Our Team

While Gary Woolman’s introduction to the financial services industry may have been somewhat accidental, his decades of success as a financial advisor most certainly are not. In the late seventies, Gary was persuaded to consider a career in insurance. Though Gary insisted he was happy as a bank manager, the recruiter persisted.

Now entering his fourth decade in the business, the founder of Woolman Financial Group has built a successful financial services practice based on his sharp analytical capabilities, a strong work ethic, and his dedication to faith and community. Though Gary is nowhere near retirement, over the past decade, he has brought into the practice the next generation of advisors: his son, Brian, and his son-in-law, Shane Houser, to ensure that clients and their families will be well taken care of for many years to come.

Gary’s comprehensive approach to his clients’ finances allows them to see their full financial picture at one glance. His natural curiosity and analytical style translates into strategies that are questioned, tested, then tested again before implementation. “Everyone comes in with certain opinions about what they should do with their money, advice they may have received from friends, colleagues or the media,” explains Gary. “We challenge every assumption because everyone has a different need for money, and one size does not fit all,” he adds. “My job is fine-tune the methods to your unique needs.”

Woolman Financial Group offers a specialized approach to financial services with an emphasis on wealth creation and protection. The practice works with individuals and families at all life stages. Gary’s personal passion is working with business owners to help grow and protect their businesses, and to assist with exit and legacy-building strategies. Coming from a family of educators, Gary derives great personal satisfaction from teaching and guiding his clients to do well for themselves.

Outside of work, Gary is a proud grandfather of five, who loves to travel and spend time with his wife, Becky. He and Becky are deeply involved in their church, The Chapel, where he is a Deacon and a former Board Member of The Discipleship Walk. In 2002 Gary graduated from Leadership Fort Wayne, which provides leadership development to a diverse group of citizens to empower them to effectively serve their community.

Gary and Becky reside in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Shane Houser joined Woolman Financial Group in 2007 after almost two decades of working in the healthcare field. Originally trained as a patient caregiver, Shane was a Respiratory Therapist at The Lutheran Hospital of Indiana. He later worked in sales for the large pharmaceutical firm, AstraZeneca. “My goal was to eventually go back into the hospital environment and become an administrator,” says Shane. “But, life had another plan for me,” he adds.

After his first wife passed away, Shane felt that he had been put to a test. “I went through some very difficult times, but I came out the other side with a clear head and a focus on putting others before myself,” he admits. This experience, along with the fact that his goal had always been to take care of others, and to do what’s best for them, made financial services a very good next career for Shane.

In 2005, Shane married Gary Woolman’s daughter, Carrie. In 2007, Gary convinced Shane to join the family business. As a financial advisor, Shane specializes in life, income, wealth protection and income distribution strategies. He appreciates that Woolman Financial Group is built on Godly principles and that his work every day consists of honoring those principles to put clients’ interests first. “Whether it’s health care, or ‘wealth care,’ I’m still caring for people,” he says. “It’s remarkable that the themes in my professional life have not changed much despite a radical shift in industry.”

Shane is the proud father of four children, two of whom are in college. He loves to spend time with his family. He unwinds by running, and participating in mini-marathons.

Shane holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Health Arts. He earned his Master in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. He and his wife, Carrie, attend The Chapel. They reside in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Growing up in and around his father’s business, Brian Woolman was exposed to financial services at an early age. And though he considered many other occupations, Brian would always come back to thinking that one day, he might work with his dad.

Upon graduating from Indiana University with a degree in tourism management, Brian worked for Disney in a variety of capacities, including marketing and sales. It was a great experience: both introspective and career defining. Brian ultimately decided that he would much rather work in the family business than in a large corporate environment. He headed back to Indiana to join Woolman Financial Group.

Since starting out at the firm in 2009, Brian has been able to rotate through a series of positions to gain an understanding of all sides of the operation. He is now in the role he always envisioned: a financial advisor, building the practice through his own efforts, and in collaboration with his father and his brother-in-law, Shane Houser. Brian works with individuals and families to develop and implement solutions to help them reach their financial goals. He is also excited about the opportunity to work with business owners in partnership with his father.

When he is not at work, Brian is fully engaged at home, spending time with his wife, Katie, and their daughter. As a family, they enjoy traveling together. Brian’s other loves are music and sports. Brian likes to practice the guitar in his free time. He is passionate about basketball and open-wheel racing, especially the Indianapolis 500.

Brian and Katie reside in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Carrie Houser joined Woolman Financial Group in 2006 as the firm’s marketing coordinator. Carrie earned a degree in apparel merchandising, then worked as an interior designer before entering the family business, where she is responsible for all client communications, including social media, advertising, seminars, and more. Carrie enjoys the creative side of her job, in particular the opportunity to coordinate special events ranging from educational seminars to fun gatherings such as open houses and ‘meet and greets’ with clients.

Becky Woolman has been a fixture at Woolman Financial Group since the very early days of the practice. She is still engaged in the business, albeit part time. Becky is responsible for all of the bookkeeping and accounting. She serves in an administrative role whenever called upon. Becky enjoys working behind the scenes toward a common goal with her family about whom she is very passionate. She loves to spend time with her grandchildren, and to volunteer in various capacities at The Chapel in Fort Wayne, where she and her husband, Gary, are Deacons of the largest Sunday School class.

Sherry Chapman is not only the executive assistant to Gary Woolman, but also a longtime family friend. At Woolman Financial Group, Sherry’s is the friendly voice that clients hear first. Heavily involved in the operation of the back office, and the many details associated with running a busy practice, Sherry’s goal is to make sure that clients receive excellent care. Outside of work, Sherry is a longstanding member of the congregation at The Chapel in Fort Wayne, where she is a musician and a vocalist in the Choir with Gary.