analyst in the Quantitative Strategies Group with a focus on insurance and sustainability. His investment career began in 1999 at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas as an Investment Operations Control Specialist. After a brief stint in video production, Doug joined Sage’s Reconciliation and Client Services department in 2005, before transitioning to the asset/liability management side of the business. His current responsibilities include research and insurance reporting, as well as sustainability data collection and analysis. Doug received his B.A. degree in Political Science and English from Purdue University, where he graduated as a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. He holds his Series 65 license. Doug enjoys camping and travel with his wife and two children and playing with his two dogs.
Daniel Sanders
Associate, Operations
Danny joined the Sage Operations Department as an Operations Associate back in December of 2023. Prior to joining Sage, he has worked in various roles within wealth management and accounting. Spending time working at Charles Schwab in their retail brokerage services department and then at NetWorth Realty USA as a fund accountant. He grew up in DFW but attended college here in Austin at St. Edward’s University studying business management and economics. When he’s not working Danny enjoys walking his French Bulldogs Lola and Bugs, playing guitar, or trying new food spots with friends.
Emma L. Harper
CIMA® | Vice President, Institutional Research and Client Relations
Emma serves as Vice President, Institutional Research and Client Relations at Sage. She began her career in 2013 in Retail Management and Product Administration followed by work in Private Wealth Management. She received her MBA in Finance as a Forte Fellow from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University, and she received her B.S. degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Emma is a Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting (FSA) Credential holder, and she has a Sustainable Investing Certificate from the CFA Institute. Emma lives in Austin with her husband and their cat and three dogs. She is a member of the Junior League of Austin and enjoys walking in nature, travel, and music.
Jessica N. Hernandez
Executive Assistant
Jessica serves as the Executive Assistant to our President and CIO, Bob Smith. She received her B.A. degree in Mass Communications – Public Relations from Texas State University. Jessica began her career with Sage in January of 2010 and works directly with the Client Service Team. She is on Sage’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee and leads the Team Building and Social Events Committee. Jessica lives in Buda with her husband, their three kids and a rambunctious 95lb chocolate lab! In her spare time, you can find Jessica at Target, roaming the aisles with a coffee in hand.
Lily A. Atilano
Associate, Client Relations
Lily serves as an Associate on the Institutional Team at Sage. Prior to her current role, she worked on Sage’s Private Client Team supporting home office relationships, and then as a Regional Consultant working directly with advisors. She earned her B.A. in Communications and Human Resource Development from Texas A&M University, and then spent the following year in Chattanooga, Tennessee completing The Fellows Initiative. Lily holds a Series 65 certification and is a graduate of Leadership Austin’s Emerge Class 14. She is an active member in both The Junior League and Young Women’s Alliance, as well as a hospice volunteer for Halcyon Home. Lily is a live music enthusiast and patron member of Black Fret. She also enjoys training on the trails with Gilbert’s Gazelles running group.
Andrew S. Poreda
CFA | Vice President, Senior Research Analyst
Andrew serves as a Senior Research Analyst on Sage’s Responsible Investing team and is a member of the Investment Committee. He began his career in 2006 as a Naval Aviator in the United States Navy, where he completed four deployments to the Middle East and Western Pacific while performing a variety of leadership roles during his 13 years of active-duty service. He presently serves as a Commander in the United States Naval Reserves. Andrew holds an MBA with Distinction from the Naval Postgraduate School and a B.A. degree in Economics from Rice University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and member of the CFA Institute. In addition, he is a Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting (FSA) Credential holder and has a Sustainable Investing Certificate from the CFA Institute. Andrew is a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan and enjoys spending his free time with his wife and three children.
Bob W. Moser
CIMA®, CFIP®, CRPC® | Managing Partner, National Sales Director
Bob serves as a Managing Partner and National Sales Director at Sage. Bob began his investment career in 2000 as a Regional Sales Director at The Hartford. Later, he served as a Senior Advisor Consultant and Vice President at OppenheimerFunds. Bob received a B.S. degree in Marketing from Arizona State University. He holds the CIMA designation bestowed by the Investment Management Consultants Association for his study at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, he holds the Certified Retirement Planning Consultant designation from the College for Financial Planning as well as the Certified Fixed Income Practitioner (CFIP) designation from the Fixed Income Academy.
Xochitl C. Maldonado
Research Analyst
Xochitl serves as a Research Analyst on Sage's Responsible Investing team. She received her B.S. degree in Mathematics from Texas A&M University, with minors in Statistics and Economics. As a true math enthusiast, Xochitl was a member of TAMU’s Fractals Research Team. She is on Sage’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee and is in the process of attaining her Series 65 credential. Outside of work, Xochitl enjoys exploring Austin’s trails and ice cream shops, spending time visiting her family back in Houston, or simply staying home to cook, paint, or read a good book.
Ryan T. Eubank
Business Analyst
Ryan serves as a Business Analyst on the Institutional Team at Sage. Prior to his current role, he worked as a Regional Consultant supporting the Southeast Region for the Private Client Team. Ryan assists the sales team with Salesforce administration, marketing efforts, and analysis/reporting. He began his career in 2017 as a Banker with Frost Bank. He went on to work at SALI Fund Services as an Operations Analyst assisting in administering Insurance Dedicated Funds before starting at Sage. Ryan received his B.S. degree in Personal Financial Planning from Texas Tech University. Outside of work, Ryan enjoys hunting and fishing, exploring Austin with his golden retriever Willow, and spending time with family and friends outdoors.
Andrew Bui
Research Analyst
Andrew serves as a Research Analyst in Sage’s Quantitative Strategies Group. Prior to joining Sage, Andrew gained extensive experience in various quantitative research and risk management roles at Neuberger Berman, NEPC, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Hyundai Capital America, and Marietta Investment Partners. His previous responsibilities included the development and implementation of advanced financial models and strategies, and derivatives trading. Andrew holds a B.A in Economics from University of California, San Diego, and a Master of Science in Financial Mathematics from University of Chicago. Having recently relocated to Austin, you can find him exploring the exciting local food scene and Texas as a whole.
Arthur L. Cherches
Vice President, National Accounts
Arthur serves as the Vice President of National Accounts for Sage. He began his investment career in 2003 with Invesco AIM Investments in Houston, where he worked in various relationship management and client servicing roles. Upon moving to the Live Music Capital of the World and joining Sage, Arthur served as a Regional Director for the Northeast region. He received his B.A. degree in Finance from the University of Houston. Arthur loves to travel and visit his friends and family around the world. In his free time, he enjoys trying delicious new foods and cheering for the World Series champions Houston Astros.
Jessica A. McHugh
Director of Marketing Communications
Jessica serves as the Director of Marketing Communications, responsible for shaping the overall marketing, branding, and collateral efforts of the firm. Jessica began her career in financial communications in 2010, serving as managing editor at The Wall Street Transcript. Following stints as a business journalist at The New York Times’ DealBook and the Financial Times-owned Mergermarket, Jessica spent four years as an equity research analyst at the Minneapolis-based investment bank Dougherty & Company. She earned her M.A. degree in Business Journalism from New York University and her B.A. degree from the University of Florida (go Gators!). Jessica lives in Austin with her husband and two children. She’s a member of the Junior League of Austin and Sage’s DEI Professional Development Committee. She loves to travel, run, and explore new outdoor spaces.
Zachary T. Sooter
Regional Director - Central
Zac serves as a Regional Director for the Central region representing Sage’s fixed income and ETF investment management services. Zac began his career in 2006 in a Financial Advisory role at Harris Bank. He then worked as an Internal Consultant with Genworth Financial Wealth Management. He received his B.A. degree from Northeastern State University.
Brian C. Larson
CFIP® | Regional Director - Northeast
Brian serves as a Regional Director for the Northeast, representing Sage’s fixed income and ETF investment management services. Brian began his career in 1996 as a Financial Advisor, first at Gruntal and Co. and then at Morgan Stanley. He went on to work at Prudential Investments and AXA Advisors as a Divisional Director for their advisory platforms. Later, Brian served as Senior Vice President and Partner with Boyd Watterson, where he covered the Advisory Channel, RIA Family Offices and Investment Consultants. Brian earned his B.S. degree in Communications from St. John’s University, and he holds the Certified Fixed Income Practitioner (CFIP) designation from the Fixed Income Academy.
Jamisen M. Allen
CFA | Regional Director - Greater West
Jamisen serves as the Regional Director for the Greater West, representing Sage’s fixed income and ETF investment management services. He is passionate about helping financial advisors to prudently steward their clients’ assets in a way that helps them meet their goals. Jamisen started his career in 2012 managing retail portfolios at Tax & Financial Group in Newport Beach, CA. From there, he joined JP Morgan as an Investment Product Specialist helping to train financial advisors across the country and assisting them to grow their business. Jamisen earned his B.A. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from California State University, Fullerton. He was awarded the CFA Charter in 2015 and is a member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society Austin. He and his wife enjoy traveling, spending time on the golf course, and exploring Central Texas with their dog.
Aaron Spatz
Regional Director - West
Aaron serves as a Regional Director for the West region, representing Sage's fixed income and ETF investment management services. He has spent the past 21 years working closely with financial advisors throughout the western United States, providing innovative solutions in both practice management and investment strategies. He is known for his ability to deliver creative solutions tailored to each client's unique needs. Before joining Sage Advisory, Aaron represented some of the largest asset managers in the country, including OppenheimerFunds, AIG, and Perpetual. Aaron graduated from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee with a degree in finance. Outside of work, Aaron is passionate about the Colorado outdoors. He enjoys fly fishing, skiing, hiking, and coaching youth soccer. Aaron's love for these activities is shared with his wife Erin, their children Finley and Callum, and their two rescue dogs, Marmot and Moose.
Courtney L. Walker
AAMS®, AIF® | Regional Director - Southeast
Courtney Walker serves as Regional Director for the Southeast, representing Sage’s fixed income and ETF investment management services. Courtney joined Sage from Raymond James, where she spent seven years, originally as an Institutional Accounting Associate with the firm’s wholly-owned asset management company Eagle Asset. Courtney then worked on the retail desk as an Internal Portfolio Specialist before becoming the Senior Retirement Consultant working and traveling on an institutional level for Carillon Tower Advisers, representing all five affiliates and their strategies. In 2019, Courtney joined the Asset Management Services team internally at Raymond James as an Asset Management Consultant, collaborating with advisors on clients’ investments and the advisors’ practices. Courtney attended the University of Central Florida, and she holds her Series 7 and 66 licenses, as well as the Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS®️) and the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®️) designations. In 2022, Courtney and her London-born husband welcomed a baby girl, which their 8-year-old son was less than enthusiastic about sharing the spotlight with! If she isn’t walking their 125-pound Great Dane, Courtney spends her free time with family and friends exploring new local restaurants or traveling.
Amy C. Swearingen
Senior Regional Consultant - West
Amy serves as the Senior Regional Consultant for the Western region. Prior to joining Sage, she served as a Senior Internal Sales professional with Resolute Investment Managers and American Beacon Advisors, Inc., where she was responsible for developing and supporting independent and brokerage firm Financial Advisors. Prior to this role, Amy worked with Invesco Aim Distributors, Inc. as a Business Development Manager. Amy attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. At Sage, Amy works closely with Bob Moser to cover the Western region of the United States.
Melania McCarley
AIF®️ | Regional Consultant - South & Midwest
Melania serves as a Regional Consultant for the South and Midwest regions. She has 25 years of industry experience, serving as a Regional Sales associate at Resolute investment Managers and American Beacon Advisors, Inc. before starting at Sage. She is responsible for assisting Regional Directors and educating Financial Advisors about Sage’s products. Melania received her master's degree in International Business from the University of St. Thomas, and received her B.S. degree in Economics with a minor in Spanish from the University of Houston. She has her Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®️) designation. Outside of work, Melania enjoys cooking, reading, exercising, traveling, attending her son’s sporting events, and spending time with family.
Curtis Baker
Regional Consultant - Southeast & Northeast
Curt serves as a Regional Consultant for the Southeast and Northeast regions. He began his career in 2021 as a Financial Concierge Specialist with Kestra Financial. He went on to work at eToro USA as a Client Experience Analyst assisting in client services and operations administering multi-asset investments before starting at Sage. He is responsible for assisting Regional Directors and educating Financial Advisors about Sage’s products. Curt received his B.A. degree in Government from the University of Texas at Austin. Outside of work, Curt enjoys playing golf, traveling, and cheering on his Longhorns.
Jake Adams
Regional Consultant - West & Mid Atlantic
Jake serves as a Regional Consultant for the Mid-Atlantic and West regions. He received his degree in Business Management from Clemson University. He began his career in 2024 at Sage Advisory, bringing a dedication to enhancing client relationships. With an understanding of Sage's products and services, Jake collaborates closely with regional directors to tailor solutions that meet the specific needs of clients. Outside of work, Jake finds joy in spending time with family and friends, being out on the water, and is an avid sports enthusiast.
Clemence Kelman
Business Intelligence Developer
Clemence is on the Information Technology Team at Sage and serves as a Business Intelligence Developer. She began her career at Sage in 2019 and is responsible for helping leverage data to drive informed decisions, optimize processes, and propel the firm forward. She received her B.S. degree with Honors in Public Relations and a Business Foundations minor from the University of Texas at Austin. Clemence is on Sage’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee and is a Tableau Desktop Specialist. She loves spending her free time reading at Zilker Park and cheering for the Longhorns.
Rachel Acuña
Marketing Communications Associate
Rachel serves as an Associate on the Marketing Team at Sage. She’s responsible for helping shape the overall marketing, branding, and collateral efforts of the firm. Before starting at Sage in early 2024, she worked at KERV Interactive as an Activation & Strategy Associate, monitoring and analyzing advertising campaign performances. She received her B.S. degree with Honors in Advertising and a Business Foundations minor from the University of Texas at Austin. Outside of work, you’ll find Rachel listening to audiobooks, starting new crafts, baking, and spending time with her family.
Giovanna M. Gutierrez
Office Coordinator
Gia serves as Sage’s Office Coordinator. She has over a decade of experience in customer service, serving as a Lead Retention Specialist in the IT sector prior to starting at Sage. Gia completed the Private Pilots program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where she majored in Aeronautical Science. She is part of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee at Sage. Outside of work, Gia loves spending time exploring her hometown of Austin, traveling to different countries, and booking excursions all over the world.