MEET OUR TEAM
At Service Academy Capital Management our people are our greatest asset. We're excited to put our extensive experience in guiding high net worth investors to work for you.
Brian Sears (USNA '89)
CEO & Founder
Brian Sears is the CEO & Founder of Service Academy Capital Management, LLC (SACMGT). With over 25 years of experience in providing wealth planning and investment advice to individuals, institutions, and family offices around the globe, Brian decided to pursue his vision of creating a new type of wealth management firm in 2015.
SACMGT offers an advisory solution that starts with a trusting, communicative partnership with its clients. Portfolios are bespoke so that each client’s unique investment objectives are met with a customized solution. The firm’s structure is designed to offer outstanding service, avoid conflicts of interest, and provide transparency and accountability while delivering access to the best financial resources available.
Prior to forming Service Academy Capital Management, Brian was the co-Head of Barclays Wealth America with responsibility for the Western half of the United States. From 2007-2010, Brian was the Global Co-Head of Distribution and Product Development for Alternative Investments at Neuberger Berman in New York. He also spent more than 12 years as an Investment Advisor at Goldman Sachs, and Merrill Lynch.
Before launching his financial career, Brian served with distinction in the United States Navy. As a Surface Warfare Officer, he served in Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, and other overseas endeavors. Brian earned his commission upon graduating from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Economics. As a midshipman, Brian was the President of his Class and a member of the Honor Committee his sophomore, junior and senior year. He was also a member of the varsity ice hockey team and chosen by his class to be the commencement speaker. During his junior summer, Brian was assigned to the Naval Economics Analysis Branch of the Pentagon where he performed regressions analysis in support of fallen sailors from the USS Stark.
After serving as a Naval Officer, Brian attended Columbia University where he earned a Master’s in Business Administration with a focus on finance and International Business. During his final year of business school, Brian attended the Chinese University of Hong Kong while working in the Equity Capital markets group at Goldman Sachs, Asia.
Service Academy Capital Management cares deeply about the well-being of our clients, employees, community, and world at large. The Firm has a philanthropic mission of assisting U.S. Veterans and their families who find themselves in financial duress, offering pro-bono financial planning and advice to selected families. SACMGT also gives up to 5% of its top-line revenue to veteran-related charities.
Lisa Parker
Chief Marketing Officer
Lisa Parker is the Chief Marketing Officer for Service Academy Capital Management. Having dedicated her career to improving client experience across a number of different platforms, Lisa’s strengths and experiences include business development, corporate strategy, client relationship management, communications, marketing, and finance. She has achieved notable success in the worlds of finance, philanthropy, media, and sport.
Lisa was recruited to a position as a high net worth advisor with Goldman Sachs and has held other private banking and executive positions at companies like Bank of America, Rigel Capital, and the End Poverty Foundation. Most recently, she has acted as a consultant in business strategy and financial marketing.
As a Samuel Bronfman Fellow at Columbia Business School, Lisa received her MBA with a full fellowship. She spent a semester in Hong Kong as a Chazen Institute Scholar and also interned part-time at CNBC Asian Business News. Lisa obtained a MS from Columbia Journalism School, focusing on television production and covering stories in Harlem. Prior to her finance career, Lisa worked at Universal Studios in film production. She also held roles as a television producer and on-air reporter covering feature news stories.
Lisa attended Yale University and obtained a B.A. in English. In addition to the classroom, Lisa displayed her prowess on the court by being a member of the varsity squash and junior varsity tennis teams. Lisa is a dedicated parent to three sons and volunteers in a variety of capacities. She has served on or headed various nonprofit boards focusing on foster care, the arts, philanthropy, and education.
Scott Phillips
Managing Director
Born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, Scott attended University of Kansas(KU) before moving to Texas in 1979. While attending KU, Scott was recruited to work for Southwestern Life Insurance Company. Scott then went to work for Conti Commodities as a commodities resource broker in Houston. Scott then joined Rauscher, Pierce, and Refsnes in Dallas, his career progressed and he was soon promoted to the senior position in risk management for the firms bond department where he evaluated bond positions in the firm's inventory for clients and ultimately ran the matched book and repo desk for Rauscher. In June of 1982 Scott was hired at Garvin Independent Municipal Brokers and was instrumental in opening and running branch offices for RW Smith and associates of Seattle, WA. and ACS Muni Brokers in Dallas, TX.
In 1988, Scott founded Associated Bond Brokers, Inc. As founder & CEO, Scott was responsible for overseeing all operations of the firm. Scott ran the firm until 2007 when he was presented with the opportunity to join Hayman Capital, a Dallas based hedge fund founded by Kyle Bass. Until 2010, Scott was the senior portfolio manager for Hayman Municipal Strategies, a subsidiary of Hayman Capital. Scott's responsibilities included establishing and maintaining client relationships and providing support for daily trading activities in the fund.
Scott Joined Service Academy Capital Management, LLC in the autumn of 2018.
Scott and his beautiful wife Cathy have been married 17 years. They are actively involved in philanthropy and their church. In their spare time they love to travel and play golf.
Jeff Fritts (USNA '86)
Managing Director, Chief Risk Officer
Jeff Fritts is a Managing Director and Chief Risk Officer for Service Academy Capital Management. With more than 30 years of risk management, finance, and insurance experience, Jeff has also designed complex trading algorithms used to manage the risk of highly volatile equity investments.
A native of Independence, Missouri, Jeff graduated from the Naval Academy with a B.A. in Mathematics in 1986. After several years running nuclear power plants on a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, he served aboard the USS Leahy with Brian Sears, Founder and CEO of Service Academy Capital Management, as the Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer during Desert Storm and Desert Shield.
After serving in the Navy, Jeff began his career in the Nuclear Advisory Group of a major U.S. insurance broker, consulting on nuclear power plant and contractor risk management and risk financing programs. Throughout his career, Jeff broadened his risk management experience, working with companies in the telecommunications, construction, retail, independent power generation, energy, mining, chemical, private equity, real estate, and manufacturing industries. He also has extensive experience in captive insurance operations, Enterprise Risk Management, and alternative risk finance solutions.
Jeff and his wife, Debra, have been married for 30 years and have two children. In his free time, Jeff can often be found working in the community garden or taking an exhausting bike ride in the Texas heat.
Louis "Zeke" Fritts
Financial Analyst
Zeke Fritts is a Financial Analyst at Service Academy Capital Management. In addition to aiding the team with servicing clients, Zeke is leading SACMGT’s innovative technology endeavors, including research into blockchain, AI (Artificial Intelligence), and cloud-based technology. Zeke’s financial experience includes developing a quantitative asset trading algorithm and managing back-office and compliance work.
Zeke obtained his B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin’s Moody College of Communication and a Certificate of Global Business from the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business. He was a member and treasurer of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity.
In addition to the development of a quantitative asset trading algorithm, Zeke has run an independent production company, Fritts Films LLC, for the last several years, and has worked with trade organizations, production companies, and management companies in the entertainment industry. In his free time, Zeke serves as Head of Content for Generations Broadcasting, which is dedicated to preserving the stories of our elders.
Elijah Butler
Elijah Butler, Financial Analyst
Elijah graduated from Arizona State University with a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Business and Entertainment Management. Elijah’s role at the Firm includes developing investment strategies and improving client support operations in a variety of areas including technology, equities, fixed income, and hedging strategies.
Elijah broad entrepreneurial background includes film production, web design, coding, and analytics.
Other work experience includes helping small businesses with marketing, internal operations, project management, and building brand identity. Elijah brings a unique perspective to Service Academy Capital Management that blends the worlds of financial analysis, marketing, research, technology, and business.
Carley Bohn
Carley Bohn, Financial Analyst
Having previously worked in the medical field, she made a deliberate decision to broaden her business knowledge and change her career path to finance. Carley’s past career endeavors brought her valuable insights into the healthcare industry and refined her skills in patient care, organizational management, and administration.
Carley obtained her B.S. in Applied Physiology and Health Management from Southern Methodist University’s Simmons School of Education and Human Development, which provided her with a solid understanding of health management principles. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority.
Motivated by her desire to learn more about finance and investment analysis, Carley made a career switch to investment management. As an Assistant Analyst at SACMGT, she assists the team in research, administration, client service, and investment analysis. Outside of her professional pursuits, Carley enjoys playing tennis with friends and immersing herself in diverse cultures through travel. Carley is currently studying for the Series 65 examination and taking online certification classes in personal finance.
