Gail Utter of Utter Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors has joined the Austin College Board of Trustees. The board of trustees serves as the governing body of the College and is made up of a variety of professionals who give their leadership, time, and resources.
“I have long admired the College’s commitment to quality education in an environment of small classes and strong academic relationships between students and professors. It’s an honor to be asked to join the prestigious Austin College Board of Trustees,” Utter said.
Utter has served the Austin College community since the late 1980s in roles on the Advisory Board, and in leadership for the Austin College Community Campaign. She has been a President’s Council donor and has endowed the Scott B. Smith Scholarship in honor of her late husband, and the Jeffrey Kent Wattman Scholarship in honor of her deceased brother. Her son, Blake Utter is an Austin College alumnus, class of 2007.
“Austin College is a pillar of economic and cultural activity within the Sherman and Denison communities and beyond. The college employs substantial faculty and staff, increases regional commerce, creates and sponsors arts and entertainment events and meaningfully supports local non-profit efforts,” Utter said. “The College leadership has built on the school’s successes, and provided opportunities for continued and important impact for the future of our region.”
Utter is a frequent keynote speaker and is well-known for her philanthropic and community leadership. In addition to Austin College, she serves on the board of trustees of United Way, Grand Central Station (soup kitchen/resource center), and the Grayson County Behavioral Health Leadership Team. She has previously served on airport, hospital, youth improvement, and chamber of commerce boards. She has received numerous community awards, including the Sherman Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Citizen of the Year, the Athena Women’s Award and the Emmett Essin Community Service Award.
She has more than 20 years of experience in the wealth management industry and formed the Utter Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors in 2001. She has a BBA from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from the University of North Texas. She is an IMCA Certified Private Wealth Advisor and a College for Financial Planning’s Chartered Retirement Plan Counselor. She has received numerous national third-party professional awards, including multi-year recognition as a Barron’s Top 1200 Advisor for years 2012, 2014-2017, a Barron’s Top 100 Women Advisor years for years 2010-2014, and a Financial Times Top 400 Advisor for 2017. Gail has been named as a Texas Monthly Five-Star Wealth Manager for five years, and has been named a firm-wide Premier Advisor for more than 20 years.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 40 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of approximately 1,275 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
Barron’s rankings are based on data provided by thousands of advisors. Factors included in the rankings were assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory record and client retention.
Financial Times’ rankings are based on data provided by investment firms. Factors include assets under management, experience, industry certifications, online accessibility and compliance record. Investment performance and financial advisor production are not explicit components.
The Five Star Wealth Manager award, administered by Crescendo Business Services, LLC (dba Five Star Professional), is based on 10 objective criteria: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Active as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process*); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients; 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or awarded. Once awarded, wealth managers may purchase additional profile ad space or promotional products. The award methodology does not evaluate the quality of services provided and is not indicative of the winner’s future performance. X,XXX [Market Name] wealth managers were considered for the award; XXX (X % of candidates) were named Five Star Wealth Managers. *To qualify as having a favorable regulatory and complaint history, the person cannot have: 1. been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a suspended or revoked license, or payment of a fine, 2. had more than three customer complaints filed against them (settled or pending) with any regulatory authority or Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process, 3. individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint filed with a regulatory authority, 4. filed for bankruptcy, or 5. been convicted of a felony.
The Premier Advisors designation is held by a select group of Financial Advisors within Wells Fargo Advisors as measured by business production, completion of educational components and professionalism.